Neuro symptoms for 18 months

[LKNS]

I am a 43 y.o.woman, very healthy until a year and a half ago.  In March 2002, after a long car trip (~11 hours), I became quite ill:symptoms of tingling and vague numbness in my arms and legs,rapid pounding heart, extreme fatigue, lightheadedness, tremors (throughout my body) and "brain fog".  I felt so sick that initially I thought I was having a stroke . Saw my internist; bloodwork was neg for Lyme, lupus, B12 def.  Thyroid screen was in normal range, but I was found to have Hashimoto's Dis. Have seen an endocrinologist, though I am not on medication yet.  Saw cardiologist and had echo - all OK. I also saw a neuro and had an MRI both with and w/out contrast.  Several small bright spots, but the neuro said that they were not unusual for someone my age and they weren't consistent with MS (MRI was repeated in 2003 and there were no changes from prev. year).  Also had a normal EMG.  The symptoms were very bad for ~2 mos. then began to wane.  By summer 2002 I was feeling pretty good.  Since then, however, I have had the same symptoms (though ususally not as severe as the first episode) come and go, lasting sometimes for days, sometimes for weeks.  Additionally, over the last year or so, my left side (lower leg, arm and face but not hands or feet) often feel somewhat tingly/numb (not totally - more of a "rubbery" feel).  Last week, this feeling also moved up to my forehead at times.  One more thing: I also have phases of "icepick" head pains (not headache).

I am at a loss...could this be related to thyroid?  vascular? spinal/disc prob? Anything else??? Any advice welcome!

[gina ann]

Lkns & Sassafrass:
I have the same symptoms and have had a battery of tests - blood, x-rays, eye specialists, and mri.  I've been told all ok, but have had high sed rates (up to 55) over last few years.  I get the tingling on left side, too, up to my forehead and the stabbing (icepick pains).  Sometimes I feel fine, then I get "attacks".  Please let's stay in tough and compare.  By the way, I'm 37.  Thanks!
Gina

[gina ann]

Lkns & Sassafrass:
I have the same symptoms and have had a battery of tests - blood, x-rays, eye specialists, and mri.  I've been told all ok, but have had high sed rates (up to 55) over last few years.  I get the tingling on left side, too, up to my forehead and the stabbing (icepick pains).  Sometimes I feel fine, then I get "attacks".  Please let's stay in tough and compare.  By the way, I'm 37.  Thanks!
Gina

[Renestrange symptons]

I too have been having same general Neuro problems as many posts here. I am 43 yo female, never been sick until 12 months ago which what started out as a flu like sympton for a week then in high stress project all of these weird nuero problems started. Doctors have diagnosed Restless leg syndrome since much of my sensations are in my legs but I have been told by Neuro at a research facility that RLS can be all over the body. I am taking Mirapex, Parkinsons drug found to help with RLS, have helped nightly vibration feelings, but I still have the body aches, tired heavy arms, in elbows and one finger with other varying vibrating sensations in my head at base of skull that happen nightly only! Weird huh! I have all my senses, not forgetting things, etc., and the flu like symtons,tired achy return monthly I have noticed right before menstrual cycle. A endo is suppressing my thyroid at this time because of nodules but no other symptons have changed. I too have noticed many posts of women adn men around early 40's that have been experiencing these strange Neuro problems. Also taking iron since ferrin levels (sp?) was found to be low.

[LKNS]

To answer a couple of questions:
I was diagnosed with Hashimotos' because despite a normal TSH result, my thyroid was enlarged.  I had a sonogram and it also detected some small nodules.  I was referred to an endocrinologist who ran more detailed thyroid labs, including antibody tests, which were elevated (anything over a 2 indicates a problem; mine was 43).  I am not yet on meds, but I just had a physical yesterday, so we'll see where my levels are and if that may help my problems.

I did read up on CIDP, but I don't think that I have many of those symptoms...guess you never know, though.  I'll keep it in mind.

As for updating, I'll post again after I get my labs back.  My dr. is testing sed rate, B12, ANA, Lyme titer, thyroid plus all the usuals (cholesterol, CBC, etc).  I'll see if any of those turn up another cause for my symptoms.

It does seem to me that I keep hearing more and more about other women around my age with a variety of symptoms for which there is no apparent cause.  I feel fortunate that I've not had the experience of a dr. suggesting that it's "all in my head".  Up til now I've been very healthy, so they know I'm not a complainer!  I'll re-post when I know more.

[lil sunshine]

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos after at least 5 yrs of high thyroid antibodies. Both of mine were high. 5 yrs is as long as dr had been running them. But my thyroid levels have been normal. I have both hypo and hyper symptoms, usually not at same time but can be.
I am not on meds at this time. I did have a fine needle biopsy and it came back neg for cancer.I have been suffering from weird neurological symptoms for yrs too.
Bonnie

[JohnnyTX]

Hello LKNS, it's me again. The M.D. above answered rather well. I would look into CIDP which stands for 'Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy'.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a neurological disorder characterized by slowly progressive weakness and sensory dysfunction of the legs and arms. The disorder, which is sometimes called chronic relapsing polyneuropathy, is caused by damage to the myelin sheath of the peripheral nerves. The myelin sheath is the fatty covering

[JohnnyTX]

PRP, no problem. Well led them to believe that I had GBS was that I had no reflexes in my knees what so ever. They suspected GBS at this point. They did a bunch of other tests to rule out anything else which all came back negative. They did a spinal tap but everything was fairly normal there.
GBS and CIDP come in many different shaped and forms and every case is unique. You can still have your reflexes and have GBS or CIDP but usually no reflexes in an easy indicator and it alot easiar to diagnose if no reflexes are present. Hope this helps.

[PRP]

Johnny-
Can I ask you how they diagnosed you?  Thanks!

[Sassafrass]

Pleasekeep us up to date, I have had the exact same symptoms for 4 years now.  One time it landed me in the hospital so sick I couldnt even stand it for 10 days.  All tests are normal. My heart rate in the hospital got up to 200 bpm. Numbeness, burning sensations on my skin, lack of apetite, sharp pains in my head, vibration feeling in my body, tremors, vision problems, dizzyness. On and on with symptoms. Hives, dermagraphia, Dr cannot find what is the cause.  3 normal mris, normal evoked potentials, normal blood tests, except once in awhile my liver enzymes were high and once my potasium level was high.  
Carol

[Cat9]

Can I ask a question?? If your thyroid test came back normal how were you diagnosed with Hashimotos disease??

[LKNS]

My symptoms began in late March; the only relatively recent illness I'd had was a sinus infection in February (but I think it was fairly early in Feb, if I recall correctly).  What are your thoughts?

[JohnnyTX]

I've got a quick question before I give my opinion. Before you had any of these symptoms, did you have any sort of sickness......stomach flu, the flu, strep throat, a cold etc???

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

Your symptoms could be related to your thyroid disease. However since you have auto-immune thyroid disease you are at risk fro developing other auto-immune disorders. Syndromes such as lupus and other connective tissue diseases, and vitamin B12 deficiency. Even though you have had a recent MRI, I would recommend you contacting your Neurologist. They can re-evaluate you and try and determine if repeat scanning or labs are appropriate. Based on the multi-focal nature of your symptoms, it would be unlikely for a spine problem to cause you symptoms. Also, what you have described does not sound like typical vascular disease. I hope this helps.