Re: My neuro says seratonin deficit. I worry about diagnosis

Posted By CCF Neurology W6 MD on January 21, 1999 at 02:19:44:

In Reply to: My neuro says seratonin deficit. I worry about diagnosis posted by Scott on January 09, 1999 at 16:07:53:






Hi. My story is long. I'll try to make it make sense. I'm 26 yrs old. As early as 12 I can remember severe itching and tingling and numbing all over my body. It starts most when I walk (slow to moderate). It starts in my back. Feels like frostbitten hands thawing. It then spreads up my spine and down to my legs and feet and then encompasses my face and head. I feel as though I will pass out. Everything gets blurry and dark. I have to sit down and recoup for 15 to 20 minutes, even in the middle of the street when I walk. It came and went back then. Now, for the last 2 years, it's anytime I walk. No matter what the temperature or what I eat. (Dr. was concered about low blood sugar.). I used to walk 8 to 10 miles a day. Now I've gained 45 pounds in 18 months. I can't walk. It's debillitating. I get the tingling and itching even just sitting here typing. I get dizzy spells and headaches. I have pain in my ear sometimes, but not severe. I've been tested for everything, including extensively for multiple sclerosis. I lose my balance just standing up. Kind of clumsy like. When I'm around people, I laugh it off and blame it on lack of sleep or spotty glasses. when I grasp a bag in my hand, my hand just opens up and I lose my grip. My dr. was very concerned about MS when he heard my sypmtoms. My last MRI was 6 months ago. totally clear I was told. Evoked potentials showed a slight deviation but nothing my neuro says leads him to believe I have MS. In fact, he says no way. He says I have a seratonin deficit and the chemical imbalance is causing me to feel weird. I take 20 mg of Trazodone every night before bed. he says this should help me. I know it's a depression medication. I'm not depressed, unless you count the fact that I live with this problem and can't seem to get past it. I don't know where to go next. I've had hypothyroid tests, B12 tests, Lyme disease tests, spinal and brain MRIs (like 4 of them over a matter of 4 months). I feel hopeless in this. I want to walk again. The MS thing is still part of my worry because the symptoms (except the pain when walking -- that's anytime) seem to come and go without warning over weird periods of time. I know I'm forgetting something here. I've talked to people in MS forums. Some say it sounds like MS. Some say no. I know MS is a hard disease to find. Maybe it isn't that. But it has to be something. I know when my body isn't right and it's not.
Is there anyone who can post something that could maybe help me make sense of this. I just dont know where to go next. One other thing I just remembered. The first thing my neuro does when i go to see him is ask me to hold me hands out in front of me. He says I tremble a little. He then has me walk in a straight line. He says I walk OK. He's not a bad guy, but I can't help but feel he's not being honest with me and that scares me. Why is he so concerned about me trembling? What does it mean?
And one other thing. In Jan. of 1996, I broke my right leg real bad. I still have no feeling in my right big toe from the incident. I noticed the symptoms more after that. My neuro thinks that's because I was aware of a severe injury. I was blaming that for these symptoms. My neuro tells me that one has nothing to do with the other.
Can someone shed some light and help me? I'd be so grateful.
Thank you kindly in advance.
    
Hi Scott,
thanks for your question. It sounds like you have a lot of symptoms, and have had extensive evaluation. Although it's impossible to give you a diagnosis on the forum, I seriously doubt that you have MS.
I think not thinking about the worry that you might have MS would go a long way. You can increase the Trazodone (at the dose you are taking it doesn't really act as antidepressant).  MRI is very sensitive in detecting MS whereas evoked potential is not. So, I think your neuro is right on the money.
Regarding the trembling, we all have some degree of PHYSIOLOGIC tremor, some more than others, and some medications, or substances (caffeine, nicotine) can enhace this tremor. I would not worry about this tremor unless they are present at rest and rather severe.
The only think you haven't had is a spinal tap, this is not as sensitive for MS as an MRI but may help. Good luck to you. Keep your spirit up.