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My body is apparently an unsolvable puzzle - anyone else?
Two years ago in January, my entire right side went numb. I didn't go to the hospital right away (I know, I know). Later that day I was admitted. They tested my reflexes which were unresponsive. They asked questions I should've known the answer to but didn't. My scans didn't show anything of relevance. They treated me for a possible TIA and I've been on a daily aspirin since then. Fast forward to April 16, 2026. I was at work (not a stressful job at all), and I felt a migraine coming on (I've only had a couple in my whole life). My right eye was partially shut, not really droopy. I thought it was a normal migraine but it lasted for 4 days. I could not walk more than 10 steps without my body feeling as if it were shutting down. I have a history of orthostatic hypotension, but it was off the charts this time. From sitting to standing I would go as low as 79/49 to as high as 152/113, and my heartrate would go as low as 40 to 176. I felt like I was dying. I had extreme confusion. It took me a good 4 weeks to feel human again. Doc said my bloodwork was fine - turns out my magnesium was critically low. I eat healthy and exercise daily. Iron is good. Only thing I'm deficient in is Vitamin D & magnesium (reconciled these). I have a history of Crohns disease & Asthma. I've been randomly passing out since I was a kid. Not sure of the relevance, but I have had lots of damage in the past to my head and neck area; including a non-fatal drowning at age 7, 3 concussions from my teens - early twenties, severe damage to my neck from a car wreck at age 15 where I cracked the windshield with my head & my neck was slammed into the thin long dashboard (on the x-rays it looked as if my throat were completely closed - very thin airway), I was choked to the point of almost blacking out when I was 24. I had a MRI without contrast on 6/12/26, and the only abnormal findings were a few tiny punctate foci of white matter hyperintensity, as well as minimal mucosal thickening in the paranasal sinuses. I've had my heart checked out. I see a neurologist at Emory soon. Is there anyone out there with similar symptoms? I will get random headaches (sometimes just a zap of lightning it feels like) & ringing in my ears, random feeling as though my body is shutting down, vertigo even while sitting, and random blurred vision. Also, can anyone think of questions I should ask the neurologist when I see him/her? I've been dealing with this stuff for years, and lots of doctors like to go with the easy answer of "oh it's just Crohns" but it IS NOT THAT. There is a different disturbance in the force. Something underlying that cannot be explained from Crohns, asthma, nor perimenopause (I'm 44). Thank you so much in advance!
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Forgot to add that sometimes I cannot smell ANYTHING AT ALL. On two occasions there was a dead rat in the ceiling directly above my area. Everyone could smell it from outside. I couldn't smell anything (thankful for that, but it's also concerning).
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2 ReactionsHmm, sounds like something is going on. Have you had a CAT scan or MRI of the brain? I am a retired nurse. I had difficulties. I passed out on my lunch hour at work at the hospital a few years back. I was admitted to the hospital the same day, a lot of tests were performed, but nothing was found. I was then ok for a while. Then I was seeing a neurologist, and he ordered an MRI of my head. He called me the same day I had the exam. He told me there was something there that needed to be checked. I went to an oncologist and had a laser on the mass. I was okay, but when I had another MRI, the mass had returned. I went to another oncologist, and we decided chemotherapy was my best bet. He did a heavy dose of chemo. I have been cancer-free for 6-plus years - as of now. Just keep checking and see other doctors, something should show up. Good luck, my friend.
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3 Reactions@worley725 Thank you so much, and that's awesome about being cancer free for over 6 years - I wish you all the best!! I am very anxiously awaiting Emory to call me - the referral was just submitted yesterday.
Sounds like an X file but the teams have been disbanded
in recent times more often then not. Given your physical encounters I praise your courage to stand up dust yourself off and continue on. I recently completed eight orbits around the and life’s mysteries grow deeper if not without a new wobble. Hence the heavens were created in seven days out of stardust which still clings to our parts not visible to the naked eye or easily understood. Be of good cheer. We are a magnificent machine and periodically we break down. Take care.
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1 ReactionMake sure they screen you for autonomic function when you get your consult.
Did your symptoms evolve after a Covid infection? I believe they do have
an autonomic lab testing facility at Emory.
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1 ReactionWith the Crohn's, have you checked B12? Serum B12 is often uninformative. I'd ask for homocysteine, MMA, serum folate, and binding capacity B12.
Even with a high serum B12, you may be unable to process it effectively. That deficiency can lead to a lot of neurological damage.
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1 Reaction@seniormed Thank you! It's been this way since I was little, but they did seem to get worse after Covid for sure!
@larak thank you for replying! I just got some labs back and I was pretty surprised my B12 was normal. After stabilizing my magnesium deficiency, I've only had a few moments (seemingly no pattern that I've found) where I've felt off, so that helped a good bit. Definitely something underlying that's causing my nervous system to misfire.
@galliganwirth lol SPOT on with the X-files! Thank you, I appreciate your reply so much <3