I am writing this to explain what has happened to me medically over the past week because I would really appreciate some advice about the situation.
Over the last several days I began experiencing a number of worrying physical symptoms. These included numbness in different parts of my body, burning sensations, severe dizziness and vertigo when standing up, weakness in my legs where they felt like they might give way, and weakness on one side of my face where it did not appear to move properly. At one stage I also experienced numbness from the waist down. Alongside this, I developed a constant headache that has lasted around four to five days. I have also noticed that my pupils have been more dilated than usual, which I found unusual because I take medication that normally causes my pupils to become smaller.
Because of these symptoms I attended A&E four separate times. Each time I went on my own. During these visits the hospital staff carried out observations and blood tests, which they told me were normal. However, no CT scan, MRI scan, or any other form of neurological imaging was carried out during any of these visits.
During the appointments I tried to explain that these symptoms felt very different from anxiety, which I have experienced throughout my life. Despite this, I was repeatedly told that my symptoms were likely anxiety or panic and was asked whether I wanted to see the psychiatric team.
I found these visits extremely distressing. I am quite vulnerable and although I try my best to speak up for myself, I became very upset during the appointments because I felt that my concerns about my physical symptoms were not being taken seriously. I explained that I could feel something was wrong in my body, particularly because of the numbness, facial weakness, dizziness and difficulty standing without feeling like I might fall.
Despite attending the hospital multiple times with these symptoms, I was discharged each time without any neurological imaging or further investigation being carried out.
What concerns me most is that despite presenting several times with symptoms that appeared neurological in nature, no form of imaging was carried out to rule out potential neurological or spinal causes.
The symptoms have not fully resolved and I am still experiencing dizziness and weakness when standing.
I would be very grateful for any advice about whether the care I received was appropriate and what steps I should consider taking next