Tingling, numbness, vision issues

[cardiffscotty]

Hello Everyone-

This is my first post as I am new to MedHelp and the forum.  I'll try not to ramble but roughly 2-years ago I went through a really tough time after experiencing a few severe panic attacks that brought me to the ER several times.  Over the past few years I was a new daddy, got divorced, lost my house, struggled in the Mortgage business and lost both my Mom and Grandma.  In the ER I went through several tests including  MRI, CT Scan of brain, blood tests, chest x-ray, etc. with nothing coming up. I even had a Thyroid scan too! The doctors just wanted to put me on anti-anxiety meds as well as xanax to help me sleep and write it off as Anxiety and stress.  For the past 2-years I have been dealing with numbness, tingling and aching in my hands (spend a ton of time on the computer) and some tightness in my eyes and a little fatigue. I do have the urge to urinate sometimes but don't have to get up in the middle of the night.  I am 47-years old and in great shape and workout 4-5 days a week in the gym, surf, beach volleyball etc.- I am also a vegetarian (1-year since any meat) but eat fish and just veggies- don't smoke or drink. My question is can this all be stress that is staying with me all this time?  Could the ER doctors have missed any sign of MS?  Could I have a b-12 deficiency?  Everything happens mostly at night and when I wake up I am tingly and numb but sometimes may confuse my soreness with the Gym.  Do I need to go to a Neurologist? I would really appreciate some feedback as I am still really scared and need to be upbeat and healthy for my 3-year old son!  Thank You very Much!  Scotty

[cardiffscotty]

Thank you too Meg!  Did your symptoms get worse and what caused you to go back to your doctor?  I have seen 2 different doctors and have had every test in the book at the ER!  Wouldn't a trained ER doctor call a neuro in the hospital to review the scans?  It seems like if there was an issue they would strongly advise me based on evidence in my brain that I should see a neuro or specialist?  Thanks for the response-  Scotty

[cardiffscotty]

Hi Bob,

I really appreciate your feedback.  It has been very tough for me and its hard for me to think I may have to visit the Neurologist to get checked out.  The scary thing is that I have been to my Doctors several times and he suggested that I see a therapist and just wanted to put me on anti-anxiety and anti-depression drugs.  After seeing him I returned to the ER several times as well as seeing a new doctor with the same results.  I really can't talk to my family about my symptoms because they think i'm crazy and its all in my head and I know my body and the symptoms are real...My lifestyle is super active and a I am highly functioning (never miss any work) and initially I thought I may have carpel tunnel because I spend so much time on the computer and it has just gotten worse from there.  I changed my lifestyle to alter my diet for acidity reasons (no meat or anything with high acidity) and am clean (don't smoke, no drugs and minimal alcohol) and I workout like crazy in the gym!  My question is-Can I do anything to minimize my symptoms and at what threshold should I go to see the doctor again?  Am I doing damage to my body by not getting help and will it hurt me in the long run?  I really appreciate you reaching out and helping me during this tough time- Have a great weekend!  Scotty

[COBOB]

Meg,

To be fair, ALL doctors know something and ALL doctors miss things.  I have worked with many fine Emergency Medicine Specialists in Trauma ERs (Baltimore Shock Trauma/GW in DC/Beth Israel Medical Center NYC)  They know a thing or two.    They are not Neurologists.  Their job is to keep the patient alive long enough for the specialists to get involved.  They are trying to get past the "Magic Hour."  Yes, I have met may fair share of contract docs in small hospital ERs, but many ER Trauma doctors are among the smartest doctors I know.  They have to know about the medical emergencies in every specialty.  Emergency rooms are not expected to diagnose MS.  It is not their job. MS is not a medical emergency.  Even the neurologists don't see it as emergent.

Bob

[meg321]

Oh, and ER Drs know nothing, they will just treat you and tell you to see your own Dr.

meg

[meg321]

Hi Scotty,

welcome to the forum...I think you should see a good neurologist  abot this.  I realize it just some tingling and numbness, but I had all of those thing long before i even thought about MS.

they just labeled them as something else...so i would find out why.  I wish I would have had it checked out but I just let a lot of symptoms go. and so did the Drs.

good luck,

meg

[COBOB]

Scotty,

Welcome to the forum.

It doesn't sound like MS. "Numbness, tingling and aching in my hands" and "tightness in my eyes" sounds like symmetrical symptoms.  When you say "little fatigue" that is not how most MS folks describe MS fatigue.  The description of things getting worse at night and improving during the day is not what I;d call typical of MS, although it seems to apply to my spasticity.   Also, you don't seem to state a well defined "attack."  

It would  not hurt to have your B-12 tested.  Yes, it could be stress.  ER docs miss all kinds of things. You may have a Neurologic condition and may benefit from a referral to a Neurologist.

Bob