Why is My Body Doing This?
 

Psych Disorders: Bipolar II, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, ADHD, probable Borderline Personality Disorder; listed as personality disorder NOS, specific phobia, panic attacks.
Conversion Disorder diagnosis in question as they did not to a neurological work up with the first event.

Medical: Medical: Iron deficiency anemia related to PCOS, mild plaque psoriasis, tachycardia (potentially related to current issue in question)

I was diagnosed with Conversion Disorder in November 2015. I ended up with right side weakness, a drop in the right leg, a severe stutter (with no prior history of stuttering), tremors (though particularly sever in the right hand), cognitive dysfunction. MRI/CT/Chest X-Ray all came out clean. Went away in about five days. Probably triggered by identified stressor.

Another episode started 06/23/16, the day I took the first does of the propranonol. The same symptoms came first. Graudally, new symptoms appeared: extreme weakness in the right arm, feeling like things are crawling on my legs, random pin-like sensations on different parts of my body, worsening of the symptoms with heat exposure, extreme weakness/moderate pain in back muscles, "on-off" neurological phenomena (stutter when I speak, but I can sing a song that I know clearly. If I sit up straight to maintain posture, my whole torso shakes like hell and my head bobs but the tremors in my hands stop), loss of biological survival signal that says "eat or you're going to die" and just generally not noticing "hey, you need to drink something; you're dehydrated"--had to set reminders and post notes to remind myself, dizziness, my right foot is starting to turn inward when I walk. The bottoms of my feet tingle for fun. It doesn't take a whole lot for my legs or hands to fall asleep or get that "pin" feeling. Random, intermittent muscle twitching, disturbed equilibrium.

Fatigue (though I have PCOS and had 10 weeks of iron infusions a year ago; iron deficiency anemia is a potential issue here. Hemoglobin... or hematocrit... was a bit low again in April; MCHC and MCV never came up again even after infusions).

I think I passed out once. Not sure. I was already laying in bed, but my vision blurred for about 10 seconds, then I was gone. Woke up about an hour an a half later in the same position that I fell asleep, I guess, in. I usually move around and throw things around in my sleep.

BP is perfectly normal, rarely above 120/80, but HR >100 not related to prescribed stimulant. Given for HR and recent recurrence of panic/anxiety attacks after being stable since late April. I was pulled off of the propranonol after two days, as it was assumed that it was the trigger (more so the icing on the cake, as there are other factors that built up to the episode). Have since address different "flavors" of said cake and nothing has changed.

Tachycardic; HR hasn't dropped below 104 through the duration of this issue and hasn't been below 90 since January. It's been up at 140 if I'm up and around too much or get to wound up. I assume it's due to the astronomical oxygen expenditure with not only extra effort to speak but the involuntary muscle movement, etc, etc. (I don't know. I grew up with nurses, but I sure as hell am no professional. I'm a freaking psych major).

Another oddity: I've been hypomanic for seven of the eleven days of the current episode. From what I'm aware, with CD, psych disorders are non-issues through the duration of the episodes given those stressors and disorder are what trigger the episodes.

My parents, ICU and ER nurses, both 22 years experience, have ideas, but I'm just trying to gather information and get advice elsewhere myself. Neither of them are neurologists, granted, but they're experienced. I see a neurologist in the very near future. PCP but a STAT order on the referral. I'll probably get a call after the holiday.

Hi Jessie

Welcome to Neurotalk (NT) - I read your introduction post but thought I'd reply here.

Things are a bit quiet on NT recently since they did a website upgrade - search engines have to re-find us - so if responses are few or slow that may be why - also holidays are often quieter

Regarding the neurological symptoms you describe many of them can be typical of Peripheral Neuropathy (PN). You may want to check out the PN forum on here.

Unfortunately there are over 100 different types of PN and just as many causes. Equally there are different ways to diagnose different types. Sorry this sounds pretty negative but many of us on here have been through it. Most find the best way to try to figure out what type and cause is by a process of elimination eg: if you know you're not diabetic, don't consume vast amounts of alcohol, etc - you can cross those off. B12 deficiency, chemicals, some medications, cancer treatment are all among things that can cause PN.

Rather than go through a list here's a couple of links to help:
National Institute of Health:
Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet

Cleveland Clinic:
Peripheral Neuropathy

Depending on what other medications you're on others may be able to help with info on possible side effects of those - maybe if you could post both current and previous meds and how long you were on them (some can take a long time to build up to intolerance).

Hope this info is of use - please feel free to come back and ask any specific questions - there's others here with more experience than I have.

All the best for finding answers.

Added: I was just reading another thread and thought it might be useful - here's the link:
http://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-...-disorder.html

Hi PatternsInTheIvy

Welcome to NT - I hope that you will find the community as knowledgeable and supportive as I have :).

I think that bluesfan has offered you some great ideas.

All the best.

Thank you for the information. Something. Anything. Is all I wanted. Something to lead me anywhere other than MS, which is what my parents are worried about given I'm in the right age group, female, and am descended from the right area in Europe. <---Three primary risk factors, from what I understand. I'm not sure about the gene mutations given I haven't been able to see neuro yet.

Something other than Conversion Disorder even, because there is absolutely nothing I can do other than what I'm already doing. It's been almost two weeks, and nothing has improved. Docs aren't listening because of my psych history. It's irritating.

Again, thank you. I'm going to take a look at the information and see what comes up. I'll let you know if I have questions.

Seriously. Thank. You.

By the way, Blues? Make me think of home. St. Louis Blues. They were bad growing up, but they're doing better now.

Ah, ****. Missed the part about the meds.

I'm currently on 150mg Welbutrin XL (1.5 years), 1mg Klonpin (10 months), 15mg Adderall XR (3 months), 200mg Lamictal (10 months), and 50mg Topamax (4 months).

I was on 10mg Lexapro for 2.5 years and 20mg Lexapro for 2.5 years. The propranonol was only two days.

As far as your medications are concerned it might help if you looked at the "Interactions Checker" here Drugs.com | Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side Effects.

There could be possible negative interactions between your medications - if so, definitely worth discussing with your prescribing doctor.

I've used another interaction checker in the past, and there doesn't seem to be anything that would cause a reaction like this. Repeatedly warned of seizures in rare cases with the bupropion and the Adderall, though more so in cases in those with neurological disorders.

I've already done research on which medications affect dopamine levels given dopamine in particular seems to screw with the CNS/PNS. The Adderall and bupropion are both Dopamine/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors. The topiraimate is the only definitive dopamine antagonist that I'm on. Clonazepam potentially has an effect on dopamine levels, but I'll have to talk to neuro about that. I have heard that benzos can affect dopamine levels, but I haven't found definitive evidence either way. The lamotrigine is a sodium channel blocker and glutamate antagonist; irrelevant in what I'm looking for. 2:1 on dopamine uppers to dopamine downers, but I'm not sure what the relative strength of the one dopamine antagonist is to the two DNRIs. More neuro questions as soon as they called me.

...Yes. I am a giant nerd. I'm a psych major too, so I'm extra nerdy here. :P

Since you are young... I'd look at recent vaccines you may have been given?

Next on the list, which you have not stated yet tested for, is a MTHFR mutation, which inhibits activation of B12 and folic acid to their methyl forms in the body. This is a DNA test.
MTHFR Mutation | MTHFR Gene Mutation | What is MTHFR? - MTHFR.net

This is relatively new but implicated in many hard to diagnose patients with various symptoms. Regular doctors have not yet
informed themselves about this topic, it seems, yet.

What is an MTHFR Gene Mutation? Wellness Mama

Many people who come to these boards today, with continuing trouble finding a diagnosis, have tested positive for this mutation. About 40% of people today have this to some degree.

mrsD: Thank you for the information. I've had all typical vaccinations, including the HPV vaccines. ...I'm a little skeptical of the information presented given the past attempts at linking vaccines to gene mutations, and this article specifically links this gene mutation to autism... We know how well that went last time.

Regardless, I will look into it. I'm not going to dismiss it until I have sufficient evidence to do so, and there are valid points to the information that I've read so far. I have pulled lab results for low folic acid in the past.

It isn't impossible that some vaccines may cause genetic mutations, necessary or not. Again, thank you for the information. I need all the information that I can get my hands on given the current situation. I'm still afraid of being blown off due to my psychiatric history, so I need to go to the appointment, when they call me, with information and questions to make it very clear that I am tired of dicking around and being ignored because I am psychologically disordered and chose to be diagnosed and treated. Like anyone with any physical disorder would.

Mental health stigma. Have to love it. >_>

Vaccines are implicated in stimulating autoimmune responses, not gene mutations. If you have some links to those specific mutations I hope you share that here.

DNA mutations are inherited for the most part. Some drugs will damage DNA like fluoroquinolone antibiotics and chemo agents.
I have yet to see DNA damage from vaccines yet. A vaccine works by stimulating the immune system to make antibodies to a particular infectious agent.

Your stubborn anemia is more indicative of low B12 or methylation errors.

I misread the information given. My bad. I though it was implying that the vaccinations were causing the gene mutations. No surprise there at the moment; again, cognitive function and pretty awful right now. I'll have to go back and re-read for clarification when I'm less disoriented.

I'm aware of the function of vaccines and the origins of mutations both genetic and environmental (radiation/chemo in cancer treatment as you've mentioned, or UV radiation resulting in skin cancer. Grandfather worked in the coal mines back in the day and developed... lymphoma.., I believe, from chemical exposure). Wasn't aware of the specific drugs that were mutagenic, but I remember hearing it in genetics last semester when covering genetic mutations related to specific forms of cancer. The Philadelphia Chromosome and... agh, something else. Anyway, the professor went on a mini-tangent about cancer drugs also causing mutations when covering proto-oncogenes and oncogenes.

I believe they tested B12 levels and they were normal. I'd have to go back and take a look at the labs to know for sure, but I know that folic acid was low at one point. That was mentioned in one of the articles I'd taken a look at. The iron didn't start dropping until I was 17 when my gall bladder was removed, and it didn't get bad until I was 18 or 19. That's when they found the PCOS. Iron infusions last summer at 20. Presumed to be related to that given 3-12 weeks of female hell every two or three months. Was not nice.

Again, thank you for the information. Since I've switched from microbiology to psychology, I've missed the conversations regarding the science behind things. Even if my comprehension is a little low at the present time, I still enjoy it. :33

I think you need to get your B12 result. The lab ranges go way down still to 200 pg/ml. The new low is now 400pg/ml.

Here is my B12 thread with links you can read:
http://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-...12-thread.html

This link at the beginning page of that thread discusses this
serious oversight about B12... a doctor who almost died because of it:

Diagnosing and Treating Vitamin B12 Deficiency - YouTube
I only am disappointed that the video does not go into detail about methylcobalamin. Otherwise it is a very good resource.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency - American Family Physician
This is a medical site --over a decade old now, for doctors and nurses.
You have an anemia...that is one clue to what is going on with you perhaps.

..............

Hi Jessie

My moniker is bluesfan because I love blues music - but I did make it to St Louis one time on a trip across the States in 1985 and really liked the vibe of the city in the short time I was there.

Re your mention of having had the HPV vaccine - there have been some documented adverse reactions to the Gardasil brand HPV vaccine - CFS, GBS, Neuropathy and other neurophysiological disruptions. It may be worth looking into given your previous neuro diagnoses: ie that may have made you more susceptible to an adverse reaction. Here's a link to a documentary that screened last year in NZ:

Cause or coincidence? | TVShows | Newshub

MrsD suggestions re B12 deficiency and anemia are still worth following up and discussing with your neuro - but as she says the ranges are wrong - my doctors were still telling me my test results were normal when they dropped to 228 pg/ml, even though I had multiple symptoms of deficiency.

All the best for your neuro appt.