Odd Symptoms - Advice Needed

Hi all,

I understand that you probably receive many posts like this, but would appreciate your advice and guidance as both myself and my family are very concerned at the moment.

I have recently visited my GP with the following symptoms:

- Mostly mild tremors in both hands (mainly right side and often when holding a pen or cup with my hand still) and legs (particularly when foot is resting against an object, e.g. table etc.)
- Difficulty in walking slowly without shuffling and feeling as though I am stumbling, about to fall over.
- Dizziness and feeling of impaired balance.
- Slurred speech or inability to form coherent sentences on occasion.
- Tend to walk into door frames or walls (a parked car on one occasion, which was highly amusing)
- Chronic fatigue
- Stiffness and achiness, particularly in the morning. Can be hard to get up from being seated, feels like there are lead weights attached to my body.
- When running, my right arm in particular feels as though it wants to remain in a static position bent upwards across my chest. I have to make a concious effort to swing it.
- Fingers sometimes "stick" in position mid-movement (although this is very occasional)
- Irritable bowel symptoms (for which I take Lanzaprasole).
- Numbness in various places around the body.

- Tingling and vibrating sensations.

My GP has made an initial diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and is trying me on Prednisolone steroids. These, at the time of writing, are having no effect.

 
The GP has categorically ruled out MS (which my Grandmother had) but I am still a little concerned that this may be a more sinister condition than Fibro and wonder whether I should ask to see a Neurologist. I am 26 years of age and I am concious that I have experienced much milder versions of these symptoms since my early twenties, putting them down to stress at the time. However, this cannot go on!

What are the opinions of those who have been through the PD experience?

Many thanks,

John

Can these symptoms be caused by Fibromyalgia?

Could the fact that I have had versions of these symptoms over about four years make a difference? I would expect that I am too young at 27 for PD.

Oddly enough the steroids have made virtually no difference. The only thing they have done is given me slightly more energy than before. Everything else remains unchanged, which really suprises me!

The doctor hasn't done the tender points test for Fibro yet. He says he is testing to see if medication reduces the length and intensity of my symptom flare-ups. I am unsure where he proposes to go if this approach is unsuccessful.