Looking for Answers if Possible?
Hi All.
Hoping someone can help me get answers.
Here is my journey. I am 68 and have always been in excellent health. July 2021 I woke up with pin and needles in my hands and feet, and didn’t think too much of it. When that lasted for days I was beginning to get concerned. From there it went to brain fog, weakness in my arms, a weird swallowing sensation, and the worst was muscle twitches all over my body but particularly in my arms and legs.
Over the next few months, I had extensive blood test done thinking it might be Lymes disease which I did have 35 years ago. Bloodwork continued to come back negative no matter which test they performed. I then had an MRI with contrast of my head and neck, that came back with normal results. I had an EMG with normal results . I then had a skin biopsy which did come back with peripheral neuropathy. My score was 2.1 and 2.3 respectively in foot and calf. I continued with tests, had a lumbar puncture, spinal fluid came back with normal results. Here we are in November 2022, although the muscle twitching is not as bad as it was in the beginning, and I do not have arm weakness or swallowing issues at this writing, what I do have is
Occasional blurry vision
Normal and very low blood pressure depending on time of day
A feeling of breathing irregularities like after you have been crying hard
Minor muscle twitches
A feeling of electricity running through my body
Sometimes when I am still in bed I feel little explosive bursts in my head when lying down
And the most recent (past 2 months) every joint in my body makes a cracking noise upon using that part of my body, ie, knees , feet, neck, arm, jaw, fingers, etc.
Going for another EMG tomorrow to see if there is a change from a year ago.
This is exasperating as no one can help me get to what is causing all of this.
Any input would help tremendously.
I would like to have hope.
As a side note, I take no medications, some supplements, all blood work is normal.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.
Hello Barbara @barbaraalison, Welcome to Connect. It can be frustrating to say the least when you have so many symptoms you're not sure where to start and the doctors aren't able to pin anything down. You mentioned occasional blurry vision along with normal and very low blood pressure depending on the time of day. One of the symptoms of low blood pressure can be blurred vision.
"Low blood pressure (hypotension) symptoms may include: Blurred or fading vision; Dizziness or lightheadedness; Fainting; Fatigue; Trouble ..."
-- Low blood pressure (hypotension):
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20355465
Have you discussed the blurry vision and low blood pressure symptoms with your doctor?
Hi and thank you for your response.
Yes, my list of symptoms have been discussed to (2) separate neurologists.
The low blood pressure inter dispersed with normal blood pressure readings is consistent with AUTONOMIC neuropathy. I also have SENSORY neuropathy. Not sure about MOTOR. Another reason for going for a EMG tomorrow (14 months after my first).