Strange symptoms

[Mira6464]

I am a 39 yr old fe in pretty good health.
Known conditions I have are HBP, PCOS, cold urticaria and mild mitral valve prolapse. I have frequent headaches and am constantly fatigued. A few yrs ago I had a CT that was neg for the headaches.
I have been experiencing strange symptoms on and off for the last couple of years, but lately they seem to have gotten worse.
They are:
Tingling in my hands/face.
Slight tremor in my thumbs.
Left eye twitching almost daily.
Increasing clumsiness. I can reach for an object behind another object, I know the other is there, but I always knock it over. I do this all the time.
I've been having more and more trouble getting my words to come out. It's like my mouth can't keep up with my mind anymore.
Increasing forgetfullness. It's almost scary how I forget things now.
Varying degrees of muscle weakness/pain for no known reason.
Sometimes my extremities will feel numb (almost like vibrations), but it usually doesn't last more than a few hours.
My typing has gotten worse (The majority of my job is typing).

I have no known injury that would contribute to these symptoms.

With this I'm getting depressed/mood swings and afraid to go to the doctor. I am quite shy and feel that my symptoms are so small that I will get blown off.
Your opinion would be greatly appreciated and if you think I should go get examined it might be the push I need to do so.
Thank you.

[RZC]

With the comments about neurologists, I thought I should share this.  I was refered to a neurosurgeon when an arachnoid cyst the size of a golf ball was found on a recent MRI.  At first, he said, I see a couple hundred cases like this a year, but most patients could not explain their symptoms so no treatment was initiated.  Because I was able to give specific examples of my symptoms including changes in vision, hearing, the frequency of headaches, ect, he took my case more seriously.  In the past 6 months I have had two brain surgeries and hospitilized an additional time during recovery for possible siezures.  In the end, my doctor said I was giving him an ulcer!

[ontherecord]

I can tell you for a fact, and an indisputable one at that, that you can definitely appeal the decision of the Workers Compensation Board in a court of law.  Courts of law will give great deference to the determination of the agency/board, so the burden of proof on your side is significantly higher than just "more likely than not" which is the standard courts use in civil (but not criminal) cases.  Remember, Workers Compensation Boards are pseudo-courts (courts which carry out quasi-judicial functons) and EVERY person has a right to appeal a final decision to a JUDICIAL court of law (courts created under Artcile III of the U.S. Constitution).  

If you can prove, via substantiated medical testimony from one or (preferably) more TREATING neurologists (hopefully with excellent credentials), you can get the decision of the WCB overturned in my estimation.  Just make sure that your medical evidence is so consistent and unimpeachable so much so that it's not even open to attack.  If you want really want to seal the deal, what I would recommend is that you go see the Department Chair of Neurology at an excellent and well respected academic health center and see if he confirms the diagnosis and prognosis that you are unable to work (anyone who has suffered 3 strokes, in my belief, is presumptively unable to work and shouldn't be expected to either).  In any event, if you have 3 (and you already have 2, if I read correctly) opinions from treating neurologists, you WILL win in a court of law, and the judge will, sua sponte (on his own initiative) overturn the decision of the Administrative Law Judge.  

Did you file for SSDI with the Social Security Administration? How old are you by the way? And also, depending on the state you're in, you probably have grounds to sue your employer for intentional infliction of emotional distress, for punitive damages, for dangerous work environment created by negligence and a HOST of other torts.  I think you have a great appeal from the WCB final decision (you can only appeal a final decision in a court of law, there is no "interlocutory" appeals in these proceedings) and an even better case against this shady, unconscionable, egregiously malevolent employer.  By the way, your case against your employer will be taken up by a personal injury attorney who will only collect IF you collect, so you have nothing to lose.  Just make sure the statute of limitations has not expired, and if it has, maybe you can get it "tolled" (extended).

Also, what state are you in?

You have gone through a tremendous amount and I have the utmost respect for your courage and your resolve my friend.

[mercury_man22]

yes I think the doctors hospitals many employers only care about how much money they can get.

doctors are only human I think many of them forget that and need to be remind of it

I have some doctors refuse to see me or tell me that they not need too see me again.  I tell them that is fine because I do not care have my time wasted.  I also tell them not too worry I will report them for their conduct.  It iis amazing how quick the attitude is lost and how quick they try too make up for things.  I guess it is just matter of stand your ground.

[mercury_man22]

I have to agree that female doctors have been better then the male doctors I have been too.  I have 2 female family doctors and they fight to get me treatment that I need and ready to go to court for me.  What ever it takes.  It seems that the most help and the truth about my condition has come from the female doctors I have seen.  I have one male specialist and he is not bad.

You has to stand up for yourself and take matters into your own hands and keep at it because in many cases doctors work by numbers how many patients can I get thru in a day and how money can I make.  

I have copy of my medical file.  I take it with me when I go see a doctor.  I take copies of information about all metals that I was exposed too.  I find this way that doctors take things more serious because they know I have information.  If they ask questions or claim something different I give them the information.  I ask questions and expect answers.  I take notes.  I take someone with me as witness.  

Whenever I go see a new doctor I ask for copy of report to be sent to me.  Some doctors agree with no problem, others offer it before I ask and some refuse.  If they refuse I say that is ok I get the report from my doctor.  If there are any mistakes I correct them and fax correct info to the doctor that wrote report and drop off copy to my family doctors.  

Some doctors get very upset by this, as they not like to be questioned or to be shown to make mistakes.  I have doctors refuse too see me because of this.  That is fine and I tell them this and remind them that they playing with my life and the mistakes they make and refuse to correct could kill someone.  I also ask how they would feel if they saw a doctor that treated them the way they treated me.  I ask one doctor arrogant doctor what is difference between god and some doctors.  He had no idea so I tell him god does not think he is a doctor.

If you have serious problems with a doctor you can always report them too the medical associtaion.

[Roselady3]

I tend to agree with everyone here on the Neurologist issues. The issues of "respect" comes to my mind. Our issues with Neurology are due to a brain injury. Epilepsy was the end result. He has no patience for a brain injured person who tends to get angry & blurts things out (typical for TBI) I am responsible for 100% of my adult daughters medical bills- I feel I am being ripped off when I pay $150.00 for 3 minutes of this mans time & all he ever does is increase her meds to an untolerable level. He never listens to her concerns or problems. You can tell that he dislikes her. He gives her nasty looks & litterally has told her that she isn't being smart (duh!! She is brain injured!)

we are on Neurologist #4 in 4 years- & it always comes down to the same thing. I have tried to find a new Neurologist-- they all have 4 month waiting periods- Most wan't take a patient with no medical insurance. If you find one that specializes in Epilepsy- they don't understand the TBI- If they are a brain injury doctor-- they don't seem to handle the epilepsy well.

So my question isn't really medically related- but more for you patients--- HOW DO YOU GET THE RESPECT THAT YOU DESERVE FROM YOUR NEUROLOGIST???

My second question is-- HOW do you ever get a question posted on here for the doctor to answer? I have tried for over a month--all different times. I have even got up in the middle of the night. I have tried when others questions were appearing-yet it wouldn't take mine.

I would like her last EEG interprated- as this doctor didn't bother to. He said it was "fine"-- but I paid for a copy of the report from the hospital that did the test- it said it was abnormal. I called & asked for the doctor to explain- he said to make an appointment (another $150) when at her regular appointment-(1 month later) I was told he was too busy- that this has to be done right after the testing was done.

[ontherecord]

Good questions.  What were the surrounding circumstances related to your daughter's brain injury? How did it happen (car accident, recreational, etc.)? How old is she? Were there physical manifestations on the CT or MRI of brain injury? And finally, did she have epilepsy prior to the injury or did it develop as direct result of the injury?

As for your other questions, you have to go into an appointment and be assertive with your doctor.  Be well-informed, ask specific questions, and focus on the things that can be treated.  Always prepare a one-page memorandum and make sure he reads it, because it saves a lot of explaining.  Try to be as precise as possible.

As for getting a question posted, it takes some time and patience.  Keep at it, and you'll eventually get through.