My symptoms...should I worry?

[Voight]

Muscle spasms
Slurred speech
Tingling in extremities
Muscle twitching/tremors
Loss of depth perception
Sporadic loss of balance while standing or walking
Dizziness
Extreme fatigue
Ringing in ears

--Muscle Spams/Twitching...Have to hold a drill with both hands because I shake too much to use it with only one. Occasionally the same with using a key to unlock a door.
--I will occasionally reach for an item on a table and miss it. My eyes tell me it's "there" but either my hand reaches to a different spot or my eyes are deceiving me
--I had frost bite in both big toes and to a lesser extent in other toes. Severe lack of circulation leading to cold feet and tingling. Also have extremely high arches
--Have always had a constant, high pitched ringing in my ears, but in the past year or so there is an additional, frequent, "tuning-fork ping" that last 5 to 30 seconds.
--Often will sleep well (8-9hrs) and then sleep all day.

[leetz]

Get checked by Neurologist! Don't waste time. It really could be a number of different things...just some advice (not a Doctor)...get back to us and let us know how your doing!

[lyndacarol]

Muscle spasms
Slurred speech
Tingling in extremities
Muscle twitching/tremors
Loss of depth perception
Sporadic loss of balance while standing or walking
Dizziness
Extreme fatigue
Ringing in ears

--Muscle Spams/Twitching...Have to hold a drill with both hands because I shake too much to use it with only one. Occasionally the same with using a key to unlock a door.
--I will occasionally reach for an item on a table and miss it. My eyes tell me it's "there" but either my hand reaches to a different spot or my eyes are deceiving me
--I had frost bite in both big toes and to a lesser extent in other toes. Severe lack of circulation leading to cold feet and tingling. Also have extremely high arches
--Have always had a constant, high pitched ringing in my ears, but in the past year or so there is an additional, frequent, "tuning-fork ping" that last 5 to 30 seconds.
--Often will sleep well (8-9hrs) and then sleep all day.

Welcome to ThisIsMS, Voight.

The only specific question I find you are asking is in the subject line, "should I worry?" My opinion is worry will not help; you need an action plan:

#1. Take a deep breath.
#2. Find a good GP or internist – one you trust and respect, one who is compassionate and enjoys being a "disease detective." I believe that if you see a specialist about a problem, he will find a problem only in his specialty; if you only see a neuro at the very beginning, he will see the problem/solution only in neurology. I have read: "doctors are experts in, and only test for, those parts of the body in which they specialize."
#3. Since one of the symptoms you mention is "Tingling in extremities," a.k.a. peripheral neuropathy, discuss with your GP all the necessary testing for possible causes (as recommended in the link below from the University of Chicago description of a neurological exam), including a B12 deficiency – there have been several malpractice cases, which won several million dollars each (!) when doctors did not look for vitamin B12 deficiency and patients went on to develop irreversible neurological damage.)

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 (A serum B12 test alone is not adequate to identify a deficiency; in addition, a homocysteine test and a methylmalonic acid test, at least, are recommended.)
Thyroid, liver and kidney functions (especially thyroid hormones testing is recommended by Kathryn Simpkins in her book, The MS Solution)
Vasculitis evaluation
Oral glucose tolerance test
Antibodies to nerve components (e.g., anti-MAG antibody)
Antibodies related to celiac disease (Gluten sensitivity is a problem for many people; it can cause neurological symptoms.)
Lyme disease
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C and B

Your symptoms are consistent with a B12 deficiency; in my opinion, this is the condition to rule out first. Although you have not asked for specific advice, I hope you are open to my friendly suggestions. I wish you all the best.

[Voight]

Thank you for the advice. I do not have Health Insurance at the moment. Will continue researching what I can afford. This gives me a direction to go in after the first of the year.

[Voight]

" Find a good GP or internist – one you trust and respect, one who is compassionate and enjoys being a "disease detective." "
So...in other words...start making a list of people to invite to my funeral?

[lyndacarol]

" Find a good GP or internist – one you trust and respect, one who is compassionate and enjoys being a "disease detective." "
So...in other words...start making a list of people to invite to my funeral?

Voight, you have a dark sense of humor at the moment. Since you are aware of your symptoms, I only urge you to use caution – especially with power tools (my humor!) like a drill. Otherwise, I don't think you need to make the list of invitees.

A visit to a GP is less expensive than the office visit to a neurologist or other specialist. A GP should be able to see the "whole body" picture and not focus so much on one area until he assesses the need for such expertise.; he can order the necessary tests to begin the investigation of your symptoms.

Personally, I find it easier to discuss everything with my GP.