need help for husband...no answers after 5 months

[electra1]

Hi. My husband is experiencing a range of very strange symptoms and no one can seem to find what is wrong. Also, we have limited resources and no insurance for him so it is very difficult to even get help. Any input would be appreciated. This all started in Jan/Feb of 08, and he has had a wide range of symptoms with no apparent cause. I will try to detail everything he's been going through best I can: First symptom was severe chest pain, right after he ate, feeling of heart palpitations and irregular heartbeat. First thought he was having a heart attack, because of the severity of the chest pain and shooting left arm pain, shortness of breath, so we rushed to ER. ECG normal, bloodwork normal, chest x-ray normal, symptoms subsided while in er, sent home and assumption was panic/anxiety attack. At home, some of the symptoms persisted, but not as severe, then late one night, it happened again. Severe chest pain, heart rate at 130 sitting down doing nothing, dizziness/vertigo, called ambulance and went to different ER. Same thing, ECG normal, chest x-ray normal, bloodwork normal, doctors said it was anxiety and prescribed Valium. Couple weeks pass, still having chest pain on and off, shortness of breath, dizziness/vertigo, fast heart rate, fluttering heart feeling, also developed new symptoms of ear fullness/pressure and ringing in ears. Went to a physicians office, she was stumped, told him to see a neuro, which we can't afford. Next trip to first ER, chest pain, severe vertigo, lightheaded, repeated same tests: ECG-normal, bloodwork-normal, chest x-ray-normal-except they tell him he has a nodule in left lung that has not changed in 8 months-mind you 8 months prior no one even told us it was there, and initial x-ray that showed it was for unrelated issue, added head CT, also normal. Doctor prescribed anti-vertigo meds this time and told us to follow up with physician. About a month goes by, still experiencing same symptoms, small amount of relief from anti-vert, but always persistent dizziness, weak feeling, lightheaded, irregular heart rate and chest pains. We decide to try a different ER from previous 2, same tests run all again, all normal, but this time, doc says he has early stages of pneumonia and puts him on Doxycycline and suggests he follow up with cardio. So, follow up with cardio reveals nothing, echocardigram done, comes back normal. He finishes antibiotics, feels somewhat better, but not 100 percent. We went on a planned vacation, while on vacation gets to feeling ALMOST normal. Back from vacation in beginning of April, symptoms return with a vengeance!! Since April, he's been having these symptoms: vertigo/dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, nausea, weakness, feeling of passing out, slurred speech, stomach pain, chest pain, unable to sleep normally, ringing in ears. Shortly after returning from vacation, we went back to ER that diagnosed pneumonia, still found nothing wrong with him, gave him some more antivert, something to calm his stomach and put him back on doxy just in case, but things are worse than ever. Over the last few weeks, with the last two being worse than ever, he has also experiencing the following new symptoms, as well as varying degrees of all the others: uncontrolled twitching, both head and hands and whole body; numbness in hands and arms, sometimes isolated to one side, sometimes both; numbness in face, especially on left side and slurred speech; one time occurrence of temporary blindness in one eye for several hours; twitching and pressure and pain behind eyes and sensitivity to light; pain at sternum and upper abdomen; swelling of chest in underarm area, especially left side; swelling of feet; back and neck pain; headache/face pain. There are various other small occurrences, but I tried to stick to the major things. At least 3 docs have suggested MRI, but we can't afford it, and the ER won't order one. I really do not know what to do and I am really worried about him, he is 31, and just seems to be falling apart. Without insurance for him it is really hard to get help, and I can't afford to do anything to privately pay because I am supporting a family of 4 alone. If anyone has any advice or input or suggestions please help. Thanks.

[jacksprat2]

Hi Im sorry to hear your hubbys plight, I am not sure about the pains in the heart, but the other symptoms sound similiar to what I get and I have MS. Apparently with MS you can get the MS girdle which is a tightening of the chest and stomach area. All the other sypmtoms you state sound to me like MS,  I dont know if this helps but having an MRI and or lumbar puncture is the way to find out for sure. I hope someone else can offer you a medical opinion. I am just reading your hubby's symptoms and can relate to alot of them myself. Heart racing and dizziness happens all the time to me.

Kind regards
Jacksprat2

[Carol in PA]

Low levels of magnesium can cause cardiac irregularities and muscle twitching, among other things.

Also, Coenzyme Q10 would help with heart function.  He would need two or three of the 100 mg softgel capsules daily.  (This is expensive.  I have found good prices at iHerb, online vendor.)

The Importance of Magnesium to Human Nutrition
by Michael B. Schachter M.D.
http://www.mbschachter.com/importance_of_magnesium_to_human.htm
(If the url is missing, you can google for the title.)

Wishing you the best,
Carol