Left arm/hand and face numbness

[purpleowls]

I am 20 years old, healthy but over the past week the left side of my face started going numb and now my left arm goes numb and its very weak. I have no chest pain and no pain anywhere else in my body. I went to the ER a few days ago but they said it was anxiety related but the symptoms seem to get worse and progress and I am not anxious. They said the EKG came back fine and I wouldn't be worried but the numbness is getting worse and I've noticed that when I get short of breath, my toes swell up and my arm starts to go numb again. I am convinced its heart related and i'm hoping to hear feedback and i'm scared that this may be the beginning of something. I do not feel like its a heart attack, I am in no pain and I can still walk and my face is not drooping and the doctor at the ER said she sees no sign of a stroke but my symptoms are progressing and getting worse.

Please give me any input that you can, I am making another doctors appointment but it wont be for another week. I do not drink or do any drugs.

[CCFCardio MD2]

I'm sorry to hear you're having some trouble.  Your symptoms do not sound cardiac in origin.  It is possible you had a small stroke, though if you were evaluated in the ED and they ruled this out it is unlikely.  Migraine headaches can cause symptoms similar to what you are having.  The shortness of breath and swelling are difficult to explain.  They could be due to a weak heart muscle, though this is uncommon in someone so young, but certainly possible.  A full neurologic exam and perhaps a visit to a neurologist would be a good place to start.  And checking some basic labs is not unreasonable.  Best of luck to you.

[achillea]

I'm not a doctor--and I'm sure the doc here will answer your questions soon--but I do want to mention that when you talk about 'numbness,' you are talking about things that have to do with nerves, not heart function.

Since you are describing nerve symptoms on one side of your body, I suspect the right doctor for you to see is a neurologist.

[youngerthandirt]

Thyroid issues, low calcium, and dehydration can cause your symptoms..  I have had left arm tingling, as if it were asleep, even when I am laying on the other side and its my top side arm.  This occured when my T3 was high (hyperthyroid).

Ask dr to check

Vit D
Calcium
Tsh
Free t4
Free t3
Reverse t3