Does anyone have any insight?

Has your neurologist considered testing for Parkinson's? Michael J. Fox has early-onset Parkinson's (since his teens) Or Huntington's?
I have Parkinson's, and have had or still have all of your symptoms...you might consider being bold enough to ask the neurologist to prescribe a DAT Scan. That's what sent me from a neurologist to a neurologist/movement disorder specialist.

No, I haven't even thought that those could be options and that honestly is freaking me out a little more now. I know that with today's technology, you can live a relatively normal life with either of those diseases, but I'm actually horrified right now to think that I have either. I know that you're trying to help and I appreciate that so much, but do you actually think that is a possibility with everything I've mentioned?

I would get the tests results and input from the doctors before making any assumptions. I had some frightening neurological symptoms in 2023 which got me so anxious I was convinced I had either Parkinson’s or ALS. I actually had planned my early retirement because I just knew I had a life changing condition. But, it turns out I had neither. I actually was diagnosed with a vitamin deficiency (B12) and post covid syndrome. I got treatment and many of my symptoms are much improved.

One good thing from that experience is that I started talk therapy for the tremendous anxiety I was experiencing, which contributed to my neurological symptoms. That has been a great help.

I hope you can get your diagnosis very soon and they can figure out how to help your issues.

I did a Life Story for the MJ Fox Foundation. They are tracking symptoms, so I wrote 3 pages, tellin g them that they don't need to know about Right Now, they need the full story, so I basically gave them my medical history beginning with the 2nd grade migfraines, straight thru the day I wrote the Story. Let me bore you with my symptoms...let me have you loopk for similarities, okay? Here goes:
Miraines, sleep apnea, disturbed sleep, vision changes, sweating/chills attacks, fatigue, balance difficulties, Raynaud's, constipation, diarrhea, Female angina, easy and frequent to stress out, anxiety, loss of strength in limbs, Quick to ANGER (I scream, I swear, I cry, I holler), depression, irritability, sciatica attacks, hypoglycemia, borderline diabetic (!!??), Osteopenia, Osteoarthritis, itchy skin, dry eyes, itchy eyes, back pain, swalloowing disorder, globus sensation, GERD, weak and unsteady in early AM, Grand Mal seizures, sensitivity to temperature.

Dlo I think it's a possibility? I personally think that you, like me have a bunch of things going on simultaneously, and I also think some day someone will wake up and say "Hey, aren't a,b,g,h,r all ONE thing? And how about c,d,e,j,k,z arfe all Another single thing???" I don't thin k anyone out there is looking at the whole picture, and tons opf us with multiple problems are falling thru the cracks every single day - and it sucks.

okay i definitely do have a lot of those symptoms, almost all of them... but the thing is those symptoms could be totally unrelated to something specific or they can be specific for a whole bunch of different diseases. this all really sucks. i just want to feel normal again.

So sorry you are going through this, and it is very possible that it not anything horrific. One suggestion: get a Kardia, a credit-card sized home EKG that links to a cell phone. You can check your palpitations with it and either have a record of arrhythmia for your MD, or be reassured that you don't have any.

Is Lyme disease a possibility? Testing for Lyme involves some controversies. Some doctors go by even one band on a Western Blot being "Lyme specific." And most do an Elisa first. See if you can have a Western Blot.

I have tried both meloxicam and gabapentin and had some side effects. Meloxicam gave me chest pressure bad enough that I started for the ER (sat in the parking lot!) and gabapentin can cause joint pain. So while you are dealing with your primary symptoms, make sure side effects aren't contributing. That is something I deal with a lot.

In 2001 I woke with my arms and legs on fire. I never actually discovered the cause. My EMG was normal. I did test positive for Lyme and had antibiotics. Along the way I had a lupus diagnosis with very high ANA but am doubtful. I also have high antibodies for scleroderma. I think a rheumatologist might be added to neuro for you.

How is your neck? Any whiplash? An MRI of neck as well as brain might be in order. Is sciatica a [possibility? Pain can migrate and change. A PT can help diagnose pain as well as treat it.

Giving up dairy and several other foods helped a little with whatever inflammation might be going on. I started tai chi. I have had Klonopin on hand for years but take 1/4 of the lowest dose, at most twice/week, so very sparingly. That is the only med I can tolerate for my muscle spasms and neuro sensations. PT massage helps and PT's are often expert with vertigo.

You might benefit as well from a functional and integrative medicine doctor who looks at the whole picture. It is good news that your heart seems okay. A functional medicine doctor can kind of guide things in my experience, but I avoid some of the testing and supplements due to expense.

My daughter had a lot of symptoms at your age. As her mom, trying to find answers, I felt like we were in a field of tall weeds that we couldn't see out of. It did turn out that she had several things going on, not one, and over time they have been handled. Her college years were tough but she is now 34 and has been relatively healthy- with the right meds- for 12 years. I am doing well too, but I am older and accept some weird stuff! Young people like you should be well!

I have been reading "The Lady's Handbook for her Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey. Maybe you can get a copy. You will relate. There are other books on invisible illness, some with humor. And hope your parent comes around to support. I get the desire for a diagnosis. You want one that gets you taken seriously but not so serious that it is a worrying problem!

I actually did a blood test to check my B12 levels and for lyme disease, and when I called the ER later that night they said my B12 was within normal limits, but that the lyme disease results wouldn't be in until the next day. This was a few days ago, so in the morning I'm going to call back to get my results on that but I really doubt I have lyme disease since it's winter and I don't live in a very woodsy area.

And now that you mention it, I started having worse chest pressure after taking the meloxicam. Chest pressure was one of my original symptoms to begin with, but after taking the meloxicam for the past 2 days, the chest pressure won't go away. Usually it would only last for a few minutes but I've been having it all day. I'm going to mention this to my doctor.

It's hard to describe how my neck feels. To me, if I feel my neck, the right side feels a little more firm than the left, and that's also the side where I feel like there's something in my throat when I sometimes swallow (that globus sensation.) I guess sciatica is a possibility because my mom experiences it, but she is also almost 50 so it makes sense that she might have that kind of pain, but I'm so young and have been healthy my whole life. The only thing that I can think of that wasn't healthy about me is that I've struggled to lose weight my whole life, but otherwise, I've been fine.

I definitely might check out a rhuematologist. I still have yet to even schedule the MRI and EEG that my neuro wants me to do. The waiting game is what's killing me. At the end of the day, I'll deal with whatever I have, I just need to KNOW what it is.

From what you have just written, and my own experience, it sounds like neck (cervical spine) issues might need to be investigated. An MRI via neurology. I also have found a good PT to be good diagnostically.

I benefit from topicals- either creams or patches. This might be a good way to see if something is going on in neck. You said one side feels firmer than the other, which could be muscle tension. This can be caused by "myelopathy" or a cervical vertebra being even slightly off position. Neck spine issues go all the way down the body as well as up the face and scalp.

Maybe try Ben Gay (my favorite) or BioFreeze. Ben Gay has a greaseless formula (green ) and extra strength (red). Massage it (I put a plastic bag over my hand) on the place that feels firm, anywhere that feels sore to the touch, and on the other side too. See if that has any effect!

This is all just my experience and of course you need MD's to advise. Again I have found a good PT to be extremely helpful diagnostically and that has helped me avoid some testing. Hope you can get a counselor for support!

it's definitely possible that i have a bunch of things going on, cervical spine issue included. normally I'm a stomach sleeper just because it's the most comfortable for me, but ever since experiencing the chest pressure all the way back in December, I've become a back and side sleeper. maybe the change of position when I sleep is causing me issues as well??

@jessdurantt insightful idea! Having the right pillow would be important too. I had trouble last night on my side for some reason, and to lie on my back I needed two pillows arranged just so, so that the top one was perched on the lower edge of the bottom one. I am lucky in that I can tell right away that there is a problem with positioning. Another frequent suggestion is to have a pillow between your legs to keep the spine aligned.