Ongoing health problem looking for answers?

Question

I just moved into a new apartment back in early November. Not two weeks later I developed migraines and dizziness. This continued for over a week until finally I went to a doctor.They gave me some meds for migraines and said I'd need an MRI eventually after Thanksgiving. Well, after a miserable Thanksgiving I went back to the doctor. This time they took a full medical history and I scheduled my MRI. They gave me some samples of different stronger meds. I went and had the MRI done and they came back and told me it was "abnirmal" but told me nothing else other than I needed to see a neurologist. So, I made an appointment and went. Well, the guy was a complete jerk he acted impatient and like I was wasting his time. He was very short with me, interrupted me and wouldn't let me talk. He said it was just migraines and put me on powerful anti-seizure meds to control them..... (continued below)

*abnormal I meant
Anyway...so he puts me on these drugs with all these awful side-effects. Anywhere from overheating because I can't sweat to feeling "stupid" unable to think. All the way to kidney stones or worse. When I asked him what about my MRI results...he shrugged said it could be something, could be nothing that it was probably just a "ding". Well, I started taking these drugs building up slowly (as he prescribed) from 25 mg's a night to 75 mg's a night. I still had headaches everyday and was still dizzy and also very hot. Then one day I started feeling a weird sensation in my chest...an ache or something. That turned into a cough that I couldn't make go away plus nasal congestion, runny nose, wheezing. Then I started being unable to keep my food down. Then I noticed my tongue always felt...coated. Then it felt like my tastebuds were irratated. Nothing tastes the same anymore. It hurts to drink, it hurts to eat. I have trouble breathing...plus I still have these "migraines"

cont...still have "migraines" after almost two months. Yeah I was thinking mold, but it costs too much to get it checked

Forgot to add I also keep seeing blood when I blow my nose

Answer 1

Tuxgal,
You might also have your car, and apartment checked for carbon monoxide. It is an odorless gas that can cause all the same symptoms and unless a blood gas was drawn right after you left the affected area, it might not show up as abnormal because your body tries to get rid of it on it's own.

It would be interesting to see what was abnormal on your MRI.

Don't give up. Not every neurologist is an impatient jerk. You can always get a second opinion.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Nearly all GSDs can trace their lineage to four dogs from when the breed was founded in the late 1800s. Because of this, as a breed, they are susceptible to more health problems then any other breed that I know of other then the English Bulldog. You name it, they get it at a higher rate then other breeds. Life span is 10-12 years but I had one that lived to 17+ years but had a (drum roll) classic GSD issue (spinal mylanotropy (or something like that)) and went paralyzed from mid back to tail so had to be put down despite being in good health otherwise. This doesn't mean all GSDs are problems; he chances are still small; they are just more likely then other breeds. The AKC, through the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, has not followed the internationally recognized standard for the GSD since the mid 1960s and have far more health and temperament problems then those bred under the standard. You will have a better chance at a healthy dog if you get one registered with the SV (Deutsch Verein fur Schaferhund) or the USA (United Schutzhund Clubs of America). Some breeders in the UKC and AKC also breed to the international standard but they will not have conformation titles because of this. Unless you are an experienced trainer, go with show line dogs as the very things that make a GSD good for schutzhund, police work, etc make them hard for a novice trainer to handle. Don't expect to pay less hen $500 for a decent GSD puppy although there are exceptions - it takes some homework to find a decent pup for less. Great breed - be responsible. EDIT: GSDs numbers as per hip dysplacia are high because the breed has been in the top ten breeds for 50 plus years. As far as chance of getting it, they are far down the list at number 26.

Answer 3

Wonder if you are allergic to something in the apartment. Did the previous tenants have cats, was the apartment sprayed for insects recently, is the carpet old or has it just been replaced, is there a mildew problem anywhere you can find?

Think I would go and get allergy testing done before I would want to take all that anti-seizure medication if it isn't warranted. I would take the MRI results to another doctor & find out what isn't normal. Don't know what it is about specialists these days but they act like they are superior, don't have any bedside manner or compassion. Good luck & I hope you find the right answers soon.

Answer 4

you might want to make sure that the apartment doesn't have what they call black mold in in somewhere like behind the walls or the bathroom somewhere. this can cause head aches and your nervous system to start shutting down on you or make you very sick since you said it just started once you moved into the apartment. you can call the city to come and inspect it for you good luck