Numbness on leftside of body and taste problems

[nnpumkin]

2 weeks prior to numbness of my sensations on left side you. I started to get a metallic taste in my mouth off and on.  Then I woke up one morning and my leftside of my head was asleep. Within a couple hours the leftside of my face went numb like novicane..then it started going down my arm to my 2 little fingers. Mobility was fine strength appeared fine only sensation was affected the next morning all was still the same except now it was down my left leg and my 2 little toes. My tongue has chged now, I no longer taste metallic now it is salt or asprin taste.  I brush my teeth with cool minty gel and there is no coolness from the mint and it seem the more stimulation my tongue has the salter things are.  If my tongue is not stimulated then it taste like asprin.  I had an altoid the other day (cinnamon usally very hot)I could smell the cinnamon but my tongue had no sense of how hot it was. I ran the thing up and down the top and sides of my whole tongue and there was nothing.Tongue functions works fine. Just no sense of tempature hot or cold or spicy. its 2 weeks later now and the severity of the numbness of sensation changes but is always there. I have had a catscan of my head (negative) 3 MRI's of my head, One with dye. I had a sonogram of my arteries in my neck. All were negative. I just had another MRI of my cervical spine. I just wore a 24hr alter monitor.  I have to go for a TEE next week.  My neurologist thought it might have been a mini stroke.  But has said now that he does not know and now has referred me for a second opinion.  I have no pain with any of this.

[shankalp]

A related discussion, Numbness was started.

[dixie_angel]

A related discussion, Facial and Tongue Numbness was started.

[muralikongad]

dear Dr.,

last week my brother 30yrs. falll down from the chair while going thru the news paper, become nervous and lost his speech and the abiliy to hear, almost parallalised state. Immediately took him to a hospital and is recovering slowly. he could partially recover speech and ability to hear. but some times when we ask something he will answer somethng which may not have any relation to the question. he could recognise the people but not recollect their names.

neither he himself nor his famaly members had any of these kind of desease before. pls. advice.

yours truly.
murali.

[bigmyrtle]

I,too am having these tastes and numbness problems, mostly my lips. It seems to be more pronounced after I stand. I am 50, diabetic, high blood pressure, and also have had a stroke. This is nothing like the stroke but I know something is not right. The only answer I have gotten to this is dehydration. I thought they were a bit off at first but after drinking water during a peak moment the symptoms were reduced. May be all in my head.I live in the south. Is anyone seeing anything in common other than diabetes?

[julesgriff]

hi i have a similar problem but have just got the syptoms.
i have numbess in the left side of my face and just last night my lips went numb. metallic taste on the left side of my tongue and a dull headache.  my left arm also seems to be affected too. its all very strange.  its a bit hard to cope with when you have three children too. would be gratefully for any help

[julesgriff]

hi i have a similar problem but have just got the syptoms.
i have numbess in the left side of my face and just last night my lips went numb. metallic taste on the left side of my tongue and a dull headache.  my left arm also seems to be affected too. its all very strange.  its a bit hard to cope with when you have three children too. would be gratefully for any help

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

It is difficult to localize your symptoms to one particular location within the central nervous system. However, given the degree of facial sensation and taste chages you are experiencing the problem should be within your brainstem or brain, not the spine. The thought about a stroke was reasonable, however the MRI's you have had should have shown a lesion. The fact that your MRI's have been normal is good. This helps to exclude masses, strokes, and abnormal blood vessels. Also, the fact that the symptoms are persistent helps to exclude seizures. It would be reasonable to exclude inflammation involving the brain with some blood tests, although I suspect they will be normal. Seeing a second neurologist is a good idea. This will confirm the findings of the other doctor and a fresh look at your problem. Without seeing you and reviewing your studies this as much as I can advise. Good luck.

[nighthawk]

Hello,
Reading your comment I was really astonished.  On Wednesday morning 9/23 I went to the hospital because I had a severe pain in my hip, like being hit with a bat.  It traveled to my leg, jaw, arm and lasted approximately fourteen hours.  I too had a metalic taste in my mouth.  I was admitted to the hospital.  Carotid doppler, CAT, MRI, MRA, all came back negative for stroke, blood pressure was moderately high then later on the low side.  I was released on Thursday evening diagnosis: TIA.  On Sat. the morning began, slurred speech, lasted all day, at approximately five after a shower my jaw tightened and I felt light inside, metalic taste is back and then all I remember is my hand falling to my side.  I was 911 to emergency unable to speak, could not move the left side and unresponsive for a short time period.  This lasted four hours and then feeling came back to my leg, speech was the last to return.  It is now Oct.4.  I am still in the hospital.  Four episodes later, decreased in severity, on heparin, comadin. MRI (4xs) CAT (2Xs), TEE, dopper legs, carotids, stress test, all have been negative.  Now it is suggested to have a brain angiogram (fear of iodine allergy and only known conrast).  I am shocked to read  your post which is so similar, it is as if I had written it.  I know you are as confused as I.  I am forty two years old, diabetic, SLE and high cholesterol.  Hope someone can give both of us imput.  Thanks for any assistance.