Wolff Parkinson White with "Systemic" Neuropathy
 

I recently presented to the ER with a heart rate of 188, and normal BP. They ruled out a stroke, heart attack, infection (despite a high WBC count), and an ultrasound revealed my heart was in perfect shape. It was given Cardizem and diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White (an abnormal electrical pathway to the heart that causes rapid heart rate).

However, I've been presenting with a host of very minor, yet escalating neurologic symptoms. Some of which have been coming and going for 7+ years.

Years ago, my spine would hurt and I'd get unilateral tingling in my hand and foot (don't remember which side), very small, quick shocks in random spots on my body, along with an irregular heartbeat (which they diagnosed as Afib). Also, I had bladder issues (slight urgent incontinence with very little warning). One very strange symptom presented: I could rub the spot where my right forearm bends at the elbow (bicep side) and HEAR the rubbing in my left ear. These symptoms went away in about 6-8 months after first presentation. The last time I got these was in 2009.

A couple months ago (shortly before my bout with tachycardia), I started noticing a really weird feeling in my spine (just above the bra strap). Eventually it progressed to discomfort, with tingling on my right hand (pinky and ring fingers going upward), and on the same spot in my foot. As the weeks came, it progressed to frontal headaches with shin tingling, tachycardia (due to WPW), abnormal gait (comes and goes for a couple hours at a time), bedwetting / bladder control issues (may happen 1 day a week or two), intense pain that comes on rapidly and leaves just as rapid (fingers usually on right hand but sometimes on left, top of both hands, top of both feet, right elbow, toes usually on right foot - all almost constant but usually just 1 pain at a time), trouble gripping (twice a week ish), random short shocks anywhere on my body (including my teeth) (a few times a day), a really strange feeling when I'm trying to sleep that's hard to describe - but it's like my brain shifts a little bit and it's like a very brief (less than a second) out of body experience (nearly every night). Also, that weird hearing in the left ear when I scratch part is back ... but it's moved to my right extreme upper thigh.

When I described all of this, the very first thing he said was "sounds like it may be Multiple Sclerosis" but then he pulled back and said "I highly doubt it, could be something like a magnesium deficiency since your blood came back low on that". However I've been taking supplements and the symptoms have definitely been getting WORSE. When I spoke with him on Monday, he wants to get me to a neurologist. Problem is, I have Medicaid and it's really hard to find a Neurologist around here that's accepting new Medicaid patients.

I'm really scared and I want treatment. It's got me depressed because I cannot control these symptoms even a little. Doctors will not prescribe me Neurotin or anything like that because it may interfere with MRI tests. I'm thinking since my WBC count was high, yet no infection was present, that this indicates an auto-immune disorder (which MS is most certainly believed to be).

Anyways, just thought I'd vent to somebody who may relate. Any response or support is appreciated.

hi pixie,

i can't speak to your sx's because it seems rather complicated.
but, i'm glad you found us. i agree with finding a neuro. i hope you do find one who will take medicaid.

let us know how you're doing.

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

If you are using magnesium in the form of OXIDE...this we know now is not absorbed. You have to have a better type.
SlowMag is one, and any other chelate with citrate, gluconate, glycinate, malate, etc.

You really should get B12 measured, and get the numbers. The suggested low today is 400pg/ml, but labs still report, below that as "normal".

Here is my B12 thread.... please watch the YouTube video also in the first post.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread85103.html

Low D is also very common in the US.. so have them test that too.
We at PN find that all 3 of these may cause various neuropathy symptoms when low in the body.

Up to 70% of people are below the RDA in daily consumption of magnesium, and up to 70% are low in D3, and up to 40% low in B12 today. I call them now The Big Three.

Here is the SlowMag website....
http://www.slowmag.com/

You can also try using the new lotion by Morton. Morton Epsom Lotion, which is at WalMart now and newly at Walgreen's. It is also online at Amazon. Some magnesium is absorbed from the lotion, so if you choose this and use every day, you may not need oral types at all.

Also, now that the ACA site is working (Obamacare), you might be able to get low cost health insurance that will be accepted by doctors.

Thanks MrsD. I'll look into all of that! How do you know if a supplement is oxide or not?

My issue with healthcare is that my employer offers really good health insurance, but I'm not eligible for it until the end of April. However I want to get this looked at while I'm having flare ups.

Today has been really great btw! I may have felt 1 or 2 short bouts of pain with a shock here and there, but other than that pretty good! I started the day with slightly slurred speech and some difficulty concentrating, but it was fine after a few hours.

It should be on your label.... somewhere.

Welcome Pixie, nice to meet you.:)

Why are they saying the Neurontin would interfere with an MRI?

I have no idea. I've had 2 doctors tell me that it's possible so I just believed it.

I spoke with my cardiologist about the neuropathy, and he was leery to rx me neurontin because I'm an otherwise "very healthy 31 year old" and he doesn't want to start me on drugs that I may or may not need. Didn't think about that.

But he prescribed it to me anyways. So I'm on 300 mg twice a day. IDK if I want to hope it starts working or hope it's something else. Like he said, I'm otherwise very healthy, heart works perfectly well, all labs came back perfectly normal except high white blood cell count and "being on the low side" for magnesium.

He told me he DOESN'T think I have Wolff Parkinson White, too. He said it's just "good ol fashion a-fib" .. so frustrating. I just need to see a neurologist because it's obviously not my heart and my cardiologist even said as much.