Migraine/CFS/MS/Lyme???? Or maybe virus?

Brain and nerves
1

Hi,

New to here this evening/morning with a ridiculous list of symptoms.

Been a migraine sufferer since early teens. Always right side or back of head gradually getting more frequent to this point were I'm laid out at least 2/3 times a month. The increase in frequency of attacks sped up massively and attaches became more intense & painful after first bout of malaria in 2003.

Had tompirimate & propnalol a few years ago but the topirimate made me crash my car as I was so out of it!! Not badly at all, but enough to suggest it didn't suit.

I now have sumatriptan injections, rizotriptan melts, codiene tablets, buccastem melts, amitriptaline and diclofenac suppositories - all of which I have to mix and match, so to speak, depending how it feels like it's coming on. I take the amitriptaline nightly and am on sertraline separately.

Recently my usual migraines have been getting more frequent, but less severe in terms of actual head pain.

The last two months I have had three 'weird' attacks where the pain starts behind my left eye and the whole of the left side of my face & neck goes numb, often with a feeling like it is hard to swallow. The first one like this brought with it tingling fingers, shooting pains in my wrists, hands and calves & thighs. Hot feeling itchy/crawly skin, an electric feeling all over my body and tingly feets.

These symptoms haven't really gone away for the last two months but to varying degrees of severity.

The last 5 days I've barely been able to sleep the pain in my limbs (mostly wrists/fingers but also shoulders & lower limbs too) has been so bad - sharp enough to really take my breath away. Pins & needles/tingly feeling arms below elbow near constant & feeling itchy/crawly under skin. Ears buzzing a little. Bruxism & bleeding gums. Last two days pain in chest/sternum & tight feeling. Oh, and I'm exhausted ALL the time too.

I have an appointment with a neurologist at the end of this month & the Dr has prescribed propanolol long release in the interim to try and prevent another attack as I'm barely functioning.

Anyone have any clues? I feel like I am literally falling apart.

Becx

2

HI Safarimouse!

So sorry to hear about what you are going through. It sounds awful! I'm no expert, but lyme can certainnly do all of these things. Make sure that you get tested for it! My Dad had it for years before they caught and he had a lot of what you describe.  Have you looked in fibromyalgia as well? Not too sure of all of it's symptoms, but just a thought. Good luck and quick healing!

3

Thank you - I will suggest it when I see the neurologist next week... but, I'm worried I won't be taken seriously as I know everyone's a 'google Dr' and probably make preposterous suggestions to thier Drs all the time.... But I really do feel rotten! 

I managed to get out to work today (I have two jobs, one at home from a desk and one outside with animals), but needed help to do most tasks and am utterly knackered afterward. Pain no worse though for using my arms & legs... about the same as it was yesterday and the day before - painful! 

How did your dad manage to persuade the Dr's to investigate for Lyme? 

Thanks, 

Becx

4

Well my Dad lived in NJ in the USA at the time and it's a high lyme state.  HIs doc suggested they test for it.  I don't think you'll get too much push back. It's just a blood test after all and no sweat off their backs.  And I know it's hard making doc listen to you, but at the end of the day, the neurologist is there to help and has to assume that what you tell him/her is very real and problematic. At the very least, they should be able to rule things out.  Good luck!