Still Looking for Answers/Any Sugg

[Padro46]

Any Suggestions Where to go from here   Sorry so Long



November 2008-- Present Time: Still having minor AB and Chest Pains, Bowel Movements just not the same as prior to Dec07,  Back of the head numbing and brain
freeze/tingling, seems to have also moved to my face and jaw area, seem to be having
some balance issues not always but does happen.  Minor back pains, Brain Fog (Just
seem to be out of it). Vision appears to be worse/blurry up close, (have been to eye
doc no change)  Still tired but not as severe as early in the year, Un- refreshing
sleep, Sore Back(seems to always need popped, Periodical a stopped up head feeling
and very minor pain in and around ears. Will sometimes have tenderness in Lymph
nodes in Neck, Armpit and Groin. There are no factors that seem to change the above
it can be morning or evening seems to progress as the day goes on.  Do not have all
symptoms at the same time but have some of them everyday.   Results of testing are
enclosed for your review.    
                                                  
History I am 47 years of age 6 FT-190 pounds, weekend beer drinker and a reformed
smoker (quit in Jan 07) Up to Dec 07 NO health problems, had probable been to a
Doctors Office 10 times total in my life.  In Dec 07 I was on a business trip in San
Antonio, Tx when I began experiencing symptoms (all of a sudden like someone flipped
a switch) that included the following. Chest Pains and Burning (felt hot to the
touch) Back of the head numbing and what felt like an Ice Cream brain freeze.  I
also had this out of it feeling like a BRAIN FOG.  Not wanting to have a problem in
another town, I left and returned home 7 hours away.  My wife drove me to a clinic
where I was put on a EKG machine and the clinic Doc advised all ok gave me some
Meclizine put me back on Prevacid (which I had been on years earlier) for Acid
reflux and sent me on my way.  At this time I did not have a Primary Doc and made an
appointment with one.  This doc did Complete Labs, and found nothing but elevated
EBV numbers.  Doc advised would look at numbers again in 30 days due to this being a
Virus there was nothing else to do but Time also gave me some sinus sprays.  This
was a REALLY BAD time from the months of Jan-May I felt terrible, Chest Pains which
really had me concerned, TIRED all the time could not wait to get to the bed or
couch, loss of appetite, cold all the time, Dizzy/Lightheaded, back of the head
pain(really bad that a aspirin would not help) , AB Pains, Irregular Bowel movements
(still everyday but not as much product), Facial numbness/tingling, Brain Fog, Did
not want to do anything.  These was of great concern and due to not EVER having
medical issues I returned several times to my family doctor and the following are
the test and medications I have been on during this experience.

Test: Blood Test-X 5   CBC, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Lipid, PSA, TSH, Lyme, HEP Panel, HIV Panel, Rheumatoid Arth. Factor, Sedimentation Rate-Westergren, EBV Panel, B-12, Alpha Fetoprotein Serum, H. Pylori. From the months of Jan08 to the last one Sept08

Results:  With exception of EBV numbers (which all Docs say is no longer a concern)
and up and down Cholesterol LDL sometimes a little high--- ALL NORMAL XRAYS and CT SCANS--  MRI-(April08)  Brain(Normal)  November 2008 with Contrast all normal and C-Spine-(May08) (see results under other)
CT scan Heart (Feb08) and Abdominal (June08 Prior to Colonoscopy) ---All Normal
Chest X-ray X 2    (June 08) this one remarked a few calcified granulomas are
present. The Second (April08) listed Brocades otherwise No acute Cardio disease
identified. Colonoscopy and Endoscopy (June08) —Acid Reflux No other problems
identified ENT exam (Sept 08) - All Normal Full Cardio Work-up (Feb08) Echo and CT
scan, Carotid Artery Ultrasound- All NormalL Medications: That I am currently
using—Prevacid, (Acid Reflux) Dicyclomine spastic colon-(only three times did not
like side effects) some natural meds by Dr. Jernigan’s Borrelogen, Nutrametrix-OPC,
Fish Oil Tablets.  Nortriptyline (Pamelor) Not taking----Topamax    Other: C-spine Impression: Neural
Foraminal caliber is low normal or mildly narrowed throughout the cervical spine.
This appears to be the result on congenital factors as I see no evidence of facet or
uncovertebral hypertrophy.  Disc morphology is well maintained, as is spinal canal
diameter.  Have also seen an Infectious Disease Dr. and a Second M.D  2nd MRI of the Brain Neg.  MRA of Brain Neg  Waiting on Lupus Panel

[Cindee56]

Hi, I'm sorry you have all these things going on.  I'm just writing because a lot of your symptoms are similar to mine.  I have fibromyalgia and A LOT of problems with my back and cervical spine (neck).  It's degenerative disc disease and I have two herniated discs in my neck.

Did you ever have your back checked out?  Sometimes *chest pains* come from the back.  Were you tested for fibro?  I know a lot of people have Chronic Fatigue and Fibro.  These are just some ideas.

Good luck.  Hope you feel better soon.

[Padro46]

Calcium???

[Padro46]

Did you ever have low CA Levels??

[Padro46]

First let me say thank you so much for RESPONDING.  If you dont mind let me ask you a few??  How long have you been dealing with this.  and you said you had a lot of the same issues Have you had the tingling and Brain Freeze Head Feeling?  That one seems to be the one I cant shake and of course the Fatigue and Brain Fog.  I just had my Primary draw more blood Yesterday Vit D and several others were included for the first time hopefully some results will follow.  also what kind of docs have you seen??

[Weesy68]

This sounds eerily similar to my circumstance and except for the Antiprotease, I have had almost every test you listed as well.  Your EBV is important to look at, however.  I did have mono which is tested through that EBV panel, the titres.  The reason it is important is that if they do not run the EBNA in that panel, they cannot verify whether your mono is currently active right now or if you are just carrying the EBV from a previous infection and it is inactive.  My mono did cause many of the same symptoms you describe and GERD (acid reflux) came right along with that for the first time in my life.  I still have it six months later and have to take Prevacid twice a day.  I've been to the ER once and a clinic for "heart attack like pain," neither which panned out.  I did have a high heart rate as well as BP at the ER but after my GERD cocktail they gave me, it calmed down.  Here is what I do know.  The majority of my brain fog was due to iron deficiency anemia which was missed by four doctors.  The fifth doctor did not rely on hemoglobin and hematocrit numbers but took the test for totaly body iron stores which is called Ferritin.  My ferritin was at a level 18 which is considered low normal, but a search of the internet will show you that you can get symptoms below 50.  He put me on chromagen forte and it has made a world of difference.  My hands and feet were so cold, the brain fog was horrible and I was so tired all the time.  I developed Raynaud's I'm guessing due to the anemia as it seems to slowly be clearing as my iron levels go up.  They need to check your vitamin levels and ferritin levels.  Anemia and vitamin deficiencies, specifically vitamin D and B12 can cause those symptoms as well.  Your thyroid can do that too even before numbers show, but docs do not treat that until you have numbers for good reason.  My suggestions are to look up Ferritin, EBNA titers, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D and Thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroidits on the internet and research those.  I pick up all my lab tests now as I have found some labs were overlooked by doctors and nurses and some labs were not done correctly.  I am currently  stuck with a diagnoses of a "difficult mononucleosis case," and am expected to feel much better in 1 year according to the doctor.  I have difficulty with the diagnose of GERD based on the way it came on, but I do know if I don't take the Prevacid the way I'm supposed to, I do get sicker and cannot eat.  One thing I did find that has helped with my back and joint pain is a Medrol dose pack.  It is a steroid but when you are having that much pain, it is the only pain reliever that has worked for me long term.  Pain pills are just pain pills.  They do squat for inflammation.  They might help you sleep but at least the medrol actually does something for inflammation long term.  Ask your doc about using that if your pain won't go away.  Medrol is heaven for me and I'm only 126 lbs. and know it can make me gain weight but when it gets rid of the pain, I don't care.  I have never gained more than 5 lbs. at most taking it.

[Padro46]

any other options for the head tingling??