Can someone please help me!?!?!?!- LOST

E

edward_elric1999

New member
There are many conditions or problems that can be associated with your symptoms. Due to back problems and headaches I would have your spine looked at, particularly the area of pain and your cervical spine to rule out herniations, bulges, impingments etc.

Not to scare you but, If you take a peak at the MS board you'll find all of your symptoms mimic MS. An MRI of your brain can rule this out. Many doctors first tend to check your thyroid with your given symptoms, when this can be ruled out the next thing to do is seek out a nuerologist.
MS is not the only condition that fit your symptoms so a well rounded nuerologist would probably be your best bet.

Be assertive in testing, relying on a GP may be a good start for a complete work up including vitamins and minerals etc, but often they overlook the quite obvious.

Good luck
 
The tests most doctors use are the serum magnesium levels (these tests are relatively inexpensive and easy to do) but these levels do not adequately reflect the stores of magnesium in the other tissues….99 percent of the magesium stores are in the bones and other organs…only 1 percent of the body’s magnesium is found in the blood. Blood levels can contain “normal” levels of magnesium because the blood “robs” the other organs/tissues in attempt to keep the mag levels within the normal range. For this reason, mag deficiencies often don’t show up on routine lab work.

There are other tests that id mag deficiencies but no one test is 100 percent accurate!! One test is called the red blood cell test, I believe. But from what I’ve read, the best test (although not perfect) is the magnesium loading test in which a patient collects a 24 hour urine sample and the total magnesium is measured. Because the tests are not reliable, some doctors look for lower levels of potassium and calcium as indicators that there may be a mg problem.

I might add that I’ve read that if severely deficient in this mineral, supplementation will not help UNTIL some magnesium is restored to the tissues via IV.

I don’t know if an electrolyte imbalance is your problem or not but it probably should be ruled out...

I might add that despite seeing a primary and a specialist every few months, neither doctor identified my problem and only offered me more medication for the symptoms.

Take care!
Bethsheba

PS I have never had a headache so I'm not surprised that I didn't experience headaches during that time...and you might be interested in knowing that my doctor, at least initially, suspected my back pain was due to a spinal tumor!
 
Thanks to everyone who has posted thus far!

Kissa-
You are very observant... actually I have posted on the MS board, as I felt my symptoms did too sound similar. I recently posted on general health after I had the realization with the symptom length. My symptoms are pretty much daily but they don't last for a continuous 24 hours, and I believe this is the criteria for MS... so now I am back to the drawing board. :( In terms to my thryoid... this was checked during my bloodwork and all is fine... Dr. thought that too. In regards to checking the spine... that is not a bad idea either! So many good thoughts here! Thank you!

Bethsheba-
Thank you for all the wonderful knowledge... very informative. In regards to the testing for the deficiency... I have done a 24 urine test... I don't think my dr. was specifically checking for magnesium deficiency, but I wonder if it would have tested it nonetheless? I am sooo sorry your doctors didn't help you much... that is soo upsetting and hurtful... I'm going through the same thing really! Thank you!
 
Hello everyone, I am looking for guidance of some sort. I have posted on some other boards as well, but am lost as my symptoms don't seem to match up with the symptoms of others.

Taking you back a bit...
Last year I was having terrible stomach pains, cramping, and discomfort, bloating, etc. at all times of the day. This discomfort led to a colonoscopy, endoscopy, small bowel series, capsule endoscopy, and endless bloodwork. Everything came back NEGATIVE! Doctor assumed it was Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and so did I. I am now on a medication to restore the bacteria needed, and while I still have bouts of pain I have learned to live with them. (why am I sharing this bit? well, just incase it would happen to help someone in recognizing my following symptoms)

As of a few months ago I have started to have some new and troubling symptoms. Some of these symptoms have been around for more than 10 years, but others are newer and more frightning. I understand I can not expect a diagnosis on this website, but I would really appreciate some insight! Whether you have comparable symptoms or advice, all would be appreciated!

Anyways here are my symptoms (they come and go, but none the less are there):
blurry vision

extreme fatigue

a drunk, confused, disconnected feeling (my head feels as though it is not connected to my body, it's difficult for me to understand what people are saying, and I feel like I am outside of myself--these I call spells, as they can last for 30 minutes but eventually go away, often to come back again later that day or the following day)

muscle twitches all over my body (have had these for years)

heat intolerance (when in a hot shower, blow drying my hair, or working out, I become very dizzy, vision goes black, and I feel faint)

Numbness in parts of my body (specifically hands and legs after sitting for a bit of time)

Terrible back pain in my lower back (I have to switch positions, can't stand the pain) (again, comes and goes, but has been a symptom for years)

Muscle fatigue... (at times I feel as though my legs weigh 500 pounds, it is difficult for me to find the energy to move them)

Clumbsiness or inability to walk straight ( I find myself walking into others or into a wall, I drop things repeatdly, etc.)

Low energy level ( I used to be very active, but now it is as if I can't physically make myself go anymore... I grow soo weak)

Severe stabbing pain (in the hand, leg, etc. lasts for a short time)

Terrible headaches (behind my eye that goes up into my forehead)

I have spoken to my doctor recently via telephone... he said he is speaking with a neurologist... he feels that it could be blood sugar or blood pressure related, however... I have tested my blood sugar (and all is normal) and tested my blood pressure regularly (which is also normal)... as a result he is now speaking with others as he is stumped.

Can someone lend any advice or help me!
It would be VERY appreciative!

Thank you sooo much in advance!!!
 
I'd be beating down the door of my local neurologist's office if I were you, those symptoms are scary.

The stomach aliments may or may not be involved with this new round of neurological dysfunction, but symptoms like severe headache with confusion, blurry vision, clumsiness, severe fatigue, muscle weakness, heat intolerance - these are serious, possibly dangerous IMO - jump over your MD if you have to but see a neurologist pronto.

(I assume in all the blood tests you were tested for hyperthyroid?)
 
You're so very welcome, Lala...I do hope you get to the root of your problem, whatever it may be!!

I think it is interesting that you have done a 24 hour urine test...I first heard about those tests on the high/low blood pressure boards. Some people have pheochromocytomas, which can cause high blood pressure and a number of other symptoms similar to those you are experiencing. Interestingly enough, pheo can cause an imbalance in electrolytes, too, specifically potassium.

But getting back to the 24 hour urine test...I'd recommend that you find out what they were testing for, what kinds of things can influence the results (food, exercise, meds, etc), what the results were, and what the results mean. Don't assume anything is accurate......even if the tests are "perfect" people make mistakes reading and interpreting the data. Oh, and it can be helpful to get your own copy of the results.

Good luck and do let us know how you fare and if we can help in any way! We're wishing you the very best!

Take care.

Bethsheba

PS Actually, my doctors were good caring doctors, but even good caring doctors don't know everything and can make mistakes. It's so very very important to be an active member of your health care team...I can't emphasize that enough.
 
Lala,

Except for the stomach/bowel problems (and headaches), the symptoms you describe are identical to the ones I had when I experienced an electrolyte imbalance when taking a diuretic.

Because of the stomach/bowel problems, I suspect that you may have a problem absorbing some essential electrolytes causing an imbalance in your body...magnesium in particular comes to mind because it often doesn't show up in routine lab tests (less than 1/2 of mag deficiencies do as the lab tests the doctors order are of limited value for this mineral).

Symptoms of a mag deficiency include:
Muscular:
twitches
cramps
muscle tension
muscle soreness, including back aches, neck pain, tension headaches and jaw joint (or TMJ) dysfunction.
chest tightness that can make it hard to breath

Peripheral nervous system:
numbness
tingling
abnormal sensations, such as zips, zaps and vibratory sensations

I've listed just a few of the symptoms....but keep in mind that not all of the symptoms need to be present to presume magnesium deficiency.

Also keep in mind that calcium and potassium need to be ingested in the proper amounts so the body can process the magnesium...thus simply taking supplements may or may not help.

And finally, it can take several months to several years to restore a body's supply of magnesium so treatment may not result in an "overnight" cure.

Good luck with your diagnosis...but don't rely soley on your doctors to solve your problems. I found my doctors tended to prescribe more medication (which made my problems worse) than identifying the real problem.

Bethsheba
 
Hi all,
In regards to the first question... yes, I was checked for hyperthyroid... turned out normal. Thank you for your support and advice!

In regards to the second question... your information on magnesium deficiency sounds very interesting. How do you test for this? Is it bloodwork? I had a full blood work-up done so I am wondering whether or not I would have probably already been tested for this... the results to the blood work-up were all normal... so that leads me with no confusion. Thanks for the advice and help with researching that!

And in regards to the third question... yes, I have seeked professional help, I have been to the doctor numerous times in regards to other issues a few months back, and have recently talked with my doctor on the phone about my symptoms. My doctor should be calling me back in the next couple of days in regards to the information he received after talking with a neurologist... and the next steps from there. Thank you for the concern!
 
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