What could this be?

[Lynn8889]

I'm 34yo/F, non-smoker, non-drinker. I have a hx of thyroid disease (on synthroid and keep going back and forth between getting too much synthroid then to not enough). Right now I'm hypo.  I always seem to have upper back and neck 'achiness' and discomfort that seems to radiate to the chest area.  I have had a heart work-up and all of that came back normal. Lately, I have noticed that my eyes get bloodshot for no reason (no coughing, no sneezing, etc) and have noticed that my fingernails turn bluish-purple to the point to where one of my friends thought I had painted my fingernails.  My hands do get cold often and I wasn't sure if this was related or not...however, it can happen whether or not my hands are cold.  I woke up in the middle of the night and looked in the mirror and was shocked to see how bloodshot my eyes were...it freaked me out.  Other symptoms I have had in addition to above are: back and neck pain/discomfort (everyday it seems like), weird vision sensations (like my eyes feel heavy and sensitive (had eyes tested a month ago...everything was fine), fatigue, off and on lightheadedness. I have had MRI/MRA of the brain, CT of the chest and ABD all of which was normal.  I often wondered if this could be Fybromyalgia. I was tested for RA and came up negative, sed rate was normal.  I am tired of feeling like this all of the time.  Can you give me your thoughts of where to turn.

[Nancy 1019]

I have been diagnosed as a typical fibromyalgia patient (board-certified rheumatologist, and have had most  of  the symptoms that you report. He was careful to check out my entire immune/endocrine systems though, so there was nothing else lurking that would be overlooked.  

To read more about the blood pressure problems go to this website: National Fibromyalgia Research Assoc.  Find the abstracts from their Sept 1999 conference in Portland. There is at least one on neurally-mediated hypotension. Unfortunately, many people focus on the just muscle pain, tender points, and muscle stiffness of fibro. But I lead a fibro support group and know that these are only several of 10 or 20 symptoms that we all have. The symptoms come and go -old ones can disappear and new ones show up.  A poll at one of our meetings (17 people) showed that all of us have neck and back pain, and bladder and /or bowel dysfunction - with constipation predominating.  We share many symptoms with those people diagnosed with Arnold  Chiari Malformation, Syringomyelia, and /or tethered spinal cord. I was finally diagnosed with tethered spinal cord by a well-know neurosurgeon. (It had been missed on lumbar MRIs by radiologists.)  

According to neurosurgeon Mehmet Selcuki ( published researcher on TC) the effects of TC are not supposed to be felt above T-12, due to some special ligaments. But, I clearly have symptoms coming from the upper neck, lower brain area.  I hypothesize that it is because of  some abnormal attachment of the dura, which anchors in the sacrum. ( An abdominal MRI showed cysts on the ventral sacrum - along the sacral nerves - made from some overgrowth of dura ?
with spinal fluid inside ? This kind of thing is reported in the literature.

The dura attaches in the sacrum then, next at C-3 ( some what questionable ?), C-2, C-1 ( atlas), foramen magnum, and in the brain. My abnormalities appear to be more on one side, so I always have an uneven pull and tension on side of the dural tube. This seems to "pull out" the top of my neck ( and atlas) and cause a host of problems - even craniofascial distortion.  I have a big deviated septum, and my phys. med doc thinks this is all related. Of course, a deviated septum affects sinus drainage, so this may predispose to the chronic sinuitis that so many of us report.

There is so much to this, but I'm worn out for now. If anyone is interested in talking. please email at ***@****.    

So sorry you are going through all of this. it is so difficult, and so invisible that people don't understand all that we go through on a daily basis.
Hugs,
Nancy

[pwdrskiers]

have you ever taken a fluoroquinolone antibiotic.  All kinds of side effects and many folks that have reactions find no problem in their bloodwork, mris, etc.

Good luck.

[CCFNeuroMD]

You have not described other symptoms consistent with autonomic dysfunction, and the back aches are unlikely to alter your BP.

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

Without examining you and reviewing your history I cannot make a clinical diagnosis. From the history you have provided it appears this may be a more systemic problem, possible a connective tissue disorder. The symptoms in your hands may be consistent with Raynaud's phenomenon, which can be seen in some connective tissue disroders, or as an isolated symptom. To have this evaluated further, it would be reasonable to see a rheumatologist. They are the specialists in this area, and should be able to help you. They also work with the fibromyalgia patients. Good luck.

[Lynn8889]

I forgot to ask you another question....what, if any, relation does neck & back pains/problems have any affect to one's blood pressure changes and being lightheaded sometimes. As I stated, I have these back/neck issues it seems everyday...it seems when they bother me the most...I notice other symptoms flaring up (more lightheaded, vision more bothersome, and my blood pressure fluctuates more and have tachycardias).  I realize you can't dx me w/out seeing me.    I just wonder if it could be Fybromyalgia or some autonomic dysfunction.