I am a 18 y old man with a health problem I just can’t handle. It seems very realistic that I have to terminate education (high school).

So far, no one has been able to help me, so I would really appreciate any hint that could lead me to the right track. There are several hypothesis, but none of them seem to be right. I don’t even know if it is the right forum I am addressing.

Short description of history and symptoms :
I can remember some of the symptoms (consentration problems) back in 2000, but it was not really a problem at that time. My health turned worse in 2003, and 2004 has been a nightmare. I have never used any kind of narcotics, and I am not depressed. Until last year, I was considered to be a very healthy young man. I am physically strong, weight and height are just above average for an adult. I reached my final height two years ago. Need for sleep is as normal.

I am struggling with severe fatigue - the entire body. I am not able to do physical work.

It is difficult to participate in a conversation, and it is almost impossible to concentrate on lessons etc at school.

I have bad balance, and my movements have become clumsy.
I have monocular diplopia (double vision)
I am sensitive for changes in light (dark to light, light to dark)
I have bad short-time memory
I can no longer use a PC – symptoms turn worse almost immediately
I feel better in the morning than in the evening

Physical exercise (running) has an almost immediate positive effect. After 6 – 8 minutes intensive exercise, the symptoms (including double vision !) fades away, and I feel much better (I have to RUN - fast walk has no effect). This effect remains throughout the day, and to some extents - even the next day. As a consequence , I have to exercise every day to keep up. The first minutes of running are a real pain. I need more time (than before) to restitute after exercise.

What has been done :
I have done a cerebral MRI scanning twice. No indications.
Analyses of spinal fluid show no indications.
The endocrinologist have no answers. Both cortisole and thyroxine seem to be ruled out . Dopamine level in urine is a little bit higher than expected, but so far we dont see any connection.

I have been tested for Myastenia Gravis. No indications.


If anyone have any idea what to do, please give me an answer !


Best regards
Jorgen L

Jorgen: I'm curious as to what the eye doc has said about the double vision. Monocular diplopia is usually a refraction problem, rather than a brain problem.

Is it the increased blood flow/oxygen during exercise that makes you feel better? I wonder if a sleep study would turn up anything. If you have apnea, for example (although you're young for that), and don't get enough oxygen during sleep, you can suffer all day. Has your blood oxygen been checked? To measure my blood oxygen when I had pneumonia, the nurse had to stick a needle into an artery in my wrist, so I don't think the clamp on the fingertip would do. I assume you've had thorough blood work done.

I have a couple more suggestions. There is a rare heart condition that affects the eyes. Unfortunately, I don't know what it's called and have never had much luck finding it online. However, my ophthalmologist asked me several times about my heart when trying to diagnose my eye condition. I may have even asked him the name of the disease, but have forgotten.

The other thing is to send an e-mail to Dr. Merrill D. Bowan, a neurodevelopmental optometrist. We can't post URLs, but you can find him (he's...ahem...simplybrainy) and get his address. He welcomes mail and is very helpful. He might have some suggestions.

Good luck to you.

Torre

The eye doc could not find anything unusual (except from monocular diplopia). The 'ghosts' remain, even if I look through a pinhole.