full body tremors, weight loss

[jenbishop]

Can anyone help please? I started with a motor running in my body which would wake me up during the night about 4 months ago, gradually it started during the day on and off, lasting for a couple of days. I would feel very out of it, unable to concentrate properly then it would pass and I would feel ok again.
I went to my physician, my thyroid was normal.
It progressed to having blurry vision and double vision on and off with now full body tremors all the time, all day, all night. Ativan doesn't stop the tremors, neither does the sleeping medication.
Now I have no appetite at all, my eyes get blurry, flashing lights and of course I am tired. I did have Bells' Palsy during this too which has resolved somewhat.

[Lama Chahine, MD]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

Your symptoms are unusual; there are many many causes of tremors, but a visible tremor that continues during sleeping is distinctly uncommon.

One of the most common causes of tremor is essential tremor, which is tremor with no clear cause. The tremor mainly occurs on action, if you were holding something or writing or moving your arms (or less commonly your legs). This does not occur during sleep and while it can be constant is usually again not prominent at complete rest. This is highly treatable should it be diagnosed; often a family history of this type of tremor in several family members is present.

Other causes of tremor include medications, drugs, alcohol intoxication or withdrawal, substance abuse, some hormonal problems such as thyroid disorder which it sounds like you have been tested for, certain degenerative disorders such as Parkinson's, though parkinson's does not usually cause constant tremor all the time but rather mainly tremor at rest that starts in one arm or the other first, and others.

If your symptoms are not tremors per se but rather muscle twitches, this is likely benign fasciculation syndrome. Benign fasciculation syndrome, which I will abbreviate as BFS, is a condition in which there are involuntary twitches of various muscle groups, most commonly the legs but also the face, arms, eyes, and tongue. In such cases, the twitches may be related to anxiety/stress, caffeine, and often occur after recent strenuous activity or muscle over-use. It is important in such cases to reduce stress/anxiety levels and to reduce caffeine intake.

If your tremor is on the inside (meaning it is not visible to others but you feel tremulous on the inside) this may be related to anxiety or stress.

I recommend you discuss your symptoms again with your primary doctor with referral to a neurologist as he/she feels indicated

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[Vinilation]

Without knowing what condition you have, look at any medications your taking.I'm having similar problems caused by using the drug lipitor for 4 or 5 years.I did alot of research, and it turns out there's alot of neurological problems caused by it.It actually breaks down the brain tissue, and affects the entire nervous system.All the 'statin' drugs do, like zocor, vytorin, crestor, etc.DO NOT USE STATINS!!!
Other than that, all the psycotropic drugs used for depression, OCD, anxiety, etc, damage the nervous system and brain, stay away from them.Do some research and you'll see.If you do take a statin, and your doctor says 'it can't be the statin', get a new doctor.The evidence is overwelming.I see huge class-action suits on the horizons' of the manufacturers of these drugs.If your taking a statin, stop for at least a month or two, and see if you don't start to recover.Hope you feel better soon!

[jenbishop]

Thank you so much for your input. At the time of this all starting, I wasn't on any medications. The doc thought maybe I had a nervous breakdown, but I feel great in my mind, can make sentient decisions, pay bills, perform all my usual ablations etc etc. I don't feel well at all, loss of balance, tremors all the time, nothing stops them. I will stop the Ativan then because it doesn't do anything for the tremor anyway, like the doc thought it would. I seem to be slower now as this progresses, I have done some research and have contacted other docs to see if they can shed some light on this. I would like to play on the beach again, run with my dog and hold a cup of tea without burning myself. Thank you so much again for being kind enough to share your thoughts, I will certainly stay away from the statins and the psychotropic drugs. I need my brain! Thank you.

[gwatko]

Jen, hope you start to feel better soon. The symptoms your experiencing definitely sound neurological. I would request a consult with a neurologist. Ask your primary care physician for a referral.

[jenbishop]

thank you for your support. I will definitely ask for a referral. Thank you

[jenbishop]

Thank you for taking the time to help. I saw my rheumatologist yesterday and he tested my reflexes, apparently two aren't there, left forearm and hand and right foot don't respond normally at all.
I don't drink and I don't abuse drugs or caffeine, lead a healthy lifestyle.
My symptoms have progressed to having pain in my right eye and I still walk unbalanced, and have a dull ache in my neck at the back of my head, left arm has reduced sensations and I can't seem to always get my hand to do what I want it to do, again, intermittent.
My rheumatologist has referred me to a neurologist he knows rather than wait more than 6 months through my family physician. I have also asked to see a pyschiatrist to assess me to rule out anything mentally wrong, although I feel ok there, I am worried about these symptoms I have and how they started slowly to progress to this point.
Feeling unwell again has hit me like a brick wall and I am glad I am feeling frustrated with it because I wasn't when the symptoms accumulated into one and I felt so ill I couldn't even drive myself to the doc's office.
Thank you Dr Chahine, I appreciate the time you have taken to respond to me. Thank you. I will look into everything you have talked about.