Undiagnosed

[jorrell]

I am a 43 year old female.  I have been seen by 4 neurologists in North Carolina and have had many abnormal nerve conductivity tests.  The tests were prompted initially due to weakness in my right hand and poor muscle control on my right side.  The problem has advanced from my right side to my entire body.  I am in physical therapy to help with muscle control and balance.  I fall sometimes, but not due to fanting, my muscles from the neck down just go dead.  I have had many MRI's that show no problems with my neck.  Lately, the weakness has been getting worse and I took a hard fall last week. I now have maybe one day where I feel "ok" out of six or seven.  After my fall last week, I had a blood draw done.  I was very shocked to find my liver enzymes were highly elevated, my sugar was high as well as my closesterol and tryglycerites.  My blood pressure was also "strange" after I fell...180/108 which is very bad.  I have always had low blood pressure and had never had a problem with my sugar being high.  My liver enzymes were slightly elevated after I was put on Zocor for slightly elevated tryglicerates.  The Zocor was stopped, yet the liver enzymes continue to rise and are currently VERY high.

I am confused and things seem to be getting progressively worse dispite going to highly recommeded doctors in NC.  I am terribly worried about what my future might hold and have no clue what to, or how to prepare for it.  I am sincerely frustrated and desparetly need answers or direction.  I am a virtual cripple with no cause and am becoming more and more trapped in my home watching others live their lives.

I am willing to work extremely hard to get better, but I need to know how.  Please, if you can help me or steer my in the right direction I would be very thankful.

Julia

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello Julia,

I appreciate your willingness to work hard. As you can see, there are 3 indicators (sugar, cholesterol/triglycerides and blood pressure) which say that you should consult other specialists. See some good Diabetologist and rule out any possibility of a diabetic neuropathy. Also, get your eyes checked for any changes in the retina. In fact, it is time you get a thorough check up done from a physician. the initial weakness on the right side may just be an indication of some other problem elsewhere.

All the best

DrAbhijeetMD

[jorrell]

Thank you for your comments.  The sugar level and blood pressure are back to normal as of yesterday.  It was not a fasting blood sugar test on the day I fell and my family doctor has ruled out any problems with sugar.  Blood pressure has returned back to normal to low levels as well.  Liver enzymes are much lower...AST 70 and ALT 147 which is about what they have been for about a year.  My doctor has ordered a full liver panel.  I had a full physical on November 8, 2007 and had a complete eye exam on November 13, 2007.  Nothing concerning  came of either exam.  My cholesterol levels were low at my physical, however they triglycerides were slightly elevated.

The muscle weakness has been going on for four or more years and it was a "sudden" onset, at least with my hand and leg.  

My family doctor said the blood pressure, sugar and liver enzyme levels were likely "incident" related, but could not explain that comment to my satisfaction.  I plan to go to physical therapy again today and hope for an uneventful visit.

My family doctor "knows" that I am very serious about getting some answers even though neither she nor the neurologist have any at this time.  They are quite aware that I want to get to the bottom of this even though there may be nothing that can be done over what is already being done.  Getting a comment from a doctor, "come back in 3 months and we'll see how you are then," will no longer cut it with me.  Four years of my life have been severely impacted by these unknown symptoms.  That is quite enough.

Best regards,
Julia