Aa
Newbie to this forum...
First off, I'd like to apologize in advance for the lengthy post I am about to type. =)
My name is Wendy. =) I am a 41 yr old female with past diagnoses with allergies, Asthma, Polycystic Ovaries, Fibrocystic Breast Disease, Psoriasis, Joint Hypermobility and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. None of the diagnosis I mentioned currently cause me any problems like they did in the past (and even then, they were only minor, aside from Asthma and allergies, of course). I have enjoyed a symptom-free existence from of all these medical issues for over ten years (aside from seasonal allergies that are very easily controlled by Reactine). Oh, and I had moderately high cholesterol (6.1).
This year has been a pivotal and frustrating year for me in terms of health. I am currently a happily married, stay at home mom of an 8 year old boy (with Autism) and a 13 year old boy. Life is good except for new health issues. In fall of last year, I started noticing cognitive difficulties with short term memory and fatigue. I thought maybe I needed to get out more, so I joined a gym to take Zoomba classes and started hiking one and a half hours a day 4+ times a week with my dogs and a friend, while the kids were in school. The only Rx I was taking was for Crestor 10mg since January 2010 (when I remembered to take it =P).
In February, I began having issues with asthma for the first time in over 10 years. O_O We had an early thaw this year and the doctor chalked it up to dead grasses and molds being present in the environment where the snow melted so quickly. I was given a Rx for Ventolin, Flovent, Flonase and Reactine. I was then sent to an allergy specialist and she recommended I try Singulair because it controls allergies AND asthma. My allergy test revealed many allergies to environmentals such as grass, dust, mold, cats, trees, pollens, flowers, chemicals, perfumes, latex and some foods. I tried the Singulair in April and that's when all Heck broke loose.
Three days after taking Singulair, I developed a fever, sore throat, system wide swollen lymph nodes, sore and aching joints, night sweats and extreme fatigue. I stopped taking them and called the allergist and she said it was a virus and to go back on the Singulair in two weeks (just in case). All symptoms disappeared almost immediately (completely within 2 days). I took Singulair again two weeks later (May 5) and exactly three days later, I was at the hospital for the same symptoms only worse. My temp was not 102 like last time, but up to 106. I also had an odd, scaly, ring shaped rash on my torso and a blistering rash on my lower legs. My leukocyte count was 26, but all other blood tests came back within normal parameters.
I went off the Singulair and every other asthma medicine and Crestor. I was exhausted!!! I slept all day and all night for at least a month and developed weakness and tremor. I had a twitching in both eyes all day long, but never constant (episodes). My GP ran a full spectrum of blood tests checking for mono and anemia. The only thing that came back out of the ordinary was an elevated cholesterol (6) and a very low Vitamin D count. She ran tests for hypoglycemia because my shaking got worse and was not constant but got worse at certain times of day. I also had the leg rash that was treated with antibiotics and hydrocortisone cream to no avail.
In June, I still had a lot of tiredness, but could stay awake longer. I still had eye twitching, shaking and weakness and the rash on one leg. The rash is the only thing that was getting better. I am on the waiting list to see a dermatologist, but apparently, they are very busy and it can take a few months to get in.
In July, I still have the rash on one leg, the tiredness is more tolerable and the weakness and tremors are progressed to a stage that I have to be careful I don't poke my eye out if I scratch my nose because I miss my mark a lot. I found it difficult to walk, was dizzy, but not in the way that I felt sick, but in a way where I was extremely unbalanced. I developed a tremor in my neck and my eyes themselves started shaking.
At the end of July, I went to the hospital because I woke up with weakness in the left side of my face and tingling/buzzing on the left side of my body. I had lost the ability to articulate words properly without stuttering and slurring. They ran an EKG that came back normal with only a slightly elevated blood pressure (panic??). They thought maybe it was MS. They ran a CT scan and it came back clear. The neurologist came to see me and he found anomalies during his physical examination and ordered an MRI. I spent 4 days in the hospital. The last day I was there, I could talk again and my face was almost back to normal with the weird weak feeling only happening periodically. The MRI came back clear.
The neurologist came in to see me, told me there was nothing wrong with me neurologically (even though he said he found anomalies and during his exam), told me he couldn't help me, but sent me to a Physical Therapist to get a cane and an OT and insisted I come to his office in three months to "see how my symptoms settle and evolve". If it's not neurological and he can't help, why would he not release me from the hospital until I got an appointment from his secretary to see him again in three months? If it's not neurological, why see me at all?? I am frustrated and confused. Why do I need to walk with a cane if there's nothing wrong with me?
Two weeks later (yesterday), I went to see my primary care doctor. and she said the neurologist said that there was indeed something neurologically wrong with me and that he has scheduled another visit with him and another MRI with gadolinium (sp?). She also told me he said it could be MS or it could be....she paused and wouldn't tell me what the other thing on the report said. I asked her about what it said, and she told me that neurological things take time to manifest and that we should just wait and see. I asked her if it read ALS, because he did mention it to me in the hospital, but she just said there's no need to worry until we know for sure. How could I not? :*(
Anyway, that's it in a huge nutshell. LOL! Thanks for listening. Any insight would be awesome!
Wendy
My name is Wendy. =) I am a 41 yr old female with past diagnoses with allergies, Asthma, Polycystic Ovaries, Fibrocystic Breast Disease, Psoriasis, Joint Hypermobility and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. None of the diagnosis I mentioned currently cause me any problems like they did in the past (and even then, they were only minor, aside from Asthma and allergies, of course). I have enjoyed a symptom-free existence from of all these medical issues for over ten years (aside from seasonal allergies that are very easily controlled by Reactine). Oh, and I had moderately high cholesterol (6.1).
This year has been a pivotal and frustrating year for me in terms of health. I am currently a happily married, stay at home mom of an 8 year old boy (with Autism) and a 13 year old boy. Life is good except for new health issues. In fall of last year, I started noticing cognitive difficulties with short term memory and fatigue. I thought maybe I needed to get out more, so I joined a gym to take Zoomba classes and started hiking one and a half hours a day 4+ times a week with my dogs and a friend, while the kids were in school. The only Rx I was taking was for Crestor 10mg since January 2010 (when I remembered to take it =P).
In February, I began having issues with asthma for the first time in over 10 years. O_O We had an early thaw this year and the doctor chalked it up to dead grasses and molds being present in the environment where the snow melted so quickly. I was given a Rx for Ventolin, Flovent, Flonase and Reactine. I was then sent to an allergy specialist and she recommended I try Singulair because it controls allergies AND asthma. My allergy test revealed many allergies to environmentals such as grass, dust, mold, cats, trees, pollens, flowers, chemicals, perfumes, latex and some foods. I tried the Singulair in April and that's when all Heck broke loose.
Three days after taking Singulair, I developed a fever, sore throat, system wide swollen lymph nodes, sore and aching joints, night sweats and extreme fatigue. I stopped taking them and called the allergist and she said it was a virus and to go back on the Singulair in two weeks (just in case). All symptoms disappeared almost immediately (completely within 2 days). I took Singulair again two weeks later (May 5) and exactly three days later, I was at the hospital for the same symptoms only worse. My temp was not 102 like last time, but up to 106. I also had an odd, scaly, ring shaped rash on my torso and a blistering rash on my lower legs. My leukocyte count was 26, but all other blood tests came back within normal parameters.
I went off the Singulair and every other asthma medicine and Crestor. I was exhausted!!! I slept all day and all night for at least a month and developed weakness and tremor. I had a twitching in both eyes all day long, but never constant (episodes). My GP ran a full spectrum of blood tests checking for mono and anemia. The only thing that came back out of the ordinary was an elevated cholesterol (6) and a very low Vitamin D count. She ran tests for hypoglycemia because my shaking got worse and was not constant but got worse at certain times of day. I also had the leg rash that was treated with antibiotics and hydrocortisone cream to no avail.
In June, I still had a lot of tiredness, but could stay awake longer. I still had eye twitching, shaking and weakness and the rash on one leg. The rash is the only thing that was getting better. I am on the waiting list to see a dermatologist, but apparently, they are very busy and it can take a few months to get in.
In July, I still have the rash on one leg, the tiredness is more tolerable and the weakness and tremors are progressed to a stage that I have to be careful I don't poke my eye out if I scratch my nose because I miss my mark a lot. I found it difficult to walk, was dizzy, but not in the way that I felt sick, but in a way where I was extremely unbalanced. I developed a tremor in my neck and my eyes themselves started shaking.
At the end of July, I went to the hospital because I woke up with weakness in the left side of my face and tingling/buzzing on the left side of my body. I had lost the ability to articulate words properly without stuttering and slurring. They ran an EKG that came back normal with only a slightly elevated blood pressure (panic??). They thought maybe it was MS. They ran a CT scan and it came back clear. The neurologist came to see me and he found anomalies during his physical examination and ordered an MRI. I spent 4 days in the hospital. The last day I was there, I could talk again and my face was almost back to normal with the weird weak feeling only happening periodically. The MRI came back clear.
The neurologist came in to see me, told me there was nothing wrong with me neurologically (even though he said he found anomalies and during his exam), told me he couldn't help me, but sent me to a Physical Therapist to get a cane and an OT and insisted I come to his office in three months to "see how my symptoms settle and evolve". If it's not neurological and he can't help, why would he not release me from the hospital until I got an appointment from his secretary to see him again in three months? If it's not neurological, why see me at all?? I am frustrated and confused. Why do I need to walk with a cane if there's nothing wrong with me?
Two weeks later (yesterday), I went to see my primary care doctor. and she said the neurologist said that there was indeed something neurologically wrong with me and that he has scheduled another visit with him and another MRI with gadolinium (sp?). She also told me he said it could be MS or it could be....she paused and wouldn't tell me what the other thing on the report said. I asked her about what it said, and she told me that neurological things take time to manifest and that we should just wait and see. I asked her if it read ALS, because he did mention it to me in the hospital, but she just said there's no need to worry until we know for sure. How could I not? :*(
Anyway, that's it in a huge nutshell. LOL! Thanks for listening. Any insight would be awesome!
Wendy
Thanks for the warm welcome! <3 =) I know I posted a lot of stuff there, but seriously, I've been pretty darned healthy. There was a period of 6 years where the doctor's receptionist called me to see if I was still alive because I didn't see her at all. =P And I didn't suffer terribly with anything else I listed. They were just concerns because they were more annoyances than anything and never anything debilitating. This was the very first year I experienced anything so scary (except asthma, but like I said...it's controlled now and has been for many years).
My big question is, if you are in Dx Limbo Land, how do you apply for a job? Do you apply WITH a disability or without? Are you legally obligated to say you have a disability or is it a Catch 22. If you don't tell, does it come back to bite you on the backside when you need time for appts? Just wondering. Thank you SO much. So very, very appreciated!
Wendy
My big question is, if you are in Dx Limbo Land, how do you apply for a job? Do you apply WITH a disability or without? Are you legally obligated to say you have a disability or is it a Catch 22. If you don't tell, does it come back to bite you on the backside when you need time for appts? Just wondering. Thank you SO much. So very, very appreciated!
Wendy
Poor you. That sounds very frightening. The reason they do an MRI with contrast is that a regular MRI shows lesions or changes, but there is no way of knowing if they are new or not. With the contrast any recent scars will show up so they can know if things are progressing.
On the MS forum on the right side is an area called health pages which has a lot of info, if you are able to concentrate. It talks about MRIs and also about mimics of MS and how they tell the difference.
I'm glad you have support in your life, but this is a good place for virtual hugs as well. Take care
On the MS forum on the right side is an area called health pages which has a lot of info, if you are able to concentrate. It talks about MRIs and also about mimics of MS and how they tell the difference.
I'm glad you have support in your life, but this is a good place for virtual hugs as well. Take care
Hi Wanderling, I'm so terribly sorry that your life has been interrupted by these debilitating symptoms. Take hope and courage. We don't have all the answers here, but the good folks on this forum are fabulous at listening, and actually hearing what you have to say. I'm utterly exhausted at the moment, but just couldn't help but drop you this reply.
My very best to you today.
--faithHGL
My very best to you today.
--faithHGL
My apologies... I thought this was going into the "Introduce Yourself Here" section. Don't know how I mixed it up. Sorry! :S
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