Hi all. This is my first post here.
I have been experiencing episodes of tingling and numbness. It started in my right hand fingers, then moved to my left hand finger, then to the back of my right leg and left toes. I have slight numbness in my face and lips also. I have been extremely stressed and anxious for well over 4 months so my go thinks it's all stress related. I now have a head ache that I have had for a month and won't go away. I am basically at my wit's end now. Just feel like curling up and crying. I am 35 years old and should be in my prime. Instead, I find myself depressed and lonely.
Do you think that these symptoms could be attributed to stress and anxiety. It seams it all started when the stress and anxiety started.

Hi lei9h and welcome to NeuroTalk.

I am sorry you are feeling so bad emotionally and having physical symptoms

You answered your own question:

I would like to gently suggest you see a Mental Health Professional (Psychiatrist) who is a MD and can prescribe medication and/or a Psychotherapist who can help you through a difficult time with "talk therapy."

It can get better

Dear Lei9h: I'm new here, so I'm not sure what to do. The tingling and numbness you are experiencing can go with several conditions. It seems to me that you might benefit from seeing a neurologist. Please don't write it all off to stress. Did your GP suggest an antidepressant? There are several antidepressants that are also on label for pain and tingling. I take Cymbalta, which helps. Hugs, ElaineD

My gp did refare me to see a neurologist but they wanted more info from my gp. The info was not sent so they declined to see me. I have had loads of bloods taken and my blood sugar has come back as slightly high twice. I know that diabetes can cause all of my symptoms. I have to have a fasting glucose blood test now so I will wait to see what happens.
Just want to feel normal again.

Well, its been a while since last here. Still no closer to finding an answer to my symptoms. Had loads of bloods taken. Ct scan of my sinus. All clear. Been back to the docs and asked for a ct scan of my head but they are still writing it all off as stress and anxiety. Managed to get them to refare me again to neurologist. Have to wait again now. For how long I don't know.

lei9h, some types of migraines can cause episodic numbness and tingling sensations in various parts of the body.

Hey...hang in there......I'm sure the neuro will be able to determine if it's migraines or something else.

Are you still having the numbness, tingling and headaches ? Anything else happening ?

It's time to take the bull by the horns.....call your GP's office and make sure they've called the neuro's office.....when the appointment is made keep following up with the neuro's office to make sure they get the info they need from your GP....or.....if you're close to both locations, take your file over to the neuro's office yourself.

Going forward you should keep a copy of all your medical records.

If I had not been my own advocate I have no idea what shape I would be in now.

Please keep us posted Why ? Because we care about you !

Debi from Georgia

I agree w/ St. George...hang in there, and don't give up on trying to find answers.

I'm 27 years old and I've spent the last 3 to 4 years experiencing a slow progression of symptoms like (if not exactly the same as) those you're describing and yet only to get responses from my doctors and a few specialists like you have. The hardest part for me has been that thought too: 'I'm young and should be in my prime, not sick.' And it's definitely frustrating when you know your body is telling you something is really wrong and yet doctors keep coming back saying its anxiety or stress, etc.

I gave up about a year or so trying to persuade doctors that something more serious was going on with me than just 'stress'/anxiety, etc, after tons of blood tests and MRI's, etc all showed up clean. It wasn't until just a few months ago that I finally tried again, and lo and behold, now they've discovered stuff in my brain and I'm just now, after 3 to 4 years, starting to get some answers and assurances that it's not just stress and anxiety but something more serious that's causing the numbness and tingling, the headaches, etc.

That said, just hang in there and keep fighting, and don't give up on trying to get answers. Be open to what the doctors say. Whether or not there is something causing your symptoms of stress/anxiety, it's clear that the doctors have at least recognized that you do have anxiety/stress. ANYONE suffering or experiencing unnerving symptoms like what you've described would have stress and anxiety. In the past, I found myself best off when I fought for myself mentally, in spite of having no answers form the doctors. I'd remind/tell myself that 'yes...im anxious and stressed...but just because the doctors can't find a real 'cause', doesn't mean that there isnt a 'real' cause.

Again, hang in there!

All my sysmptoms started last june when i got really stressed out over a mole on my arm. Then i got a cough that has not gone away.
I am still having the tingling in my finger tips. not so much in my feet anymore, think most of the feet and leg feeling is due to a bad lower back as i do suffer with that.
have strange feeling in right temple and around my right ear. can only describe the ear pain as a low grade ear ache and what would be described as tinitus. (ringing occasionally and sensitive to high pitched sounds)
i also get a fullness on my right cheek bone/muscle that feels like sinus pressure and pain around my eye and bridge of nose that also feels like sinus pressure. As i mentioned in previous post, sinus scan is all clear.
Now the only thing i can link to all this pain that the docs say is due to stress and anxiety is that i clench my jaw shut and/or push it forward chleching my front teet together, i also grimmace a lot. (tense my face up) When i do these things, i feel the tension in my face and temple area. These muscles must be getting over used and causeing at least some of the feelings i am getting. I catch my self doing this a lot so there must be countless occasions where i am doing this and not aware of it.
i dont feel sick at all, just tired as i dont sleep well. i get about 3-4 hours each night. i have no trouble getting off to sleep, i just have trouble staying asleep. This must also be putting stress upon my body and brain.

I am starting to feel like a bit of a hypo.
i have had countless tests,
bloods, ct of chest, nasal endoscopy, ct of sinus, lung function tests. Everything has come back normal.

I have phoned the neuro office and i am booked in for a routine appointment in 6 to 8 weeks. Hopefully they will find nothing at all wrong with me and confirm it is just stress and anxiety.

Hi,

Just wondering if you have had your vitamin B12 checked. Don't assume that the Drs are correct if they tell you your numbers are normal. Always get the lab report. Some drs are now treating B12 deficiency at numbers lower than 400, where the standard line in the UK is to treat below 200. Big difference!

B12 will cause the numbness and tingling you are describing a good site to visit is www.B12d.org this explains the multitude of symptoms being low in B12 can cause.

OK with the sinus pain have you ever heard of a sinus migraine? It gives you awful sinus pain but there is no infection and a CT scan would show up clear as there is nothing wrong with your sinuses. Google sinus pain migraine and you will come up with lots of info on this condition. Many patients are wrongly diagnosed with sinus problems / dry sinuses when actually they are experiencing a sinus migraine.

I hope this info helps you. Don't give up you will get answers.

Rach x