Some advice please

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hello everyone, I've decided to post on the forum because I'm a little bit unsure of what steps to take next. Since January this year I have been experiencing some unsettling symptoms.

- sudden weakness in the arms and legs

- sudden blurring of the vision in my left eye

- severe joint pain, most prominently in my right knee and wrist

- memory lapses (whole periods where I have no recollection of where I've been lasting over 30 minutes) and inability to remember information, appointments, meetings etc.

- headaches and left eye pain

- difficultly with changing lights (from darkness to brightness and with flashing/bright lights)

- poor balance and occasional falls from my legs going weak

My GP has been wonderful and referred me firstly to a gastroenterologist (as I have suffered from digestive issues and lower left side pain for four years now) thinking it may be a nutrition problem causing the weakness. When my symptoms became worse she then referred me to a neurologist and I was seen very quickly as my GP felt it was urgent.

I visited the neurologist at the start of the week. She did not think I needed any tests, or scans and didn't take a blood sample. She simply advised me to wait and see whether the symptoms 'settle down' and if they don't, go back to my GP. She also advised me that she didn't think there was a neurological problem and would have preferred me to see an endocrinologist but she didn't feel the need to refer me on to an endocrinologist as I have previously seen such a doctor with severe sweating and he felt everything was normal with my hormones.

I am B12 deficient and have injections every 3 months. I also take iron supplements as my blood count is persistently low. The neurologist did not enquire about either of these, she just took a note of the medication.

I am slightly unsure what I am supposed to do whilst 'waiting for it to settle down' as the weakness often strikes my right hand making me unable to write (which is necessary for my work as a PhD student). My vision and memory problems can also be quite debilitating. For example, my GP advised me not to drive, yet the neurologist says I can (even though I am not taking anything to stop my vision problems occurring).

My partner was very unhappy that the neurologist did not explain things more clearly to me and has not done any tests or scans and feels I should return to my GP and enquire further. In my consultation with the neurologist I felt unable to challenge her - she said until my supervisor complained about my work then the symptoms were not affecting my work. She also said I was taken to A&E with a 'migraine' last year when I fact I was re-admitted two days following that visit and told I had viral meningitis and should never have been allowed home. I don't know whether I should visit my GP again or just try and deal with the symptoms as the neurologist told me.

I am a 24 female who cycles regularly and other than my digestive/lower left side pain (which has caused me to be admitted to hospital and visit A&E over the four years) I am quite fit and healthy.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    hi,suprised they did not do MRI scans just check things out,it all sounds neurological to me...i had all your complaints eye pain,stomach problems,dizzy,balance issues from 25 right up until i was 38 my GP said it was all in my head then 4 year ago i woke up paraysled and all them symptoms i had previousy had were all part of my now diagnosed condition...try and get MRI scan done give you peace of mind
  • Posted

    Though I am not a doctor I don’t believe any responsible doctor could see your symptoms as transient or trivial ones. Surely some further investigation or test was the order of the day. So I’m left thinking that your neurologist had concluded that it’s all in your head.

    A doctor actually said to me once that my symptoms were all in my head. But I persisted, changed doctors twice, and finally got the correct diagnosis. In my case it was reactive hypoglycemia. The diagnosis got me on the right track, a diet that got me back on my feet and functioning again.

    My advice—not to mince words—is to see another neurologist right away. Ask around for a recommendation. (Or, if you lean towards suspecting your digestive system, I’d suggest you see a gastroenterologist.)

  • Posted

    Completely agree you should try and get an MRI. Am no gp. Though Am a nurse( not at the minute

    Unfortunately) and someone needs to take the bull by the horns and get kickstarted into whats going on. An MRI is a good start... it must be very frustrating for you and very hard indeed whats going on...

  • Posted

    Thank you to everyone who has replied, I really appreciate it. It's nice to know that it's not me being over sensitive.
  • Posted

    Absolutely not

    Your health is the most important thing..

  • Posted

    Not all MRI scans reveal the details Jinx710, but personally I would suggest you seek another neurologist for a second opinion as it sounds neurological. I have only just learnt that neurology has a hierarchy from basic to specialist. Maybe an EEg might give a bit more detail. Not a particularly pleasant experience but as mentioned above we do unfortunately have to take the bull by the horns for our own benefit. Not sure what job or daily activity you are doing but there might be a connection. I was a reasonably healthy person until my job and unnoticed stress left me with a haemorrhage. Just search every avenue the sooner the better as unfortunately science has yet to find a way to replace our brains. I really wish you all the best.

  • Posted

    Seeking another neurologist sounds a good idea and research helps...Good luck jinx 710

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