Posted 6/4/2015 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone, I'd like to introduce myself and some of my health issues that I'd love for you to offer guidance on. This is a very long post and I really appreciate anyone who takes the time to read it and lend a hand!
A somewhat brief medical history about me:
I am a soon to be 24 year old male. When I was in middle school, I suffered from debilitating headaches. I underwent a full brain and spine MRI to find that I had Arnold Chiari Malformation Type 1, which is a brain malformation that causes part of my brain to be pushed down into my spinal cord, ultimately obstructing CSF flow. This causes a whole range of neurological symptoms, from headaches to neuropathy-like symptoms, to heart symptoms, balance problems, etc. Seriously, the possible symptoms are endless due to the fact that it effects your nervous system. I've grown to tolerate the condition, as my symptoms honestly never get more severe than headaches to the occasional dizziness.
In September of 2014, I was in a car accident. A few days after the car accident, I had noticed a persistent numbness in my toes when I was laying down in bed. The more I noticed it, the more anxious I got, and of course the more persistent the numbness became. I sought physical therapy, went to an orthopedic surgeon, and decided it would probably be a good idea to visit a GP in the near future to get a phsyical (as I hadn't had one in three years). But in the months prior to me visiting my GP, I was extremely nervous that the car accident had aggravated my Chiari Malformation and caused a syrinx (fluid-filled cyst in the spine) to develop; I'd always had back pain, but my anxiety made it worse, and the numbness/tingling in my fingers and toes was really starting to put me on edge. So, I made an appointment with my GP in February of 2015.
When I got blood work, it came back with some alarming results. I had 6.0% A1C, some kidney issues, and low amounts of HDL (the "good cholesterol"). This put me in the pre-diabetic category, but my doctor didn't seem too concerned and just told me to make a few minor lifestyle changes. I've mostly been doing OK with it and have already lost 12 pounds (not that I was overweight) and am exercising more and eating a bit better. While I was there, I also had him order me a full spine and brain MRI because I was worried about my weird tingling and numbness symptoms, as well as back aches. The MRI came back showing no anomalies other than my Chiari Malformation and Sinus Inflammatory Disease (the latter of which was news to me). So, I was pretty happy as, according to my MRI, no syrinx developed and I was A-OK. Even so, I still wanted to see a neurosurgeon again since I hadn't seen one in probably six years. That appointment is for the end of June.
In mid-April, something very, very weird happened. I was on a lunch break and walking with a co-worker. We walked over a highway overpass, and all of a sudden I became extremely dizzy, so much so that I felt like I was falling over to the right, even though I actually wasn't. I immediately felt drunk, and got scared enough to ask my coworker if she felt it. When I got back to my desk, I drank as much water as I could and the dizziness subsided after about two hours. Since then, I've had random bouts of dizziness---not so much that I feel drunk, but to the extent where the back of my head feels heavy and sluggish. about two weeks ago, however, my tingling and numbness feelings got much, much worse. While it was usually only present randomly throughout the day, I've developed a near constant numbness, tingling, and burning in my toes, feet, hands, fingers, and forearm nearly up to my elbow, as well as some faint pain. Even more frightening is a tingling in my lips and tongue. My eyes and lids suddenly developed a burning sensation, too. With the worsening of these symptoms, I made an appointment with an endocrinologist, thinking that they are from my abnormal blood sugar levels. That appointment is in two weeks.
While all this is going on and the panic set in, something hit me. Firstly, I used to be a huge hypochondriac when I was younger. I always thought I was dying. But I recalled something that put me into yet another state of slight worry. When I was, I don't know, 13, I was out walking in Montauk and discovered three ticks latched onto my abdomen when I took a shower a few hours later. Terrified, I yanked them out and had my mother take me to my pediatrician to inquire about Lyme Disease testing. The doctor told me, "Ah, you don't have a rash or anything, nor do you have any symptoms, so you have nothing to worry about! You don't need a blood test" Being a socially awkward and shy teen, I didn't really follow up with any questions and my Mom thought I was OK, too. But, me being the hypochondriac that I was, I went home and did some research. It's everything you guys know, obviously...you don't need a rash, there's many co-diseases, most doctors don't know about LD, yada yada yada. Around that same time, I noticed whip-like, cat-scratch lines all along my back. They are raised and can be confused for stretch marks. To this day, no doctor has ever been able to tell me what they are, and two have said it may be the result of skin stretching from my scoliosis and kyphosis. I immediately thought at the time, "Bartonella henselae!!". Everyone thought I was insane. Eventually, I thought I was insane, too, and just forgot about the whole thing.
The onset of these neuropathy like symptoms has me frightened, honestly, and me being the worrier that I am does really make me believe if I find out it isn't a result of my pre-diabetes or my Chiari Malformation, or god knows what else, then it's likely LD. The problem is, I currently have two conditions (or three!) that can completely overlap in symptoms, which makes it difficult to explain to doctors. I've really never had a trust for doctors, honestly. With this sudden, weird thought that I may actually have LD, almost 11 years later from that first tick bite, I'm left in a bit of a black hole. I don't even know where to start.
My symptoms at a glance, not all were mentioned above and I'm not even sure if I listed them all here:
-Headache
-Tingling in hands, feet, lips, eye lids
-Random burning sensation in hands, feet, finger tips, toes
-Numbness in toes and fingers
-Elevated heart rate upon rising, walking up stairs (common Chiari symptom, POTS?)
-Elevated heart rate for no reason
-Muscle aches (sometimes)
-Back pain (likely result of my back issues and brain issues)
-about three times a year, random hip pain
-When walking every now and then my right leg will "give way" and sort of collapse
-Dizziness, heavy-headedness
What do you guys think I should do? Could it may just be allergies? Do you think I should go and get Lyme Disease testing? Where do I even begin!? I live in New York City, if that helps.
Thank you so much in advance for your kindness and willingness to help. It's been a long time since I've posted on a health board. I know the whole, "We aren't doctor's" routine, but advice from like-minded individuals is extremely comforting and helpful.