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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Eric C on October 8, 2004, at 17:55:33
I have been having a variety of symptoms for over 3 months now and the doctors have not been any help as of yet. So i figured i would write in here hoping that someone would have a clue. I am 25 years old and it all began with a tingling feeling in my hands and feet. Then when ever my heart would race the feelings would get worse.Recently, my heart hasn't been racing but the numbness and tingling in my extremities are still there. I had a pain in my neck (sometimes like a stiffness), had an MRI of my neck and showed nothing, therefore my neck was ruled out. Now whenever I get out of bed in the morning my legs feel weak, the left leg especially. THis is accompanied by nasuea. Throughout the day the tingling feeling worsens when I am seated or laying down. I also have mild headches at times. Does anyone have any idea what these symptoms could mean.
Posted by shortelise on October 9, 2004, at 19:42:51
In reply to Anyone know what my symptoms mean??? Please help, posted by Eric C on October 8, 2004, at 17:55:33
There are all sorts of migraine. Try
Go to discussion, migraine discussion.
Someone there might be able to direct you to a migraine source to compare your symptoms.
Migraine is not just a headache, it's a complex neurological disorder that can sometimes present as you describe.
Or not. But is is something you might want to look into.
Hope this helps.
ShortE
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 11, 2004, at 15:58:48
In reply to Anyone know what my symptoms mean??? Please help, posted by Eric C on October 8, 2004, at 17:55:33
Eric,
You are describing how I was EXACTLY 2 years ago - the tingling, the weakness, the nausea. I had an MRI, everything was fine. You know what I had?
ANXIETY
plain and simple. I had become a raging hypochondriac as well, thinking all of the tingling and weakness was MS or Parkinson's. Even an MRI couldn't convince me completely.
I have been in therapy for more than a year now and have no tingling, no weakness, nothing. My anxiety has abated as well as my depression.
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 11, 2004, at 16:02:06
In reply to I KNOW!!!, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 11, 2004, at 15:58:48
Eric,
Basically, your body may be expressing your anxiety through your body. All of my anxiety and depression manifested itself physically. With me, the weakness was in my left leg and left hand. I also had trembling and some stuttering. If you look up physical symptoms of anxiety, your symptoms will fit the bill.
Any thoughts on this? What do you think?
Posted by Eric C on October 11, 2004, at 19:37:53
In reply to I KNOW!!!, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 11, 2004, at 15:58:48
That is first what the doc told me. He said it was anxiety and put me on effexor. However that just seemed to make things worse. Miss honeychurch how long did u have these symptoms before you were diagnosed with anxiety?
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 12, 2004, at 8:47:24
In reply to Re: I KNOW!!!, posted by Eric C on October 11, 2004, at 19:37:53
Eric,
I had these symptoms for 6 months. It was 6 months of tests and MRIs and exhausting all physical possibilities until I decided I needed mental help. There was no other explanation!
I started at the top with a psychiatrist, thinking someone with an MD would be sympathetic to my preoccupation with health. He wanted to put me on medication right away. I said no, mainly due to fear of side effects and cost as well as I wanted to know WHY I was having these symptoms.
So I found a psychotherapist (CBT oriented) and within several weeks, my symptoms went away. Now granted, I have now been in therapy for over a year and it has been a huge investment of time and money, but it has been worth it to me to do it without medication. I now have skills which will last a life time. I have read many studies which state that there is an 80% chance of relapse back into depression and anxiety once all medication is stopped, and a 25% chance of relapse back into depression and anxiety once CBT therapy is ended.
When I went to see the psychotherapist, I would have told you that I had nothing to be anxious about, nothing to be depressed about. However, when you start examining your irrational thoughts as well as upbringing, etc., suddenly things become clear.
Are you seeing a therapist for this? Or just your family doctor?
Posted by eric c on October 13, 2004, at 18:05:35
In reply to Re: I KNOW!!!, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 12, 2004, at 8:47:24
Thanks for your help Miss honeychurch. That is what it could be however did you also have headaches this is one thing that doesn't usually happen with anxiety. Does it?
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 14, 2004, at 8:45:07
In reply to Re: I KNOW!!!, posted by eric c on October 13, 2004, at 18:05:35
Yes, I had headaches.
Posted by Stressee on October 16, 2004, at 21:25:50
In reply to Re: I KNOW!!!, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 14, 2004, at 8:45:07
I have a friend who had the same symptoms you have when her husband passed away at a young age. I took her to the ER because I thought she was having heart problems. She couldn't breath, her heart was racing, headache, dizzy, etc. The doc, put her on Zoloft and that did the trick. -L
Posted by fires on October 28, 2004, at 20:23:50
In reply to Anyone know what my symptoms mean??? Please help, posted by Eric C on October 8, 2004, at 17:55:33
Don't assume it's anxiety just yet. I had some of the same symptoms, and told my docs that I didn't believe their Dx of anxiety (anytime nothing wrong can be found>> Anxiety!)
Read that the GERD meds I take/took can cause problems with B 12 absorption. Started taking B 12 supplements. Was already taking high dose Folic Acid (not good when low in B 12).
After 4 to 5 weeks of taking B 12: had blood tests for Folic Acid, B 12, homocysteine, and methylmalonic acid.
Vit. levels up high since I've been taking them for quite a few weeks. Methylmalonic acid mid-high normal range. Homocysteine VERY HIGH in normal range. What might it have been prior to B 12 supplementation?
I'll just have to wait and see what happens. Should have had blood tests before starting B 12.
Info. from med. article:
"...measurements of metabolites such as methylmalonic acid and homocysteine have been shown to be more sensitive in the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency than the measurement of serum B12 levels."
"Psychiatric symptoms attributable to vitamin B12 deficiency have been described for decades.[35] These symptoms seem to fall into several clinically separate categories: slow cerebration, confusion, memory changes, delirium with or without hallucinations and or delusions, depression, acute psychotic states, and more rarely, reversible manic and schizophreniform states."Also, B 12 deficiency can cause numbness and tingling in hands and feet, sore tongue, neuropathic type pain, and other neuro. symptoms.(I had all of those).
Good Luck
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