Posted by violette on June 13, 2010, at 23:19:45
In reply to Re: Dr. Bob - question » violette, posted by Conundrum on June 13, 2010, at 22:40:52
The MRI from an ER visit, showed a highlighted area in a cranial nerve (the same as one I had years ago but was misread)-a sign of infection I was told. So they tested me for syphylis (my symptoms matched the effects of dormant syphilis when it has infiltrated the central nervous system). the test was negative and it was done twice to make sure. I wished it were syphilis because that is something treatable even if you've had it for years.
Before the syphlis outpatient test, after taking lamictal, I ended up in the ER for extreme involuntary movements in my face, mouth, eye, and myclonic jerks of my limbs. That's how I ended up at the neurologist follow up in the first place although I've had some of those symptoms in a milder form, affecting different cranial nerves, and my eye, since I started ADs years ago. The lamictal somehow caused those extreme symptoms, they were somewhat stroke-like I guess since they ended up taking me in the ER within minutes after I walked in though the place was very crowded. Turned out to have an inconclusive diagnosis anyway.
The follow up neuro after the ER visit, who gave me the syphylis test never explained what else could cause the MRI abnormality, and just gave me a prescription for anticonvuslants rather than further testing when the syphlis (and lyme) were negative. They were only interested at that point in my family history of mental health. So I went to a neuropsych's for cognitive tests, whose conclusion was my cognitive symptoms (memory, concentration, blanking out, apathy/spaceyness, sensitivity to light and sound, and confusion) were not the result of depression (my mental processing speed and working memory were excellent) and recommended a full neuro workup. My iq also decreased. They wondered why I was never given an EKG (it was because doctors only seemed concerned with mental health issues of my family and self). I have no money/insurance so I'm not going to doctors any longer. Since then, I have had altered taste-a really sour taste in my mouth for months now. It's not necesssarily a bad taste, just really sour and persistent. I have no digestive symptoms.
I've had distorted vision off and on for over a year now, but none of the doctors ever took that seriously because they don't see anything physically wrong with my eyes.
poster:violette
thread:950779
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100604/msgs/950997.html