Quote:
Originally Posted by bluesfan
Hi Orolibre
Welcome to Neurotalk (NT). Sorry I can't help with a diagnosis for your friend - that is best left to the medical professionals. NT is useful for information, sharing experiences and support.
Regarding your friend's symptoms I notice you posted under the Autoimmune forum - does your friend have an autoimmune condition?
Has your friend sought medical advice/treatment for the blackouts? It is important that he do so. Blacking out for several hours is a symptom that should not be dismissed.
Your friend said he "dropped all medications" recently. What medications was he taking? what doses? and for how long?
Regarding the possibility of some sort of neuropathy - There are over 100 different types of Peripheral Peuropathy (PN) with as many causes. It is a process of elimination to try and diagnose a possible cause (or causes). Idiopathic just means that a cause hasn't been determined.
If your friend hasn't had any examination or testing for diagnosis the best thing would be to see his PCP for a referral for further specialist investigation.
It would be useful if he was able to put together some sort of record or history of his symptoms and progression - include any medication changes and other possible interactions. eg tick bites, falls, allergies etc.
If you have any further questions please come back and ask. There are people on here, with more experience and knowledge than I have, who would be able to help. All the best for your friend.
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Thanks for the input Bluesfan.
He has seen doctors and done quite a few tests, exams, mri´s etc. He was told it is most likely an autoimmune condition. Thus far the more obvious autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, MS have been ruled out. No brain tumors. He is pursuing the Chiari Malformation possibility at a specialty center for Chiari but his images don´t show obvious signs of Chiari.
I was hoping to find someone with or that has had similar symptoms so as to possibly narrow down avenues to pursue for diagnosis and treatment. News is he had a particularly bad night last night with pain in his leg.
He will be looking more into Lymes Disease and other infectious illnesses, heavy metals, poisons etc also, to start ticking those boxes off as well.
My opinion is that emotional stress from losing his wife in a battle with cancer recently in March this year exacerbated an underlying autoimmune condition. He has always had nerve/anxiety issues manifested as grinding his teeth while asleep. That has been going on since we were in university together +35 years ago. Since his wifes´ passing, he has suffered what he describes as "horrible nightmares". He has finally consulted with a psychologist which seemed to help. His physical pain continues to get worse it seems and he has finally conceded that he needs someone around pretty much all the time. He is a very independent individual and giving in to letting go of "control" so to speak just makes his stress/anxiety level increase.
He is waiting on acceptance from the Mayo Clinic and also Dr Mericle in Nashville who has reported success with idiopathic neuropathy cases.