Unusual symptoms

[sharon123]

I have had unusual symptoms going on for almost two years now. First I had pins and needles sensations widespread over my body and occasional muscle twitching and after a few weeks it went away. A few months later the sensations and muscle twitching came back with some other symptoms such as ears ringing, lower back pain, hamstring muscle cramps, some bladder incontinence, and a general shaky feeling. I visited a neurologist because of a concern that it might be MS or something else and had an MRI and general exam. The Dr. said the MRI came back clear and my exam was normal. She felt MS was not a possibility because my symptoms were widespread and it doesn't usually appear like that. True? I was recently diagnosed hypothyroid and she felt that it was probably all related to my thyroid disorder. I have been on medication for a few months and still have these symptoms off and on. Do you have any advice? Thanks for your time.

[4sparrow]

God, I can't believe there are so many other people on here that are seemingly going through the same thing as I am right now.  A year ago this past March, I've been having much of the same hell as all of you.  It started out with numbness, burning, tingling, and loss of sensation in my lower legs, which then progressed to include extreme muscle weakness in arms and legs, extreme mental fatigue and lack of concentration.  Since then, I've been on a roller coaster ride that includes occasional muscle twitching, cramps, neck and jaw pain/stiffness.  Also, sometimes I'll feel "jerky" or uncoordinated, like when I'm walking, it just doesn't feel right... as if I'm being pulled back, or things have been thrown off balance.  This numbness or loss of sensation feeling constantly comes and goes, and can be felt also in my face, fingers, legs, shoulderblade, whathaveyou.

I've been to two neurologists now, have had a normal MRI, normal spinal tap (one ogliclonal band, but the docs said it's not necessarily indicative of anything), and a normal nerve test... I couldn't deal with the pain of the needle EMG a year ago, the docs REALLY want me to have another one, so I have one scheduled in a few weeks.  

I also have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which I've had ever since I was a baby (I'm a 27 year old female).  Needless to say, this **** SUCKS.  Sometimes I have "good" days and sometimes I have "bad" days, but as that person above so eloquently said, my perception of what is "normal" has had to severly change as of over a year ago.  Nobody can tell me what is going on with me.  At one point, they thought perhaps MS, but now they think that MS is "very unlikely" because I have no lesions.  I've had SCADS of blood tests, but to no avail.    I'd think this were fibromyalgia, but I don't seem to have as much PAIN as those folks have.  Instead, I just can't walk, or STAND for ****.  This illness has had an extreme affect on my life, and in combination with my athritis really makes things quite a challenge.  I'm angry that nobody can tell me what's wrong... I'm angry that I have to have yet another TEST that will probably do little to NOTHING to actually help me reach a diagnosis.  And even if I do have a diagnosis, will anything actually be able to HELP me?  Who the hell knows, at this point.  Reading your posts have helped me stay strong, though, with the knowledge that we can all help one another out when everyone else things maybe we're a little bit crazy.  I know I'M not.  

--4s.

[jlhjlh]

my problems began in may 1994, I was diagnosed with a herniated disc in c6 and c7, i too have had all of the horrible symptoms everyone describes, tingling, numbness, pain, in my arms, legs, etc. i also have carpal tunnel in both wrists, i have pain and pressure in both temple areas on my head, i have very dizzy spells and almost pass out but haven't as of yet, all over body swelling, extremely tired and aching all over all of the time. just had another mri and it showed arthritis in my left upper body, my herniated disc is on my right side...so far so good, huh? i was taking prozac up until a my ins co decided they did not want to cover it (helped me more than anything ever has!!!!)i just started taking zoloft not working for me as good as prozac did, i have a lot of nerve problems due to my disc pressing on my nerves. i feel deeply sympathetic for all of you ! hang in there and keep smiling...i guess it could be worse

[Deb1ie]

Hello to everyone who has posted under the subject of Unusual symptoms.  I, too, had (I emphasize "had") nearly all the symptoms you complain of.  I was stricken while on a driving trip on Pacific Coast Highway.  Our destination was Monterey, California, and right around Cambria (near Hearst Castle) I noticed what I thought were flu-like symptoms combined with car sickness and anything else I think of to blame how I was feeling.  I was 32 years old at the time and for the next eight years, my symptoms were nearly impossible to live with.  I went through a battery of tests and was sent from one doctor to the next, all specialists in their field.  A few months after I became ill, my husband, who has juvenile diabetes, was also stricken with what we began to call our "strange disease."  I would no sooner get my stomach problems under control, only to have my vision go heywire.  My muscles ached so bad at night that my husband had to "pack me" in pillows to try to relieve some of my pain.  At work during the day, I lived in increments of hours (When could I take a break?  When was lunch?  When could I go home?)  My low back (bottom) hurt so bad I could hardly support myself in a chair.  My husband's symptoms were similiar except that having diabetes took his symptoms to the extreme.  He had sores in his mouth, his diabetes was out of control at times (and he is a very controlled person and follows diet, medication and exercise precisely.)  We were both ill for a very long time.

Eventually, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and also with chronic fatigue syndrome.  My husband was diagnosed with pernicia (sp?) anemia.  These diagnoses did not raise our spirits.  We were left completely dissatisfied by the medical field.  

I truly believe that although medical science cannot run a single test and point to a specific test result, and state, "there, that's exactly what you have - this test prove it", that there are still many undetectable illnesses out there and that you and my husband and everyone else on this site with common symtoms are truly ill and not hypochondriacs.  You are not losing your minds.  Your symptoms are not caused by stress or your imagination or something you ate or your hormones.  (Although I do believe stress and other factors can exascerbate your symptoms.)  You really do have something wrong with you and medical science can only guess at what it is, if that.  

So, hang in there.  My symptoms did subside a bit and my life is a bit more tolerable now.  Just as one of you wrote, you do try to adapt and your image of normal has to change in order for your very survival.  Life threw all of you a tremendous curve ball.  It's not fair and it's hard to keep your spirits up when things are at their all-time hardest.  You are desperate to return to your old life.  Your friends and family are concerned about you but you can see a bit of doubt in their eyes.  Is she really ill?  Or is she crazy?  Is she just bidding for attention?  Why can't her doctor do something for her?  You start to keep your complaints to yourself but this is next to impossible but your disablity is so incredibly invasive. It affects every task you attempt, every move you make, every function of daily living.  As I write this, I firmly believe that most of my symptoms have gone into a remission of sorts.  I still have some bad days, but I also have some of what I call "75 percent normal" days and relishing these days and remembering these days is what gets me through the bad ones, because on bad days, I keep telling myself that I'll have a good day soon.  I have more good days than bad right now and for this I am very greatful.  Someday medical science will catch up and we will be treated more effectively.  Until then, hold on to your good days, or simply your good minutes.  Hug your children, your spouses, your significant others.  Pet your dog or your cat.  Have a good cry.  It will release endorphines that will make you feel a tiny bit better, even if it's only for a few moments.  Remember that you are not alone.  

Debbie

[ditter]

Debbie,
Thanks for the validation.  I think that is the biggest thing to deal with--that people-doctors, spouses, friends-look at you as though for some reason, you feel the need to gain attention or sympathy by pretending to be ill.

[shamrock12]

I have been experiencing similar symptoms since December.

- tingling that is widespread (face, back, arms, legs, etc)
- numbness if I drink in my chin, gums, jaw and lips
- pain all over, especially near rib cage
- increased washroom visits (I am known for having a bladder of steel!)
- dizziness and lightheadedness (sometimes my knees give out)
- intense fatigue (I think I can, and want to do things but when I try I am useless).
- weight gain because I just can't seem to do anything
- incredible stiffness in my legs, arms and feet
- a twitching right eye
- trouble breathing
- an inability to stay focused
and more I am probably forgetting.

I have been feeling terrible and have tried to get help from doctors.  I have had every blood test done in the book, and they show nothing.  I have had a chest x-ray, face x-ray, an EMG, two carpal tunnel tests (including arthritis), and I did an MRI a year and a half ago (for unrelated headaches before this began) and they all showed nothing.  Yesterday I went to my family doctor I've been seeing since before birth, and he was so confused... he suggested I go to a rheumatologist and an internist, but I don't understand why. I am tingling all over and he thinks it is in my joints?  I am no expert, but I was under the impression that tingling was a neurological phenomenon, and my family agrees.

I used to be a pretty healthy person, but over the past while I feel like a hypochondriac, except that I know the symptoms are real.  I want to be my old self again, and I want someone to tell me how to get there, but no one seems to take this seriously.  I typed up a long list of symptoms, medical history, everything, and my doctor wouldn't even read it.  Do I really have something wrong with me?  If so, where should I go next to get it fixed, or at least recognized?  I am 21 but I feel like and old lady.  I just want my life back.  Reading this forum atleast I know I'm not alone, I hope we all whatever it is we need to feel like ourselves again!

[huglbugl73]

Stacy!
I also have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder...probably triggered by my appaling health. There is never any trigger for the symptoms...but I feel like I'm dying when I have a severe attack. I have been taking Zoloft for 2 yrs now...have no side effects, and the only time I have an attack now is if I'm in severe pain....or forget to take a tablet! I also have most of the symptoms described on this page...and many other problems.
No wonder my body is reacting with anxiety attacks!!!
I have found that the best thing to do is to keep pushing myself to do as much as possible with my life. I have been through stages where I can't get out of bed...but I try to find some reason to make myself get up and moving!!!
I am only 29 and cannot remember ever being healthy!
I am lucky to have a doctor that believes in me...and keeps pushing for answers...hopefully I will find them one day! But untill then...I refuse to be a slave to my pathetic excuse of a body! Smile!!!
Huglbugl