Is There Cause for Concern?
Hello! I’m a 22-year-old female, weighing 137 pounds, generally in good health without any significant medical issues in my past. I’m not currently on any medications and haven’t made any recent changes to my daily routine. For the last couple of weeks, I’ve experienced a heavy sensation in my eyes, specifically not in my eyelids, but more so in the eyes themselves. It feels almost like a fluttering motion accompanies it. I mentioned to my sister that it’s reminiscent of the sensation you might have during a seizure, although I'm fully conscious and aware during these moments. During the subsequent week, I began suffering from severe headaches. I’d characterize them as migraines, even though I’ve never been formally diagnosed with them. To make matters worse, I woke up one day with debilitating chest pain, discomfort in my back, and pain radiating down my left arm, which was also accompanied by tingling numbness in my fingertips. All of this coincided with the ongoing headaches and eye fluttering. I sought medical assistance at a hospital where the advice was to consult with a neurologist and also see a cardiologist, but beyond that, there hasn’t been much clarity. I’m feeling quite perplexed about the next steps I should take. What should I do now?
Answers (1)
2/15/2026, 2:50:34 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable to feel concerned given your symptoms. The combination of eye sensations, severe headaches, chest pain, and radiating discomfort is significant and should be taken seriously. Here’s a structured approach to addressing your situation.
Key Points:
- Ongoing symptoms: The eye fluttering, headaches, chest pain, and arm pain suggest the need for further evaluation.
- Medical advice received: You were advised to consult a neurologist and cardiologist, which is appropriate given your symptoms.
Explanation:
- Eye Sensation: The heavy feeling and fluttering could be related to many factors, including migraines, stress, or other neurological issues.
- Headaches: Since you describe them as migraine-like, they might be linked to visual disturbances or stress.
- Chest Pain and Arm Pain: Pain in the chest, back, and arm, along with tingling in the fingers, can signal potential heart issues or nerve problems; hence the recommendation for a cardiologist is essential.
Next Steps (Prioritized):
-
See the specialists: Schedule appointments with both the neurologist and cardiologist as soon as possible. These consultations are crucial to rule out any serious conditions. Bring a journal of your symptoms to these appointments, noting when they occur, their severity, and any triggers you notice.
-
Monitor your symptoms: Keep a detailed record of your headaches, eye sensations, chest pain, and any other symptoms you experience. This will help provide your doctors with valuable information.
-
Self-care strategies:
- Hydration: Ensure you're drinking enough water daily, as dehydration can exacerbate headaches.
- Stress Management: Consider relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or gentle yoga to help reduce stress, which could alleviate some symptoms.
- Adequate rest: Prioritize sleep and reduce screen time before bed to help with headaches and overall well-being.
-
Seek immediate help if necessary: If you experience severe chest pain again, or if your symptoms worsen (e.g., difficulty breathing, significant arm weakness, or confusion), seek emergency medical attention right away.
Reassurance:
While it's natural to feel anxious during uncertain times like this, you are taking the right steps by seeking medical help and staying informed about your health. By consulting with the appropriate specialists and tracking your symptoms, you will be able to clarify the situation and find effective ways to manage your health. Let me know if you need more information or support!
Related Questions
Is My Back Pain Really Just Bad Luck?
I wanted to share my MRI findings from two separate occasions, spaced about a year apart. I'm a 30-year-old woman with no previous history of injuries or sports activities. Recently, I've been in a physically demanding job for the past six months. When I consulted my neurosurgeon regarding the results, he attributed my back issues to mere bad luck, though he has yet to review my most recent MRI. What might you think about this? Currently, I'm undergoing an evaluation for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, but I wonder if there could be other underlying causes contributing to my discomfort. I really appreciate any insights you have, as I'm feeling quite overwhelmed. **MRI Report – September 2024:** The findings reveal degenerative changes: - **L1/L2:** No signs of canal or foraminal narrowing. - **L2/L3:** No canal or foraminal narrowing detected. - **L3/L4:** Mild broad-based disc bulge with a slight right paracentral disc protrusion. No significant narrowing of the canal is noted, and there is very mild bilateral foraminal stenosis. - **L4/L5:** Displays a mild broad-based disc bulge accompanied by a small central protrusion, along with mild facet joint enlargement. The canal is slightly narrowed with mild foraminal narrowing on both sides. - **L5/S1:** Shows a moderate-sized broad-based disc bulge, more pronounced on the right side. There is a large extruded disc fragment measuring 1.2 x 1.1 x 0.7 cm located in a right paracentral area. **MRI Report – February 2026:** The latest results indicate the presence of degenerative changes: - **L1/L2:** Mild facet joint arthritis, with no stenosis observed. - **L2/L3:** Mild facet joint arthritis and a disc bulge, without stenosis. - **L3/L4:** Mild facet joint arthritis with a broad-based posterior disc extrusion tracking downward, mild central canal narrowing, and slight bilateral lateral recess stenosis, especially on the left side. - **L4/L5:** Mild facet joint arthritis and hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum; central disc protrusion extending caudally, causing mild central canal narrowing and bilateral lateral recess stenosis, with minimal foraminal stenosis on both sides. - **L5/S1:** Mild to moderate facet joint arthritis, mild ligamentum flavum thickening, with a circumferential disc bulge and a more pronounced right paracentral/foraminal protrusion. Moderate narrowing of the right lateral recess and moderate to severe right foraminal stenosis. The left foraminal stenosis is moderate, with a possibility of nerve root compression affecting the descending right S1 and exiting right L5 nerves.
Muscle Spasms Inquiry
A 36-year-old woman, measuring 5 feet tall and weighing 114 pounds, reports experiencing muscle spasms affecting her back and neck. She describes her condition as one where her chest protrudes suddenly, and her neck forces her head to jerk upward. Following medical examination, she was given a diagnosis of dystonia, although she questions its accuracy. For five years, she was on a regimen of 25mg Abilify but ceased taking it in the middle of last year without experiencing any adverse symptoms or complications. During the week of Christmas, she was prescribed a low dose of 2mg of Abilify for a brief period of approximately a week and a half. However, she only utilized the medication about five times in total. Since then, she has not been on any additional medications but has begun to experience muscle spasms that started on Thursday evening. Upon visiting her primary care physician, she was referred to the hospital where they conducted blood tests, urine analysis, and reflex evaluations. The treatment administered included a prescription for Cogentin at a dosage of 0.5mg to be taken twice daily. However, the spasms have persisted for over 63 hours. She now finds it difficult to accept that the spasms are a result of taking Abilify. Would it be advisable for her to seek a second opinion? Any thoughts on this matter would be appreciated. Thank you!
Seeking Medical Guidance from Reddit: A Personal Experience
Hello everyone, I need some help regarding a situation involving my boyfriend. A few months back, he experienced burns on his hands, and I believe this detail might be important for context. Recently, we've noticed something unusual. Starting yesterday, a clear fluid began to seep from the area around his index nail on the affected hand. Today, he mentioned that there was bleeding as well. Does anyone have insights on what could be happening here? The fluid seems to be originating from the cuticle, and while the burn has completely healed, he has been expressing discomfort due to persistent swelling in that finger. Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
The Heartbreaking Journey of My Aunt's Illness
It has now been 19 days since my aunt passed away at the age of 59, leaving my family and me in a state of profound shock. Our decision regarding her bypass surgery lingers on my mind, primarily because it was made in a rush. On the evening of January 7th, around 9:30 PM, she experienced intense chest pain and was swiftly transported to the nearest cardiac facility, the BM Birla Heart Research Centre. Due to elevated levels of creatinine in her blood, the attending physician, Dr. T.K. Praharaj, determined that we would need to postpone her angiography for a week. This procedure was finally conducted on January 14th, revealing that the left ventricle was 90% blocked, indicative of a recent heart attack she had experienced without prior awareness. The other arteries showed a 50% blockage and multiple other obstructions. Unfortunately, the elevated creatinine levels precluded the possibility of angioplasty at that time. Dr. Praharaj recommended bypass surgery or, alternatively, performing multiple stent placements at staggered intervals. This sounded overly complicated to us, which added to our hesitance. She was discharged on January 16th, feeling better and urging the doctor to allow her leave. Recognizing the gravity of the bypass decision, we sought consultations with other renowned doctors. We even scheduled appointments with two prominent specialists. Tragically, just one day post-discharge, her condition deteriorated. On January 18th, she was readmitted to the same hospital due to considerable breathing difficulties; she hadn’t eaten dinner nor could she sleep. The emergency team informed us it was a grave error to have sent her home as she was suffering from acute heart failure. Her ejection fraction had plummeted from 42% to 35%, and the resident medical officer insisted that coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was now essential. A senior surgeon, Dr. R.K. Das, explained that surgery was risky, particularly due to her 26-year history of diabetes and insulin dependence. The surgical team delayed the operation for three days in order to halt her blood thinners. The surgery occurred on January 22nd and, fortunately, it was successful. By the following day, she started to regain consciousness, albeit slowly and while under moderate sedation. She required intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) support following the operation. On Saturday, she was weaned off ventilation support yet remained in the ICU. I witnessed her managing to move her arms and turn her head, although speech was difficult due to the oxygen mask. She attempted to communicate something, so rather than approaching to avoid infection risk, I asked a nurse to listen closely. She expressed that she was experiencing significant pain. The nurse assured me this was expected due to the extensive nature of the surgery and the five grafts performed. Initially, her heart rate and respiration were stable, providing us hope until midnight when we received another call from the hospital. The doctor informed us she required ventilation assistance once again due to complications with her breathing, dropping blood pressure, and decreased urine output. Over the next two days, her blood pressure fluctuated around 80 to 100/38 to 52, with occasional drops in systolic pressure below 70. Moreover, her urine output varied drastically, from as low as 0 to as high as 40 milliliters. Despite weighing no more than 65 kg, her condition continued to decline. On the fourth day, we were summoned to the ICU. Upon arrival, I was heartbroken to see a team of 10 to 12 medical personnel performing CPR on her one by one. A doctor informed us she had suffered a cardiac arrest due to hypotension. Just ten minutes later, she was gone. She held immense significance within her family and our lives. Her daughter, only 21, is now left grappling with this immense loss. The entire ordeal has been incredibly shocking, especially since my aunt had never shown any previous signs of heart disease. I am left pondering what truly went awry. Was it our decision-making, the surgical procedure itself, or was it something beyond our control?
Guidance on Seroquel Overdose Situation in ICU
Hello doctors, I am seeking some general insights on the type of inquiries we should be making and what to anticipate moving forward. My younger brother, who is 28 years old, was admitted to the emergency department in New Zealand after being discovered at home in a state of severe incapacitation, marked by significant tremors and dangerously low blood pressure. Upon assessment, he reluctantly revealed that he had taken "a considerable amount" of quetiapine in what appears to be a deliberate overdose. However, the specifics regarding the dosage and timing are somewhat ambiguous as he has provided inconsistent details. For context, he began monthly treatment with a long-acting injectable antipsychotic last November to manage his bipolar disorder type 1, following a lengthy manic episode during which he struggled with medication adherence. Consequently, the quetiapine tablets he ingested were remnants from prior prescriptions rather than his current main medication. Recently, he has experienced significant depressive symptoms. He typically goes through severe manic episodes almost annually, with last year's incident likely being his seventh such occurrence. I have been his main source of support throughout this time, though I distanced myself following the last episode where he treated both my mother and me harshly. Additionally, I now reside abroad and am contemplating when to return home. Regarding his current medical situation, based on what my mother has conveyed (which may not be entirely accurate): - He is now in the intensive care unit with concerns related to potential kidney damage; his urine was initially a dark red but has now lightened. - His C-reactive protein level was over 400 but has slightly decreased, while his white blood cell count is on the rise. - They are administering intravenous fluids to aid in his condition, and dialysis is under consideration should kidney function not show signs of recovery. - He is breathing independently, occasionally demonstrates clarity, and can consume food and drink with support, though the tremors continue. - There have been indications of sepsis, though this remains somewhat unclear. - Since I am overseas, my mother is the only one with him, and we are deeply worried about his prognosis. I have a few queries: - In cases of quetiapine overdose, what are the typical complications that necessitate ICU admission? - How significant are the tremors in this scenario, and what factors could affect his chances for a complete recovery? - Under what circumstances does dialysis become a requirement, and is kidney recovery generally anticipated in younger patients? - Are there any warning signs we should be vigilant about? Thank you for your time. I realize the information provided might be insufficient for a comprehensive assessment or reassurance, but any advice would be greatly valued. Initially, there was a misunderstanding at the ED, and they almost sent him home prematurely!