Medical Symptoms that are stumping the doctorsq

[gr8investor]

Background:
I am a 48 year old male who began experiencing medical issues a year ago. These problems finally got so bad that I was placed on long-term disability and taken off of work. During the past year, I have seen 4 different doctors and none have been able to find a diagnosis.
A year ago, I weighed 340 pounds. Today, I weigh 238..

Symptoms:
Unexplained Weight Loss- 102 pounds
Loss of Appetite
Numbness in Hands and Feet
Shortness of Breath
Loss of memory
Severe Headaches starting in either the left or right temple.
Pain in the left eye
Heaviness in the chest area.
Nerve pain in legs when using an electric blanket
Cold Spells
Unexplained Crying episodes
Muscle spasms & cramps in feet & lower legs.

Tests:

Bloodwork for Cancer: Negative
Bloodwork for all other areas: Negative or Normal
Blood Pressure: 115/70
MRI-  Brain- Oct 2010- Normal, November 2010- Shows a mass in the left side.
MRI- Spine- Dec 2009- Spinal Stenosis, May 2010- Normal.
EEG- abnormal in Oct 2010.
Nerve Conduction Study- Normal

Currently losing 8-10 lbs of weight a month, cause unknown. Doctors are concerned, as in 7 months I will be below recommended weight for male 6'3".

One Neurologist claims that all symptoms are caused by seizures. However, no documentation found that states seizures cause weight loss, or numbness in hands and feet that lasts 24 hours a day.

What tests are left to be performed?......Colonscopy was also normal.

[Londres70]

Where exactly is this mass situated?  You stated "left side."  Please be more exact.  

All your blood work cleared for hyper/hypo thyroidism?

[nicolep1016]

Oh my goodness, you sound a lot like me.  I have had all of those symptoms except memory loss. Of course, the doctors have no idea what is wrong with me either.  What blood work have they done for you?  Please have your iron and definitely ferritin checked out if they have done so already.  Also, have your Vitamin D levels checked.  I have low Vitamin D and low ferritin, which is your iron storage.  I just found out that low ferritin can cause a lot of these symptoms.  It can't hurt to check it out.

[jkj257]

Hello
Your symptoms seem to be multiple and affecting several systems.
However the symptoms do suggest to me a diagnosis of migraine with non specific symptoms due to stress,depression and also overweight habitus.
You seem to have done a large no. of tests and the results change with time.
If I am the patient,I would learn to completely destress,see a trusted sensible 'old-fashioned" general family doctor.Try Yoga,Exercise(walking)and a sensible eating plan.Try Michael Pollan's book,Food Rules
I hope this helps
JKJ

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi! Unintentional and unexplained weight loss is definitely not good. There are many causes like worms in stool, depression, anorexia nervosa, AIDS, cancers especially colon cancers, drug abuse, infections and loss of appetite. Loss of appetite can again be due to certain medications, drug abuse, depression, AIDS, acute and chronic infections, cancers and hypothyroidism. Either you do not eat well or there is increased metabolism as in hyperthyroid states, HIV, cancer etc. Poor absorption as in irritable bowel syndromes and malabsorption syndromes too is possible. Malabsorption syndromes are seen in intestinal tuberculosis, HIV, tropical sprue, parasites in stool and Whipple’s Disease. Diabetes too can be the cause. Hence you need tests to eliminate these causes.
Cold peripheries or cold hands and feet can happen due to peripheral vascular disease or disorder of the circulatory system outside of the brain and heart. Other causes of cold extremities are hypothyroidism, eating disorders like anorexia, Vit B12 deficiency, Addison’s disease, adrenal causes like pheochromocytoma, anemia, Buerger’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and Raynaud’s disease. You will need some tests like treadmill test, color Doppler, angiography, ultrasonography and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
Since I cannot examine you and know other related conditions you may be having, nor is a detailed history possible on net, I have listed the various possibilities that should be looked into. Please consult your PCP to run tests (not done so far) and examination to clinch a diagnosis. Hope this helps. Take care!