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Muscle fatigue and perceived weakness/twitching
Hi everyone,
I have been having a slew of health problems recently but am still awaiting further testing. In the meantime, I am very stressed and having a hard time managing. I keep getting worried that my symptoms could be onset of ALS despite knowing how illogical it sounds. I am a 25 year old male.
First, I was diagnosed by my doctor with a sinus infection, although it was probably very slight. She prescribed me Augmentin and I took it for 5 days and immediately started feeling bad on it. After I quit taking it, I noticed some tingling in my hands and feet at work on Thursday the 11th. The next evening, Friday, my legs started to feel unsteady and heavy when I walked and my hands and arms remained tingly and had perceived weakness. On Monday morning, the 15th, I went to the ER and they believed I had Lyme Disease and prescribed me doxicyclin. I took this for 7 days, but did not feel any better. I remained having perceived weakness primarily in my legs accompanied by muscle tightness, muscle soreness, and very slight, sporadic twitching all over. On the 19th, I saw a neurologist who dismissed my symptoms as not serious as my reflexes were ok (knees were slightly weak, but I was very tense during the test) and I was able to walk normal, it just felt strenuous. My lyme test came back negative and a second western blot also came back negative.
Currently, I continue to have all of my symptoms, including perceived weakness, muscle fatigue, soreness, tightness, and twitching. Symptoms are present all over my body, but concentrated in my legs. When I lay down at night, my whole body will feel as if I had a sunburn and I am having difficulty sleeping because of my worrying. If I go out and walk, my legs gets very sore and tired much quicker than they ever did before. Additionally, I have been having a very dry mouth and tight feeling throat. My PCP believes it to be either post-viral syndrome, mild MBS, or the least likely, MS. Others have suggested b12 or vitamin d deficiency. I have an MRI scheduled next week and an appointment with a different neurologist.
Other info:
-Was prescribed zoloft and am less than one week in to taking it. I believe it may be increasing the shakiness of my hands and my stress, as it takes some time to adjust to it.
-Was prescribed ambien to sleep. I'll sleep for about four hours straight, but then have a hard time continuing to sleep once I wake up. I believe I might be twitching or jerking in my sleep which wakes me.
-I tried to go to the gym on the 24th and run and lift weights. The next day, it felt like it really set me back, as I was much more sore and my legs seemed more unsteady.
-Began taking b12, b complex, magnesium, D vitamins.
-Had multiple blood tests. The only abnormal result was a positive ANA for speckled at 1:80. I read this can be a pretty common result.
-Less than 2 years ago, I had shingles.
Any thoughts on what could be wrong with me?
I have been having a slew of health problems recently but am still awaiting further testing. In the meantime, I am very stressed and having a hard time managing. I keep getting worried that my symptoms could be onset of ALS despite knowing how illogical it sounds. I am a 25 year old male.
First, I was diagnosed by my doctor with a sinus infection, although it was probably very slight. She prescribed me Augmentin and I took it for 5 days and immediately started feeling bad on it. After I quit taking it, I noticed some tingling in my hands and feet at work on Thursday the 11th. The next evening, Friday, my legs started to feel unsteady and heavy when I walked and my hands and arms remained tingly and had perceived weakness. On Monday morning, the 15th, I went to the ER and they believed I had Lyme Disease and prescribed me doxicyclin. I took this for 7 days, but did not feel any better. I remained having perceived weakness primarily in my legs accompanied by muscle tightness, muscle soreness, and very slight, sporadic twitching all over. On the 19th, I saw a neurologist who dismissed my symptoms as not serious as my reflexes were ok (knees were slightly weak, but I was very tense during the test) and I was able to walk normal, it just felt strenuous. My lyme test came back negative and a second western blot also came back negative.
Currently, I continue to have all of my symptoms, including perceived weakness, muscle fatigue, soreness, tightness, and twitching. Symptoms are present all over my body, but concentrated in my legs. When I lay down at night, my whole body will feel as if I had a sunburn and I am having difficulty sleeping because of my worrying. If I go out and walk, my legs gets very sore and tired much quicker than they ever did before. Additionally, I have been having a very dry mouth and tight feeling throat. My PCP believes it to be either post-viral syndrome, mild MBS, or the least likely, MS. Others have suggested b12 or vitamin d deficiency. I have an MRI scheduled next week and an appointment with a different neurologist.
Other info:
-Was prescribed zoloft and am less than one week in to taking it. I believe it may be increasing the shakiness of my hands and my stress, as it takes some time to adjust to it.
-Was prescribed ambien to sleep. I'll sleep for about four hours straight, but then have a hard time continuing to sleep once I wake up. I believe I might be twitching or jerking in my sleep which wakes me.
-I tried to go to the gym on the 24th and run and lift weights. The next day, it felt like it really set me back, as I was much more sore and my legs seemed more unsteady.
-Began taking b12, b complex, magnesium, D vitamins.
-Had multiple blood tests. The only abnormal result was a positive ANA for speckled at 1:80. I read this can be a pretty common result.
-Less than 2 years ago, I had shingles.
Any thoughts on what could be wrong with me?
Check your vitamin D serum in a couple of months to see if levels have risen.
"It is projected that raising the minimum year-around serum 25(OH)D level to 40 to 60 ng/mL (100-150 nmol/L) would prevent approximately 58,000 new cases of breast cancer and 49,000 new cases of colorectal cancer each year, and three fourths of deaths from these diseases in the United States and Canada, based on observational studies combined with a randomized trial." - Vitamin D for cancer prevention: global perspective. - Ann Epidemiol. 2009 Jul;19(7):468-83.
"It is projected that raising the minimum year-around serum 25(OH)D level to 40 to 60 ng/mL (100-150 nmol/L) would prevent approximately 58,000 new cases of breast cancer and 49,000 new cases of colorectal cancer each year, and three fourths of deaths from these diseases in the United States and Canada, based on observational studies combined with a randomized trial." - Vitamin D for cancer prevention: global perspective. - Ann Epidemiol. 2009 Jul;19(7):468-83.
My EMG and nerve conduction study actually came back normal, so now my neurologist says it's just post viral. Recent blood work indicated low vitamin D though, at I think 26 when the recommended range is 30-100. I was told to take 4000 hg's a day of vitamin D, but am worried about if it is actually being absorbed. I take magnesium with it as well.
Was diagnosed with mild Guillain Barre today. Neurologist is quite sure of it, but EMG should confirm.
MRI came back normal except for a moderately large retention cyst in the base of the left maxillary sinus and a small 1 cm cyst in the right side as well.
Depends on how low your magnesium levels are (if they are low to start with that is). My mild symptoms go away in a day or a few days. My bladder pain I had for 2 years for instance improved 50% in one week but it took longer for the pain to be completely gone (can't remember how long). Magnesium is the most important co factor for vitamin D absorption and taking vitamin D can bring out or worsen an existing magnesium deficiency state.
It can happen rather quickly depending on the form of magnesium you take (pill, oil, cream, transderm, bath flakes). Only a small percentage of mag. is absorbed into the body and the rest is excreted through the stools. In addition, other things factor into it's how it works, such as other medications you take, if you have any kidney disease, if you drink alcohol or soda, other foods you eat...all of these can reverse or slow down the effects of how the magnesium works. You can research this online to learn more. Stress, recent surgery and illness, eating high surgery foods - all mentioned above, also contribute to a loss of magnesium. Studies are mixed if taking it with Vitamin D help and are still being investigated.
Regardless if you want to take it or not, you should still notify you doctor since this is a supplement, and supplements are not FDA approved, but may interact with other medications you take.
Regardless if you want to take it or not, you should still notify you doctor since this is a supplement, and supplements are not FDA approved, but may interact with other medications you take.
Magnesium deficiency symptoms can show up very quickly due to anything from stressful situations to eating refined sugar. I woke up from surgery with severe magnesium deficiency (already had a bad deficiency unknowingly) and kept it severe taking high doses of vitamin D. SMH I wish I had of known as it took 2 years to figure it out! If I eat sugar symptoms will show up overnight.
Oh sorry I just read you are taking magnesium. :) Just make sure it's absorbable (magnesium chelated with amino acids is very good).
I had those cluster of symptoms you list due to magnesium deficiency although my tightness of throat felt like a lump in the throat personally. I couldn't raise my vitamin D and calcium levels until I corrected my magnesium deficiency either.
You have a lot going on for being so young. It sounds like you are also deconditioned due to dealing with the illnesses recently, so I would lay off the gym until you are better.
Yes, it does take a while for your body to adjust to some medications, so give it more time, and the Zoloft can cause the dry mouth.
Without having results from an MRI, other things cannot be ruled out. Perhaps it is good that you are seeking a 2nd opinion. Keep copies of your reports and labs, but don't "doctor shop." You want to establish a rapport with a doctor you can communicate with, coordinate a plan of care, and it is your best interest.
Keep us posted since you have these tests coming up.
Yes, it does take a while for your body to adjust to some medications, so give it more time, and the Zoloft can cause the dry mouth.
Without having results from an MRI, other things cannot be ruled out. Perhaps it is good that you are seeking a 2nd opinion. Keep copies of your reports and labs, but don't "doctor shop." You want to establish a rapport with a doctor you can communicate with, coordinate a plan of care, and it is your best interest.
Keep us posted since you have these tests coming up.
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