My Ongoing Health Struggles: A Personal Account
I am a 27-year-old woman with a height of 5’4” and a weight of 150 pounds, having gone through four pregnancies, none of which were typical vaginal deliveries. My medical history includes traumatic brain injury (TBI), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), major depressive disorder (currently in partial remission), ADHD, and a mini-stroke. I am currently on a medication regimen that includes Adderall XR (20 mg), Wellbutrin XR (300 mg), and Pristiq (100 mg). To summarize my experiences: On September 10, 2024, while pregnant at 35 weeks and 6 days, I unexpectedly lost consciousness while driving, leading to a serious accident where my truck flipped. As a result, I sustained a broken ankle, a fractured nose, and a TBI, which is believed to have triggered a lacunar infarct. On October 11, 2024, just four days after my delivery, I experienced severe dizziness that felt unlike any vertigo I had previously encountered. This sensation persisted for four days, prompting me to visit the emergency room after a full day of this disorientation. I was hospitalized for several days, during which I had another MRI, revealing the infarct. Strangely, the medical staff did not inform me about the findings; instead, they attributed my severe vertigo to sleep deprivation due to the childbirth, despite me being bed-bound with a full cast on my ankle, affording me plenty of rest. In the months following, I experienced noticeable cognitive decline, memory issues, and increasing clumsiness. After further evaluation, I was diagnosed with POTS, which explained my episodes of losing consciousness while driving. I began physical therapy and, for a period of six weeks, showed some improvement until a recent setback. On July 31, 2025, while dining with my family, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in the upper right side of my chest, as if it was being constricted. The intensity of the pain made it difficult to breathe. My husband drove me to the emergency room, but the medical staff suspected I was having a panic attack. After waiting for four hours, and as the pain subsided, I chose to leave against medical advice. Since that incident, I have experienced a significant decrease in strength and agility in my right arm and leg, accompanied by a droop on the right side of my face and pronounced pain. Following the recommendation of my physical therapist, I returned to the ER. They confirmed the weakness on my right side, but subsequent MRI results displayed no abnormalities. I received a low-dose narcotic to alleviate the pain, but it has proven ineffective. I have been referred to a neurologist for further examination. I feel increasingly distressed as it seems that no one else shares my urgency regarding my deteriorating condition.
Answers (1)
8/12/2025, 10:31:04 PM
OpenHealth AI
I understand that you're navigating a complicated health journey with significant challenges and concerns. Your experiences with multiple serious health issues, including your traumatic brain injury, POTS, the recent chest pain, and the right-sided weakness, are understandably distressing, and it’s crucial to prioritize your immediate needs and ongoing care.
Main Points:
- You are experiencing troubling symptoms including right-sided weakness and facial drooping.
- Monitoring and further assessment of your neurological symptoms is critical.
- Effective self-management strategies can help improve your quality of life and reduce distress.
Explanation:
Your medical history, coupled with the acute symptoms you’re experiencing, paints a complex picture that requires careful attention. The right-sided weakness and facial drooping, in particular, could indicate neurological involvement given your history of a mini-stroke and TBI. It's reassuring that you've been referred to a neurologist who can provide specialized care.
It’s also important to recognize how these health challenges can affect your overall well-being, including emotional health. Many individuals facing similar circumstances find it helpful to adopt a comprehensive approach that includes both physical recovery and mental health support.
Next Steps:
-
Neurological Follow-Up: Keep the appointment with your neurologist and prepare a detailed list of your symptoms, including when they began, their duration, and any triggers you've noticed. This will help facilitate a thorough evaluation.
-
Monitor Symptoms: Keep a daily journal of your symptoms. Note any changes, new symptoms, or patterns, especially concerning your upper body strength, cognitive function, and mood. This can be helpful for your healthcare team.
-
Self-Care Strategies:
- Hydration and Nutrition: Ensure you are staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet, which can support your overall health and potentially diminish some symptoms.
- Gentle Physical Activity: If physical therapy was initially beneficial, discuss with your therapist or neurologist about ways you can safely continue movement. This might include light stretching or seated exercises.
- Mental Health Support: Consider reaching out to a mental health professional who understands chronic illness and can help you cope with your distress.
-
Advocacy: If you feel your symptoms are not being taken seriously, don't hesitate to advocate for yourself. Bringing a supportive family member or friend to appointments can help convey your concerns and ensure you’re heard.
-
Emergency Signs: Be vigilant about new or worsening symptoms. Seek immediate medical help if you experience severe headaches, severe dizziness, sudden vision changes, or breathing difficulties.
Your situation is significant, and I encourage you to maintain ongoing communication with your healthcare provider team. You're not alone in this, and seeking support in multiple areas can help you navigate these challenges. Please feel free to share more about what specific concerns you have going forward or if you seek additional strategies for managing your symptoms.
Related Questions
Swelling Beneath My Chin Near the Jawline
18-Year-Old Male: I'm reaching out to any medical professionals who might provide insights into my situation. I've been using marijuana since I was 14, but now, at 17, I'm making an effort to stop and have been clean for 18 days. Recently, I've discovered an unusual swelling located just beneath my chin, behind my jaw. It causes some discomfort when I move, yet it doesn’t feel painful continuously. I'm somewhat anxious that this could be indicative of a more serious issue, especially considering it's positioned near my chin's lymph nodes. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated as it might help alleviate my worry.
Seeking Insights: My Journey with Undiagnosed Neurological Symptoms
Hello everyone, I'm a 34-year-old female grappling with neurological symptoms that first appeared in October, and I’m eager to hear from anyone who might have faced similar challenges. My journey began with unexpected migraines, blurred vision, and an ongoing sensation of being off-balance or intoxicated. Gradually, I began experiencing mainly sensory-related symptoms, such as tingling and burning sensations, feelings of extreme heat and cold, sharp pains radiating in my arms and back, as well as discomfort in my hands and toes, alongside intermittent numbness. I also endure varying degrees of weakness and heaviness in my right side, specifically my arm and leg, although I haven’t suffered complete functional loss. The nature of my symptoms is erratic; they fluctuate rather than consistently deteriorate. An MRI revealed mild, scattered lesions in the white matter, which were deemed nonspecific. Further tests from a lumbar puncture returned normal results, showing no markers of inflammation, and the oligoclonal bands were not present. A thorough range of lab tests yielded no significant findings. After evaluating my case, the neurology team suggested a possible diagnosis of MS and administered a three-day course of intravenous steroids. While I noticed a slight improvement in some sensory pain, my symptoms persist and continue to vary day by day. I still experience headaches and pressure in my head along with episodes of blurred vision, but there have been no new deficits since treatment. I am reaching out to connect with others who have had similar experiences. I would like to learn about the insights or diagnoses you encountered and what treatments proved beneficial (such as those related to migraine disorders, dysautonomia, or sensory neuropathy, for example). If you have navigated a similar path, I would greatly appreciate your sharing your story. Thank you!
Should I Seek Medical Attention for Left Ear Pulsatile Tinnitus?
A 31-year-old woman reports an ongoing issue with pulsatile tinnitus, which she is currently experiencing solely in her left ear. Although she's noticed this condition intermittently before, she hadn’t paid it much mind due to the absence of pain. Recently, however, her curiosity piqued her interest in researching the condition, where she stumbled upon information suggesting it could be serious. Usually, she avoids searching online for health worries, but now she is contemplating whether a visit to the doctor might be warranted. Can anyone advise on the need for a medical evaluation in this case?
Concerns About Angular Cheilitis
I’m a 23-year-old woman with no history of smoking, and I’m seeking assistance regarding a health issue. Back in January, I experienced angular cheilitis three times, each episode involving a minor crack at the corner of my mouth that healed within a few days. Following the last occurrence, I became quite anxious due to saliva accumulation in that area. I found myself frequently brushing my finger along that spot. After a few days, I observed a small area forming that appeared white and had a rough texture. Eventually, I realized it was not just a coincidence, and I started taking action, but only after it became noticeably larger. To address it, I cleaned the area with a mix of alcohol and apple cider vinegar. I’m uncertain about what this issue could be, but I’ve recently begun using over-the-counter Clotrimazole cream while also keeping the area moisturized with either lanolin or petroleum jelly. Unfortunately, I haven’t noticed any improvement, and I’m concerned as it seems to be expanding. The patch continues to be rough and excessively dry. Although I can open my mouth wide without any cracks forming, I do feel tension in the skin, similar to having a bandage over that location. At times, I experience a burning sensation after thorough washing, and I’ve noticed tiny red spots appearing on the outer edges of the patch sporadically.
Unusual Heart Sensation
I’m an 18-year-old, weighing 50 kilograms and standing at 170 centimeters (and yes, I’m aware that I’m quite slender). For the past couple of years, I’ve developed a habit of smoking about half a pack of cigarettes each day. So, the other day I was lying on my left side, relaxing, when I stumbled upon an unusual sensation. It felt as though my heart was pulsating so intensely that it was almost outside my body. Out of curiosity, I pressed a bit on the area and was instantly hit with a rush; my head started to tingle, my vision momentarily blurred, and it felt as though my heart dropped. It was as if my entire system had malfunctioned. Just for context, I’ve experienced something similar before after a ketamine overdose, and it persisted for about a month afterward, occurring occasionally while trying to sleep or during random moments in bed. This current episode has me quite anxious, especially since it hasn’t happened in a while, but this time felt particularly alarming.