
What Causes Persistent Headache Along With Short-term Memory Loss?

I'm relieved that one mystery has been semi-solved, as I'm on a separate quest to determine the cause of a persistent headache, spacey/shaky spells, short-term memory loss and tremors in my hands, feet and right leg, plus some other odd neurological symptoms. There are still 6-7 theories out on all that between my doctors here at home plus two neurologists that have given me their insight and recommendations here on this site. Possibilities range from Lupus to Parkinson's to TIAs to MS to a bad case of stress/anxiety/depression to migraines causing all of this. None of those sound like very much fun, but it will be good to get some kind of diagnosis so I can know what my options are for treatment.
It will be interesting to see if my headaches ease up now that I've started my period. The headaches, disorientation started about five weeks ago, and the tremors started the same week I should have had my August period that never showed up. I felt loopy and tired and emotional like early pregnancy, but I wasn't pregnant. My neurologist wanted to write it off to menopause, but we now know that's not the case from the labs plus the proof today.
I'll leave this discussion open until I get the printout of my hormone labs from my primary care doctor on Wednesday morning and I'll upload those, for information.
Thanks again for your time and your patience,
XXXXXXX
Were you ever on implants or injectables?
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Well it’s necessary indeed to have a look at your labs before we proceed in a direction. I somehow don’t agree with your neurologists and their opinion about TIAs and Parkinsonism or MS for that matter. To an extent, yes your ammenorhoic episode can be related to high stress but not for 2 years long. It’s likely to be hormone driven, FSH and LH values and also prolactin, thyroid and serum testosterone values would give us a clue.
Just had a query, if you ever had opted for injectable contraception or implants in last 3 years?
Also any other significant personal or social history you would like to share and contribute which you feel has an implication over last 3 years, as in family history, any chronic illness, your sexual history (any major change), and any particular drug history.
I shall wait for your lab reports print out.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr.Sameer


1) I have never used injectable contraception. Never used the patch, never had an IUD or the hormone ring. I have not taken oral contraceptives since 2001. I had a slight stroke in 2001 and immediately stopped taking oral contraceptives.
2) The only chronic health problem I have is joint pain for the past 7 years since my son was born. RA was suspected as the cause, but not confirmed. My doctor drew blood for a rheumatoid panel last week, I'll get those results tomorrow.
3) Regarding the presence/absence of my cycle as it relates to my recent sexual history, I have a theory, but it will sound crazy. When I don't have a sexual partner, or when my sexual partner is a much older man or one who I don't consider to be good "breeding stock" for some reason, I don't ovulate. Conversely, when I have a partner who is young, has high T-levels and good genetic material for baby-making, my cycle returns. My libido waxes and wanes along with whether or not I'm ovulating. This started when I approached 40, almost like my body is conserving its remaining eggs for the best mating prospects.
During the two-year time that I did not ovulate, I was involved in a casual relationship with an old friend, a man of nearly 60 who I would never have a baby with. In February when my periods returned, I started dating a 27-year old man with very high T-levels and superior genes. My periods stopped right after we broke up in July. There is a new man in my life in the past month, younger than me, high T-levels and great genes. He's just a friend at this point as I have been leery about starting a relationship with all my current health problems, but we've been physically close enough for him to bring on my current cycle.
I'm pretty sure this is WAY more information than you wanted, and clinically it's probably an impossible correlation. I could make a great case study for someone whose focus is evolutionary reproductive medicine. My ovaries, it seems, are very Darwinian, LOL.
Thanks, XXXXXXX
need to see lab results
Detailed Answer:
hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for the detailed history.
well i must say your theory of ovarian Darwinism is impressive. I would like to wait to see the lab results.
regards,
Dr.Sameer Kumar


I've been trying to upload the lab results and I keep getting a server error, so here they are. This blood was drawn at about 1 p.m. on Sept. 19, which is 14 days prior to the start of my period. When my cycles were regular, they were between 29 and 32 days long.
Total serum estrogen 576 (range for luteal phase 70-700)
FSH 11.3 (range for Mid-cycle peak 3.1-17.7)
LH 35.5 (range for Mid-cycle peak 8.7-76.3)
Progesterone .6 (there is no Mid-cycle peak range ----- listed for this one. Range for follicular phase ----- 1.9-12.5 and range for luteal phase is ----- 2.6-21.5)
On Sept. 25 I had a TSH test done:
3rd generation TSH 2.129 (range is .3 to 4.5)
My CBC was normal, my doctor wrote "excellent" on the printout.
My blood was negative for ANA and my Rheumatoid Factor came out a 9.
Hope this helps. My doctor today told me she can do nothing for my headaches, spells of disorientation or the tremors in my hands and feet. She suggested Excedrin (aspirin + caffeine). After I waited nearly two hours past my appointment time to get in to see her, she said I probably just have bad genes from my grandparents and told me not to eat anything that they didn't eat on the old TV show, "Little House on the XXXXXXX " She said nothing processed, no wheat, no alcohol, no caffeine, no white sugar, no food additives and nothing genetically modified. My son will love that, we can get a farm and raise chickens, hogs and dairy cows and live off the land. My frustration is showing through here a little.
I've got an appointment with a Pranic healer to get my chakras balanced and heal any tears in my energy tomorrow. Figure it can't hurt.
Thanks, XXXXXXX
Start progesterone therapy with MPA for 6mths
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for the follow up.
Going by the reports , most of the report values for the hormones are normal including fsh and lh , which confirms that you are not nearing menopause.
Just that your progesterone levels are very low as can be seen for both the follicular and luteal phase. Estrogen levels are normal but progesterones to effect in luteal phase are way less leading to increased positive estrogen effect , which is possibly the cause of your headaches and migraines especially after ovulation days( day15 onwards).
I suggest you should be placed on progesterone for 10 days during the luteal phase for 6 months continuously to provide for the deficiency.
We advise TAB MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE 10mg twice a day from DAY 15 TO DAY 25 of cycle in every cycle for 6 months. after stoppage of the pill on day 25 , the periods resume within 7 days following withdrawal.
I am sure this should cure you of most of your problems and certainly you wont have to think about farm and chickens...
Pranic healer is a good option to heal your chakras and relax yourself. you may opt for it but progesterones hould be consideredin your case.
regards,
Dr.Sameer Kumar


Thanks for looking at the labs. The progesterone sounds like a very good plan. I have a feeling my OB/GYN will try to put me on oral contraceptives again. He's prescribed them three times, I never get the prescriptions filled. In case I can't talk him into the progesterone-only tablets, are the OTC progesterone creams sold in the health food stores just as effective? I looked one up online at it listed a dosage of 22 mg progesterone per 1/4 teaspoon. Would that be equivalent to the two tablets if I used 1/8 teaspoon in the AM and 1/8 teaspoon in the PM on cycle days 15-25? Or would I need to use more to compensate for less than the 22 mg being absorbed through the skin?
So disappointed I won't have to become a homesteader on Little House on the XXXXXXX That advice was on the heels of my neurologist here telling me I needed to pray more and give my headaches, tremors and all the rest up to the Holy Spirit. I did pray. I prayed that I would find one doctor who could offer some useful advice and a pragmatic approach to help me get better. You have done that and I cannot express how grateful I am to you for that.
Thanks again,
XXXXXXX
creams are less effective than oral preparation
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I don't think OC pills especially even low dose estrogen + progestogen would be a good idea or for that matter progesterone only pills alone for a month.In either case it wont serve the purpose as estrogen is not what we are aiming so combination pills is out. secondly POP ( progesterone only pills), they are not required in the first half of the cycle which is estrogen dominated , if used it would cause amenorrhoea in the bargain which is not desired.
So the progesterone has to be taken only between day 15 to day 25 daily for 10 days and thats Medroxyprogesterone acetate 10mg twice a day. I am not so sure about the cream preparations working with similar effect but for sure the bioavailability of a cream through skin is indeed lesser than that of oral usage.
So ideal would be oral progestogen and not creams.
To add, i am humbled by your remarks and am happy to assist you find an answer to your problems.
regards,
Dr.Sameer Kumar

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