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So my family doc and I have been working under the assumption of a sort of maybe lupus diagnosis. Lots of pins and needles, thought it was tennis elbow at first, followed up by Raynaud's - gave up caffeine and keep my hands warm and it's greatly diminished - but I've moved on to bee stings on my right side and electric shock spasm in my right leg, unyielding joint pain, and bouts of debilitating fatigue. Not I'm kinda sleepy, I'm a super competitive overachiever who has worked two jobs for years and excelled at both, this is sleep 12 hours a day and there aren't enough hours left in the entire rest of my life to sleep fatigue. I also have a little black spot in my field of vision but it's not constant. I just turned 40 this year, one at a time I was chalking up the pile of symptoms to aging or stress. But there was a game changer in January, I got lost in the grocery store. Couldn't find my honey that was with me, didn't think to use the phone that was in my hand to call him, started crying -- out of control hysterical crying which is TOTALLY out of character for me -- he heard the ruckus and came and found me. I hadn't realized until last Tuesday when he and I were having a serious discussion that I hand't been back to the store. I hadn't noticed that I stopped grocery shopping for 90 days or so. Last Monday, I went to work at a building I have worked in 100s of times. I left the building, I suppose as I am not still there, got in my car and got on the interstate going the wrong direction. Didn't notice I was going the wrong way, didn't notice I didn't recognize where I was, drove for almost an hour -- again I'm guessing as to what time I actually arrived home. Don't remember any of the events I just described. I do remember pulling over to a gas station, not knowing where I was or how to get home. Cue hysterical crying. I did have sense enough to lock myself in the bathroom. Not entirely helpful, but at least I didn't wander into oncoming traffic or anything crazy. I knew where I lived and who I was but was unable to formulate a plan to get back on the interstate or go home. I am assertive. This is a night and day difference in my personality. Gas station attendant gave me clear instructions and literally pointed me in the right direction. I drove home and at some point I was concerned enough to phone a friend and have them talk to me until I got to the house. I was so exhausted I slept for almost two days solid. So now I'm waiting on my neuro appt and a full work up. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone?

hi saki welcome to the forum
I definitely used to have trouble getting home from work, but my experience was not as bad as you describe. had real issues getting across intersections though.
it was weird. glad it doesn't happen any more!

At least I'm not alone - I did had some issues trying to maneuver out of a parking lot - Decsion makeing seems to be an issue - i just keep singing that song - must've got lost lol

Sakibomb wrote:So my family doc and I have been working under the assumption of a sort of maybe lupus diagnosis. Lots of pins and needles, thought it was tennis elbow at first, followed up by Raynaud's - gave up caffeine and keep my hands warm and it's greatly diminished - but I've moved on to bee stings on my right side and electric shock spasm in my right leg, unyielding joint pain, and bouts of debilitating fatigue. Not I'm kinda sleepy, I'm a super competitive overachiever who has worked two jobs for years and excelled at both, this is sleep 12 hours a day and there aren't enough hours left in the entire rest of my life to sleep fatigue. I also have a little black spot in my field of vision but it's not constant. I just turned 40 this year, one at a time I was chalking up the pile of symptoms to aging or stress. But there was a game changer in January, I got lost in the grocery store. Couldn't find my honey that was with me, didn't think to use the phone that was in my hand to call him, started crying -- out of control hysterical crying which is TOTALLY out of character for me -- he heard the ruckus and came and found me. I hadn't realized until last Tuesday when he and I were having a serious discussion that I hand't been back to the store. I hadn't noticed that I stopped grocery shopping for 90 days or so. Last Monday, I went to work at a building I have worked in 100s of times. I left the building, I suppose as I am not still there, got in my car and got on the interstate going the wrong direction. Didn't notice I was going the wrong way, didn't notice I didn't recognize where I was, drove for almost an hour -- again I'm guessing as to what time I actually arrived home. Don't remember any of the events I just described. I do remember pulling over to a gas station, not knowing where I was or how to get home. Cue hysterical crying. I did have sense enough to lock myself in the bathroom. Not entirely helpful, but at least I didn't wander into oncoming traffic or anything crazy. I knew where I lived and who I was but was unable to formulate a plan to get back on the interstate or go home. I am assertive. This is a night and day difference in my personality. Gas station attendant gave me clear instructions and literally pointed me in the right direction. I drove home and at some point I was concerned enough to phone a friend and have them talk to me until I got to the house. I was so exhausted I slept for almost two days solid. So now I'm waiting on my neuro appt and a full work up. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone?

Welcome to ThisIsMS, Sakibomb.

You asked if your story sounded familiar; this is not at all similar to my experience or symptoms, but you have some similarities to material that I have read.

First, I wonder if you are taking any statin medication. In the book Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter (page 93), the author writes,

Memory dysfunction is a known side effect of statins. Dr. Duane Graveline, a former doctorto NASA astronauts who earned the nickname "Spacedoc," has been a strong opponent of statins. Ever since he experienced total memory loss that he believed was caused by the statins he was taking the time, he has been collecting evidence of their side effects from people around the world. Today he has written three books on the matter, the most famous of which is Lipitor, Thief of Memory.

In February 2012, the FDA released a statement indicating that statins drugs could cause cognitive side effects such as memory lapses and confusion.

Next, because pins and needles (peripheral neuropathy), joint pain, chronic debilitating fatigue, and brain fog are recognized as symptoms of the atypical form of gluten sensitivity, I wonder if you have ever had blood tests, an intestinal biopsy, or the new stool analysis to determine if you have developed gluten sensitivity (which can appear at any time in a person's life).

Dr. Amy Myers, M.D. explained gluten sensitivity: http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/gluten- ... t-epidemic

@4:00 Dr. Amy Myers, M.D., speaks on the newly-recognized warning signs of gluten sensitivity: headaches, migraines, inflammation causing brain fog, depression from nutrient deficiencies (zinc, iron, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D), joint pain & arthritis, and skin rashes.

@4:30 she says more than 18 million have been diagnosed with gluten sensitivity; suspects that 1 in 2 probably has gluten sensitivity

@5:00 mention of study in New England Journal of Medicine several years ago that linked gluten sensitivity to 55 diseases


As you wait for your neuro appointment and work up, consider these suggestions from the University of Chicago:

http://peripheralneuropathycenter.uchic ... #bloodtest

Blood tests

Blood tests are commonly employed to check for vitamin deficiencies, toxic elements and evidence of an abnormal immune response.

Depending on your individual situation, your doctor may request certain laboratory tests to identify potentially treatable causes for neuropathy. These include tests for:
Vitamin B12 and folate levels
Thyroid, liver and kidney functions
Vasculitis evaluation
Oral glucose tolerance test
Antibodies to nerve components (e.g., anti-MAG antibody)
Antibodies related to celiac disease
Lyme disease
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C and B

I hope you have a good, compassionate family doctor to work with you; he can order the tests to start your investigation. All the best to you.

Thanks for all the info - I have only had a finger stick blood sugar check - which was normal. Now that you mention this, I also had gestational diabetes with my first pregnancy. It did not develop during my second or third pregnancies but having already experienced it once, I was super vigilant about my diet.

I work 75 to 80 hours a week and have not been taking such good care of myself. Two kids in college and one starting high school in August, super single mom, I've been more focused on "just keep going" than my diet and health. Seems like I'm going to have to shift my focus a little