Many symptoms

[sd324]

Hi, Im a 33 yr old woman.  I've been having these problems for the last 18 months now and had numerous tests done.   I'll list the symptoms in order of them appearing.
Tremor, memory loss, concentration problems, very tired, dropping things, dribbling saliva from one corner of mouth, muscle fatigue, muscle pain, 3 stroke like episodes in 24 hours, muscles twitch when resting, vertigo, tinitus, everything is too loud and too bright, feel like there's a light on behind eyes, severe numbness in mornings (usually on opposite to that I've slept on), vibration sends shocks up arms.  Every so often I've been getting quite severe pain in my left eye which last for 24 - 48 hours.  My eyelid is slightly droopy and puffy.  It feels like I have a film over the left side of my eye.    Constant heel pain (diagnosed as plantar fasciitis).  Muscles are so sore and weak now I can hardly walk any distance at all.  Had brain MRI done which showed bright spots on basal ganglia (neurologist said they are of debatable importance), also had numerous bloods done which all came back normal.  Been tested for lyme which was negative.  Neurologist thinks I'm suffering from stress but I don't agree, have nothing in my life to be stressed about (except him telling me everyhtings in my head).  Doctor agrees with me that its not stress.  Things are getting worse if anything.  

[SadieSunflower]

Well, I really think that your questions would be best addressed by an epileptologist.

What I do know is that consciousness is often absent or impaired during a seizure, so it is completely possible to have a seizure and not even realize it. It is possible to be consciousness during "simple partial" seizures. Seizures can also cause just about any symptom you can imagine, including the ones you listed above. I don't think that pain in the arms and legs is a common symptom, although people often have sore muscles following a convulsive seizure. Seizures typically have a sudden out-of-the-blue-style onset, last less than a couple minutes, and are followed by a residual symptoms in what is called a post-ictal or post-seizure state. Seizures symptoms can also be frustratingly difficult to distinguish from anxiety attacks, so if you are concerned then make sure you see an epileptologist and maybe a psychiatrist.

I imagine that waking up and gasping for breath can totally be caused by anxiety, but if you don't think it is anxiety then it would make sense to me to have a sleep study done to make sure that it's not sleep apnea. A sleep study can also help identify seizure activity. If you can't find anyone to refer you, then you can find your own specialist. You can research online and/or call up a clinic or hospital and ask for a referral.

[rubyblue]

Thanks for the post on 'sleeping alone'. I also get many funny symptoms that no one can explain, have seen 2 neuro's and many other doctors. A few days ago, I just suddenly had foam in my mouth, like the white foam on a latte. That was just after I woke up. I have been reading that sometimes you can get a seizure without knowing about it? Your post also seems to confirm this? I also sometimes wake up after I stop breathing in my sleep, I am sure this has something to do with all the other symptoms and have asked to be referred to a sleep specialist, but no-one (for some or other reason want to refer me to one). So, do you think it is possible to get small seizures without knowing about it and that it can cause symptoms like: pain in arms and legs, pins and needles, headaches, blurred vision, dizzyness, clod sweat, arrythmias, bradycardia, tachycardia, fatigue, weakness etc?? Thanks!!!

[cookietime]

MS is what I thought of when I read your post.  My ex-husband has MS.  I would go see a Neurologist who specializes in MS and get another MRI if your insurance will pay for it.  

I personally don't think it's just a migraine headache.

[1jitterbug]

Have you been checked for thyroid disease & vitamin B 12 deficiency?

[sd324]

Went to opthalmologist tuesday, he said he can see no sign of any damage to optic nerve so I'm quite pleased about that!!

[sd324]

I will do, thanks

[SadieSunflower]

I have had many of your symptoms. The opthamologist was the only doctor who was able to to diagnose me with anything (esotropia). Maybe you will have more luck with the opthamologist. I sure did. I give up on neuros! Let us know how it goes.

[sd324]

Many thanks for your reply.  GP has referred me to opthalmologist who I see next week, and just been told I may wait 2 - 3 years to see neuro-psychologist!!

[Joanna Fong, MD]

Hi sd324,

Your symptoms can be due to several things.  Unfortunately, without examinating you or reviewing your previous MRI films, it is difficult to narrow down the differential diagnosis further.  However, I would recommend you to have another MRI brain (with and without contrast) if your previous MRI was not recent.  Since you have a progression of symptoms since your last MRI, we should see if there is any correlation with imaging studies.  Also, a "bright spot" in basal ganglia can be worrisome.  One of the possible causes of your symptoms is multiple sclerosis.  It is a type of demyelinating disease that affect the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).  This disease primarily affects women of Northern European descent who are of child-bearing age. However, lesions in basal ganglia is less typical of MS.  Lumbar puncture is also essential in helping to diagnose MS.  

Some of your symptoms have features of migraine headache.  Migraine headache is typically one-sided, throbbing, sharp pain, associated with photophobia (light sensitivity) and phonophobia (sound sensitivity), nausea and vomiting.  It can also associated with dizziness, vertigo (basilar migraine), or one-sided weakness (Hemiparesis migraine).  

I may be necessary to have a second opinion by another neurologist if you want further workup.

Good luck.

Thank you for using MedHelp forum.  

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[sd324]

Thanks for your replies.  Doc has just referred me to an opthalmologist about my eye, not sure how long that will take though.  Neurologist has referred me to neuro-psychologist as he thinks its all in my head!!

Sadie-sunflower...I don't sleep alone, no, but do know that I have started snoring over the last few weeks!!  This is happening even when I'm lying on my side.  I also wake myself a lot feeling like I've forgotten to breathe??

[SadieSunflower]

Do you sleep alone? I don't want to scare you but almost all your symptoms could be caused by having seizures in your sleep and not knowing it.

The stroke like episodes make me especially suspicious of seizure. EEGs can be hit-and-miss.

[heart2heart]

Some of your symptoms sound like migraine symptoms. You could even be having silent migraines. The sore muscles and weakness could represent fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Headaches, migraines and all sorts of symptoms are very common in these disorders. Have you seen an opthalmologist for the eye pain? If there's nothing wrong with the eye  then it could be from  a migraine type headache. Another test that might put your mind at ease is to have a MRA, it is a painless test like a MRI that visualizes the blood vessels in your head and neck. It would rule out any abnormal blood vessels. I am not a doctor , just a patient who's had some of the symptoms you had and all my tests came back normal too. My dx was migraines and basilar artery migraines. I also have fibro. Good luck to you.