To ask you to diagnose me and complain about my doctor?

[ScribblerOnTheRoof]

I have the following symptoms, have been to doctor 3 times now and he has referred me for a CT scan, but he doesn't think anytghing will show up. This is giving me major anxiety so here goes;

Started off with a tingling on side of face before christmas which then turned into a headache which I have had since Christmas day. On a scale of 1 to 10 the pain never goes over a 5.

I have sinus pain, a cough but more importantly - a numbness in my bottom lip. I mean if I poke it I can feel it but I am struggling to speak! Have been seen regarding a stroke and this has been completely ruled out. Could my numbness be being caused by this head thing? I am working myself up so much and getting very upset sad I now have a very sore throat too.

A family memeber urged me to call my DR to pass on some information that might be relevant so this is what I did. Spoke to receptionist and told her that my Mother had passed away from a Subarachnoid haemmorage (cant spell it). She thanked me and said my Dr would call me back.

Anyway, he called me back and asked for the info and he replied "yes this is relevant, this is why we have sent you for a CT scan and a Lumber puncture" I told him that I have not had either of these yet and he started stuttering and saying that he had me mixed up with someone else.

I ended up getting tearful in work. I just feel so upset and frustrated, I can barely eat or drink and cant taste anything. Hopefully this is just a migraine or a heavy head cold right?

[WorraLiberty]

I'm sorry to hear you're suffering

But if you're already anxious, this thread will do you no good whatsoever.

No-one here can diagnose you and nor should they try.

Wait for your test results. Good luck and I hope they don't take too long

[monkeysox]

I had similar. Had ct. Was nerve damage from chickenpox virus x

[Wishmychildrenhadanoffswitch]

My first thought was shingles. Have you got any spots/rash to the affected side of your face?

[TakeMeUpTheNorthMountain]

I would have said neuralgia. ..

But I wouldn't have said anything life threatening and I think that you do need to relax, hard as it maybe

[ScribblerOnTheRoof]

I did have a weepy sore on my ear which cleared up. Dr ruled it out because if its shingles then numbness would only be one one side whereas this feels like I am numb on my whole chin/lip!

[TakeMeUpTheNorthMountain]

Although the lip thing suggests bells palsy to me.. which is often triggered by Stress

[zgaze]

I had similar - a very defined patch of numbness over the left half of my face and scalp which came on after a really nasty chest infection. I had a very conscientious GP who referred me to the neurology dept of Guys for a fast track appointment and MRI - conclusion was it was just as a result of the virus, apparently it's not uncommon. The initial virus infection cleared up fairly quickly but the nerve damage took many months to finally heal, it was over a year I think before I had full sensation again in my lips.

[yorkshapudding]

Worra is absolutely right. No one (not even a medical professional) can make a diagnosis based on an MN post and they would be irresponsible to try. If you're not happy with your GP you can request to see another one at the same practice.

[IrritableBitchSyndrome]

Could be a trapped nerve or knot in a muscle. There is a trigger point massage therapy workbook that guides you in prodding the right muscles to release. Tingling face, numbness and headache could all be caused by muscle tension/trapped nerves in neck and shoulder. Also tinnitus, muscle spasms etc. I get this type of thing a lot. www.amazon.co.uk/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1608824942?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[zgaze]

Interestingly it was my lips and chin too which were most affected or at least the bit I was most conscious of, I remember I couldn't stop poking my chin because it felt so weird. It was the trigeminal nerve that was affected, it's interesting if you google it.

[IrritableBitchSyndrome]

YANBU re: dr though. Sounds v frustrating. Keep pushing for the tests to rule out anything serious.

[ScribblerOnTheRoof]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Not really looking for a diagnosis, just want my mind putting at rest by anyone who has experienced similar x

[Doublebubblebubble]

To ask you to diagnose me I think you might have done. ..

You've been to the Drs 3 times and are having the tests that a medically trained (university for years and years and years) has offered. Please just follow their advice. I agree 100% with Worra also x

[differentnameforthis]

OP, if you are losing faith in your doctor, you are allowed to see someone else.

Have you considered seeing a dentist at all? Preferably one who specialises in joint/facial issues?

[ScribblerOnTheRoof]

I really dont think it is dental related. To be honest I think it may be anxiety related. If I could just put my mind at rest I bet it would vanish!

I have left it to the doctors but am seeking advice whilst I wait for my scan x

[Leigh1980]

I had exactly this but my eyes were bloodshot from anxiety just before I had a breakdown.

[PurpleDaisies]

This is commonly due to anxiety (or after a virus).

I briefly had panic attacks after getting mugged, and they would always start with tingling on one side of my face. Acknowledging that it was just due to anxiety and it couldn't hurt me helped it to go away. I'm totally fine now.

[blobbityblob]

Have you seen an optician recently? I went through similar - my symptoms slightly different to yours. Waited months and months for MRI scan, neurologist. Eventually told nothing wrong, must be my lifestyle, or perhaps you're depressed. By this time I was feeling really unwell and had been for about 8 months.

By chance I went for a routine eye test at optician. I had no sight symptoms at all, just dh had booked his and I'd not had one for ages. Problem spotted and sent to A&E for CT scan and lumbar puncture that day. Diagnosed with a condition where there's too much spinal fluid compressing the brain. It causes the optical discs to swell, so hence spotted by the optician.

Cheap way of ruling out some things. I wished I'd gone sooner but it just never occurred to me.

I hope you find an answer. It's so frustrating when you know something's wrong but you can't find out what.

[PandoNoPants]

It must be so frustrating for you. Don't give up with the Dr yet. When I had DD, I had really weird, temporary neurological symptoms. Vision loss, numbness, tingling, not being able to control my eyes (would go cross eyed!), loss of speech (I'd go to speak and the words that came out where not the ones I wanted to say!!). I saw my GP, a neurologist, had an MRI which was normal and neurologist said he didn't know what it was and it would probably go away.
Symptoms got worse, I nearly dropped DD because both of my arms went numb suddenly. Neurologist wouldn't return my calls. I had panic disorder in my early 20's and my mum has MS so I was going out of my mind.
In the end, I paid to see my mum's neurologist privately (NHS was an 11 month wait) ...just for a consultation. He saw me in his NHS clinic for tests and ruled out anything bad. Turns out I have a particular type of migraine. My numbness etc is an aura, sometimes I get the headache part and sometimes I don't. My auras can last up to 14 days. I'm glad I was persistent because I used to sit there worrying all the time.
Try to keep a diary of your symptoms, it really helped me during hospital appointments. Hope you feel better/get answers soon!

[londonrach]

Sorry you feeling unwell. Please ask to see another gp within your practice for a second option. Hopefully the tests show something x

[ICanSeeForMiles]

Have you tried any antiinflammatories? I've had something similar, but without the numbness. Very strong antiinflammatories and tramadol eventually sorted me out, I couldn't move my neck even a degree without shooting pains up through my skull for a week beforehand.
Go for your scans, hope everything is okay for you.

[EnthusiasmDisturbed]

No one can diagnose you on here and no one should be trying to

ask to see another GP

[CantChoose]

You say you're an anxious person and just want your mind putting at rest. Have you thought about what it would take for that to happen? Your doctor has referred you for a CT scan which sounds sensible, what more would you like them to do? Will a negative CT result reassure you? Before you talk to your doctor again it would be worth thinking about what your expectations are so that you can let them know and they can then talk through with you what is and isn't possible. Hope you feel better soon.

[shinynewusername]

Anyway, he called me back and asked for the info and he replied "yes this is relevant, this is why we have sent you for a CT scan and a Lumber puncture" I told him that I have not had either of these yet and he started stuttering and saying that he had me mixed up with someone else.

I don't get this. Your GP said that he had sent you for the CT & LP, which he had - that means that he has requested the tests for you. He didn't say that you had already had them. And you have already been screened for stroke which includes subarachnoid haemorrhage. What is he supposed to have done wrong?

[ScribblerOnTheRoof]

I have seen 2 different doctors already.

I am currently taking 20mg Citalopram for my health anxiety.

Again, thank you for your replies