45-year-old Female-4' 11in 169 lbs. Married, 2 teenagers & active volunteer including Scout leader. Moved to US 1981 (born UK) & Naturalized 2002. Any ideas or maybe something I can try on my own will greatly be appreciated. Currently doing a regime of things which feel better my mood at the very least. Symptoms have been going on for nearing a decade and try not to be negative but, it’s getting increasingly more difficult. Currently doing Thai stretch & massage therapy. Going to try acupuncture in the mix. My office is a relaxing oasis & other co-workers regularly partake now . I try and sleep in total darkness with soothing sounds (in a basement so it’s cool). Learned de-stress techniques & practice often.
Usual childhood disease included measles, Chickenpox, scarletina (red itchy rash)??? Usual vaccinations including pnumo (had a mild pneumonia 2014), flu, tetanus, etc. NKA
Surg History: Laparoscopy/Cystectomy 1990, thermal ablation/uterine 2003, Aneurism Coiling 2006, Rt. Shoulder SLAP/SAD 2006 w/repeat in 2009. Sinus cyst removal2014, Rt knee ACL 2014. Otherwise unremarkable.
Notable circumstances: Fall from horse 1998-small liver lac/full recovery. 1995 totaled crown vic-normal bumps/bruises. 2005 fell (results were the rt shoulder surg.). 2015 fell (results were the rt ACL surg.). Other than a few minor car crashes, can’t think of anything that would have injured nerves.
Neurologist left practice (Jan 2016 last visit) that followed me since 2005/6 & on-going investigation since for unexplained headaches w/aura. During which discovery of aneurism of rt-carotid just outside brain sac in the loop of ??? & coiled. Slight but stable leak (discovered 2014) & second aneurism in the back of the head (2mm). No changes w/in a year of last MRI (as of August). 2013 I notice marked increase of numbness. Symptoms which linger but right side of body: 'fuzzy'. Memory loss followed by major clumsiness & palpitations. 2014 Hospitalized: fainted/broke arm, dizziness, weakness, tachycardia. Testing unremarkable.
Fall 2015 (acute), total left side numbness, weakness, etc. seemingly overnight (till October & declined slightly but, seems to have migrated back to the right). Some swelling but no pitting edema. It almost seems cyclic? Height of symptoms: acute dizziness followed by extreme fatigue (sleep for several days-stay in sleepy stooper), tremor, numbness, ‘jimmy-legs’, cold extremities, HA w/aura, nausea & trigger-like fingers. Difficulty buttoning, zipping, tying, typing (fine motor issues), walking gait off. Then months with a gag/cough nonproductive like vocal-tickle. Couldn’t inhale/exhale for periods of time & would wake me from sleep. I am inclined to believe my severe insomnia resulted (but never been a great sleeper & never take naps while ‘well’). Episodes last months (& ease some in between). Chronic insomnia (4hrs a night & at least 1 night a week w/o sleep-for over a year), all joints & muscles ache like it’s the flu, hip pain when sleeping (especially sides), Restless Legs & lasting charlie-horse nightly, tachycardia (resolved unless exertion). Chronic back pain (scoliosis/kyphosis-mild but, hereditary-chest sz: 38F).
For over a year, I was sleeping in a recliner (bk pain & gaging). ENT: (months after the benign sinus mass removal) the throat tests r/o reflux etc. (‘Charlie horse vocal chords’-no known cause but seems resolved). Sleep Dr. r/o apnea but following me for RLS & insomnia (recent Dr. addition).
Concerns: struggle with day to day normal tasks. Fingers do not cooperate & drop items, sudden hand or foot weakness, limbs ache (especially while using). Pressure palsy currently being investigated (HNPP). Do not like meds but, after other modification trials fail, will use as last resort. Within the past year, restricted diet including meat (not free of), 1200-1500 cal a day, increased fluids, purchase organic when possible, regular exercise, earlier to bed, generally better over-all habits=results were weight loss 12-15 lbs., lighter-mood change, no other significant changes (but do ‘feel’ I am doing myself a favor).
Under Supervision for: Migraine, aneurism, PTSD, anxiety, tremor, insomnia, RLS, memory loss issues/concentration.
tested for MS & such (negative), arthritis (mild), heart issues 2dEcho: EF 4ch 66%, normal size, filling & rates, borderline concentric left ventr hypertrophy, Est. ejection fraction 65-70%, mild-tricuspid regurg. ventr. systolic pressure 25-30mmhg, no effusion.). ANA(negative), A1C=5.6, B12= 348 (lower end of range), hypothyroidism (for years-nothing remarkable but usually low end of ranges), ESR= 29, HGB=13.1, Basophils=.03(above range).
meds: multi-vitamin, Paxil 20mg bid, Propranolol 60mg bid, (just finished 6mo-medically supervised, phentermine 5mg regime which she added a mild diuretic-helped with the swelling & dizziness).