Hi Everyone,

I posted on the new person forum and Glenn and Chemar invited me here. I hope I don't annoy anybody by giving the details of what's been happening with me, I just think it might be able to paint a pic for everyone.

I have been dealing with this since 9/17/06, my family and I were out shopping all day and then stopped to get pizza on the way home. After we ate I told my wife I felt dizzy and proceeded to get worse during the 10 min. drive home. By the time we got home I was really feeling dizzy and light headed (kinda like being drunk w/o the alcohol) while I carried our 2wk old daughter to the back door of the house I told my wife "this isn't good". My wife grabbed the baby and I collapsed thru the back door. My wife took me to the ER and after 6hrs they diagnosed it as Vertigo, gave me Rx for Valium, put me off work for 3 days, and sent me on my way (Kaiser Medical at their finest). While I was going to the ER & while there I was extremely dizzy, ringing in my ears, chest pain, and shooting pains in my left arm and left leg. ER did EKG and chest xray and after my wife argued with the Dr. he reluctantly agreed to do a CT Scan. All of these came back clean.
A couple of days later I went to urgent care because the dizziness was so bad, the Dr. did a urinalysis and referred me to a Head and Neck Specialist, Neurologist, and for a hearing test. Hearing test is fine and H&N Dr. says to keep taking the Valium, stay out of work and come back in 3wks. Still waiting to see neurologist at this point.
I finally got in to see my PCP after 10 days and he ordered a huge battery of fasting blood tests, MRI of neck & brain stem, and Cardio Stress Test. All of these tests came back normal.
A couple of wks later I saw the Neurologist who put me off work for another 2wks, tells me to stop taking the Valium (but doesn't replace it with anything else) and gives me eye exercises to do at home.
Go back to see the H&N Dr. (at this point it's been a mo.) who tells my Wife and I that it is not Vertigo and is definitely Neurological. Wants to let the Neurology Dept. take it from here.
Go back to the PCP who puts me off work till 12/11/06, refers me to a new neurologist, orders a MRI of the lower spine, another huge battery of blood tests, and Rx's for: Vicodin, Neurontin, and Relafen. MRI and blood tests come back normal. He also refers me for a sleep apnea test. I haven't ever been able to get the results of that test.
Go see PCP again on 12/10/06 he says the first Neurologist diagnosed as Polyperipheral Neuropathy and that he concures but wants the 2nd Neurologist as a second opinion, he puts me off work till 3/11/07 and says to continue meds.
Go to 2nd Neurologist who concures on diagnosis and orders a LP and blood tests which finally come back clean on 1/25/07, Thank the Good Lord Above no MS!! I will go back to see him on 2/23/07 to start a treatment program. He is talking about starting out w/ steroids.
As of today, I still have the dizziness (now in spasms more than all the time), pain is in both arms and legs but primarily in the left side(loss of muscle mass in left leg & loss of grip strength in both hands), constant ringing in my ears
(Neurologist thinks it's inflammation of the nerves behind the ear drum), Severe fatigue that keeps me from doing a whole lot, Severe pain in my left hip while walking & especially climbing hills or stairs, Hard time sleeping at night due to burning in legs. Some days are terrible & some days are Good!!
Looking forward to starting treatment, but cautiously optimistic. I have always been a go getter!! I'm the Safety Mgr/Asst. Operations Mgr for one of the largest lumber yards in No. CA. I'm used to going to work at 3am and most of time not leaving till 6pm. It's been really hard to feel this bad most of the time. Sorry I'm so long winded, but it sure has felt good to get this all out. Thanks to anyone who has the patience to read this.

Roper0866