What Causes Fatigue, Memory Lapses And Cognitive Issues?
I have been having really strange symptoms I think as early back as 5 years ago on and off, but really noticeable and exacerbated in the last several weeks. These include terrible fatigue, memory lapses, cognitive issues, poor focus, word finding and pronunciation problems, tripping while I walk, clumsiness, coordination issues, and intermittent heaviness in my left foot causing sort of a dragging of my left leg or a limp when I walk, generalized weakness, muscle stiffness/tightness/aches, numbness in extremities, sometimes on one side or just in hands and feet, neck stiffness, handwriting changes, heat/cold intolerance. I have also had really bad tingling in my extremities and up and down my spine. I have had blurry and distorted vision, fogginess in one eye, eye tremors (primarily in the left eye), at one point my right eye rolled back in my head, it happened in a matter of seconds. I also had an episode where I was eating cheese puffs and they tasted like oranges. I have had intermittent constipation and diarrhea (a long standing issue). I am hypertensive even though not managed medically. My BP has been high at my last ob/gyn visit and at my primary care provider visit, and high when I checked it outside of the providers' office, neither addressed it. My CMP was normal except for a slightly elevated chloride. Ferritin in normal range but significantly low. TSH - 2.43, CBC normal. Initial neuro assessment was normal. Head MRI without acute abnormalities per my primary clinician, but I have not seen the MRI report yet. I am 29 years old, black female. My primary clinician is insisting she wants to treat me for depression and anxiety, but I feel that would not address all the symptoms I am having. I have suggested that I do an A1C to rule out Diabetes she does not think symptoms are Diabetes-related. I have suggested further thyroid tests to rule out an underlying thyroid issue that may be masked with a normal TSH. She doesn't think that is needed at this time. I have suggested B12 deficiency or Celiac disease and she does not feel any tests are needed to rule those out at this time. She just wants to treat me for anxiety and depression. Do you have any advice for me at this time? I feel my symptoms are valid and go beyond depression and anxiety. PS. I am aware the depression and anxiety can cause some of the symptoms I am having, but I am also aware that just treating the anxiety and depression could just be putting a bandaid on a potentially more severe problem. I thank you in advance for any advice or help you can give me.
Warmest Regards,
XXXXXXX
Need to evaluate for MS
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using healthcaremagic.
I read your query and understand the multiple concerns.
I agree with your physician that it is better to get treated for anxiety and depression at this stage as many of the symptoms can be explained on basis of these two disorders.
I also have doubt that your primary physician i not open to consider other alternative diagnosis for which there is ample evidence at this moment.
Ask your PCP to evaluate on line of Multiple sclerosis and send the MRI report to me for my own satisfaction and confirmation.
At this stage till there is no alternative diagnosis, you need to accept his theory of anxiety and depression for time being.
There is noting wrong for further evaluation as suggested by you but please be patient and accept the current treatment from him/her.
I am sure with time you will get better diagstic confirmation in compare to today.
'Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help".
Thanks