lots of strange incidents - anything to be alarmed about?

[othermatt]

For the last two years I've had lots of strange incidents, sometimes lasting just a few days, sometimes ten days or more, where I would get lots of weird electrical sensations - big electric shock-like feelings down both my arms when I sneeze, numb arms, or the feeling like there was a half-dozen nine volt batteries in my calves and left shoulder - muscles like tingling and shivering.  A few times the whole right side of my torso went completely numb - very alarming actually, but in a few minutes completely normal again - other times when my balance is way off, and every time (so far anyway!) after a few days or so I go right back to feeling pretty much completely normal.  Last week though I had another one of these "weird couple of days" and on top of the weird tingly shivery muscles and the balance problem (where at one point I was standing there and I just started to tip over!  people in my office were asking me if I'd been drinking hahaha) I also had these weird muscle jerks in my abdominal muscles and the back of my neck.  I guess my question is, does any of this add up to something I should be worried about, or should I keep ignoring it as long as it keeps going away?  If it makes any difference, I'm a 34 year old male in otherwise excellent health.  I don't work out intensely or anything like that, but I walk a few miles a day and generally feel pretty good (except for these weird things that keep happening.)

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

I would recommend that you discuss this with your doctor or a neurologist. This is not normal (even though it goes away) and should be investigated. Based on your complete history and examination tests will be arranged. This may include an MRI of the brain and cervical spine. Also you may have several blood tests. Without examining you I cannot localize the problem or identify specific disorders, but you should have this evaluated. Good luck.

[ohtay]

Go see a doctor.  It might not be anything, but it could be something, and the longer you wait before seeking treatment, the worse it could get.  If you wait toooo long, you might not be able to do anything for it.  Early intervention and prevention is always the best bet.

[othermatt]

thanks, I'll do it, I guess I was hoping you'd say "oh, that's nothing, that happens to everybody" :)

I'll let you know what I find out.  Thank you enormously for your input.  A little guidance from a professional is just about the only way to know if you should pursue or ignore a sporadic, forgettable, but sometimes scary set of mysteries :)

[mineandours]

Your symptoms sound like they could be related to neurological Lyme disease.  It often causes dizziness and stroke-like symptoms.   If you want to check it our, here's some info to get you started. Email me if you have any questions...***@****

Head, Face, Neck
Unexplained hair loss
Headaches, mild or severe
Twitching of facial or other muscles
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Tingling of nose, cheek or face
Stiff or painful neck or creaking
Jaw pain or stiffness
TMJ – sudden onset
Sore throat
Loss of sense of taste
Difficulty Swallowing

Eyes/Vision
Double, blurry or dim vision
Increased floating spots
Pain in eyes, or swelling around eyes
Over sensitivity to light
Flashing lights
Optic neuritis

Ears/Hearing
Decreased hearing in one or both ears
Buzzing or clicking noises in ears
Pain in ears or sound sensitivity
Ringing in one or both ears
Pressure or feeling of fullness in ears

Digestive and Excretory Systems
Diarrhea
Constipation
Irritable bladder (trouble starting, stopping)
Frequent urination that is not normal
Upset stomach (nausea or pain)

Musculoskeletal System
Joint pain or swelling or tenderness
Stiffness of joints, back, neck
Muscle pain or cramps
Bone pain

Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
Shortness of breath, cough
Chest pain or rib soreness
Night sweats or unexplained chills
Heart palpitations or extra beats
Heart blockage

Neurological System
Tremors or unexplained shaking (especially at night)
Burning or stabbing sensations in the body
Weakness or partial paralysis/stroke-like symptoms
Pressure in the head
Numbness in body, tingling, pinpricks
Poor balance, dizziness, difficulty walking
Increased motion sickness
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Sudden jerking of fingers or entire limbs

Psychological well-being
Mood swings, irritability, rage
Unusual depression
Disorientation (getting or feeling lost)
Feeling as if you are losing your mind
Overemotional reactions, crying easily
Too much sleep, or insomnia
Difficulty falling or staying asleep

Mental Capability
Memory loss (short or long term)
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration or reading
Going to the wrong place
Speech difficulty (slurred or slow)
Stammering speech
Forgetting how to perform simple tasks

Females only:
Unexplained menstrual pain, irregularity
Unexplained breast pain, discharge

Males only:
Testicular or pelvic pain

General Well-being
Unexplained weight gain, loss
Extreme fatigue
Swollen glands
Unexplained fevers (high or low grade)
Continual infections (sinus, kidney, eye, etc.)
Symptoms seem to change, come and go
Pain migrates (moves) to different body parts
Early on, experienced a "flu-like" illness, after which you have not since felt well.  (You may not even recall this.)

LYME FACTS
1. You do not have to recall a bite or have gotten the target rash to have Lyme disease. Less than 50% of people with Lyme do.
2. The tick that carries Lyme is as small as the period at the end of this sentence and their nymphs are nearly microscopic.  
3. You do not have to experience ALL of these symptoms to have Lyme disease.  It is also typical for many of these symptoms to come and go.
4. It is possible to have Lyme disease and have a negative test result.  After it enters your system, it tricks your immune system into no longer producing antibodies to fight it, hence, a negative test result.
5. Lyme bacteria hide in the spinal fluid, bone, tendons, muscle and nerve fibers and tissues and in many cases are not “floating” around in the bloodstream where they can be picked up on a test.
6. It takes a LYME SPECIALIST to diagnose and treat Lyme disease and any of its associated co-infections. To find one go to www.LymeNet.org.
or www.ilads.org.  They do not require a referral.

[mineandours]

Your symptoms sound like they could be related to neurological Lyme disease.  It often causes dizziness and stroke-like symptoms.   If you want to check it out, here's some info to get you started. Email me if you have any questions...***@****

Head, Face, Neck
Unexplained hair loss
Headaches, mild or severe
Twitching of facial or other muscles
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Tingling of nose, cheek or face
Stiff or painful neck or creaking
Jaw pain or stiffness
TMJ – sudden onset
Sore throat
Loss of sense of taste
Difficulty Swallowing

Eyes/Vision
Double, blurry or dim vision
Increased floating spots
Pain in eyes, or swelling around eyes
Over sensitivity to light
Flashing lights
Optic neuritis

Ears/Hearing
Decreased hearing in one or both ears
Buzzing or clicking noises in ears
Pain in ears or sound sensitivity
Ringing in one or both ears
Pressure or feeling of fullness in ears

Digestive and Excretory Systems
Diarrhea
Constipation
Irritable bladder (trouble starting, stopping)
Frequent urination that is not normal
Upset stomach (nausea or pain)

Musculoskeletal System
Joint pain or swelling or tenderness
Stiffness of joints, back, neck
Muscle pain or cramps
Bone pain

Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
Shortness of breath, cough
Chest pain or rib soreness
Night sweats or unexplained chills
Heart palpitations or extra beats
Heart blockage

Neurological System
Tremors or unexplained shaking (especially at night)
Burning or stabbing sensations in the body
Weakness or partial paralysis/stroke-like symptoms
Pressure in the head
Numbness in body, tingling, pinpricks
Poor balance, dizziness, difficulty walking
Increased motion sickness
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Sudden jerking of fingers or entire limbs

Psychological well-being
Mood swings, irritability, rage
Unusual depression
Disorientation (getting or feeling lost)
Feeling as if you are losing your mind
Overemotional reactions, crying easily
Too much sleep, or insomnia
Difficulty falling or staying asleep

Mental Capability
Memory loss (short or long term)
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration or reading
Going to the wrong place
Speech difficulty (slurred or slow)
Stammering speech
Forgetting how to perform simple tasks

Females only:
Unexplained menstrual pain, irregularity
Unexplained breast pain, discharge

Males only:
Testicular or pelvic pain

General Well-being
Unexplained weight gain, loss
Extreme fatigue
Swollen glands
Unexplained fevers (high or low grade)
Continual infections (sinus, kidney, eye, etc.)
Symptoms seem to change, come and go
Pain migrates (moves) to different body parts
Early on, experienced a "flu-like" illness, after which you have not since felt well.  (You may not even recall this.)

LYME FACTS
1. You do not have to recall a bite or have gotten the target rash to have Lyme disease. Less than 50% of people with Lyme do.
2. The tick that carries Lyme is as small as the period at the end of this sentence and their nymphs are nearly microscopic.  
3. You do not have to experience ALL of these symptoms to have Lyme disease.  It is also typical for many of these symptoms to come and go.
4. It is possible to have Lyme disease and have a negative test result.  After it enters your system, it tricks your immune system into no longer producing antibodies to fight it, hence, a negative test result.
5. Lyme bacteria hide in the spinal fluid, bone, tendons, muscle and nerve fibers and tissues and in many cases are not “floating” around in the bloodstream where they can be picked up on a test.
6. It takes a LYME SPECIALIST to diagnose and treat Lyme disease and any of its associated co-infections. To find one go to www.LymeNet.org.
or www.ilads.org.  They do not require a referral.

[othermatt]

I finally went to see a GP to talk it over after the latest strangeness, in which suddenly my left hand felt like it was scalding or burning on and off for three days.  That does it, I said to myself, and I went to the doc (I'm not normally the type to run to the doc).  He listened to my grab bag and gave me a general exam.  One of the tests he performed was a simple coordination test - touch his finger, touch my nose, touch his finger, touch my nose, with each hand.  With my R. hand it was normal but with my L. hand to my surprise it was very difficult - my hand and arm muscles wobble a bit and I can't hit the mark.  I guess I hadn't noticed how marked this was, as I just don't use my left hand that much, but it was way off.  He also noted a fairly pronounced tremor in my arms and shoulders when I stand up straight and hold my arms in front of me. Also some missing reflex actions in my left arm and right leg.  He prescribed an MRI which I will schedule right after the Thanksgiving holiday and report the results.  Thanks again :)

[othermatt]

by the way, would it be at all possible for someone to clean up the duplicate entry someone pasted above?  Thanks :)

[othermatt]

my MRI appointment is this Friday - my doc wants brain and cervical spine, both with and without contrast.  I will post the results.  I'm told the MRI is painless but noisy - should I bring an MP3 player :)