Strange recurring symptoms

[wallangst]

Recently I have been experiencing flashing lights when I am in a lit room?  I get them intermittently and was wondering if this is due to anxiety.  These started when I got my second job so I am wondering if this could be attributed to the extra stress.  I have also been having increased chest pain that comes out of nowhere.  Sometimes it is sharp and quick, and other times it is more like pressure or squeezing and can last for some time.  It occurs on the left side under my peck.

I am wondering if  I should have tests (MRI, CT, Lumbar EEG etc..)done to determine if this is more than just anxiety.  

I have always been a worry-er and have always freaked out about my health.  I have been having the following symptoms on and off for about 3 years:

Nausea/fatigue after eating
Tinnitus(constant)
Sharp chest pain
weird crawling/tingling feeling on skin(back, legs, head)
Pain in neck(same spot on the left side)
Flashing lights(in dark and light,)
seeing colored spots
Feeling like my tongue is swollen
Felling of a lump in my throat
tension headache
electric shock type headaches
light-headed
negative thoughts
fears
history of social anxiety and hypochondria

ALL OF MY SYMPTOMS ARE RANDOM AND ARE OFTEN NOT TRIGGERED BY ANYTHING.  SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS,  BUT IT FEELS LIKE NO SYMPTOM HAS REALLY GOTTEN "WORSE"  BUT SOME HAVE CHANGED AND I HAVE AQUIRED NEW ONES THROUGHOUT THESE YEARS.
I DON'T HAVE TYPICAL "PANIC ATTACKS" AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS ANYWAY.
So my main concern is obviously if this is something serious and if I should go to get tests done.

I have had 2 Neurological exams in 3 years and the doc has not reccommended any further testing, as he said my problem was migraines.  I have also seen an opthamologist a few times in the last 3 years and my vision appears normal

This feels like something..hard to believe it could be JUST anxiety but who knows

Please help me

[CCFNeuroMD JT, MD]

I am happy to address the questions that you pose, although it is important that you recognize that my impression is based entirely on the information you have provided in your posting and is by no means a substitute for an office visit with a neurologist.  Diagnosis is contingent on detailed history and physical exam and as such, the following information should be considered solely for educational purposes.

The symptoms that you describe are fairly non-specific and can best be sorted out by a thorough evaluation by both a general practitioner and a neurologist.  Foremost, it would be important ot evaluate your chest pain with basic cardiac studies such as an EKG, echocardiogram, and +/- stress test in order to r/o any cardiac cause for your symptoms, namely the chest pain.  

Aside from your "squeezing" chest pain, your symptoms include  flashing lights, nausea, fatigue, tinnitus, paresthesias, neck pain, headache, and negative thoughts.  Indeed, all of these symptoms may fall under a general category of anxiety, but this would be a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning all the more serious medical diagnoses must first be ruled out.

The paresthesias (crawling/tingling sensation), flashing lights, nausea, headache, and tinnitus may all be components of a migraine complex as your physician has suggested.   Migraines may be triggered by anxiety, stress, menses, certain foods (alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, etc).  Headaches of migrainous quality include unilateral location, pulsating/throbbing quality, sensitivity to light/sound, nausea, and duration of 4-6 hours.  Migraines may be preceded by an aura, often composed of some  type of visual symptom (flashing lights, jagged lines in the visual field), ringing in the ears, or abdominal upset/nausea.

Other diagnoses to consider include simple partial seizure- that is, seizure without altered consciousness but presence of aura-like symptoms such as the flashing light, abdominal discomfort, and tinnitus.  Seizures are generally evaluated through a test called an EEG (electroencephalogram) which is able to detect abnormalities in brain waves.  

Again, I cannot stress enough that your symptoms are fairly vague and non-specific and therefore warrant direct evaluation by a physician.  Further diagnostic tests such as MRI may be used as a tool to r/o particular problems such as masses/tumor within the brain or abnormalities in brain structure. because the quality of your headaches has changed over the past couple years, you would likely benefit from evaluation by a headache specialist who can better determine the most appropriate course of care.  

Thank you for your questions, and best of luck!

[wallangst]

Can you help??

[wallangst]

I am currently experiencing pressure in my head which is more noticeable when I bend over, as well as sharp and quick cold pains in my head everywhere.  Would you suggest an MRI or any other tests to have done??  It seems like the headaches have changed over 3-4 years.  Have not really been worse, just different.  they occur at random and in many different places around the head.  
Thanks