Looking for cause of severe fatigue and numbness.

[KiaSister1]

I am a 36 yr old female. About three years ago I had an MRI done of my back and brain. They were looking for MS. Instead they found Chiari malformation. My main symptom at the time was numbness in my arms and legs and fatigue. Chiari fit since I also had neck and shoulder pain. I had decompression surgery in 2011. The neck pain has gone away and for some time there was an increase in energy, a slight increase. Initially the numbness went away too. But the numbness has come back and is pretty constant now. Since then I have been tested for Neuropathy, we found none, 2013. About a year ago they found severe sleep apnea and I have been on cpap since July 2013. They say it is working, but I can't tell, except the Zombie like fatigue went away. In January 2014, the zombie like fatigue came back along with nausea. They did all sorts of blood work including thyroid. My liver function was elevated enough to cause them to check out why, but not freak out. The liver panel came back normal.  But gallstones were found. Also in Oct 2013 I was in the ER with chest pain. Which they called heartburn, I have had for years. I was permanently put on Prilosec. As a solution to the nausea, they increased my prilosec. In March 2014 I had my gallbladder removed and that got rid of some abdomonal pain. Nausea, fatigue and chest pain stayed. The fatigue is overwhelming at times. I was given prescription Aleve for chest pain, which my doctor called costocondritis. About three weeks ago I was put on Wellbutrin for depression, since nothing else seems to fit and I have a family history of it. My energy level has not changed. I follow up with my doctor next week for the depression. I was also put on 50,000 IUs of Vitamin D the beginning of march. I am tired of feeling this way. I wake up tired every morning despite sleeping 8 hours with cpap. Some days are better than others and I manage to be somewhat productive. I just had a bad reaction to the Wellbutrin and have stopped taking per doctor orders. I will see him this week for a follow up. I would like some things to suggest to him. We have also ruled out pregnancy and diabetes.

[selmaS]

  Did they check ur pituitary gland?

I just read something about CFS with brain trauma's.....surgery is a trauma to the brain....not sure if it qualifies or not, but something to check out for sure....but somehow the pituitary glad is affected.

I know some meds we take for pain and HA's can cause stones to form....and could explain the fact they were calcified...

Keep me posted on how ur exercise helps....I am in the same boat but each time I do a little more, I tend to feel like I over did it have to sit out for a time and I am back at square one....good luck.

[KiaSister1]

I recognize you from the Chiari Forum.

So the Wellbutrin did not do well for me. My doctor is not putting me on another anti-depressent, we were sort of just ruling out that possibility. I met with him today, je really doesn't think ot is depression noether do I. He ran some more blood tests, the ones that weren't done since Feb. They are testing vit  b12 and  RA and I'm not sure what else. Bit he is confodent they will come back normal, at which point he will start treating me for Chronic Fatigue. I have actually been leaning in thos direction for a few months. As I have studied up on it, it seems there seems to be a connection between CFS and other conditions or surgeries. It occured to me that my Chiari could have caused the CFS. If this doesn't work, I think he will have me consult with my NS again and see what he thinks. I am hoping CFS is my issue, especially if the Chiari could have caused it. As long as I can have the energy to actually do something. Anyway that is where we are.

As for the gallbladder, I think the surgeon said the pylori was ok,  I don't remember. I just remeber thinking that surgery was a walk in the park after the decompression. But my stones were calcified.

The fatigue was present post op. I can remember that run down feeling nearly 20 years ago.

Diet doesn't seem to make a difference with the GERD. Just somethings make it worse, but it doesn't seem to matter if I cut stuff out, I still get it. However is seems to have decreased some with my gallbladder gone.

I am going to try a regular workout, once again, though I'm not sure it will help. It will at least rule that out. If I can handle it.

Sorry for the typos, I'm doing this from my phone.

[selmaS]

  Hi...sorry u r having issue post op from ur decompression surgery....those that do have found they have related conditions that were underlying and not found prior to decompression.

GERD is one issue most with Chiari do have as well as Ehlers-Danlos...and many have been DX'd with costocondritis.

Have u tried Magnesium along with ur Vit D?....with taking the Vit D have ur levels gone up?

After ur Gallstone surgery were u tested for H.Pylori?

Along with ur RX  of Prilosec have u been instructed to modify ur Diet and lifestyle to aid the meds?

Anxiety will feed the symptoms so trying to relax is important, not easy, but important.

I pray u feel better soon.