Strange symptoms.. any ideas?

Q

quoc

New member
I have posted this to other boards but haven't come up with a definite area of interest yet. Doctors for the most part have no clue what to do with me, and I can't afford expensive testing including MRIs. Just thought I'd try it again here, to see if anyone can come up with some ideas..

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I'm 27, male, with no diagnosed diseases. Recently I had a battery of blood work done (the usual, cholesterol, enzyme/vitamin levels, thyroid) and nothing abnormal was found. I have no history of neurological diseases in either side of my family. I do not have high blood pressure. I am very myopic however and I do have mild astigmatism. The only drug I take now is Paxil 30mg, once daily. I have been on it for many years to help curb some pretty rough anxiety problems.

About 3-4 years ago, after a prolonged episode of amphetamine addiction, I experienced a feeling of "head pressure" that got steadily worse. That part may be important... it started off as tolerable, and over time, got worse and worse. It is now at an unbearable stage, and shows few signs of slowing down. It is almost a constant sensation--it can occur anywhere in or around my head, no preference for any side or area. It also extends into my neck (usually around the left side of my neck.)

More alarmingly, along with the head pressure getting worse, other symptoms have slowly appeared.. few, if any, going away. Whatever new symptom crops up, seems to stay. These symptoms include:

- Constant head pressure of course
- Occasional periods of confusion
- Massive brain fog, poor short term memory
- Fatigue
- Lots of floaters in the eye, which may appear out of nowhere and change on the fly--tolerable, but very annoying
- Daily tinnitus (mostly in the left ear, but occasionally "switches" to the right ear)
- Slight lessening of sensation on different areas of the body (occasional numbness/tingling)
- Visual problems, most noticeably (right now) is slight double vision, and difficulty moving my eye muscles (seems to be tied in with head pressure)
- There is no preference for which eye is affected, both eyes don't move smoothly anymore...
- The double vision started 7-8 months ago, it just seems as if the "calibration" of my eyes is slightly off... hard to describe though.
- Stiffness/postural problems, makes for awkward walking, but no actual problems with mobility. Could be partially due to sitting in front of a computer too long, lack of proper exercise, etc.
- Stiff neck (could be from postural issues)
- Occasional trouble swallowing, my throat sometimes feels tighter; and my jaw doesn't always cooperate properly (it's like my jaw isn't coordinated anymore; a similar effect with my eye muscles)
- Snapping jaw, like it's out of alignment (sometimes my jaw "tweaks to the left" involuntarily)
- Caffeine ingestion seems to cause occasional blurred vision and floaters, but not always.
- Alcohol intolerance. It makes most of my symptoms worse, especially the eye twitching/involuntary eye movement stuff--more than 3 drinks and I notice worsened symptoms the next day, even past the hangover stage
- My constipation (always a problem) is worse than ever
- Bowel movements are more difficult--the stools are shaped oddly, and I can't empty my bowels thoroughly, it always feels incomplete.
- Basically it feels like my abdominal/lower back muscles aren't cooperating fully, and that's a possible explanation for why bowel movements are a lot harder


The head pressure was the first symptom of this "condition." Everything seems to begin, and end, with this damned annoying symptom.

So, is anyone familiar with the head pressure at least, and found a way to relieve it?

Some things that alter the head pressure:
1. The process of eating makes it less noticeable for a while. However I soon begin to "feel" the food moving through my system. It's like it's slower to move through my system, I have a lot of crackling sensations in my lower back when this happens. And then the head pressure gets worse than ever.
2. Exercise can decrease the pressure for a little while, but then after 2-3 hours, the pressure comes back worse than ever (similar to the rebound effect that happens from eating; see point #1)
3. Having a bowel movement tends to make a lot of my symptoms worse for at least the next day afterwards
4. Stimulants such as caffeine make it a little worse; however in concentrated amounts (such as a 200mg No-Doz pill, or a powerful energy drink) caffeine makes my head pressure A LOT worse...
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Anyone have any ideas?

By the way... I have discussed the possibility of this being the dreaded MS with my psychiatrist, and he doesn't seem to think I have it.

Overall my functioning level is still pretty good, considering that so many of my body systems seem to be affected. The symptoms act more as a "major annoyance" rather than a disability. So I don't want anyone to think I'm looking for sympathy or that my health is in peril. It may look that way, but it's not, I assure you.

I'm just someone with a very perplexing and complex set of symptoms, looking for answers, because the doctors don't know what to do with me. YES, I AM FRUSTRATED. :mad:
 
Hi, there. A few years ago I started developing osteoarthritis of the neck and shoulders. As a result of this problem, I also have a pinched nerve in that area. This causes occasional headaches and pain to radiate up into the sides of my face (more often left but sometimes right), behind the eye, across the cheek bone, into the upper jaw, into the side of my nose and into my ear. I also have a tendency to get occasional ringing in the ears. I would have them check your neck and shoulders to see if you have a pinched nerve.

I am also severely myopic, so can relate to that. Sometimes if your glasses move spontaneously, it can throw your vision off for a few seconds and make you even feel dizzy.

I have sciatica from an old on the job injury. I fell on my tail bone and now the sacro-iliac joint is painful if I do something to strain that area (pinched sciatic nerve). This does affect bowel movements. When mine is acting up, I have to push to get the movement out because it seems like the natural reflex is dormant due to involvement with the nerves back there. If you have to push hard enough, this strains everywhere else in your body all the way up to your head that hurts.

Have them check you for sciatica.

I have irritable bowel syndrome as well. This can make your stomach and entire digestive tract feel awful at times, especially if you eat something you are sensitive to or get under stress.

Hope I was able to shed some light for you.

Hang in there. I hope you can get some answers. Me? I have just learned to live with all of this delightful stuff as best I can. My only medication is Tylenol for the osteoarthritis and sciatic nerve pains.

Lindaru :)
 
Have you mentioned the history of amphetamine use to doctors? This is important and may have caused some lasting damage - but doctors must know to look for it if that's the case.

The visual problems - weak eye muscles does sound like something neurological. Unfortunately doctors need to do an MRI and other tests to help figure out what is going on. Until you can have these done it will be harder, maybe even impossible, for a doctor to diagnosis and treat you.


Linda (I'm assuming that is your name), have you had physical therapy for your SI joint? It did help with mine. Eventually, with NSAIDs and proper strengthen of my core area, the inflammation got better as did my pain from it. There are some good threads in the back section for treatment options for SI joint - so you should do a search if you haven't before.
 
RE the bolded print, it's almost exactly like that. The normal action doesn't go on down there, anymore. Before I tried stool softeners, I was straining occasionally, and that would cause my entire upper body to strain including my head--it felt like I was reving-up a car engine to the breaking point. A few times it felt like I would pass out. Was it like that for you too?

I've never had any serious kind of injury, AFAIK. But I do spend far too much time in a stationary position in front of a computer, and I tend to extend my neck in front of the screen as my weak glasses (for close work) don't help enough anymore. I need to get new glasses.

Could bad posture over years of excessive stationary work cause pinched nerves, or sciatica?

My walking issues: sometimes I can barely feel one or both legs. Both legs move fine, for the most part, but I can't always feel the ground. This does seem to be connected to something in my lower back, as I get crackling sensations in my lower back/lower torso as I walk, like something in my back is moving up and down..

I should mention that I don't often have pain, but there is a feeling of pressure that runs through my entire body, esp. in my head. Maybe a muscle-spasm kinda thing?
 
Actually I would like to say that the most troubling symptoms of the list is the reduced skin sensation, and occasional numbness (practically no feeling.) This seems to move around throughout the day.

I also have a slight bulge in the left part of my neck (swollen lymph node possibly?) and another bulge recently developed on my right breast. I know I need this checked out but according to my readings there is also a lymph gland that runs through the breast and the underarm.
 
Hi, Bill Zenith . . . yes, poor posture over a long period of time can cause problems anywhere in your spinal column and with any connective tissue. Neck problems and shoulder problems can even cause numbness and weakness in your arms and hands.

As for the sciatica, yes, the nerve wraps around the hip and down the leg into the foot.

I have had the sensation when having to walk a lot of my muscle control being lost and like I have to drag that foot sometimes.

I will often get charlie horses, too, immediately upon aggravating the sciatic nerve.

Let me know if I can explain anything further and hope you get some answers.

Lindaru :)
 
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