Reassurance

Symptoms and treatments
1

Good afternoon, everyone.

I hope I’m posting in the right place. I’ve had a few symptoms recently and wonder if I’m overreacting.

In 2023 I had a suspected TIA. The MRI scan revealed white matter on my brain, but not enough for anyone to be concerned about. I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2023.

However, I have developed symptoms over the last 18 months and I’m wondering if I should ask my doctor to investigate further.

These are:

  • fatigue

  • Tingling skin

  • balance and coordination problems

  • Trembling holding a pen, cutlery

  • vision problems - right eye can become almost blind at times in dark situations.

  • walking difficulties - unsteady, stiff, sore

  • memory difficulties, losing train of thought

  • stiffness

  • temperature sensitivity

  • pain

  • Speech - struggle to pronounce words

Just this week, I went for an eye test. The optician said my eyes looked healthy, but there is a slight turn in one eye that is new.

A lot of symptoms can be caused by Fibromyalgia but I’m wary of putting everything down to that.

Any advice you could give would be appreciated.

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2

Hi Peadar. Are you currently under someone in a neurology department? If not, it sounds like things that should all be discussed with them.

I’m no expert but, I think the least you could do is consult a GP and seek referral to neurology.

For now - if your memory is as bad as mine, make notes of what you experience and when it happens. That will help at some point.

Take care :+1:

Jon.

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3

Thanks, John.

No, I’m not currently under the care of Neuro. When I had the suspected TIA, the after care nurse said my balance wasn’t great and she would inform the consultant. I didn’t hear anything else about it.

I’m concerned about the white matter on my brain. Is this a cause for concern?

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4

I forgot to add, sometimes I get a sensation that my chest is extremely tight and I find it difficult to take a big breath in.

I am aware I might be putting 2 and 2 together and getting 23!

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5

Hi @Peadar , I would definitely see my GP and ask about your various symptoms. If they all result from fibromyalgia there might be something that can be done and if the GP thinks there are other possible causes then they definitely need investigation.

Your question about ‘white matter’ on the brain is rather general - everyone has both white and grey brain matter !

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6

Thanks a million.

Re: white matter - the consultant was rather vague. She said there were bright spots on my brain, possibly related to High Blood Pressure. That was all. Not sure if this could be related to my symptoms.

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7

Does anyone know what “bright spots on the brain” means?

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8

It’d be worth checking with a more knowledgeable source but, I’m sure that my consultant told me that my lesions, areas of demyelination and bits of damage show up as brighter white bits on an MRI image

Jon.