Would you go to A&E

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Would you go to a&e if you kept getting electric shock type sensations in your head and face, along with chronic headaches, dizziness, numbness and tingling in arms, legs and feet, muscle twitching/spasms, muddled speech, burning sensations in legs and stabbing pains in legs? Been happening for a couple of months, been to drs, been referred to neurology. Appointment got cancelled and hasn't been rearranged. Do I go, or do I wait?

@DanceThen it is entirely customary to address a letter to Dear Sirs when one doesn't know the name of who to write to. If the op has not been provided with a reason for the delay or the estimated time frame it is entirely sensible to ask why.

Would you prefer the letters were addressed "Dear Doc"? Well perhaps so as ime Drs and nurses address by their first name, mothers as "mum" and many patients as Love or Sweetheart. That's what I call twatty but I suppose it's hardly surprising that those who assess people with zero respectwould think a formally addressed letter to be twatty.

Yes was taking it before all this started, have been on them for the best part of a year, all these problems started in July

I don't miss doses. Apologies if this is drip feeding, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few years ago, hence the nerve meds. But this isn't fibro. I don't know what it is, but it's not fibro. This is the worst I've ever felt in my life. Started with the worst stabbing pounding pressure headache of my life, I thought I was going to have a stroke or something, the headaches settled down now to a constant achy headache, but I've since temporarily lost vision on three separate occasions, I've had my legs give way, dizziness, electric shock sensations, arm spasms and twitching, finger twitches, I drop things, muddled speech, one pupil is bigger than the other, eye floaters, and so much more, the drs are aware, they can't do anything more apparently, I HAVE to see a specialist. The neurologist cancelled my appointment (telephone) 10 mins before it was due to start, haven't been able to rebook since I just keep getting told I can't. But my gut feeling is that this isn't fibro, it's nothing like my usual fibro symptoms.

Sounds awful. You have listed very typical symptoms of MS.

Did you go to the optician's when you had the sight loss ?

Sounds like could be ms? I have ms and get all these symptoms. I hope you get diagnosed soon, the waiting is the worst. I second contacting the neuros secretary.

Yeah I've been to the opticians, they numbed my eyes, done all the tests, apart from my pupils being different sizes, they said everything was alright

Oh cross posted with @Woui re ms

Ok. A lot of what you describe can actually be side effects of SSRI and SNRIs, and of withdrawal from them which can kick in within one or two missed doses. Particularly the electric shock feeling in the head - it’s known as ‘brain zap paresthesia’, and it’s terrifying when it happens but is quite a common side effect. Have you mentioned this to your GP?

I take an SSRI and when I missed a few doses as we went away for the weekend and I forgot them, I experienced a lot of the things you described and it was dreadful.

Things to think about - do you have these symptoms all the time, or do they come and go? How frequently do you get them, and how long does it last? I’d start a symptom diary of everything that’s happening, and also note the doses and times of your meds on that also.

@OhTheRoses what about dear sir/madam?

Depends where the brain zap is. I have MS. The MS eletric shocks usually go down your neck when you move the head down. It isnt inside the head as such.

Yes, I suppose you are right dizzywizzl.

@Woui I get it when I look over my shoulders. When I put my head down, if I drink cold drinks and if there's a cold breeze.

@FenellaMaxwell I don't miss a dose, I have an alarm set to take them, and they're in my bedside table, and I have one in my purse incase I'm out when I'm due to take it. And I have dh nagging at me to take it constantly. I've mentioned it to the dr and all he said was to mention it to the neurologist, which I would do if I could see one!! It's not constant, but it's very frequent, and I'd say at least 5 day of the week throughout each day

Hi, op,
I have long Covid, contracted it very mildly with barely any issues in March. In May/June I had nearly all the symptoms (plus others) you are listing. I had a head ct scan, around 30 blood tests, x rays and allsorts, I also was scared I had Ms or even a brain tumour. All was clear, these symptoms gradually faded, still return at points but nowhere near the intensity they were back then.
I’m not saying it is obviously as I don’t know, but I recognise those symptoms you’re saying and thousands more on the Covid long term groups have said similar.
It’s such a frightening thing and feels never ending, but if it is that, just to say, it does ease

@Woui forgot to add that it's in my neck and my face, I've mainly noticed that it's in my lips and the left side of my face, just like a really quick zapp

@Wheresmymind I had a covid test two weeks ago due to symptoms in the household and thankfully it came back negative, so I'm unsure if it could be that?

Long time lurker but had to respond - I’ve had similar electric shock sensations in my face it was extremely painful, GP pushed me onto a dentist and when that was clear GP said to use co codamol (which provided no relief as it was a nerve pain)

Luckily as an expat we have insurance for acute conditions and I was able to see a Neurologist who ran MRI’s and tests and diagnosed Trigeminal Neuralgia - my symptoms were very similar to yours and the pain is unbearable

Please push for your appointment

I'm another one that is here to say get your B12 levels checked. I wish that B12 was checked on all blood tests because a lot of people would get the help they needed before neurological damage happens.
If your pain is that bad then get yourself to A&E. I hope you get answers very soon.

I was also going to say B12 and especially coeliac is a known cause of malabsorption of B12. My sister was misdiagnosed as having vertigo and mental health issues due to this and my auntie fibro.

I also have it and have many of the things you describe. However ensure your folate is checked too I was told mine is normal but the range is 3-20 and mine was 4 so that is still low in my eyes! Your folate needs to be in the upper quartile of the range or your body wont use the B12 that you do have properly either. I am now on 8 week injections and folic acid daily and feeling better although around 6 weeks I dive again

I was going to suggest Trigeminal Neuralgia too, I get it about half an hour after change in temp i.e. cold weather coming into warm house. Excruciatingly pain down one side of face and into teeth, numb in parts. Lasts about an hour. Not as bad as yours sounds like though. Get onto the consultants secretary and calmly explain you can't bear the pain and that you've young children to care for. Good luck

I have ms and your symptoms sound similar, not saying that’s what it is but your vision problems shouldn’t be ignored. I lost the sight in my right eye while I was on the merry go round you are on. Vision problems and slurred speech shouldn’t be ignored I would take myself off to a and e you have nothing to lose.

I had very similar symptoms for a while and I was concerned about MS as it’s in my family anyway.

Some reassuring things though: 1. It doesn’t sound like the electric shock pain you get is the one associated with MS. If you get it with cold drinks and cold wind etc then it does sound more like nerve pain. 2. If you’ve been to an optician then they would have looked at your optic nerve and would have been able to see if it was inflamed which can be a sign of MS. If not then that’s good. 3. You have previously been diagnosed with fibromyalgia which is associated with a lot of these symptoms anyway. I know you say it’s different but it may have changed or got worse for whatever reason, fibro is still so poorly understood and something may have triggered it to get worse.

I had every type of test and scan going and everything came back clear. I was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia which does come and go, it is definitely worse in cold weather. I still get the pressure headaches sometimes and a lot of tinnitus in the ear on the side where I get the neuralgia but it is bearable most of the time. I hope you get some answers, I would definitely push with neurologist - and yes a letter would definitely be appropriate, I have written in the past and it does tend to get you somewhere as you are then on the secretary’s file as needing a response/action. But I don’t think I would turn up at A and E unless you dramatically worsen or something acute happens eg passing out, loss of speech etc.

Ps. Forgot to mention I also have coeliac too, and I had fairly low B12 for a while but not low enough to explain all the symptoms.

I wouldnt rule out A and E as I was sent to A and E by my GP when I had similar symptoms and then kept in as inpatient while neurology completed all investigations whilst I was an in patient. I was told I could discharge myself however I would have to wait far longer for mri, lumbar puncture etc. Turned out to be MS for me - not saying it necessarily will be for you as MS type symptoms seem to have lots of different possible causes.

Bloods came back normal.
I've been having intense electric shock sensations constantly for 3 days now, every time I move. I'm getting palpitations and dizziness too. My visions went funny with black splodges, I've been to urgent care, I've spoken to 111, I've seen my gp and they won't do anything, I've been told to rest and wait. I have tramadol but it isn't doing anything. I have two children here that I NEED to be able to look after and I can't. So what now..? Anyone got any ideas? Cause I'm in bed; I don't know what to do and I can't move without being shocked, having palpitations, going dizzy and feeling like I'm going to puke my guts up..
No one is listening to me and I need help

anyone have any suggestions on what I should do next?