Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

A's update: ER visit, CTA ordered by neuro

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    A's update: ER visit, CTA ordered by neuro

    After the ups and downs of 2012, I was hoping to get off to a good start in 2013. Guess again. :(

    Starting about 5:30 PM, I developed extreme fatigue. At 6:30PM, I had left sided numbness in my head, clumsiness, "loopiness" and nausea, which prompted a visit to the ER. They gave me a medication with a really long name (for which I forget the name) and all it did was make the pain and numbness worse. Eventually, I developed a wicked headache in the hospital and started to feel dizzy, as well as see flickering in my vision. They gave me a shot of a vasodilator and I felt a little better, but not much. The doctor ordered a CT scan and consulted my neurologist. CT scan came back "normal" and I was sent home with a working diagnosis of "complex headaches", and told to double up on my gabapentin. I was put out of work for a day and advised to call my neuro in the AM when they open.

    Despite a "normal" CT scan in the hospital and two different meds, I am still symptomatic, although somewhat better. Still feeling dizzy, "loopy" and lightheaded; headaches are pretty intense.

    Neuro ordered a CTA which is scheduled for this afternoon. Neuro office asked for my number so they can call with results. I will keep you posted.

    A.
    L sided headaches since Fall 2005. Stopped in 2010, only to restart w/greater intensity in November 2012 with additional symptoms of nausea, clumsiness/balance issues, poor appetite, and difficulty hearing out "plugged" left ear. Headache pattern: occurs in AM and upon changes in body position. OTC meds do not help.

    Previous surgeries: 2008 total L Parotidectomy, secondary to benign tumor, 2011 gastric bypass, 2012 hysterectomy due to benign mass on ovary. (Kept 1 ovary)

    #2
    Update: The CTA report came back with no abnormalities. I am grateful that serious causes have been ruled out.

    My neurologist's office said to call in AM and schedule an appt. for next week if my headaches did not get better. Last night they were still pounding. This AM I am still getting some numbness, the nausea and a little bit of the headaches...woke up very groggy. I will call when they open at 9AM and make sure I do. The job is hard to break away from (yes, I will be going in today), however, I will call.

    A.
    L sided headaches since Fall 2005. Stopped in 2010, only to restart w/greater intensity in November 2012 with additional symptoms of nausea, clumsiness/balance issues, poor appetite, and difficulty hearing out "plugged" left ear. Headache pattern: occurs in AM and upon changes in body position. OTC meds do not help.

    Previous surgeries: 2008 total L Parotidectomy, secondary to benign tumor, 2011 gastric bypass, 2012 hysterectomy due to benign mass on ovary. (Kept 1 ovary)

    Comment


      #3
      Update #2: Went to work...only made it to 1PM and could not take my symptoms anymore...called the neuro's office and they booked me for next week...also asked for labs to be drawn and got those done after I left work...got CBC, sed rate, CHEM-7 and Topamax levels checked...lab said that 3 out of 4 results should be back by Monday...in time for my appt on Thursday (a week from today).

      Also: I called my primary care provider and asked if they felt I should see an ENT, since I am having a plugged ear, plus balance and hearing issues. They set up an appt with the Nurse Practitioner there (love her, she's really nice) for Monday to see if I need a referral. I'm Just trying to cover all bases.

      The odd thing: I'm probably reading WAY too much into this, however when I called my neuro's office to ask for the appt. moved up, they looked in the system and said I had a lab appt with oncology. I reacted with shock and advised the lady that I am not an oncology patient. She called over there and then reminded me that it is just for my bloodwork with hematology/oncology (the doctors there specialize in both; I saw a doctor for nutritional issues in the Fall).

      After inputting the appt, she advised me to call over to hematology and I did. I asked them when my appt with the hematologist is and they gave me the date. I then asked if I could have the bloodwork done sooner so that my neurologist could have the results and she said that with chemotherapy we set it up a week in advance. Huh??? I now had to advise this lady that I am not an oncology patient and that I see him for hematology/nutritional issues. I again asked if they could move my appt back so that I could get my results to my neurologist and said no, that's just how we do things.

      Very strange. Now I am worried that the doctors know something that I don't. :(

      Again, I am probably overreacting and just worrying like usual.

      After that happened, I called back my neuro's office and asked if they could do labwork on me and they ordered it. I went down after I got out from work and had it done.

      A.
      L sided headaches since Fall 2005. Stopped in 2010, only to restart w/greater intensity in November 2012 with additional symptoms of nausea, clumsiness/balance issues, poor appetite, and difficulty hearing out "plugged" left ear. Headache pattern: occurs in AM and upon changes in body position. OTC meds do not help.

      Previous surgeries: 2008 total L Parotidectomy, secondary to benign tumor, 2011 gastric bypass, 2012 hysterectomy due to benign mass on ovary. (Kept 1 ovary)

      Comment


        #4
        Update 3: Neuro's office today called at 3:30 and said they had an appt with the doctor this coming Monday in the afternoon. I don't know whether to consider this a blessing or a curse yet. She did not say "cancellation", simply "appointment." Mind you, my appt with the neuro was scheduled for Thursday next week and normally I have to beg to get in sooner. I just hope that something terrible or alarming did not come back from the bloodwork that they need to see me right away about.

        I am certainly thankful that I can see him sooner rather than later and I feel that I am in good care. For that I am thankful and am counting my blessings. However, part of me worries that there is a hidden reason behind their having moved my appt up and calling me out of the blue.

        A.
        L sided headaches since Fall 2005. Stopped in 2010, only to restart w/greater intensity in November 2012 with additional symptoms of nausea, clumsiness/balance issues, poor appetite, and difficulty hearing out "plugged" left ear. Headache pattern: occurs in AM and upon changes in body position. OTC meds do not help.

        Previous surgeries: 2008 total L Parotidectomy, secondary to benign tumor, 2011 gastric bypass, 2012 hysterectomy due to benign mass on ovary. (Kept 1 ovary)

        Comment


          #5
          ((((((Alesis)))))))

          How was your appointment with your neuro yesterday? I hope he had answers for you and a treatment plan, and that he allayed your concerns about the reason behind moving up your appointment by a few days.

          Sending healing energy your way ~

          Love & Light,

          Rose
          Mom to Jon, 49, & Michael, 32, born with an undiagnosed progressive neuromuscular disease. Angel Michael received his wings in 2003. Angel Jon received his wings in 2019. In 2020, Jim, their Dad, joined them.

          Comment


            #6
            (((((((Rose)))))))

            I have been going through a lot lately, so please forgive the delays. My gabapentin was upped to 300 mg 3X daily. However it is not helping much. I was diagnosed with a combination of migraines and tension headaches. I never had migraines before, so I am thinking that the episode on January 1st was a migraine and that the numbness was the sign of it coming on.

            Since then, things have gone downhill. I get migraines everyday, sometimes several times a day, and I feel that stress is one of my triggers. At work, things are getting more and more stressful and I think I just didn't realize it before. It has gotten to the point where I get overwhelmed and cannot focus; I shut down. When the headache started back in November, my anxiety/panic/depression got worse at the same time and my psychiatrist prescribed an additional medication. I have been taking that, plus all the meds I have been on for years and things are getting worse, not better.

            I am trying to figure out what my other triggers are, if any. I am trying to see if eliminating certain foods will do the trick. I was a heavy coffee drinker and I am working on weaning off that.

            I am trying to meditate when I feel calm enough to do it (I used to meditate for years), and last night I put a wet towel over my eyes. My migraines just would not let go until I fell asleep.

            I am keeping up with my supplements, trying to eat a variety of foods, and I added in a multivitamin.

            I see my psychiatrist today; an ENT and my primary care next week.

            All positive thoughts, love, light and prayer is appreciated.

            Thank you,

            A.
            L sided headaches since Fall 2005. Stopped in 2010, only to restart w/greater intensity in November 2012 with additional symptoms of nausea, clumsiness/balance issues, poor appetite, and difficulty hearing out "plugged" left ear. Headache pattern: occurs in AM and upon changes in body position. OTC meds do not help.

            Previous surgeries: 2008 total L Parotidectomy, secondary to benign tumor, 2011 gastric bypass, 2012 hysterectomy due to benign mass on ovary. (Kept 1 ovary)

            Comment

            Working...
            X