Strangely unwell.... any ideas anyone??

[Shazza36]

I'm dizzy, unsteady on my feet, both my hands are numb, I get shocks in my finger ends when I tap them on anything, my teeth fell like rubber,all food tastes vile and anything sweet is twice as vile, the roof of my mouth is numb, I jus feel very odd and I have a constant headache. The doctor doesn't know what it is, it all started on Thursday with just one numb hand which I first put down to my carpal tunnel syndrome, then yesterday I woke uo with all the other symptoms, tyring this is giving me afeeling like shocks in my finger ends, this has only developed this evening?????

[boxtops]

If you still feel like that in the morning, I'd ring NHS Direct.

[DTCwordfan]

Have you tried coffin'

[DTCwordfan]

No, Shazza, wait until Sqad is on.....to me it sounds like some form of nerve issue...

[Sqad]

boxy....you know that I love you dearly and that you are one of my favourite ABers..............but your faith in NHS Driect baffles me. Shazza has seen her GP and you think that the non medically qualified, pencil pushing, box ticking staff of NHS Direct have anything to offer?..........c'mon.

Shazza....you symptoms, to me, are indicative of an anxiety state and will surely settle........probably worried about your operation tomorrow.......don't worry.

[Shazza36]

I'm not having an Op that was in january can't think of anuthing I'm anxious about, but I'm struggling to focus on the keyboard today. I wondered if the dizziness could be an ear issue, I did have a bit of a cold the week beore last but that doesn't explain the numbness in my hands, think if there's no improvement tomorrow I'll get back onto my GP, thanks.

[naomi24]

I wouldn't ring NHS Direct - I did it once for something quite minor and they were no help at all. A complete waste of time. I'd go back to the doctor right away and get some proper tests done.

[Sqad]

Sorry....I misjudged the op date.

Your symptoms do not relate to any ear condition to which I am familiar and as you say,it doesn't explain the numbness. Again, in my opinion the picture is one of an anxiety state, but i would be interested in any further developments.

[boxtops]

It's all I could think of, sqad - and they are clinically qualified these days, most NHS direct phone-answerers are nurse practitioners and the like. I don't have huge faith in it, just an option.

[ummmm]

Don't NHS direct get a doctor to phone you back anymore?

[Sqad]

boxy...."clinically qualified?" whatever is that?

Still LUVU like mad.

[boxtops]

no, it's a central signposting service, tells you where to go or what to do.

It's 111 in some pilot areas now. http://www.nhsdirect....mberforurgentcare-111

[boxtops]

registered nurses, sqad :-)

[Sqad]

ummmm.... following a survey recently re. NHS Direct 70% of the replies advised the questioner to contact their GP.

Total and utter waste of money in my opinion, money which could be redirected into the hospital services.

The public have.....NHS Direct.......Walk -in centres.......A&E........GP's ....for Christ's sake....how many more medical portals of entry do joe public require?

[Sqad]

boxy.... registered nurses!.......that's a relief then............;-)

[DTCwordfan]

Better than a German Doctor perhaps?.......

[rowanwitch]

They were really selective for NHS Direct nurses...when it set up at least

I didn't qualify with all my experience and additional courses as I hadn't done A/E, acute admmissions or practice nursing

[grasscarp]

You have several of the symptoms of menopause
http://www.howtoconqu...enopause-symptoms.htm

[Shazza36]

Update: After becoming more and more unwell with even more symptoms I had 4 more consultations with various GP's and was admitted to hospital. I had a 4 day stay in hospital, CT scan and lumber puncture and the diagnosis is idiopathic cerebal hypertension, basically the fluid in the brain is causing too much pressure behind the eyes. By the time I went to hospital I also had double vision, was really dizzy, feeling sick and had a constant severe headache, still couldn't taste, numb hands and toes. I have medication and need to go back to see the neurologist, may have to have more fluid drained via lumber puncture, but I do feel slightly better with all of the symptoms being less severe than they were. I'm so glad I didn't just assume it was a virus and the second GP I saw was really good and was ringing me to see how I was, its so easy for them just to assume because its not anything obvious that its a virus.

[Sqad]

Shazza,....thanks for the update. That is a most unusual condition, but luckily now, not life threatening.

just shows how easy it is to assume odd and seemingly unrelated symptoms are due to anxiety or depression. The double vision and the headache pointed to an organic cause.

Keep us posted.