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Balance issues, trembling hands, shortness of breath, chest pains. No answers.

Posted , 8 users are following.

savage747
savage747

Hello, I'm reaching the end of my rope with my health and I was hoping someone could help me. I desperately need answers. I know this is obnoxiously long but perhaps a detailed story would help.

So here's my backstory.

Back in December 2017 I was having an episode of nausea and headaches.

I wrote this off as "the flu". The following day during Christmas dinner I got crushing chest pain and felt like I was going to pass out. Fortunately this only lasted for about half a minute, but the following two weeks I was absolutely messed up. The most disturbing thing to me was that I couldn't walk up the stairs without getting winded. I felt "dizzy" and just generally awful the entire time. My heart would race for no reason at all, more so if I was trying to do anything involving movement.

I (was) a fit 25 year old male that liked to work out. This didn't make sense to me. My first thought was that I was having "heart issues". After some basic tests (EKG, blood tests,x-ray) the doctor determined that I was having "anxiety". Okay. I'm anxious?

So I went back to trying to be "me". But every time I tried to work out I would start feeling dizzy, short of breath, chest pains and palpitations. Sometimes just standing up would make me get tunnel vision. Something wasn't right.

I then went to our local walk-in clinic and told the doctor what was happening since my GP was pretty much sold on "anxiety" and I felt like I wasn't really getting anywhere.

The walk-in doctor simply said I was having acid reflux. After a test this was later changed to H.pylori and I was immediately put on anti-biotics. I was relieved and rather hopeful that this would be the end of my problems, but things got worse.

None of the previously mentioned symptoms went away, instead I got new ones. I found that I was now having difficulty walking (feeling off balance) and my hands/fingers started to shake and twitch. It's extremely noticeable when I'm trying to write a paper or text someone. I used to love drawing but I find it suddenly difficult to get basic shapes down, I never had this problem before.

I was then finally passed over to a cardiologist (after spending the last 3 months begging for one) and she gave off the impression that I was wasting her time. She noted that I had "low blood pressure", and perhaps that's why I felt "dizzy". She offered no solutions for low blood pressure and quickly parted after making a stress test appointment 3 months from now. It was disappointing to say the least, especially after waiting so long to meet her.

As of right now I'm being told that I have the "classic" early symptoms of MS. Maybe. I wouldn't know because getting any kind of further testing done in Canada is near impossible due to our wait times. So it's either anxiety or MS. Or Lyme Disease. Nobody knows (or cares enough to investigate, really).

If any of you can give me your opinion on this I'd greatly appreciate it.

I haven't felt like my old self since December and it's making me miserable. I just want to feel normal again.

 

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • rocksolid
    rocksolid savage747

    Posted

    I'm no doctor but it does sound like it could be MS, Remember I am not a doctor. I think you should go see a Neurologist next. They can check for MS and a whole bunch of other things. I may not hurt to go to an ENT to rule out an ear issue. A basic blood test would be good also. Have them check for Lyme and Vitamin d, b12, Iron and Magnesium if any of these are low it can make you feel bad. Most peoples vitamin D comes back low, it's very common. Make sure to take vitamin D3 not D2, D3 gets absorbed better. so......I would say blood test first to rule out the simple fixes, then ENT and Neurologist. Also try not to let it freak you out. If you give it life it can take over and we don't want that. I have been dizzy for 8 yrs all the time and still don't know what is wrong.

    • savage747
      savage747 rocksolid

      Posted

      I'm going to have a very difficult time getting anyone to refer me to a neurologist in this town unfortunately.

      Both my GP and the walk-in doc have fallen on "anxiety", and that's that.

      Now I'm not against this diagnosis but I'm very sceptical. I don't "feel" anxious about anything but the fact that I'm not feeling right. I'm stumped, to be honest.

  • Steggles
    Steggles savage747

    Posted

    I'm in the same boat kind of, I have been having lightheadedness and anxiety and the more I looked into it the worse it got, I felt like my mind was creating symptoms that I dont really have, I was looking into MS as well and my doctor laughed when I mentioned it only because I've been there 100 times in the past year with heaps of different symptoms but the main one being an ear complaint, I'm under a lot of stress and I grind my teeth at night and I'm thinking its TMD or something that's causing this for me... if it's really bothering you I'd suggest to get an MRI test for MS to rule it out and look at other possible and more likely causes ie vitamin deficiencies or your diet/sleep

    • savage747
      savage747 Steggles

      Posted

      Thanks, but getting an MRI is kind of impossible where I live. We're looking at a very, very long waiting list.

      Fortunately I could travel down to the coast (I'm in BC) and maybe hunt down a private clinic of sorts but that's a bit far-fetched.

      I'm going to look into vitamin deficiencies though. I don't think I've ever been tested for that.

    • jack11633
      jack11633 savage747

      Posted

      my other post is awaiting moderation! You should look into vestibular neuritis illness on fb.  I am in BC too...5 months wait for MRI.

      In my blood work b12 was 276...they dont even say anything is wrong but thats low.

  • jack11633
    jack11633 savage747

    Posted

    Hellooo...listen you should probably join the vestibular neuritis group on facebook.  I am in Canada too..suffering from similar things as you and some other things for over a year now.  Just finally got MRI after five months waiting, still haven't heard anything so not sure if its MS either.  Lots of people have the same or similar symptoms and it turns out to be Herpes 6 virus, Epstein Barr, most likely if you had chicken pox or mono as a kid...it seems as though the flu the last few years has been reactivated the virus for many adults because with both they never leave and reactive under stress or illness, most GP'S are clueless as to what it is.  I also suspect Lymes disease at one point but Canadas lymes testing is crap, only tests for the tick in Canada, and lots of people actually get lymes from going on vacation to Dominican Republic, Cuba etc....I was chewed alive by sand fleas in Dominican problem onl reliable testing is in the states,, "ignex" costs a fortune for Canadians, being sick for over a year its not an option right now. also look into lymes coinfections, can come from fleas too.  So far I stick with Vestibular Neurits...met some other people that had chest palps, pains, winded feeling with their vestibular Neurtis....good luck getting help in Canada so far its been ridiculous for me to even get a GP to listen, waiting months to see specialists.  TO GET BETTER - looking into the Wahls diet/ Medical medium, quit eating dairy/gluten/ sugar..take magnesium, vitamin D...Vitamin C....look up the magnesium protocol on facebook - lots of info in there too but very technical.  Good Luck to you, god knows we need it to get over this mystery illness.

     

  • jack11633
    jack11633 savage747

    Posted

    I should mention lots of people reporting that they get periodically TMJ symptoms with Vestibular Neuritis...not sure if one is being mistaken for the other or not...for me it comes and goes. One thing in common is anxiety and stress...everyones not sure if its brought on from the illness or the illness comes before it, doesnt really matter though....just takes a really long time to get better.  Epley manovers dont work for you unless you have BPPV.
  • Steggles
    Steggles savage747

    Posted

    Yeah I went to 4 different doctors all said bppv but I didn't have vertigo, nothing was spinning it was more lightheadedness and balance, the epley maneuver did nothing also.. the 5th doctor I seen said it was stress and anxiety

    • jack11633
      jack11633 Steggles

      Posted

      If you can afford it go to a dentist that specializes in TMJ get that checked out.  They all say stress/ anxiety...they have no clue..sounds like TMJ, which does happen often with other autoimmune disorders like MS.  I do the massages on youtube for some relief, mine is crazy though like not being able to open my mouth more than a few cms at a time.
    • faye46777
      faye46777 Steggles

      Posted

      First of all there’s a very strong possibility it could be an arithymia like supraventricular tachycardia or similar, second possibility it postural ortostatic tachycardia syndrome. Also get your b12, magnesium and potassium levels checked. With Lyme Disease you can get false negatives with the tests so request other tests because that can make you feel dreadful, also EKG’s aren’t very good at picking up Rythmn problems do a 5 day rape would be better. Wishing you good luck on finding out what is going on, we can’t deal with the unknown. 
    • jack11633
      jack11633 faye46777

      Posted

      Would a heart ultrasound rule out the above mentioned heart conditions out?
  • j1109
    j1109 savage747

    Posted

    Years ago  I went through an illness that no one could identify and was told it was MS, epsteine barre virus, anxiety, or fibromialgia and chronic fatique syndrome. (sorry, my spelling is not so good!).  It was tick borne diseases.  I ended up going to a doctor out in New York.  I am from the midwest.  We spent 4 days driving out there and back 4 and 5 times per year  for two years.  That doctor gave me my life back.  I was treated for Lyme disease (which I tested positive for), Bartinella, and Babesia.  Until I was treated for all three diseases at once I did not really improve.  Look up Lymedisease.org and see if some of it makes sense to your situation.  The doctor I saw had patients from Canada, Florida and England in his waiting room, along with my husband and myself from the midwest.  Keep researching and don't give up!!

     

  • faye46777
    faye46777 savage747

    Posted

    I am so sorry for my misspelling of “tape”! No a heart ultrasound only shows health of valves, any leaks and chambers pumping. You really need a 5-7 day halti-monitor ekg. The stupid thing is Rythmn  problems cause extra Adrenalin and cortisone to course around your body which causes extreme stress and anxiety so it’s a double ended sword! 
  • samantha37013
    samantha37013 savage747

    Posted

    I'm around your age

    I've been having the same issues...

    They told me the same thing, on a waiting list too see more doctors. It's hard and sometime scary to deal with. Hope you get your amswers. I will keep you posted about me, still waiting for referrals to call. My doctors sounds like yours demand to see all specialist, i had to get a different doctor to let me see one.

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