MS, Cerebral Stenosis, Nerve Damage or Complicated MIgraine?

[Sonaya]

I am 38yr female who for the past going on 5mths now have had multiple symptoms/problems that started suddenly with no previous health issues other than high cholesterol and being overweight.
I presented to local emergeny dept with stroke like symptoms. By the time I got there the symptoms were gone and the whole "attack" Lasted about 1hr from start to finish and I was fine, completely normal again. It started with the worst head pain I have ever had, and I have never suffered headaches or migraines before in my life. Blurred vision, unstable on my feet, left sided facial numbness, and inabiltiy to get my words out- vague.  And it all came on suddenly like the flick of a switch. MRI with no contrast, Lumbar puncture, CT of head, CT for sinuses, dopplar studies of carotid arteries, numerous bloods including lupus, shingles, thyroid all completely normal.  4wks later had another attack- head pressure in eyes & ears like liquid filling up, legs went weak and like they were going to give way on me, went vague again and couldnt get my words out (not slurred speach).  Lasted 45min.  These attacks are now taking on new symptoms that are solely happening to the left side of my body, tingling, pins & needs, radiating heat sensations, profuse sweating, stiff neck at the base of my neck right down the middle of my spine i get pain with radiating heat, left arm, shoulder blades, hip, leg all down left side, muscle pains.  Bowel incontinence, facial spasms left sided only eye twitching left side only, clear liquid running from nose from pressue (not sinuses as that has been thoroughly checkout out) and now left sided chest pain, with radiating to left neck, shoulder blade and aorund to back.  Alleviated with nitro spray under the tongue possibly angina pain but t hought I was having a heartattack. ECG normal.  Due to have stress test tomorrow but my general physician does not think its heart related but i am high risk factor given my family  history of heart disease.
My question is I know there is something very wrong with me but all tests so far are normal.  Physicain wants to do another MRI of the cerebral spine but he is not really saying what for.  He is not convinced its MS as its too frequent.  My conern is that some of these newer symptoms sound like nerve damage and I am worried its possibly from the lumbar puncture I had as it was done 4 times & very traumatic before they got the sample and I actually felt them hitting bone twice.
What do you think is going on with me I seem to have a physician who thinks it might be complicated migraine but it doesnt explain many other things and he is not big on talking or explaining.

[WildBill_45]

hi sonaya, don't know about the liquid coming out your nose but I have M.S and diabetes and all the other stuff like high blood pressure and chol.I get some of the same systoms.like a intense heat kinda like flashing feel like I'm in front of a bond fire sweating like crazy.my heart races and I get pain down my left arm,side,and under armpit into my breast area.it feels hard to take a deep breath. I been going to the doctors for 10 yrs and they keep saying it's panic Attacks. so I been on zanax 0.05mg small dose 2 times a day and it seems to help. but I still get them. the little attacks and the only thing seems to help me is if I lye down on my stomach and someone rubs my left rear shoulder blade. and the attack. lets go.I'm like you I get so darn frustrated with the doctors it as if they don't give a *hit and brush ya off like you a nut case. I just want to feel a little normal. cause I sure don't know what that feels like anymore. hope this helps in anyway. just remeber you not alone.  get better and god be with you      c-ya WillBIll

[billysmom213]

I was diagnosed with acm 10/2006 and have had decompression surgery so if you are diagnosed with ACM I have some experiance with it and could help with advice or any questions you may have

[Sonaya]

Thank you so much for your reply, I will definately keep posted, Im having an MRI of cerebral cord next Monday. I am not sure if its with or without contrast.  My previous brain MRI was done without contrast and they dont feel it necessary to do another brain one?  I have tried to push having another with contrast but nobody wants to listen.  Because of the bowel incontinence now and worsening symptoms I think hopefully someone will start to listen.  I will look up the ACM I have never heard of it.  Once again thank you very much.

[jcverive]

This sounds like a CSF flow problem - acute severe headache, clear fluid from nose (ear also a common spot), and self-resolution after pressure is relieved. The addition of uni-lateral neurological deficit over a large area makes me think that an Arnold Chiari Malformation (ACM) may be present, which could also cause CSF pressure build-up by blocking circulation in the area of the foramen magnum (a large opening in the top of the spinal canal, through which CSF fluid is exchanged between the brain and spinal cord). An MRI of the head and neck is required to diagnose or rule out an ACM. Contrast and T1/T2/other weighting may be required to image CSF flow.

Good luck, and please let us know what you find out!

[Sonaya]

Thanks very much billysmom213,
Yep clear fluid running from nose, just from the left nosteril only.  I could feel the pressure building up in my head, my ear and then my nose and then it just came out of left nosteril, everything on the left side.  The lumbar puncture procedure was done once but it took the training doctor 4 attempts to get the sample.  I think the reason why none of the doctors here are saying anything to me about my problems is because they dont want to commit or say it might be related to the lumbar because its looking more and more like all my latest symptoms could be very well coming from that.
I'm not even thinking about law suits or anything like that, far from it I just want to be well and get on with my life and get some answers so I can deal with it.  I have been told I should have had an MRI with contrast of the brain.
I think because docs are so quick to put everything down to stress or anxiety, what causes me anxiety right now is the frustration of not getting answers and having doctors w ho will actually take the time to listen and communicate and explain everything.
Anyway thanks so much for your reply.

[billysmom213]

Clear fluid running from your nose??? Sounds like CSF Fluid. 4 lumbar punctures..  wow arent those a bit dangerous?  That could cause problems right there from what I have researched.  Keep on Truckin Girl.  Don't give it up and when you talk to your docs, be strong tell them how you really feel... they know the pains tell them your frustrations tell them you want to be taken seriously and if you dont feel as though you are not  being taken seriously or  ask to be referred to another doctor.. Dont worry they wont be offended.  I saw the neurologist 3 times a week after my surgery and I know you can have a whole conversation in the docs office and still not get the questions you want answered, answered.   MAke a list be positive and relentless.  This is our lives we are responsible to take care of ourselves.  Not downing docs.  Just saying, doctor patient relationships could stand to be a little more personable.  Take care and be well.

[Momzilla]

I know it's so frustrating, waiting for an answer.  Wish I could help, but I'm just going to bump this to the first page, so it can be seen.

Feel better!

Zilla*

[Sonaya]

I should also add the complicated migraine could have been the intial problem that I presented to ermergency back in Sept with  Although it was also mentioned about inner ear vestibulitis as a possibility. There was no follow up after all results from the thorough testing came back normal.  Until I started having more of these problems down the track.

I wanted to also add that my spinal pain, radiating heat sensations(hot spots), tingling, pins and needles, spasms and profuse sweating starting happening about 4wks after the lumbar puncture done in Sept 2007.  Intially after the Lumbar I had back pain and headaches which my doctor said it would just take time to resolve after having the lumbar puncture.

Also diabetes test was clear.  The MRi I had done in Sept 2007 was just a head not a spinal cord.  I have the spinal cord MRI done in a couple of weeks.

I dont want to seem like I do not like my physician its just nobody seems to be taking me seriously enough because all other test are coming back clear and I am getting worse with my symptoms.   I do not suffer anxiety or panic attacks and am not stressed.  

I really would love to have a reply from someone on your opinions or the next steps to take or questions I should be asking because I think the next step is to see a neurologist.
Thanking you in advance.