Stumped on a Diagnosis, symptoms worsening...

[Waterfall37016]

HI,
I am a female, 38 years old. I have been very healthy most of my life.  At 25, I experienced a TIA, but without a workup afterwards. I do not take drugs, drink or smoke.  I eat healthy and exercise.  Last week I had a sudden onset of chest pressure, shortness of breath, left arm tingling, weakness and numbness and a purple, weblike discoloration on my legs.  The left side of my body (mainly upper) remained numb.  I also had elevated BP and tachycardia.  Everything but the left numbness resolved in about 2 hours.  Since then I have had numbness on the left side of my body including tongue.  My left ear feels "full" and my walk and speech have been affected.  I went to the ER and stayed in the hospital overnight.  My bloodwork came back normal and cardiac and vascular disease was ruled out.  I did not have a stroke.  My carotid ultrasound looked normal.  At Chest CT and Chest Xray was normal.  A head CT was normal.  An MRA was normal.  My MRI head showed some benign appearing areas of demylenation and sinusitus.  A week after the first episode I had another that started out with left body numbness, shortness of breath, chest pressure (did not feel as if I could catch my breath).  I had extreme back pain in the middle left back.  Pain was a 9 on a scale of 1-10.  It lasted about 2 hours.  It left my left side even more numb than before.  During the last week and 2 days I have had a burning sensation in my spine (not a pulled muscle) and when I sit, it feels as if my head is filling with water and ready to explode.  Tremendous head pressure and pressure in the back of the eyes.  STanding or laying alleviates it to a point.  I had an episode today for a few minutes, I spaced out, it was hard to breath and my left side was numb.  Now my tongue is going to pins and needles sensation constantly.  Feels like a burnt tongue, then goes away.  My left ear rings off and on. I have off and on episodes of extreme fatigue as well.
I have been in the hospital twice (ER visits and one overnight observation stay) and to the the neurologist at Vanderbilt University.  He said he did not think there was anything wrong and to rest.  My life has been moderatly impaired and I cannot be left alone during one of these "spells".  

The only new change in my life is that I was diagnosed with genital herpes in March.  My fiance did not know he had herpes (assymptomatic) and passed them to me.  We think this occured in January.  I had a strange occurance in January where my spine felt strange and had a burning sensation.  I thought I had the flu.

My fiance and kids are very worried about me.  What could this be??? It is something very wrong, I have NEVER felt so badly before.  I am very scared and no one seems to be able to help me.  Can someone advise or direct me to the right professional?  I am baffled but having very acute symptoms as of right now!  

Please share any ideas or thoughts, thank you.

[AutumnMiller]

Hello.. I am 23 and had a stroke at a very young age (13) yrs old). I've also had a few TIAs since. I would agree with ampky. Make an apt with an experienced neuro dr.Call one and tell them your issues. ALSO. are there any new medications they have you on? I have migraines and my dr put me on Topromax. I was on 100mg and I began having tia-stroke like symptoms. Sometimes even something small like new meds can be a side effect. CRAZy Right? Or maybe you should keep a log of what you eat and what you experience. so you can give it to your dr. Another thing? do you have a lot of stress in your life? or suffer from anxiety or depression. Because that could also effect you.

I hope you find out soon!

Krys

[ampky]

You may want to investigate herpes zoster (the clinical name for genital herpes) and how, in the dormant stage, it lays in the back of the neck and can affect the nervous system.  I think an appoinment with a neurologist that is knowledgeable in the subject would be best.