I Don't Know Where Else to Turn!??

Hi.  I'm a 24 year old female.  I take no medications.  I was on birth control pills, but stopped them 3 weeks ago. I've had recurrent UTIs for years. I'm SCARED about my symptoms. Shortly after Thanksgiving,I finished 2 courses of antibiotics when I noticed a twitching in my eyelids and legs, which I had never experienced before.  Shortly after, I started having leg aches, joint pain, and the twitching moved all over my body.  I saw a doctor (not my GP) who said "It's anxiety".  I was under a lot of stress at the time, and it seemed to go away. However, for the past 6 or 7 weeks, I've been having the following symptoms:

constant dizziness
daily headaches
induces forehead ache when I push above eyebrows
blurry vision, sensitivity to light
eyes hurt, feel dry
fatigue
ears pop & feel plugged
jaws pop when I chew or open/close them
stiff neck
dry lips/mouth

Now, the following symptoms are here:

leg/arm aches(mostly legs)
bottoms of feet hurt around ball of foot
muscle twitches all over, but especially legs & eyelids
legs feel tired and numb after walking
pins & needle sensation in fingers
chest pain, pressure, palpitations

I've had the following tests, all NORMAL:

2 EKGs & heart X-RAY, Vision exam, Parnasal sinus CT scan, brain CT scan

A few days ago, I had allergy testing.  I had mild tree & grass reactions; SEVERE dust mites, cockroach, candida yeast reactions. I have an appointment with a neurologist Wednesday.  I'm worried about everything from ALS to MS. I don't really notice any weakness. What about fibromyalgia?

Thanks
Lisa

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

It's understandable that you may be concerned about your muscle twitching or fasciculations, but ALS usually presents with progressive weakness and muscle wasting (not just aching and fatigue).  As your history doesn't appear to include that, it's unlikely that ALS is a big possibility in your case. Rather, it could represent benign fasciculation syndrome in which stress and anxiety can play a major role.  As for MS, this can present in many different ways, sometimes with vague neurological complaints although usually there is objective evidence of a neurological deficit on exam. A formal neurological exam and complete history should help your doctor choose the appropriate diagnostic testing as needed to assess that possibility. Finally, fibromyalgia is an illness or symptom complex that is thought of by some physicians when patients present with multiple areas of aches and pains that can stem from "trigger points," but it's typically considered to be more chronic in nature.  As your symptoms are relatively recent and appeared in a stress-related setting, I suspect there is a large component of anxiety, though it may not be the underlying problem. Hope you appointment on Wed went well, and again, further testing can be done to rule out general medical conditions like thyroid disease and electrolyte disorders as well as more specialized testing for neurological disorders pending the results of a complete history and physical. Good luck.

[Heavenly_Angel4505]

Oh I forgot to mention that the reason for the sinus CT scan was my GP originally thought I had a sinus infection because I had postnasal drip and sore throat along with my headaches/dizziness.  I had tried 2 different antibiotics and when the symptoms didn't improve, she sent me to an allergist.  She thought allergies were causing ALL of my symptoms.  I had to beg her to schedule me for the brain CT scan (which was NORMAL).  I've also seen an ENT doc, who looked in my ears and said he didn't see anything wrong.  I've been to a urologist for my recurrent UTIs.  I'm scheduled for a cystoscopy on Feb. 20th.  I'm wondering if allergies is causing a lot of my symptoms and the rest are from anxiety I've been experiencing? I see the neuro Wednesday.  I had to make my own appointment.  GP wouldn't refer me.  Keeps insisting it's ALL coming from allergies. Any ideas are welcome!

Thanks

[crazyboutcats]

I will be most anxious to hear the reply to your symptoms as I too suffer from many you have named. Each time I tell a doctor about it, they say it is stress/anxiety and "just calm down" as if I could! I do know that when I am calmer, many of the symptoms ease up. But I am very interested to know if this is just stress
or something else,( since I don't seem to be getting any help from drs.) and what can be done for it.
I am taking Valerian (herb) for the nerve part of things and trying yoga for my tight muscles, but as soon as I quit these things it all seems to be back, making me thing it might be something more serious.
If you'd like to comment or e-mail me at armidillo ***@**** maybe we can compare notes.

[graham]

Hi Lisa, reading your symptoms I wondered if you have thought about vitamin deficiency. In particular a lot of your symptoms could be caused by a b12 vitamin deficiency, including dizziness, headaches, blurry vision, and fatigue. Neuriological symptoms, like tingling in the legs and arms, can develop if the condition is not identified and treated.

It may not be anything to do with your symptoms but I would ask your doctor if he has checked your b12 level. If it is anywhere near the bottom end of normal you should ask for your methylmalonic acid and homocysteine to be checked. They can be better indicators of b12 deficiency than the serum b12 test on its own.

At 24 years of age you are not really in the normal age group for this, but it is still certainly possible.

Is there plently of b12 produce in your diet, mostly found in meat, eggs, cheese, milk and some fish. Are you vegetarian or have you had stomach problems and been on acid blocker drugs, which can effect absorption.

As I said, it may not be your problem but without an explanation that you are happy and confident about, it is worth considering.

Best of luck
Graham

[Heavenly_Angel4505]

Hi Graham,

I have had a LOT of stomach problems!  I've tried all the different acid reducing medicines on the market:  Nexium, Prilosec, Aciphex, Reglan, and Protonix.  currently, I'm not on any but the Protonix was stopped only about a month ago.  I will certainly mention the B-12 thing to the Neuro.  I will be seeing her before my GP.  In fact, I'm looking for a NEW GP!

Lisa

[t_anunson]

Hey, I`m having a lot of the same problems as you. What`s your email? I`d like to compare. I`m a 22 yr old married female who started having problems after daughters birth 5 1/2 months ago. My email is:t_anunson***@****

[mikesgirl]

Please email me at ***@****.  I may have some information that might help you, but don't want to write a long post here about it.

[justy]

Has Chiari Malformation been ruled out? I was told I didn't have Chiari because I only had a 1-2 mm tonsillar herniation and then after having a cine MRI and 3D cat scan found out I did in fact have no csf flow around the brain. I also had abnormalities in my jaw which made my jaw pop. All of the symptoms you listed could be Chiari related. In a 1999 clinical study 59% with Chiari, were previously told that they had fibromyalgia. You can read this study at www.wacma.com under the "on-site-info." It is called Chiari 1 redefined by Dr. Thomas Milhorat. Most neurologists and many neurosurgeons are not well versed in this disorder. I went to many before actually getting the proper diagnosis.

[tamicles]

I dont know what is up with me. For a while I been dizzy, my eyes get blurry, and my head will hurt a little. What could this be? My blood pressure is fine if that could even be it.

[lilgriz]

Please contact me at ***@****.  I may have some info that could help you.

[alviener]

Dear Heavenly Angel,

From you post it appears that your symptoms arose shortly after you finished two courses of antibiotics.  Did you take a "flouroquinolone" ("FQ") antibiotic: Cipro, Levaquin, Floxin, Avelox or Tequin?  If so, I assure you that each and every one of your symptoms can be, and probably were, caused by an adverse drug reaction ("ADR") to a FQ.  I appears that you are suffering FQ toxicity to both you central nervous system ("CNS")and peripheral nervous system ("PNS").  I suggest that you go to the Quinolone Antibiotic Adverse Reaction Forum at www.geocities.com/quinolones.  It is a support group for victims of FQ ADR's.  It has a message board with almost 14,000 messages from FQ victims and family members(click on the link to "Email Forum").  You will find that your symptoms are typical ADR's to FQ's.  You can post a message with your history and I assure you that you will receive numerous, relevant responses.

Also, click on the link to the article "Peripheral Neuropathy Associated with Flouroquinolones" by Dr. Jay S. Cohen, Assoc. Prof. Univ. of Cal. at San Diego.  This report appeared in the December 2001 issue of The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.  Selected members of the Quinolone Forum were the subjects of this report.  I suggest that you read this report carefully.  You will recognize many of your symptoms.

For more information, see also, www.drugvictims.org.  For the benefit of the rest of the members of this forum, I am going to post this as a separate thread.

If you would like to contact me directly, my email address is ***@****.

Sincerely,

Al Viener

[matgrace]

Lisa,
I was wandering if you've had any luck. I too have a lot of the same syptoms (symptoms), and have been told i have anxiety and tmj for the ear and jaw. The leg pain has gotten me worried. But tried of doctors saying the same thing. Please let me know if they have found anything.
Thank you
Mary