Acute loss of sensory input. What could be causing this?

Hello.

I'm writing on behalf of my loved one on some complex mystery symptoms which no medical professional has been able to explain in satisfactory manner. That being said, I'm not expecting to find accurate diagnostical answers here either. What I am trying to find are alternate directions we might have overlooked or missed.

Throughout the years she has suffered from a particular kind of fits. They share many characteristics of a TIA, but some of them speak against it. When we met these fits happened relatively often, at least once per month but their intensity was low. As the years have progressed, the fits have grown in intensity but happen less often - perhaps even as seldom as once per year. This apparently speaks against TIA, since that recurs rather quickly.

The fit has rapid onset, it peaks in just minutes. It begins with vertigo, during which she usually has enough time to go laying down on a bed. If it doesn't pass in this stage, she starts to lose her connection to senses. She doesn't feel her legs or arms, but she is able to move them, although movements are less accurate than in a normal situation.

Then she loses connection to eyesight and hearing, but with a twist. She still kind of has images in front of her and sounds around her, but she doesn't see or hear them, which to me sounds like she cannot interpret sensory signals. She feels her strength draining away from her body, which she unfortunately perceives as life force leaving her. At this stage she cannot form sentences in a clear manner - it's really difficult to make out what she's saying. With great difficulties she has been able to try to call an ambulance, but the answering point can't understand her.

Soon after this stage the fit starts to pass, but sadly she has a tremendous fear of death. Once she starts to regain her senses, she is usually in such a state of panic that it is impossible to calm her down, and an ambulance may have to be called in anyway for her to start figuring out she isn't dying.

After the episode her limbs are usually shaking quite a bit, but nothing you could call a convulsion. Typically there is also moderate+ headache on the right side somewhere around where frontal lobe and parietal lobe

She has some psychiatric history, which has the unfortunate side effect of healthcare professionals labeling these fits under those, which is understandable since when they arrive at the scene, she is indeed under more or less psychiatric condition. In fact, there was a time when even I was 50/50 on if this is purely a mental condition. But throughout the years her mental health issues have all but disappeared, and the fact that these fits come randomly without warning, without trigger condition. It also isn't until the ending stages of the fit that has her panic.

She is 32 years old and has no other medications than diazepam which she uses on the average two to three times a week, 2mg at a time. She doesn't smoke, doesn't drink alcohol and doesn't do drugs.

It is probably worth mentioning that few times a month she feels a constricting pain on her left arm. I have no idea if this might be related since it might very well have more to do with the nervous system.

Around two years ago magnetic resonance imaging didn't reveal anything. Electrocardiogram has been taken multiple times after the fit, giving only increased heart rate (140) which is most likely the result of her panic.

Do these ring the bell for anyone?

Thanks for anyone who braved the wall of text.

(I figured this is the best place to ask about this, but if someone has a suggestion for a better fitting sub-forum, please do tell.)

0 likes, 2 replies