3 weeks ago: Sitting at my computer, very intense/very sudden I got the following:

Head rush
Dizziness
Weakness
Numb Hands & Feet
Rapid Heartbeat

This attack slowly subsided within 3 hours. I was fine for the rest of that night.

However as the days progressed, I've been having ups and downs a.k.a. attacks (the symptoms above only milder - more of a dizzy spell rather than a headrush).

It's been 3 weeks and I still have patches of numb/tingling. The most noticeable is my left ear and my 4th/5th fingers on each arm.

My hands also get cold easily and I feel disoriented at times.

I also have a horrible headache which starts from the back [neck area].

I'm fatigued and feel depressed.

Certain patches of numbness/tingling have completely gone away. [I had one of these so-called patches on my left arm near the elbow. It hasn't even twitched lately... nadda, nothing which is good news].

What could I be suffering from?

My family doesn't have a history of MS whatsoever; however, both my mother and her brother have diabetes.

I also have a few silver analagram fillings (mercury poisoning?).

........... anyone? :(

I also wanna add that I can feel my pulse through my hand(s) if I touch a solid surface with the inner part (palm, etc.) as well as my back.

Could this possibly happen from an ear infection? I've noticed that my ears have been hurting plenty for awhile due to the fact I use earplugs to sleep (I work nightshift).

Or perhaps a vitamin definicey?

Intestinal Parasite/Worm/Bacteria?

The reason I don't believe this is Multiple Sclerosis is because the first thing that hit me was the intense headrush and then the numb hands/feet. Also, At times, the sensation comes back 100%.

Thanks.

Hi there,

Dont want to depress you more, but I have been suffering from very similar symptoms for 7 years now and still havnt had a concrete diagnosis or any relief from it. I feel off balance all the time and every once in a while get the headrush, which often happens when Im at the computer, its like G force and you feel like your going to black out - its awful. Ive had loads of testing done, each doc says different things -Neuro doc says inner ear problem (coincidently I always wondered about ear plugs as I used to wear them all the time (my partner is a heavy snorer) and my ears used to hurt and water and itch. My GP says it is my neck muscles causing it but nothing I do makes any difference. I also have problems standing for long, feel like Im going to pass out and my physio has recommended my GP send me for heart testing - so all in all a really mixed bag!!

I would certainly get some inner ear testing done as the majority of balance problems are related to inner ear (try posting on the inner ear board, they really know their stuff over there).

Do you have any problems with your neck at all? Plus from what Ive read this could be migraine related - worth looking into. Sorry I cant be of more help - Im determined to get to the bottom of this one day, its ruined my life and I cant work anymore. Doctors are crap here in uk and just want to give you antidepressants,

Chris

i used to slouch when I was younger. I get a really sharp pain when twisting my neck in a certain direction. Its been feeling really stiff since this has happened.

my heart also pounds through my head, abs and hands when im lying down or get up too quickly.

Hi Ro4eva and Chris; this message is for both of you. First, Ro4eva, have you consulted a doctor? And if not, is there a reason why not? I would strongly suggest that you see a neurologist and a cardiologist - I know that can be expensive if you don't have insurance, but good heavens, if you have symptoms that are really interfering with your life, they need to be checked! Please, please, please never take your health for granted!

Chris, did you consult with an ENT after the neurologist suggested you have an inner ear issue, and if so, what did that physician have to say?

I really think you BOTH need to see a cardiologist. I am NOT a doctor, but what you're describing (especially you, Chris) sounds similar to a condition that I was diagnosed with about ten years ago. It's called neurally-mediated hypotension, and is also known as neurocardiogenic syncope, the fainting reflex, vasodepressor syncope, the vaso-vagal reflex, and autonomic dysfunction. Neurally-mediated hypotension (NMH) occurs when there is an abnormal reflex interaction between the heart and the brain, both of which usually are structurally normal.

The condition is diagnosed with a tilt table test, which involves laying the patient horizontally on a table and then tilting the table upright to 70 degrees for 45 minutes while monitoring blood pressure and heart rate. Individuals with NMH will develop lowered blood pressure under these conditions, as well as other characteristic symptoms, such as lightheadedness, visual dimming, or a slow response to verbal stimuli. I actually passed out during my tilt table test, which is a common reaction in people positive for NMH.

For me (and for most patients) the "attacks" come on from standing or sitting up too quickly, from standing too long, and from standing in a hot environment, particularly a hot shower. There were so many times when I would have to fling myself out of the shower and lay flat on the floor because my peripheral vision was blackening and I could feel that I was on the verge of syncope. I didn't have time to turn the water off, grab a towel, or anything like that - just had to "get flat" as quickly as possible. Fatigue is also associated with these attacks. For me it could take anywhere from ten minutes to several hours to recuperate from a bad spell; they can be very, very physically draining.

Does this sound anything like what you have? If so, do see a cardiologist as soon as possible. Be really careful in trigger environments, and take obvious precautions like a warm shower rather than a hot one. Oh, one thing that helps in the shower - I would lift my legs up and try to move around a lot, which helps to keep the blood from pooling in the extrmeties. Anyway, if this is the condition that either of you have, take heart, because there are a number of effective treatments available for it. I took beta blockers first (made me terribly depressed, nearly suicidal, so beware that one), then corticosteroids, but finally found relief with a drug called Midodrine, or ProAmatine, which is a vasopressor/antihypotensive agent. Make sure you get the name right; most nurses haven't heard of Midodrine and assume you're trying to say "midrin," which is a drug for tension and vascular headaches. Anyway, I took Midodrine for probably a couple of years, and then eased off of it and found that I haven't had a problem with NMH in many, many years! I hope this helps in some way. If I can help further, you're welcome to contact me by email: [ please read and follow the posting rules - no emails ] . Good luck, you guys! And go see those doctors!



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Thanks for the heads up MKS.

About seeing a cardiologist; I live in Canada and therefore covered by the government for my healthcare needs. The problem is that the referral and/or processing time is slower than down south. A cardiologist here will not see me without a referral from my family doctor.

I've had a few tests done so far. Glucose is normal. There is no H. Pylori present. White blood cell count is normal.

Thyroid is apparently mildly hypo.

Also, my billirubin level has been fluctuating. I had it tested June 27th and it read 44. Then I had it tested again a week later and it read 27. (Normal levels are 17-22).

It has also been suggested that I may have Lyme Disease.

This "attack" was so sudden and acute that I doubt it was Lyme or Multiple Sclerosis.

It's been 5 weeks and I still have the following:

Fainting/Fatigue
Stiff Neck
Dizzying Headache
Pounding heartbeat
Tingling in the extremeties
Purple nailbeds
GI pain (upper middle abdomen & same area on the back)

All symptoms are worse upon exertion.

I'm going tomorrow to have an X-Ray of upper GI and also an EMG (Nerve testing).

Holter Monitor on Friday.

I pray something positive comes out of this; only 21 and I feel like I'm past retirement.

Do you guys think cancer could have anything to do with this? If it did, would they find out somehow through blood testing (eg. increased white blood cell count)? I've been screened for every standard test.

Thanks.

Ro4eva, truthfully, I'm really scratching my head on this one. I so wish that I had some direction for you, but the more you tell me about the specifics of your situation, the more baffled I become!

So I guess by the time you will read my post, you'll have already had the EMG. Great fun, huh? I HATE that one! Some physicians are gentler than others, so I'm hoping nothing but the very best for you as far as that goes. The Holter Monitor is simply an annoyance, but nothing painful about that one.

I personally know very little about cancer, but I'd bet that there are about a gazillion other people on this board who could tell you just about anything you could possibly need to know on the subject.

Just looked up bilirubin. It is a breakdown product of hemoglobin. Total and direct bilirubin are usually measured to screen for liver or gallbladder dysfunction, maybe a blocked bile duct - but it sounds like there are a great many medications that can give a false high reading for bilirubin, FYI.

Your best bet when you see the GP or specialist is to go in with a pad of paper, a pen, and a list of some serious questions. Be very assertive about getting ALL of your questions answered - don't let that doctor leave the office until you are satisfied that ALL of your questions have been fully answered. Know what diagnoses your doctor is leaning toward, details on any future tests and treatments, prognosis, etc. I understand that you're still in the beginning stages of a diagnostic work-up, so the questions for the doctor will be more comprehensive down the road - but just remember that there is NOBODY on the planet who cares about your health more than you do! You have to be your own advocate, your very own health manager! I hope you don't mind the pep talk; I learned the long hard way, myself!

Keep us posted on this, if you have the time and feel well enough to do so, okay? Best wishes to you.

Hi MKS,

Thanks for your reply. I also think I have some kind of orthostatic intolerance as I cant stand for long without feeling like Im going to faint and the heat makes me much worse too. My GP accepts that I have hypotension to some degree but wont take it any further than that. I recently saw a physio and was telling her about my other symptoms apart from my neck pain and showed her a picture of my feet and lower legs(they go blue when I stand still) she wrote to my GP asking if he would do some heart/circulation testing and he just just said no as he didnt think my problem was to do with circulation. I asked him if it was normal for someones feet and legs to go blue and he said that thin people often have cold extremeties etc. So same as Ro4eva would need a referral here in UK so I am stuck.

I did see an ENT and also paid privately to go to a centre that specialises in balance, where they just gave me vestibular exercises to do. Ive tried them twice now and they never made any difference. Ive actually spent a fortune as the NHS in UK just wont refer me or do anything to help me. It makes me so angry that I am now so bad I cant work anymore and dont have the income to allow me to pay for anything.

Ro4eva, good luck with the tests, I too am mildly hypo and have adrenal fatigue (just trying some thyroid meds now) and also a specialist in uk says I have lyme borrelia - not so sure about this as everyone who went to him is being diagnosed with this. I hope you get sorted - at least you are getting plenty of testing done. Let us know how it goes.

Chris

Well, I know now what it means to be sick. Won't take it for granted again.

I had the upper GI X-Ray & EMG (Nerve Conduction) yesterday.

Other than the milk-white carbonnated crap they made me drink, it was easy. They had a monitor set up beside the patient for your viewing pleasure. I couldn't tell whether anything was wrong or not by looking at the little thumbnails on screen.

The EMG was nasty. The doc stuck a few needles in different muscles along the right arm and told me to flex. This wasn't so bad until he got to the hand where he stuck one between the index & thumb nuckles. When I tried to make a fist, I felt the damn thing ripping through. Ouch.

He did end up getting off topic however. The one thing that worried him was the fact that my hands were freezing. Once he looked at my finger nails (and saw that they're purple) he said I definitely have a circulation problem.

These results are gonna take a week to get back to my GP who will then discuss them with me.

Still waitin on the Holter Monitor & possibly (any day now) an MRI to rule out a neurological problem.

I'm also gonna ask for an angiogram to see if I have any blocked arteries & Lyme disease testing. I do remember being eaten alive a few days before this happened.

If all these come back clean, then I'm gonna lose it :(

Also, I tried some Hawthorn tea before going to bed last nite & the pounding heart went away :)

I'll keep you guys updated.

Thank you for your support.

Currently Saturday morning. On the Holter Monitor as we speak. Not feeling too well. I have a very heavy chest pain especially when breathing in and out deeply. Also have heartburn.

Interestingly enough - the tingling in my hands, feet and left ear have gone away. And my neck is not as stiff anymore. The dizzy spells aren't as bad either.

But the chest pain is horrible. I had a few episodes today where my heart felt like it was gonna come out my mouth - each lasting a few seconds.

.... 6 weeks :(

8 weeks now... still dizzy and tingling left ear and hands. Still waiting to see the neurologist. Grrr why me :(

Hi there,

sorry you are still feeling bad, hope you get to see the neurologist soon. Im at a dead end with all this and doc wont refer me or do anything anymore. Dizziness is just awful all day, every day sigh, only thing that helps a bit is valium when it gets too much, its not the answer though.

Take care,

Chris