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.

[KimSb]

MM, are you doing chelation for your metals poisioning? If so, what method are you using? My husband's Mercury Level is elevated and he would like to begin either oral or IV chelation ASAP.

[Mira6464]

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm sorry you are going through this. Your experiences with lazy and arrogant doctors is my biggest fear besides what might be ailing me. I work in a hospital and have not heard one good word about any of the neurologists on staff, which is why I'm looking outisde my area. I not only need a comptetent doctor, but a personable one as well. Those are not easy to find. :(
I'm glad to hear you found the reason for your problems, and like OTR and am interested to hear what is going on with your employer.
Thank you so much for your insight.

[ontherecord]

My neurologist is very arrogant, but he is somewhat personable I must say.  Wasn't so much the first time I visited him, but I guess I grew on the guy.  I've realized one thing, a very important thing, and a very sad thing at the same time and it's this: if your doctors like and respect you, you get way better treatment than if they don't.  I've seen it too many times not to believe it.  You would think that all patients would be treated similarly but that's far from the case.  My neurologist didn't think I needed an MRI, but ordered one anyway, because I pressed for it.  Gotta be assertive and proactive, but respectful without being obsequious.  If they like you though, it goes a long way toward better care.  Women unfortunately have it worse in the healthcare system, especially when they see male doctors.  I think women doctors are generally nicer, more comprehensive, and more patient than their male counterparts.  So try to make an appointment with a female neurologist.  That may help.

[Lawn]

Hi Again!

I was diagnosed by Marvin Schuster at Johns Hopkins.  I have alot of digestive symptoms, so my GI specialist sent me there.  He has since retired, unfortunately, and the others who are there are just not as knowledgeable as him.  There are neurologists as well who specialize in this.  Right now I see a cardiologist locally who happens to have a special interest in dysautonomia. It is difficult to get a diagnosis.  Coincidentally, tonight I came across info on autonomic seizures which sound exactly like my more severe episodes.  I have to wonder whether that is a possibility as well.  My illness was triggered by a severe virus 10 years ago, and I have periods of relatively better health and periods of severe decline, especially in relation to my menstrual cycle.  I also have low thyroid, and keeping my thyroid levels stable has been helpful overall.  I have tried endlessly to find a pattern, but I have come to the conclusion that there is none.  Things that make it worse for me are: sugar, eating a large amount at one time, standing in one place too long, and heat.  As you can imagine, after 10 years, my story is long and involved.  Feel free to e-mail me if you want to talk more...***@****

Lauren

[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.