Well, Sylvie, the former doctor WAS correct. It WAS in your head. He just wasn't smart enough to find that it was in your brain, not your imagination.

I am so sorry. It is NOT funny, but it just struck me that one's brain IS "IN THEIR HEAD".

I, in no way, make light of your former situation. That WAS awful. I am so glad you switched doctors and found the tumor. Hope that has been resolved in whatever manner needed.

Again, sorry for my BAD humor. It was not meant to be at your expense.

Oops, I see glenntaj already beat me to the response. I guess I should keep reading before I post.

Thank you all for your insightful and sympathetic replies! My surgery was in 1998, and I sailed through it. Moved out of state and started a new job just six weeks later. Yet I did have an unexpected brain "bleed," in 2000, and a grand mal seizure (while driving!) in 2005. Only the last event freaked me out.

I'm reciting this litany not to get even more nice responses, but because I wonder if my history of brain "insults" paved the way for my weird reaction to antidepressant meds (i did become depressed after the seizure) and my current autonomic and sensory neuropathy. Neuros "sort of" think so, but have no real insight. I'm wondering if anyone else here have a history of brain injury?

and did seem to get worse before they got better (although they were one side at a time mostly.) Of course I immediately got on the internet and within a very short time began to get worried because of all the possible reasons I could be having these symptoms. Searching on internet can give anyone health anxiety. Both my nerve conduction test and EMG also came back normal but my doctor did not doubt I was experiencing these "sensations" as he called them.

I don't know if anyone could make up these symptoms as they are so random. That does not mean if you do have PN that it is the end of the world. You may be able to find the cause for yours and stop and/or reverse it. Maybe spend your time productively searching around this forum to see what tests you may want to get so when you do see another doctor or neurologist you'll be able to be better educated. Since you mentioned you lived in a Rural area I'm thinking a test for Lyme would be good. If you have questions just post them and people will answer.

My doctor story: Years ago I woke up a few days before my sons HS graduation feeling I had been drugged. I could hardly walk and was sorta hallucinating. My doctor was out of town so I saw someone else. He decided I was suffering from anxiety due to my son's graduation and needed to take Xanax. I didn't agree but he wouldn't budge. I didn't take the pills & still felt horrible the next day. I spoke to the doctor and he said I would not get better until I took the drug. I knew he was wrong but didn't want to miss graduation. Luckily without taking anything I was better the next day. I went to see my regular MD when she came back and she figured it out.. I always added nutmeg to my oatmeal and on the day in question the nutmeg cap had come off and tons ended up in my oatmeal. I ate it anyway not realizing that nutmeg is a hallucinogenic. (and not any fun either.) I had a case of nutmeg poisoning not anxiety!

what a story , I didn't realize nutmeg is hallucinogenic, noted

not the good kind, its a deliriant.

My sister in law has the exact same story! She went from doctor to doctor...they told her anxiety and depression. Then she had a car accident which led to a CAT scan...and boom...large tumor. Unbelievable this happened to two people!

This happened to me too, my Lymphoma was diagnosed in the last minute because doctors who said that my complaints are psychosomatic.