Hi all, My name is Shane, i am a 34 year old male and I have joined this group because I have recently been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia disorder and am currently going through testing with my gp to ensure there is no other issue that they may be missing.
My issues started on 17/02/16 when I collapsed at work. I had an anxiety attack once I came round. I went home to rest then found in was extremely dizzy with pressure throughout my head with a numbness in my left temple. I was diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo which then progressed in to glue ear then was told I had a problem with my eustachian tube and then I was told that I had acute sinisitus. This is where this part of my ended after nearly 3 months. I was given numerous nasal sprays and medication and finally was given nasal drops which cleared all issues and was able to return to work on a phased return whilst continuing with a steroid based nasal spray.
By the end of my first week back at work I was hit with a major migraine which kept me in bed for 3 days (Friday to Sunday), I was sent to the out of hours surgery on the Sunday where I was told I was suffering with cluster headaches and was given two 100mg of sumatriptan which did clear the migaine but was left with numbness around my left ear and numbness in my left temple. I was still getting random shocks of pain in the temple area. This flared in the evening and had an extreme tingly heat sensation right down my left side of my face to my chin. It felt like I was having a stroke as was unable to feel my face properly. I monitored this but was no drooping of the face so remained resting. Monday I booked an appointment with another gp who is experienced in neurology who said he believed I had trigeminal neuralgia. I was prescribed amitriptyline 10mg rising to 50mg as and when I needed it. Since then the shock like pain in my left temple has eased but I have been left with the following symptoms:
Pressure in head - with shortness of breath and tight chest with slight pain between shoulder blades (On off symptoms usually when sinuses are blocked)
Pressure with burning sensation in left temple and above left ear (Sometimes just a slight pulse feeling)
Sore throat (Evening)
Dripping noise (Sat in certain position in bed and usually when sinuses have been blocked)
Heavy head feeling
Neck pain and back pain (Worse when upright or been quite active eg whilst shopping)
Fatigue
Headache (Sometimes turns to a migraine)
Jaw pain (Left side, struggle to open mouth wide, popping/cracking in left ear when yawning)
Sickness (Usually from nowhere)
Muscle spasms (Neck and left arm with left arm feeling slightly heavy)
Tingling in hand (Left)
Weakness
Memory issues ( Confusion about what I done that day/Can't remember conversations or what happened in a TV show watched that eve)
Acid reflux (Night-time)
Vivid dreams/hallucinations (Believe to be side effect of amitriptyline)
Tickle in throat with dry cough (Evening)
Heart palpitations with fluttering feeling and shortness of breath
I have just had an ECG and had a blood pressure monitor fitted for 14 hours and am waiting for the results. My next gp appointment is on Tuesday 6th of June so can update on what happens there. I also have an ENT appointment booked for 5th August for the sinus issues.
Any advice is welcome as at the moment I am very drained of this whole experience, I do often get down and feel very emotional and I do worry that I may end up losing my job or not being able to continue with my current role as this is a fast paced role and I tend to have to do multiple tasks and have random issues thrown at me all day. I am hoping to start the ease back to work again but with the symptoms I still experience I am finding it tough to stick to agreed work times/days as I don't know what each day is going to throw at me.
A bit of an essay and I'm sorry if its all over the place, just trying to remember everything from the past 4 months.