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Are these pre stroke symptoms??? part 2
I found ways to coupe with the discomfort and my symptoms seemed to come and go. I had given up on my family doctor and just figured I would have to deal with this until I found another doctor. My symptoms were starting to increase to the point where I had constant neck problems. I've had a stiff neck for years but only on the left side. I had very frequent chest pains around where my heart is and oddly enough I would have tingling sensation in my left heel and sometime my left arm. I also had very intense headaches. They weren't like a normal headache, which I would describe as pain. They are like extreme pressure building in my skull on left side of head in the rear only. I have frequent pain behind my left eye and left inner ear, also in upper rear portion of the left side of my head I would feel sharp or tingling pain accompanied by the sensation that some one was pouring water over my head. I never seem to be able to kick the stiff neck either. The mobility in my neck never seemed to be effected but it always seemed uncomfortable like it needed to be cracked or something. Frustrated with my doctor I went to alternative forms of medicine. I saw a massage therapist regularly. I saw a chiropractor, which I found seemed to make matters worse. I tried stretches and improved my posture and sleeping conditions, but nothing worked. I tried exercise and I use a chiropractic pillow.
Along the way I had many flare-ups in which the suffering seemed unbearable. I tried taking different pain meds but didn't like the idea of being doped up all the time, and although they made the sensation slightly more bearable they never stopped the root of the problem. No medication I’ve taken has seemed to have and affect of my symptoms. At one point I had to go to the emergency room because my condition severely worsened and I had no other hope. I told the whole story to the emergency room doctor and he agreed to do a ct scan and MRI on my head to see if there was and tumors etc. They both came back negative. That was about a year and a half ago now. I stopped seeing my family doctor all together now for over a year but my symptoms are getting worse and far more intense. There’s been days where I felt I must go to the hospital but fear it would be all for not. There is about an 8 hour wait just to get into emerge in my area and unless with have a condition that they can treat right away then they usually send you home without answers. They just say "go see your family doctor." I understand there situation being busy and all and don't doubt that in their minds I'm low on the priority list but that doesn't do much to improve my situation.
I've been finding lately that I'm getting a lot of burning/tingling pains all over he left side of my body. The left arm is affected most frequently. Most times it feels cold and feels like pins and needles. I have also noticed lately the frequency of the attacks is greatly increasing. I also forgot to mention that all the glands on the left side of my neck are enlarged. When I feel the glands in and around the rear of my neck and throat, they are much larger then that of the right side by comparison. I sometimes feel discomfort around the left side of my trachea. I'm not sure if the neck pain is related to the glands but I thought I would mention it. About 5 days ago now I had a very acute attack. I was working when I felt like a pinch in the rear of my skull accompanied by a warm sensation. After that my vision was effected and my depth perception was off. The pressure in my skull is horrible and the neck pain was brutal. I felt light I couldn’t get a deep breath although my breathing seemed normal. I’ve had to take quite few days off of work because I couldn’t focus and was in pain. And if you know me I hate taking days off work because I love my job and I’m a workaholic.
The only thing I was ever found to relieve any of these symptoms is a freezing cold ice pack on the trigger area in my skull and in and around the area in my neck where it felt stiff and soar. This is only a temporary fix and very inconvenient if not at home. This has been one of the longest acute attacks I have experienced since I was hospitalized those two previous times and nothing seems to be improving. I been constantly icing and taking some aspirin just in case it’s a blood flow issue. My left arm feels cold and somewhat weaker then my right. And I'm getting a lot of burning pain in my left wrist where the vein is. The other strange occurrence is I feel like I'm not getting enough oxygen. It’s hard to explain because I don't have trouble breathing but I feel a shortness of breathe. I've gone to my pharmacy and had my blood pressure tested and it always reads well below the safe levels. Can blood pressure be too low? I’ve been almost incapacitated for the last few days and can’t seem to kick the problem.
Well I know I've droned on and on about my history and symptoms and I thank you in advance for any insight you might have regarding my situation. Sorry about writing in such length but I didn't want to leave anything out. Since quitting drugs and cigarettes over fours years ago I just want to live a normal life again. I have everything on track, job, relationship, family, everything accept for my health. I'm at my wits end, and I desperately need your help. I feel like I have nowhere else to turn. I'd be more then happy to answer any question you have and would greatly appreciate it if you could forward this to any other doctors if you think that they may be able to help. I'm begging for any glimmer of hope. Please Help!
Along the way I had many flare-ups in which the suffering seemed unbearable. I tried taking different pain meds but didn't like the idea of being doped up all the time, and although they made the sensation slightly more bearable they never stopped the root of the problem. No medication I’ve taken has seemed to have and affect of my symptoms. At one point I had to go to the emergency room because my condition severely worsened and I had no other hope. I told the whole story to the emergency room doctor and he agreed to do a ct scan and MRI on my head to see if there was and tumors etc. They both came back negative. That was about a year and a half ago now. I stopped seeing my family doctor all together now for over a year but my symptoms are getting worse and far more intense. There’s been days where I felt I must go to the hospital but fear it would be all for not. There is about an 8 hour wait just to get into emerge in my area and unless with have a condition that they can treat right away then they usually send you home without answers. They just say "go see your family doctor." I understand there situation being busy and all and don't doubt that in their minds I'm low on the priority list but that doesn't do much to improve my situation.
I've been finding lately that I'm getting a lot of burning/tingling pains all over he left side of my body. The left arm is affected most frequently. Most times it feels cold and feels like pins and needles. I have also noticed lately the frequency of the attacks is greatly increasing. I also forgot to mention that all the glands on the left side of my neck are enlarged. When I feel the glands in and around the rear of my neck and throat, they are much larger then that of the right side by comparison. I sometimes feel discomfort around the left side of my trachea. I'm not sure if the neck pain is related to the glands but I thought I would mention it. About 5 days ago now I had a very acute attack. I was working when I felt like a pinch in the rear of my skull accompanied by a warm sensation. After that my vision was effected and my depth perception was off. The pressure in my skull is horrible and the neck pain was brutal. I felt light I couldn’t get a deep breath although my breathing seemed normal. I’ve had to take quite few days off of work because I couldn’t focus and was in pain. And if you know me I hate taking days off work because I love my job and I’m a workaholic.
The only thing I was ever found to relieve any of these symptoms is a freezing cold ice pack on the trigger area in my skull and in and around the area in my neck where it felt stiff and soar. This is only a temporary fix and very inconvenient if not at home. This has been one of the longest acute attacks I have experienced since I was hospitalized those two previous times and nothing seems to be improving. I been constantly icing and taking some aspirin just in case it’s a blood flow issue. My left arm feels cold and somewhat weaker then my right. And I'm getting a lot of burning pain in my left wrist where the vein is. The other strange occurrence is I feel like I'm not getting enough oxygen. It’s hard to explain because I don't have trouble breathing but I feel a shortness of breathe. I've gone to my pharmacy and had my blood pressure tested and it always reads well below the safe levels. Can blood pressure be too low? I’ve been almost incapacitated for the last few days and can’t seem to kick the problem.
Well I know I've droned on and on about my history and symptoms and I thank you in advance for any insight you might have regarding my situation. Sorry about writing in such length but I didn't want to leave anything out. Since quitting drugs and cigarettes over fours years ago I just want to live a normal life again. I have everything on track, job, relationship, family, everything accept for my health. I'm at my wits end, and I desperately need your help. I feel like I have nowhere else to turn. I'd be more then happy to answer any question you have and would greatly appreciate it if you could forward this to any other doctors if you think that they may be able to help. I'm begging for any glimmer of hope. Please Help!
consider getting tested for APS...Please check out the following and see if it mirrors your symptoms as it did mine, i had over half of them.
http://www.apsfa.org/
http://www.apsfa.org/
First, get your heart checked. Go to AZ Heart Hospital or a heart and stroke specialist. Also, Go to a place like Barrows Neurological in Phoenix Arizona. They are experts in almost everything neurological, including stroke. It sounds like you are doing your own research in order to figure out what is wrong, and that is great! Keep it up! I have had to diagnose myself my entire life and then present myself to the correct specialist. It sounds like you may have migraines! Look up the different types by googling migraine. You may have hemiplegic ( I think that's what it's called) migraines where half of your body suffers from a nerve disturbance, like a feeling of wetness, numbness, pain, or paralysis. Please look into this. The extreme pressure you feel behind your eye sounds like a cluster headache. And the neck stiffness could in fact be a migraine in your neck. My migraine doc interned at Barrows and is a migraine specialist. Call Barrows and get her name. Also, get an MRI and xrays of your spine. Your spine can cause tremendous pain, suffering, and nerve problems. Since it seems to be worse, time is of the essence. Go to an infectious disease doctor who can test you for cancer, and everything else under the sun. Also, sounds like your heart may be involved. Get checked for clots in the wrong places and make sure that your blood pressure is at healthy levels. Don't guess. The AZ Heart Hospital would be a great place to go too.
I had similar symptoms a year ago and had all the tests...
Stress - too many things on my plate increases symptoms as well as becoming overly concious or anxious about what they could be.
Not every symptom may be related or lead to a life threatning problem so it is important to keep a positive perspective I had a neurologist that thought it could be early signs of MS; however, an immunologist thought it could be allergies because of the swelling in my neck and difficulty swallowing.
I found Prayer, rest and eliminating certain foods greatly improved my symptoms. I found I had become allergic to foods that I thought were ok to eat. I also found that putting my fears and concern in the hands of God keeps me balanced in all that I do. Chances are, if you are a work-a-holic, like I used to be - something is missing and your body is trying to get you to rest. Take it from me; it is better to listen now, than later.
Take care.
Stress - too many things on my plate increases symptoms as well as becoming overly concious or anxious about what they could be.
Not every symptom may be related or lead to a life threatning problem so it is important to keep a positive perspective I had a neurologist that thought it could be early signs of MS; however, an immunologist thought it could be allergies because of the swelling in my neck and difficulty swallowing.
I found Prayer, rest and eliminating certain foods greatly improved my symptoms. I found I had become allergic to foods that I thought were ok to eat. I also found that putting my fears and concern in the hands of God keeps me balanced in all that I do. Chances are, if you are a work-a-holic, like I used to be - something is missing and your body is trying to get you to rest. Take it from me; it is better to listen now, than later.
Take care.
Have you ever had a cerebral angiogram? That is the dye that is injected in a vein and they can see the blood vessels in your brain.
My dad had headaches for a long time, and tunnel vision. he didnt have all your symptoms. However, he went to doctors, even a neurologist and they couldnt find anything. He did have high bl. pressure, but took meds for it.
Anyway, in march of 98, he suffered a massive cerebral hemmorhage. He was total care for 10 years in a nursing home. This was a man who jogged, ate salads, took vitamins, etc... but had a weak vessel in his head. A cerebral angiogram would have detected it and they could have clipped the aneurysm. He would have been fine, but instead suffered for 10 years unable to eat orally, read, write, talk or walk!!!! It was horrible!! I dont want to see anyone else go through this.
I dont know what is going on with you, but this test is just a suggestion. good luck to you.................jan
My dad had headaches for a long time, and tunnel vision. he didnt have all your symptoms. However, he went to doctors, even a neurologist and they couldnt find anything. He did have high bl. pressure, but took meds for it.
Anyway, in march of 98, he suffered a massive cerebral hemmorhage. He was total care for 10 years in a nursing home. This was a man who jogged, ate salads, took vitamins, etc... but had a weak vessel in his head. A cerebral angiogram would have detected it and they could have clipped the aneurysm. He would have been fine, but instead suffered for 10 years unable to eat orally, read, write, talk or walk!!!! It was horrible!! I dont want to see anyone else go through this.
I dont know what is going on with you, but this test is just a suggestion. good luck to you.................jan
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