Referred to several specialists but found nothing - Need Help!

[Mina Mathew]

My husband has the following symptoms for more than an year.. He was referred to several specialists but found nothing...

-Breathing difficulty (gets up even in the middle of sleep with this problem and has to lift up his body to breath properly)
(went to emergency rooms a couple of times and they checked his heart and stuff found in good shape)
-Pocking pain in one part of his brain
-Severe back pain
-Weakness in legs (this symptom started about 3 years before ) -cannot run or not walk properly when it happenes

These symptoms comes together whenever it happens (about 3 times an year) and stay for a while.  In addition to this he has cough for long time(about 2 years or so) and it is there everyday(it wasn't that often before).

About 5 months before, it affected really bad and he was referred to Neurology, Rheumatology and Allergy specialists and couldn't find anything. Last week this happened again and went back to his regular doctor and now he is refereed to check his lungs (appointment next month). Please help since I am very afraid of his health.

[National Jewish]

Your husband has had a good evaluation so far.  Some other areas to be evaluated further are chronic cough and possibly sleep apnea.  The pulmonologist that your husband will be seeing next month can help determine if a lung problem is the cause of his cough and if sleep apnea is a problem for him.  The problem must be identified before your husband can be started on helpful treatment.

In a person who has a normal chest x-ray and who doesn’t smoke the most common causes of cough are postnasal drip, chronic sinus problem, heartburn, and asthma.  A chronic cough can also be a side effect of a group of medicines used to treat high blood pressure called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

Sleep apnea is when breathing stops temporarily, for up to a minute at a time, during sleep.  This may happen several hundred times a night.  This can cause a person to feel quite sleepy during the day.  It is possible for the person to be aware of this because they wake themselves up gasping for air.  It is more common that the spouse notices first.  Snoring is what often alerts people to the problem.

[ozark]

has he seen a gi specialist?  he could have reflux...the other thing is he could have sleep apnea....you could ask his dr about seeing a specialist and maybe having a sleep study to rule that out   good luck

[Sunnydaffy]

I agree with Ozark. Both reflux and sleep apnea can have serious effects on the body if not treated. Also, has he been ruled out as far as a cardiac source?? I wish you and your husband luck as well as a speedy diagnosis- take care, Sunnydaffy

[AndyRRT]

Hello Mina,

I'm going to try and give you the best suggestions I can with what symptoms you have listed. However, I don't believe there is enough information here to make anything concreit.

I really am not a big fan in this reflux thing. I see this time and time again here. But it really isn't a major cause of most breathing problems. At least what I've see in the hospital these past 15 years of practice It indirectly effects someones breathing. You should see more gastric upset and "heartburn" symptoms before seeing any shortness of breath.

The first thing came to my mind was Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) I understand that your husband's heart was checked out, but to what extent? If your husband sufferes from high blood pressure, and often gets a racey heart, this may happen. The cappilaries in the lungs tend to leak fluid causing some coughing and shortness of breath. Lying flat is usually uncomfortable for these patients. This suggestion is probably a long shot, but it may be wise to get some sort of stress test on your husband to rule it out. Does your husband cough up sputum? What does it look like?

Has your husband been recommended to see a Pulmonologist? A CT scan may be in order. Several things can be attained from this test. May be a good idea to look into that as well.

As far as the back pain and the pain in his "brain", I'm not quite sure what to make of that. It could be something else unrelated to this.

-Andy, RRT,CPFT

[Concerned lady]

I agree with everyone's comments. You might also want to ask your doctor to refer you to a good neurologist to check for possible Arnold Chiari Malformation (ACM). This is where part of the cerebellum (which is the lower, back part of brain) protudes into the spinal canal.
A website, at http://www.nfra.net/ChiarMal.htm wrote:

"Some common symptoms include headaches, neck pain, dizziness, vision problems, balance problems and muscle weakness. Other symptoms include difficulty swallowing, frequent gagging and choking and, in some cases sleep apnea may be present."

There can be other symptoms too, as described on various websites about ACM, such as http://neurosun.medsch.ucla.edu/Diagnoses/Spinal/SpinalDis_16.html

This website says an MRI can help to diagnose Arnold Chiari Malformation.

You can speak with a LUNG LINE nurse, to get more ideas, by calling 1-800-222-LUNG(5864).

[AndyRRT]

I disagree with the suggestion that this may be sleep apnea. Although the above definitions of sleep apnea are accurate, according to your husbands symptoms, this just doesnt fit. Sleep apea doesn't "come and go". It doesn't happen randomly throughout the year, nonetheless 3 times a year for periods of time. If you have it, YOU HAVE IT. It will happen nightly. It will happen when you lie flat and fall sleep watching TV. You did not mention any symptoms of severe snoring so I did not include this. Another symptom of sleep apnea is narcolepsy. Dozing off at the office, behind the wheel, and other odd times of the day. To me, this appears to be a day/night thing and spans way past the spectrum of just sleep apnea.

The symptoms stated here are far to broad to pin point a few pulmonary disorders. The suggestion of Chiari Malformation is just blows me away. If you are going to suggest somthing on this messageboard, PLEASE be sure you know what you are talking about and not just here for the sake of copy & pasting things. The more this goes on, the more I tend to stray from this website for it devalues the purpose of this service.

Once again I remind the posters (including Med Help, NJC RN) to post wisely.

Andy, RRT,CPFT

[Trishserious]

It is something that you are around that is toxic to you. Pay attention to your surroundings and how you feel. Be a detective when it comes to determining where this problem is coming from. I have endured something very simular to your symptoms. My problem was toxic mold behind the walls in our office for (2) consecutive years. The sickness is awful. Good Luck. You need to find a good environmental doctor.

[Mina Mathew]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I will ask my husband to mention these things when he visit his doctor next time.

[Mina Mathew]

Trishserious,
Your answer struck me since my husband always complained that this is from work place.. When this problem started he used to say that it is happening only at work. He said it felt like rays going through his hands and body at that time when he stay at work.  He discussed this with his director and building manager about a year before at work and they checked out everything and said everything is all right. My husband still believed this is from work and his manager let him work from home. But there are things that he needs to do from office and he experience this when he stay long at work. I thought he was just feeling that way and never encouraged to look in that direction.

How do we get an environmental doctor? Can his regular doctor refer one? He talked to his director recently about bringing someone to check the office and they asked him to hold on to this since they are planning to move to another building.  I am not sure when they will be moving. What do the environmental doctor do? Do they come and check out at work?