About a year and a half ago, I took a semester off from college for health reasons; trouble concentrating, fatigue, and back pain. At the time, I was also experiencing a strange tingling in my legs at around the same time everyday. I got better, stopped seeing my ortho (I could've sued), and started seeing a chiropractor. The ortho said things like, "stress, all in your head, perhaps a bone spur?..."
Anyway, it turns out that my neck is, quite literally, backwards. The ortho had all that he needed (expensive X-rays, and an MRI that I was double charged for because the tech did the wrong body part), but never told me that my spine is bent in two places and I have moderate-severe kyphosis likely due to whiplash.
I've been receiving treatment for the back issues, but different, less concrete problems are occurring. For at least 4 months now, I've been trying to figure it out (with doctors), and so far I know that my thyroid is off (taking synthroid), but the doctor says that my neuro issues cannot stem from that. At times, I cannot even remember a word, much less a sentence, in the time it takes to read it to when I'm frantically trying to write it down.
I'm often dizzy and feel off-balance, and sometimes I get the spins. I had a stress fracture in my foot about 4 months ago, but I still get pain and swelling. I had to drop jazz dance class, and I had been so excited
I get this weird, pulsing feeling down my neck, particularly when bending it. I cannot problem solve or retain new information, and I find myself misspelling things often. These last three are a particular worry for me, as I have always enjoyed being an intellectual.
My hand locks up inexplicably, immobile for seconds at a time, it freaks me out. I've also noticed that I cannot wear high-necked shirt or tops that are tight around my rib cage because I feel like they constrict my breathing.
The tingling comes and goes, and is irregular. I feel cold easily, but I hate being in the heat. On christmas eve, I nearly went to the emergency room because the tingling was intense in my toes-calves, fingers-wrists, and behind my bottom teeth, accompanied by an ominous dizzy sensation. I regret not going, I wish it could've been documented.
The doctor that diagnosed my stress fracture and my thyroid issue was very understanding and concerned, so he told me to see a neurologist. I went, he made fun of me. Not joking, he said "Ohh redheads close enough to blonde." in front of my likewise redheaded mom, as if some stereotype for ditsy behavior explains anything. He said my small stature explains my pains and fracture, so basically I'm just a fragile little lady. He wouldn't let go of the fact that I work at a pizza shop, and don't drink. I don't drink.
He also called my mental health into question, citing medications I was prescribed when I was 14 years old. He told me to see a psychiatrist and... get this, an endocrinologist. Because he believes there is something wrong with me, just not something he can help with. He did order an MRI, saying he would be surprised if anything came back but I'll get back to that.
I immediately decided that I needed a second opinion. I went back to my student health doc, he gave a referral, and I went to a second doc. It was similar, I went in alone despite the nurse asking 3 or 4 times if I wanted to bring my boyfriend back with me. No, I wanted to take charge and do it myself.
He did the basic neuro exam, omitted comment on things I felt I were abnormal (walking on heels, neck pain when bent, couldn't even manage one nose-finger touch thing). He said caffeine sensitivity and see a UROLOGIST. He told me to eliminate caffeine and limit my beverage consumption to 6 hours a day, which I'm pretty sure he done goofed the math, since that would kill me, but I have no other signs of caffeine sensitivity and have been drinking the same amount since before high school.
He was also fairly inappropriate, he caressed my leg and whether intentionally or not, he looked up my skirt (benefit of the doubt, the positioning was part of the exam, but how uncomfortable he was seemed unprofessional). He said "It's not MS." Despite not showing proof.
Present day, I had to miss an MRI because I have a dermal anchor facial piercing (it's been through 3 MRIs, but they have more strict protocol at this hospital) they refused to do the MRI. Now, that first doctor has insisted I seek psychiatric help, his nurse left a voicemail in which she snootily said "and you missed your MRI because of a piercing", and they have informed me that they will be contacting my GP to revoke my Vyvanse prescription because he thinks I need sedatives and mood stabilizers. I've been on them, they make me miserable and intensify my anxiety, I am comfortable with my vyvanse and I don't abuse it. It cured my social anxiety (which was likely Attention related to begin with).
I've had to ask for extenstions on my final papers (I've never turned a paper in late in my life) and take leave from work because I couldn't make it a full shift without getting super dizzy, dropping things, or getting too disoriented to perform basic functions. Now, my mom has a brother, who is an excellent primary care physician up state and he thinks that I need a spinal tap and comprehensive MRI's. I'm thinking about making the trip up there.
I just wanted to ask, is this normal, are doctors really like this or am I just unfortunate? Also, if it is MS, and they find proof, will it really be better? I am so tired and weak and confused and I feel like my loved ones are tired of hearing it (though all of them believe me, not a single one doubts my credibility). Any advice?
I hope that will make it easier for others to respond also.