Possible diagnosis?

[hopeful42]

Hi-I am a 33 year old female and had a baby 13 months ago.  I suffered from post partum depression/anxiety and am I zoloft still. For over a year (maybe longer, hard to say) I have muscle weakness/fatigue, my eyes are very sensitive to flourescent light, and sometimes I feel off balance if I'm getting up from giving my son a bath, etc.My docotr ran normal physical blood work, thyroid, thyroid ultrasound, CPK, lactic acid, MRI with dye and I got my vision checked by an eye doctor.All tests were normal except for the lactic acid was 1 point above normal-neurologist seemed to think this was insignificant.Symptoms have not gotten worse-neither have they improved, and I have good days and bad-some days I hardly notice it others are pretty bad.I can walk 3 miles or more briskly with no problem.  Right now as I'm typing my arms are feeling fatigued, but do not give out and I can keep going.If I rest them, then they will be fine for a bit and then it returns.  Weakness/fatigue is all over in all limbs.Neurologist said maybe atypical migraines,he's not really sure.At times I feel fuzzy mentally, but does not impair my life-more of me just feeling I have to concentrate more to get things done.I'm very concerned about having some type of disease such as ALS, and since I'm a young mom, this scares me to death.I'm at a loss and my doctors seem to be as well.What do you think I could have?  Any avenues I could ask my doctors to pursue?  Could it be something life threatening like ALS?I'm really feeling scared and hopeless, so any advice you could give would be so very much appreciated.

[t_anunson]

My other name on here is Andrea`s_mommy.

[t_anunson]

Hi elcam, I too had an epidural. My problems started in early Sept. `02. My baby was born in Aug. `02. I had to be given Group B strep meds through the I.V. and I also took the epidural. Many women that I have emailed on here who have had the same problems, also took the epidural, and some the Group B strep meds as well. I have had MRI`s, Nerve conduction studies, somatasensory evoked potentials (checks nerve pathway from spinal cord to brain), physical exams by neurologist, bloodwork, and all are normal. All I can contribute this too is the epidural. My aunt had an epidural a few years ago w/ one of her children, and it numbed her whole body completely, she couldn`t even breathe. She had to be given a tube down her throat. It wore off, but it caused it. I don`t care what these doctors say, I think the epidural causes more problems than they claim they do. When did you give birth? Vaginally or C-section? Did you have Group B strep meds along w/ the epidural? Age? location? I am a 23 yr old married female from southwest, VA. USA. I delivered in a community hospital. I had a vaginal birth, and lost a lot of blood at the time of delivery.

[Elcam]

I have also had neurological symptoms since the birth of my 2nd child in April...tingling, needle-like sensations, a bit of a tremor, and muscle weakness/fatigue in all limbs. I just read an article summary regarding the incidence of such symptoms in women who receive "regional anesthesia"--it is reportedly 8.4 per 1000 (according to this study).  I had an epidural, so perhaps this is related.  I plan to see a nuerologist.

Article is Obstet Gynecol 2002;100:46-50

[LMar6282]

I also have had the same symptoms since the birth of my first child a year ago.  I have had many tests including spinal tap, MRI Spine and Head, NCS and blood work but no diagnosis

Did you have your B12 tested yet? I would suggest that as a next step.  Mine was low and I just started B12 shots so I'm am hoping it will help.  Send me your email if you want to compare symptoms.

[eloridas]

Hey Hopeful,  I had similar problems also--you didn't say anything about any test being ran on your head?  Did the neurologist suggest any test such as a Head MRI too confirm his/her thought that this could be atypical migraines?

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

Please keep in mind that I have never examined you nor reviewed your diagnostic studies and cannot make an accurate comment on a specific diagnosis.  But fortunately, your symptoms do not sound like ALS at all.  ALS is a progressive wasting and weakness of the muscles (that is much more intense than just fatigue). As for the extensive testing that you've had, the major neurological diagnoses such as brain tumor and MS have been ruled out or made less likely by the return of the normal results. I tend to agree with the physician that it's unlikely that the lactic acide level is something to get excited about, but repeating it a later date may be something to consider. Another thought would be bloodwork to look for inflammatory conditions such as lupus, but this should be based on your doctors' clinical suspicion.

Depression in itself can cause fatigue and a similar symptom complex that you describe. I can understand your fear of having a debilitiating illness given that you now have a child. But the normal results makes the really serious neurological diseases less likely.  If postpartum depression has significantly affected your life, consider counseling and perhaps behaviour modification therapy with biofeedback.  Good luck.

[Andrea`s_mommy]

Hi I have had postpartum neurological problems too since the birth of my daughter, 9 mos. ago. I`ve had tingling, numbness, twitching, slight right leg weakness, eye pain, high blood pressure (don`t think it`s realted to neuro problems), and tendon tightness. I`ve seen 2 neurologists and all my tests have been normal, including MRI`s. I don`t know if I`ll ever find out what`s wrong w/ me either. I`m 23, this was my first child, and I had an epidural that was placed 3 times! Let me know some more about your symptoms and diagnosis. Thanks...