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Severe Personality Changes. . . what should I do?

Hi,

I am a 24 year old male.  I am having severe headaches daily -- they are tingling, and pressure like, primarily focused on the left side.  My head almost feels "empty" at times.  However, the headaches is not what bothers me -- In the past year or so, I have been getting progressively "duller".  Recently, it has reached a point at which I am having a very hard time performing daily tasks.  In general I am experiencing:

1. memory problems: both long-term, and short term.  forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, trouble reading, focusing hard on trying to understand people and not getting it [this is one of the worst symptoms, I am somewhat “befuddled”], having to ask people to repeat themselves.
2. general confusion: I have a hard time understanding people.
3. social confusion: I am having a hard time being creative, getting jokes, being socially appropriate in general.  I sit and rack my brain for things to discuss, and just draw blanks.
4. speech: I say the wrong words than what I am thinking.I am also having a very hard time expressing myself, and summarizing things.  cant seem to make myself clear to others.
5. muscle stiffness -- in my hands, neck and back.  My lower back is constantly hurting, and the back of my neck just recently started.  Every now and then I realize that I am pushing my neck far forward unknowingly for no reason.
6. urinary issues: I urinate VERY small amounts.  I can urinate fully and to relief in 4 to five seconds.  I experience severe urgency and frequency.
7. numbness in my face and jaw stiffness.
8. back of my head is sensitive to touch, and I think I have new bumps back there, but am unsure.
9. coordination / awareness – constantly walking into things, dropping things, walking into other people.
10. changes in sensation – Sense of taste, hearing, vision seem weaker.  Food tastes bland.  Unable to tell if I am full or hungry.  

Truthfully, I feel completely different.  I think it is worth noting that I was a former student government leader, speech writer, entreprenuer, and am currently a law student.  I received top marks, and am known as a VERY outgoing guy.  These issues are completely non-characteristic of my personality.

That said, I have been to the ER for this recently.  I had an MRI, CT Scan, and a spinal tap, along with various blood work.  Everything came up negative, which is a relief, but my symptoms are so severe and real that I am not receiving any treatment or relief.

What should I do? Help!  Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.  What could it be? Possible MS or some sort of neuro degenerative disease?  I have nothing like that in my family, and can't imagine I could be so sick @ 24.
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Avatar universal
Thanks so much for your time, and comments.  I am more than happy to share, and explain.  I recently moved and had no access to doctors in my network, period.  So, as a last ditch effort to get covered care, I went to the E.R.  Granted, not the best policy, but given the seriousness of my symptoms, it seemed like a good idea at the time.  Since then, I have arranged an appointment with my PCP, a urologist, and a neurologist.  
    My symptoms are getting worse, including facial and muscle stiffness, tingling and numbness, and cognitive problems.  This has been going on now for over three months, and I am worried that I may be "stuck" like this.
    In terms of the "stressful" aspects: I think this is a fair assessment, but truthfully, I'm not that stressed out.  I work a 9-5 day, take two hour lunches, have a great job, and really enjoy my weekends.  I have always had a lot of strss in my life, and really, nothing has changed.
    I don't have any else to share, i.e. no drug usage history or personal issues.  Really, I'm just your average guy who suddenly finds him with 24/7 headaches, and with symptoms that are beginning to severely interrupt my life.
    I am looking forward to meeting with the neurologist, but am starting to feel like: what can they really do?  .  
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488264 tn?1226520307
There is something not quite clear, and it may be for good reason, but I'll ask as it may bring up other issues.  With all this going on, you only mention here a visit to the ER, whereas I get the impression this has not happened suddenly? - only because you give such a full history.  Is there a reason why you haven't taken this to your PCP?   Or maybe you have?  As you show with your concerns at the end of your post, these could be potentially very serious symptoms, and if you presented this to your PCP they would very likely want to make referrals.  You would get a more in depth assessment at these referrals too, in that unlike the ER, they would be working to fully diagnose you, not just to assess whether your condition is immediately life-threatening.  I just think there is more going on here.  It's pointless to speculate as only you know what is going on, but if for example you have taken this to your doctor and for some reason not been treated well, that is something many people on this forum and others can give support with.

  Working with such limited information, there are a few other suggestions that spring to mind.  You talk about your stiffness and pushing your head forward.  Whilst this may be something you are not doing consciously it is likely putting tremendous stress on your spinal nerves, so any exercise that can improve your posture may help eg. Alexander technique.  The urinary problems can also be neruological in origin.  It does sound like you need to be assessed in a few different areas, neurologically, maybe also by an osteopath or physiotherapist.

I am in no way belittling your symtpoms, but law is notoriously stressful, and stress does terrible things to the body.  It may be that this is a severe stress reaction, as real as any degenerative disease, but caused by your lifestyle.   Just keep an open mind as to the possible diagnoses, and what you can change, eg. your posture, do.  

Frankly, I don't know what I'm picking up on here, and you certainly don't have to share it with us, but if there are other issues going on, for the sake of your health and future you must address them.  That said, if you worsen dramatically and rapidly, don't think twice about going back to the ER, but look into longer term solutions as a priority I think.
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