Unexplained Health Episodes
Hello everyone, I reached out on TikTok for assistance and was encouraged to share my situation here for additional insights. I'm a 26-year-old female. Earlier this year, in 2023, I experienced a troubling incident resembling a stroke; I was unable to smile, felt extreme weakness, and numbness spread throughout my right side. My speech became slurred and stuttered as if intoxicated, even though that isn’t a normal occurrence for me, and I lost my balance. Despite these alarming symptoms, the emergency room conducted a CT scan and found no irregularities, although my potassium and magnesium levels were low. Following that event, I faced similar episodes—though less intense—for the next six months. A video EEG was performed, but I didn’t have any episodes during the monitoring, resulting in no data capture. Furthermore, my MRI of the brain returned normal results. A two-week cardiac monitor also concluded that everything was fine. These episodes subsided for almost a year but returned with increased severity this past April. During another emergency visit aimed at stroke evaluation, the CT scan and angiogram once again revealed no abnormalities, and a subsequent brain MRI confirmed normalcy. Recently, the frequency of my episodes has risen; however, they are primarily less severe, usually not warranting an ER visit. Occasionally, I experience temporary vision disturbances as well. These episodes have been triggered while I was trying to sleep, shopping, cooking with family, during panic attacks, among other situations, yet I haven't pinpointed a specific pattern. My neurologist has prescribed propranolol, theorizing it might be related to complex migraines, but after two months on this medication, I haven’t observed any significant changes. Additionally, I have a history of type 2 diabetes (which is managed), chronic migraines, hypertension, high cholesterol, elevated liver enzymes, anxiety, depression, and PCOS. My current medications include Mounjaro, Fenofibrate, Rosuvastatin, Omeprazole, Jardiance, Soliqua, HCTZ, Losartan, Prozac, Rexulti, and Spironolactone. I'm seeking insights into what might be causing these troubling issues since I haven't made any notable alterations to my diet, exercise routines, or weight.
Answers (1)
7/1/2025, 10:40:40 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're experiencing distressing and complex health episodes that you are eager to understand better. Your history and symptoms suggest a multifaceted condition that may involve neurological and cardiovascular elements. I will provide some insights into potential causes, but it’s crucial to focus on managing your symptoms and improving your quality of life.
Main Points:
- Possible Causes of Symptoms: Your episodes might be linked to migraine variants, anxiety, or heart-related issues that can sometimes manifest with neurological symptoms.
- Symptom Monitoring: Keeping a detailed diary of your episodes can help identify triggers and patterns.
- Reviewing Medications and Lifestyle: Consider potential side effects of your medications and overall lifestyle choices.
Explanation:
The symptoms you describe, including slurred speech, weakness, and numbness, can align with various medical conditions, especially migraines with aura, anxiety-related episodes, or even transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes), despite the negative CT and MRI findings. Given your medical history, medications, and symptoms, there is a possibility of complex migraines being a significant factor.
- Complex Migraines: These can cause significant neurological symptoms that mimic strokes. It’s not uncommon for standard migraine treatment to be ineffective for some patients.
- Anxiety and Panic Attacks: These can cause physical symptoms that resemble neurological issues, contributing to weakness or numbness during episodes.
- Cardiac or Vascular Issues: While your tests have come back normal, it’s essential to ensure that your cardiovascular health is monitored, especially given the elevated liver enzymes and other chronic conditions.
Next Steps:
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Symptom Diary: Begin tracking your episodes meticulously. Note the time, duration, severity, activities you were engaged in, and any stressors or environmental factors preceding the events. This information can help identify patterns or triggers for further evaluation.
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Medication Review: Discuss with your healthcare provider about the efficacy of propranolol and consider whether adjustments or alternatives might be beneficial. Some medications may have effects that contribute to your symptoms.
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Lifestyle Considerations:
- Ensure proper hydration and nutrition, particularly focusing on electrolytes (potassium and magnesium) due to your previous low levels. This may require dietary adjustments or supplementation.
- Monitor stress levels and consider incorporating stress-reducing techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, or gentle exercise (like yoga) which may help manage anxiety and, in turn, reduce the frequency of episodes.
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Follow-Up: Ensure regular follow-ups with your neurologist or a specialist who understands your complete medical history and can provide tailored insights. If you continue experiencing episodes, consider asking for a referral to a headache specialist or a comprehensive migraine clinic.
Please remember your health journey is important, and pursuing the right support and care can lead to better management of your symptoms. If symptoms escalate or change significantly, seek medical assistance.
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