Trip to Er and many questions now~

[Shellshack]

Okay, if any of you read my post last Tuesday, I was having a bad day and had called my nuero as of what to do.  He was backed up with patients and told me if it was bad enough to go to the ER.  Okay, hard headed as I am these days and sick of ER's and dr's, I waited it out and started feeling somewhat better.  Then BAM, Sat. night it hit me again.  My left leg was achey and tingling all day at the gym meet I was at.  And half way home I started having numbness in my left arm and face.  This time my chest was achy and tight.  I finally got home and took tylenol pm and fell asleep.  Then yesterday I woke up very fatigued and tired, my leg still achy and numb and tight, and my arm and face.  Then I started having those spells where I felt like I would 'faint'.  I finally gave in and we went to the ER around lunch.  To my dismay, I left without many answers or help.  The ER looked over my MRI reports and said all he saw was a 'small non -speciific pituatary tumor' on the brain, and two bulging disc in my lumbar spine and spinal stenosis.  He didn't actually look over the films of the MRI"S.  He also believes that my estrace hormone I take, (I am taking it because i had a hysterectomy about 4 years ago), he thinks it's causes stroke like symptoms and that I could have a small blood clot.  He gave me an aspirin.  And he put me on oxygen.  And then gave me an ativan.  He told me to stop taking the estrace until I could get back in with my gyno.  And a visit to a cardiologist would be a good idea too.  And then to see what my nureologist says about all of my test on my Wed. apt.  And when I asked him to contact my nuerologist, being he's the one who told me to go to the ER, I assumed he'd tell them something to do, right? Well, the ER doctor told me that my nuerologist doens't have hospital rights??? What is that???  I am soooo very confused.  And the ER dr asked me what my nuero was looking for, I told him MS, and he said, we'll there's no mention of MS on your MRI reports.  He said, And he did the lumbar MRI because you had back pain, not MS, and I said, well, he put on the report BACK PAIN because he didn't want to wave any red flags to MS until he was SURE for insurance reasons.  I am just at the point past frustration!  Hundreds of dollars down the road and still not many answers and what info. I am getting does not make sense.  It's like a big puzzle.  What do I do?  Wait to see my nuero on WEd. and see what he says?  And could bulging disc and spinal stenosis cause all of these symptoms?  Could it be MS?  And ideas?  Any advice?  Anything would be helpful!

[sllowe]

Hi there,

I'm so sorry for what you are going through.  I don't understand the hospital rights bit either, maybe one of our nurses here would know more.  I'm sorry you are not any closer to knowing what is going on.  

I do think however, that it would be good to get that referral lined up for the cardiologist.  It was a great recommendation by the attending Dr at the hospital.  Did they run any labs to see if anything was going on w/your heart - i.e., you said tingling arms, tight chest, etc???

You can ask for a copy of the bloodwork they ran, to look for a couple of things.

hang in there,
-SL

[wingnut19]

Hi Shelley

Wow!  You've sure been through a lot over the past few days....I really hope you get some answers soon.

Which MRI's have you had besides the lumbar one?  I am pretty sure that I've heard on here that a lumbar MRI cannot possibly find any spinal lesions. I believe that the cord ends just before the lumbar region. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong! )
This is probably what the ER doctor meant when he said the "lower back pain" thing.

Some doctors only have "hospital privileges" at certain hospital's and not others...It doesn't mean that he/she is a bad doctor, it just means he/she doesn't have privileges at that certain hospital, that's all....

You're going to see your Neuro this Wednesday, right?  Do you have an appointment already with a cardiologist?

Please try and keep your chin up, it sounds like you'll be going through some more testing, which will bring you closer to answers....

Take Care,
Tammy :)

[Shellshack]

Okay, I'm not sure about the Lumbar MRI showing lesions or not?  I've had a mri on my brain, lumbar and thorasic spine all with and without contrast.  Plus I had bloodwork done, thru my nuerologist, and he did the VEP, SSEP, EMG and BEP testing.  They did do bloodwork at the hospital.  How do I go about getting my lab results back for my own records?  From the ER?  From my dr's apts?  I've heard someone say on here before we can even get copies of our MRI's?  I'm not sure what cardiologist to go to either.  I felt like I would wait for my Wed. apt. with my nuerologist and let hime refer me or see what he thinks.  I know my leg and my arm have been bothering me terribly.  My leg felt like somebody had shocked it on the side by my shin all day on Sat.  It didn't hurt it was like someone smashed my funny bone on my leg.  Weird.  I feel that tight banding in my back.  And my arm aches and sometimes my face goes numb on the left side.  And what scares me is when I feel like I get really dizzy and might faint.  but it only last a few minutes and then goes away.  It's crazy.  All of this is crazy.  I am wondering now what to do about my hormones.  Stop taking them equals I'll start having menapause symtoms.  I'm only 34.  And I feel like most people arrounnd me think I'm some pathetic young hypocondriac...with nothing better to do!  AHHHH!  I had severe edo. for years until finally had a dr. due a lap. on me and see it.  Said it was the worst case of endo. he'd ever seen.  That was why I had the hysterectomy.  And felt great afterwards.  Went on hormones immediately.  

So, any advice from you all???  And thoughts??  Words of encouragement???  I am actually starting to think maybe I am crazy!  And if I do have two bulging disc and spinal stenosis, why doesn't my back hurt?  And if I have a non-specific pituitary tumor, what does that mean>?  The only thing my bloodwork showed was that my TSH level was slightly above normal at a 3.3.....does that coincide with a pituitary tumor?  Gosh, i pray the dr. puts these peices of the puzzle together for me Wed. and that I keep my sanity until then!  I am an officical nut case today.  I'm going to call into work and just stay in bed.  Wha.......

Sorry, it's just a bad day.  And I enny people who are out in teh world enjoying and living life.  I so wish to be outside in the beautiufl sun by our pool!!!

[sllowe]

Okay - Breath!

You can do this!

Call the Hospital, ask if you can get copies of your labs. (this I know they can do)

Wait for your Drs appointment to get copies of your other tests.

Check the internet for Cardioligists in your area, it will keep your mind busy.

Your not crazy, but you do have to find some peace during these bad days.  

We are here for you.  And, when the board is less active, find something distracting for yourself.

You can DO this!
-SL

[Shellshack]

Thank you for your words of comfort and encouragement!  I was at 'whit's end' earlier..lol.  Still there, but not as bad.  I'm in bed trying to watch movies and relax.  Took another ativan to help with the anxiety.  Tyring to NOT research my conditions anymore than I have to because it's making me anxious just trying to figure it all out on my own.  

Anyway, thanks for your support.... : )

It meant a lot!
Shelley : )

[Quixotic1]

Hi, Sorry it took so long.  I read all your journal entries and read most of your posts.  I don't have a great feel for how all of these sensations have started and changed.  I do think that you have anxiety thing muddying everying.  I also think you have had some atypical panic attacks.

Now, first realize that I am NOT saying that what is happening to you is DUE to anxiety.  Quite the opposite, I feel the anxiety is secondary to losing function in your body.  Panic attacks are automatic cascades of chemical reactions in the body that are very hard to abort.

You have many symptoms that do resemble MS, but there are so many other things that are possible also, especially with your family history of autoimmune disease.

I am going to have to defer to your neurologist for the answers.  What seems clear is that he is quite invested in determining what is wrong.  Your appointment is tomorrow, or todaym depending on where you are.  The best thing to remember is that everyone here will be there in the office with you.  We will help you sort out the information and take the next steps.  I'm glad you have the Ativan, but you may need something more long term for the anxiety until we get some more answers.

I wish I could put more together for you, but I just couldn't.  Sometimes the picture doesn't get clearer for me.

Tomorrow's appointment will go fine.  Find out what the neuro suspects, what evidence he has and what the plan is next.  Mention the sever anxiety and that the Ativan has helped.  Tell him how often you are taking the Ativan.

As soon as you can, come back and tell us how everything went.

Good luck, and ((((HUGS))))  Quix

[RAY911]

Shelly, I'm so sorry your going threw all this.  It has to be scary!!!  Just please remember we are all here for you!!!!

Make sure you get all the records from the ER. you can get them by calling the Hospital ask for Medical records and tell them you need ALL records including the Lab work. tell them you will be picking them up. today or tomorrow before your appointment with the neuro.  They are YOURS and they have to give them to you!!!!!

If you can Write down EVERYTHING that happened before the trip to the ER,, everything that happened,, The way you were feeling etc.  that way you wont forget anything at the Neuro appointment.

I wish you all the best,, and remember we are all here for you!!!!!

I'll be praying for you!!!!

Prayers and Hugs
Ray

[Shellshack]

Thank you so much for your support and advice.  I will definitely call the ER this morning and get my medical records to take with me.  Quix:  You are right about the panic and anxiety attacks.   I do believe it's a way my body is reacting to what is going on with me.  I think after my leg being numb all day Saturday and then my arm and face, it was the next thing to happen.  I definitely need something for anxiety until all of this settles down.  

My apt. is at 3:30 today.  I'm going to get my ER records before I go.  I will write down everything for him that's happened since my last apt. also.

Thanks for your support and prayers.  Will post again after my apt.

: )
Thanks!!