[heather529]

First, I want to say I am sooooo happy to have found a place to talk with others about what is going on. I have browsed through the site and am in awe at how compassionate and helpful everybody is here. I will start by saying that I do NOT have a diagnosis yet, which is a horrible! feeling for me. On 1/11 I ended up in the ER and have since experienced symptoms that are making daily life difficult. I want to tell you what happened that lead to the ER visit first.

Here is a timeline of events:

12:45 - riding in the car to take my husband to work (scale of 1-10 with 10 being perfect, I was at a 10) 12:55 - Husband had to pull over so I could be sick on the side of the road. Became very dizzy and had tunnel vision. Husband turned around to take me back home. (Had to pull over twice more on the ten minute ride home) 1:15 - In bed, curled up. Husband says I was incoherent and unresponsive. He called an ambulance. Pulse was at 150. I have no memory of anything from the moment we turned around to head back home until we were half way to the hospital in the ambulance, where I then came to. ER did blood work and a brain scan and said it was a vertigo. VERTIGO!

I went from perfectly fine to unresponsive to perfectly fine. This was NOT the first time this has happened. Four months ago I had a similar experience, but it was not nearly as severe. If this episode was a 8, the first episode was a 4 on the scale of severity. I think the paramedics and ER staff felt that I was "on" something (they kept asking me what I took) I take no medications (or ANY drugs)

SYMPTOMS experienced at the time: Extreme vomiting without warning, excessive sweating, tunnel vision when I could open my eyes, extreme dizziness, rapid heart rate (150 bpm at time of transfer to hospital), deteriorated to unresponsive and weird "something is not right" feeling in the chest.

I had a MRI done last week, ordered by my PCP. He called me with the results and said there was no tumor (our worry!) and that he was referring me to a neurologist. I got a little tired of waiting for this referral so did my own research and two days ago I made my appointment with one, but it is not until the end of Feb. (Glad I did too, because today my PCP came through with his referral and it isn't until MAY! Cancelled of course)

So now on to what has been going on since the ER visit. I have been experiencing muscle twitches (or spasms might be the better word....whatever part of my body does it kind of jolts for a millisecond) through out the body off and on, an 'off balance' type feeling, a sometimes veil like fog over the brain, short term memory loss, pain in my joints that comes and go's (sometimes just a sharp pain, other times throbbing for awhile), a mild dull achy headache and weird speech problems that come and go -- Speech problems include slurring words, missing words, stuttering over letters or the wrong words coming out. Almost like my brain isn't quite connected to my mouth. I also have a fullness in my head and a sensation of blood rushing to my head at times (heat, but no redness)

Today started a new weird symptom: my scalp feels like its been pulled tight - almost like I've had a pony tail in too tight for days (I haven't!) I have also had the sensation of something icy being poured down my left leg. I actually reached down to feel if it was wet!!!

All very weird stuff and to be honest, it's a bit scary too. My thinking is this: I know my body and I know when something isn't ... I don't feel right and I am some what in fear of having another episode before I can get in to see a specialist

I know this is a LOT of information from someone who happened upon the site today and I hope you'll forgive the rambling. It's nice to just have somewhere to ramble for a minute. As a side note: I am 32 and have had no major medical issues in the past.

[Rrae]

Welcome to NT!

I'm sorry about all these strange symptoms you are having. Yes, it IS a scary thing to not know what is going on. It's also very frustrating to have to wait so long to get in with a specialist.

Be careful of looking online for diagnoses. I made this mistake and had myself convinced I had 10 different terminal illnesses

You'll find Neurotalk to be a wonderful place of support and genuine care.
Feel free to look through all the forums and post wherever you feel inclined. Others will be along to welcome you and perhaps point you in a good direction.

I hope you can get some answers VERY soon!

Caring,
Rae

[heather529]

Originally Posted by Rrae

Welcome to NT!

I'm sorry about all these strange symptoms you are having. Yes, it IS a scary thing to not know what is going on. It's also very frustrating to have to wait so long to get in with a specialist.

Be careful of looking online for diagnoses. I made this mistake and had myself convinced I had 10 different terminal illnesses

You'll find Neurotalk to be a wonderful place of support and genuine care.
Feel free to look through all the forums and post wherever you feel inclined. Others will be along to welcome you and perhaps point you in a good direction.

I hope you can get some answers VERY soon!

Caring,
Rae

Google is not my friend Thank you for the welcome!

[ginnie]

We all are glad you found Neuro Talk too. Your symptoms are scarry. It is important not to panic. Testing can be a slow process, and I know waiting to get into the doctor can make anyone anxious. They are going to find out what is wrong. You have many options with physicians. There are also diagnostic clinics like Mayo. You know your body better than anyone else. Write down for the doctor just what you did for us. Keep a journal of all that happens to you during the day. Bring that with you to your appt. Bring your hubby or a friend to the doctors office. They can fill in what you may not remember. Writing all these symptoms will help your doctor. I will be here to talk to, and so will the members of this site. I care.
I came to this site, just as you did, pretty scared. I found friends that helped me through my health issues. You will make some friends and find this is an easy place to be. Let us know what happens at your appointment. ginnie

[loretta]

Welcome Heather,
You will find much support and comfort here on Neurotalk. So scary what you are going thru. Could you be on a wait list with Neuro doc for cancellation?
End of Feb. much feel so far off. Just a thought=do you have a blood pressure kit for home use. They are inexpensive-about $40. That way as you go do Doc, you could take in your history of blood pressure and heart rate. a journal of your symptoms will be important as well as someone close to you going on the appt.
Let us know how you are doing. loretta

[heather529]

Thanks for welcoming me We do have a BP machine, my husband has to monitor his for high bp. Thanks for the idea of monitoring it; I've never had a bp issue so it hadn't crossed my mind. I hadn't thought to ask about a cancel list, but do know that I got an appointment on my own THREE months sooner then my PCP could get me one -- who would have thought? (Didn't know until a friend told me that I didn't need a referral to see a specialist, that I could call them myself)

[Darlene]

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Please keep us up to date on your situation. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[forevernana4]

Hi and welcome. I'm so sorry for all that's going on right now, but very glad you're seeing a neurologist soon. Please keep in mind that you may have to see more than one doctor. My daughter had to see three neurologists until one cared enough to go the extra mile and find true causes.

I have no idea what might be going on but I can say that some of your symptoms and what you describe sounds like some of the same things my daughter experienced with her partial seizures (vomiting or feeling as if she would, loss of awareness for period of time, many concerning sensations throughout her body, etc.). She especially mentioned the chest feeling (almost a rising, along with bad, feeling) every time. In fact, when she did that, it was an indicator that seizure was immediately to follow. You also describe to the "t" what she does with words, understanding and memory.

She would then have simple partial seizures in between where she didn't loose awareness but would have the random physical complaints as well.

Just sharing anything I can think of, and will pray you have answers very soon with few symptoms until then.

Good luck and keep us informed!

[forevernana4]

Also, have you had thyroid tested recently? If not, please do so.

Good luck!

[mrsD]

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

When some confusing things like this happen, medically, it is a good idea to keep a journal.

Daily record what medications you take OTC and RX (birth control pills, tylenol, etc).

Record the time of day you had an episode. What was happening just before? How long it lasted, etc.

Keeping a journal of your food intake may point to a food trigger.
Activities, may point to an activity trigger.

When you keep a journal like this, it really helps the doctors when you see them, to see trends according to time of day, or other factors.