Headaches/tremors with memory loss

Posted by chrissylou29 @chrissylou29, Sep 26, 2011

I am wondering if there is anyone out there who can help us- My 15 year old son recently began having issues with his memory- this combined with a headache (constant). This then evolved further with an episode of seizure-like activity- which has left him with L-side weakness, tremors in his hand, leg, and facial tics, all also left-sided. The headache continues, states the pain remains about a 6 all over, with the worst of the pain on the left side of his head. (This all came on over a 2-week period). Mild occasional memory loss continues. We have spent nearly 2 weeks in 2 different hospitals. (CT, MRI, Spinal, numerous blood tests etc) The docs have said since nothing has come back with any indications, that it has to be stress, and they want to send him to a psychologist. Ok, so I do know that stress does awful things to your body- (I am a nurse, I do see alot) but my gut says otherwise. There have been no outstanding events in my son's life, no changes in school, friends, and believe me we have quizzed any and all we could to find out- my son emphatically states that things are fine. He is frustrated as the headaches continue, making it tough to get back to school. I don't feel my son is depressed. So...anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I am pondering requesting an appt with Mayo if the symptoms don't improve- (yes, we did even agree to send him to therapy, even to rule out this avenue). May I also add, that the girl who sat behind him at school came down with similar symptoms, the same week, and her parents are running into the same brick wall that we are- to quote our last Neuro- "maybe they are both stressed". Frustration!

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@vanseters

You have been given a great deal of good anecdotal advice, all worthy of Merit. However rather than look for the name of a disease I would recommend something different. You being a nurse is going to help a lot.

Get a white board or index cards. Categorize them first into "Body System." - I can practically hear the frustrated sigh, and it's understandable, but take a breath and just try this; it forces you to compartmentalize as well as forcing you to move forward perpetually.

So, again, first body systems, for example; seizures would have at least two cards, Neurological as well as Muscular-Skeletal. Write and categorize EVERY SYMPTOM no matter how many occurrences or possible events that can be debunked ( so-to-speak .)

Once you have them categorized put them in order of most severe to least.

After that, take the most severe from each category and number them from most to least severe.

Now you are simply studying AND you are only looking at ONE problem. For example there are only so many things that cause seizure activity, remember the simplest explanation is often the correct one. So, the most common seizure in children is a Febrile Seizure. Here is where most mistakes are made.

Many people will say "we'll he doesn't have a fever so it can't be that!" Dig deeper, why does a fever cause a seizure? Well, why would the body have a fever? Infection?; possible. Inflammation, probably! So, is it pyretic or inflammatory... You immediately narrow the spectrum, once you have it narrowed down then re-score; is inflammation as severe as his other systems, you'll find that within just a few hours you will have broken down majors to minors; from there you start again;

For example, think clinically, take what you have left and run a scenario; "PT presents with migraines & joint pain most likely causes by inflammation. Furthermore; during a neurological event PT EXHIBITS partial memory loss - does that fit with seizure activity or convulsion?

This is incredibly useful. I was able to help a friend who had suffered for years find out he had two pheochromocytomas - just in time to as they were less than a week away from attaching a colonoscopy bags. Let use know the first deductive symptom you come up with so we can assist.

Hope this helped

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Bone diseases

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@elegiamore

Do NOT buy the shrink stuff - that is what EVERY inferior doctor says when they have no idea. Looks to me that you have a VIRAL thing going on with your son and the girl sitting next to him. Look into post viral infections like CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME.
I would get more ideas as to the area of illness BEFORE you go to Mayo as they waste a lot of time with unnecessary testing when you show up with no ideas. And depending on the illness, other clinics might be better, such as Cleveland Clinic.
GOOD LUCK and don't stop looking - he has something significantly wrong.

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Stevens Johnson's syndrome

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A possibility, due to his young age, may be Vasovagal syncope. Very common in teens. Headaches and even white outs are common. It's a condition one grows out of so don't worry. Keeping electrolytes up is a big thing, so keep some Gatorade handy. Also, exercise is key, a lot of cardio to keep the blood pumping. A big cause for this condition is simply because of undeveloped vascular muscles in the legs, not allowing enough blood to reach the brain, therefore causing headaches.

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Have they been checked for West Nile?

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Well I have been going through very similar symptoms for almost 4 years now. I have syncope episodes no doc can figure out. I have been to 9 specialist and also am contemplating going to Mayo.. I'm sorry but when doctors don't know what's wrong they claim its stress, anxiety, or depression. If your son is sick, you fight and don't take stress as an answer. I finally am getting some not so warming answers like possible MS, or seizures, or amyloidosis. Consider seeing an infectious disease doctor because I work with animals and there is a lot of nasty parasites and bacteria they can pick up.. If other classmate has this too, get any info u can.. If they hang together and were.. Any swimming in warm water recently?

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