Doctors were dismissive, terrified I have cancer at 31

[jab1023]

31 M, 185 lbs.6 ft 3 inches tall.

So after about six weeks of increasing nervousness about my rapid heart rate and dizzy spells, I finally saw a cardiologist who says he is pretty sure I have SVT, meaning a fault electrical signal in my heart causes it to beat quickly and can cause dizziness. I got a heart monitor to wear for a week and started wearing it yesterday. My cardiologist will be able to see the results.

During this period I have also had random nerve tingles throughout my body. Most have been on the left side, but for the last two weeks I've been getting it in my neck and back of head. I have also had a ton of back and neck issues. Finally, on my half dozenth visit to the ER, they did CTs of my head (brain), neck, and back. There are plenty of minor issues in my neck and back.. There are a couple of spots of osteophytes in my neck, and I do have some degenerative issues in my back. But the CT scans found nothing obvious. I've also had numerous blood tests for autoimmune diseases and such, and they have all been negative.

The scary thing is the back and neck issues, along with the random tingling all over. just don't seem to be going away. The tingling seems to kind of originate from either the neck or spine area and isn't constant, but I get brief flashes of it in my arm, legs, sternum, and feet (the back of the head is the most annoying.) The other thing I noticed is I've been super tired, despite sleeping normally. Caffeine doesn't seem to help.

So far, I still can walk fine, and I have no bathroom or sexual problems.

I FINALLY saw neurologist Wednesday morning. My EMG on the left side was normal. He recommended I get an MRI. My doctor said she wanted me to continue with physical therapy. I only had three visits left, so thought what the heck. Last night my physical therapist told me she was suspending physical therapy because it wasn't helping me (I had been going 2x a week since the beginning of the month.) She said she would inform my doctor, who has not called as of yet today. My doctor also was supposed to fill out my FMLA intermittent leave for work, but dragged her feet and my claim won't go through is she doesn't send it today,

Because of all this, I'm in a total panic. I haven't felt normal and it doesn't seem to be getting better. I was off work this week and felt varying levels of bad the whole time. I can't even imagine going back to work because I'm in such shambles physically and mentally.

 

[janemariesayed]

I'm so sorry that you are going through this @jab1023 What do you do to relax? It is no wonder your anxiety is through the roof at the moment. I wish you good luck to get your physical side sorted out and then hopefully you will get better emotionally as well. Please do keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

 

[jab1023]

Thanks, Jane.

I left a message with my Doctor today to see if she wanted to schedule an MRI. My back is pretty sore today, and I have the nerve pain too. I'm just so tired of feeling bad. I'm normally in the gym five days a week.

I';m beginning to wonder if it's a weird type of infection or something.

 

[Kelculator]

Are the tingles sharp and short, or like numbness? I have experienced both when I was anxious. Not sure about back pain but neck pain has always been a problem caused by anxiety, for me. Is it the same case for you? I think the SVT thing is putting a lot of stress on you too. Don't worry about the heart thing too much.. If you do have that, it is easy to solve, just pills and stuff. I once had countless palpitations a day for almost two weeks, and I turned out fine after being hooked up to a monitor like yours. Keep us updated!

 

[jab1023]

They are short and feel like if you’re walking by a fountain and water splashes on you. I’ve never had that feeling before all of this. But it can be almost anywhere on my body. I’d like to think of it as anxiety, but it’s strange with the other stuff.

I’m actually wondering if I got something bizarre like Lyme.

I have a doc appointment set in ten days but don’t know if I can wait that long. My left leg is kind of numb below the knee. The back of head pain isn’t as bad today but that feels really weird too. Like pain usually on the left back of head and sometimes tingling there.

 

[Kelculator]

I don't think it's Lyme. From what I've heard (and you have probably too, I bet you have searched google for a lot of facts I don't know about Lyme), symptoms may include itchiness, pain and rash. While it's common to not have all the symptoms, it would be pretty odd considering you have none of these symptoms, and having tingles is not considered one of the symptoms.
Since it can be anywhere on your body, I would suggest it has something to do with anxiety--- I know it sounds bizarre and I'm relating everything to anxiety, but I have experienced itches-like symptoms over my body because of it. I would think your tingles or numbness would focus on one part of your body if you do have an infection.
Also, the way you describe your tingles reminds me of when my hand is numb and tingles after a weird sleeping position. I have no conclusion to draw though.

 

[jab1023]

Well the thing with the paresthesia is I've never felt anything like it before all of this began happening. I'm in a a near panic. My next doc appointment isn't for nine days, and I'm going crazy.

I'm just so worried about a serious disease/cancer, or a vascular disorder.

 

[Kelculator]

Well the thing with the paresthesia is I've never felt anything like it before all of this began happening. I'm in a a near panic. My next doc appointment isn't for nine days, and I'm going crazy.

I'm just so worried about a serious disease/cancer, or a vascular disorder.

Oh I know that "but it has never happened before!" feeling. It can be very scary when you have anxiety. And I get what you mean, nine days would be horrible if I was extremely worried about my health.
Do you have any "evidence" to back up your suspicion? Keep talking to us on here, or just anyone that would understand. I find such reassurance helpful and able to slow down my process of going into full-blown panic.

 

[janemariesayed]

Thanks, Jane.

I left a message with my Doctor today to see if she wanted to schedule an MRI. My back is pretty sore today, and I have the nerve pain too. I'm just so tired of feeling bad. I'm normally in the gym five days a week.

I';m beginning to wonder if it's a weird type of infection or something.

Maybe you should cut down your gym visits until you know what is happening with your nerve. Exertion may make it worse. For a while change to swimming as it is a gentle exercise that is even really good for those with arthritis. When you know what the problem is, you can deal with it and then go back to your normal gym routine. Just a thought.

 

[jab1023]

Hey, guys.

Jane, haven't been going to the gym.

Still pretty terrified this is a tumor. I just hope it isn't malignant.

Kelc,

The evidence is starting to mount a bit. Almost all symptoms are on one side. The back left side of my skull has been hurting for a couple weeks. Not a terrible pain, but it's been there to some degree every day. I feel the nerves in my back and left leg tingling occasionally. I'm walking more slowly because I easily get lightheaded. And I'm tired. All the time. Like I wake up and just yawn and yawn. If it had gotten better I wouldn't be as worried, but it just hasn't. My bulging disc in the lower back are slightly better, but my left mid-back, where this all started still contracts and twitches when I lean up against anything, a bed, the back of a chair.

I'm thinking of going to the ER again. I just want an MRI. I just need to know.

 

[jab1023]

I ended up going two days ago, but they had nor MRI slots. I will wait to see the doctor Wednesday. I was sad yesterday and thinking about dying. I feel a bit better today. I' going to my grandma's with my family for a Mother's Day party, they're picking me up on the way.

Has anyone ever heard of all over back pain? I don't know. I will explain everything to my doctor and I definitely need to talk about anxiety meds.

 

[Kelculator]

Hey, guys.

Jane, haven't been going to the gym.

Still pretty terrified this is a tumor. I just hope it isn't malignant.

Kelc,

The evidence is starting to mount a bit. Almost all symptoms are on one side. The back left side of my skull has been hurting for a couple weeks. Not a terrible pain, but it's been there to some degree every day. I feel the nerves in my back and left leg tingling occasionally. I'm walking more slowly because I easily get lightheaded. And I'm tired. All the time. Like I wake up and just yawn and yawn. If it had gotten better I wouldn't be as worried, but it just hasn't. My bulging disc in the lower back are slightly better, but my left mid-back, where this all started still contracts and twitches when I lean up against anything, a bed, the back of a chair.

I'm thinking of going to the ER again. I just want an MRI. I just need to know.

The tiredness thing is not as alarming as you may think it is. Being ancious is veryentwlly draining, and I could barely stay awake when I last had full-blown anxiety on the health of my heart. I know it doesn't help much to say this, but I have had skull pain too, just so you know you aren't alone. I have experienced it in my jaw, under my cheek bone, and even in my scalp. I think it is a... Thing that happens. It doesn't necessarily has to be related to your other symptoms.
I don't experience back pain myself, but I do suffer from neck strain a lot because of anxiety. I tense up the muscles without noticing it, when I'm anxious. I agree to talk to your doctor about it. And I'm sorry you were thinking of dying earlier, because it is just a horrible feeling when you feel desperate and have no way out. It will be fine, I think while you have a health problem, maybe a small disease of some sort, anxiety definitely worsened it and gave you a lot of side symptoms. Keep us updated.

 

[jab1023]

Hey all,

I got MRIs done all around head to down the neck and spine, and everything is good. Degenerative disc disease in the neck, T2 signal loss, and a herniated disc in the neck.

I have a small arachnoid cyst in the posterior fossa, but the doc was unconcerned with that and didn't even mention it. I'm working from home the rest of this week. I have a doc's next week, and was recommended for another visit to the neurologist, though they don't think it's anything serious,

The most worrisome feelings are the "wet" tingling feeling that are now all over, and I'm very tired and very dizzy all the time. I'm super scared for my own health mentally and physically. even though the MRI was good.

 

[Kelculator]

Hey all,

I got MRIs done all around head to down the neck and spine, and everything is good. Degenerative disc disease in the neck, T2 signal loss, and a herniated disc in the neck.

I have a small arachnoid cyst in the posterior fossa, but the doc was unconcerned with that and didn't even mention it. I'm working from home the rest of this week. I have a doc's next week, and was recommended for another visit to the neurologist, though they don't think it's anything serious,

The most worrisome feelings are the "wet" tingling feeling that are now all over, and I'm very tired and very dizzy all the time. I'm super scared for my own health mentally and physically. even though the MRI was good.

Glad to know the MRI shows that everything is clear. I know it doesn’t help ease your worries entirely, but try to tell yourself that being anxious means being irrational and over sensitive about some issues, so you are just irrationally scared and worried. It doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. Since all the major tests show that everything is fine, you shouldn’t be too worried. Good luck feeling better soon!

 

[jab1023]

The bad news is, while it's not immediately life-threatening, I have about every symptom of MS. Even one of my managers whose wife has it, teared up for a second when I told him about my symptoms, and I didn't even mention MS directly.

One doctor I spoke with also mentioned I would probably be checked for it, given my symptoms and demographics.

 

[janemariesayed]

It sounds a bit like a trapped nerve as well. I hope it's something as simple as a trapped nerve. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[jab1023]

It sounds a bit like a trapped nerve as well. I hope it's something as simple as a trapped nerve. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

That was my first thought for a long time. But the tingling and numbness are all over. I feel the tingling everywhere and my limbs get numb easily.

 

[janemariesayed]

That was my first thought for a long time. But the tingling and numbness are all over. I feel the tingling everywhere and my limbs get numb easily.

I get a tingling in my fingertips sometimes and my limbs can feel numb too. It seems to happen when I sit for too long. Since I've had my puppy Carlos though, he gets me up and about very frequently and so I'm moving around a bit more. Now I've noticed that I don't get those symptoms so much. I think it is because sitting in one position for a time.

There could be a number of reasons.
http://anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms/tingling-tingly-pins-and-needles.shtml
What causes tingling, tingly, pins and needles feelings?
Tingling, tingly, pins and needles feelings can be caused by a number of factors including:

• Remaining in the same position (seated or standing) for a long time
• Injury or pressure on a nerve (for example, a back injury can cause numbness in the legs or feet, and a neck injury can cause numbness in the arms and hands).
• Pressure on the spinal nerves (for example, due to a herniated disk)
• Lack of blood supply to an area (for example, restricted blood flow–we often refer to it as “falling asleep,” or for medical reason such as, plaque buildup from atherosclerosis–this can cause pain, numbness, and tingling)
• Side effects from certain medications
• A lack of vitamin B12 or other vitamins
• From radiation therapy
• Toxic action on the nerves, such as from alcohol, tobacco, or lead
• Abnormal levels of calcium, potassium, or sodium in the body

Tingling, tingly, pins and needles feelings can also be caused by other medical conditions, including:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Diabetes
• Migraines
• Multiple sclerosis
• Seizures
• Stroke
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Underactive thyroid
• Hyperventilation
• Hypoventilation
• Pinched nerve
• Circulation problems
• Reaction to medication
• Allergic reaction
• Tight muscles
• Vitamin B deficiency

 

[jab1023]

Hey everyone. Went to the docs two days ago. She said symptoms didn't match my imaging and test results. She mentioned fibromyalgia or "mood disorder."

I'm back on Wellbutrin, and I'm hoping to slowly start returning to the gym.

 

[Kelculator]

Hey everyone. Went to the docs two days ago. She said symptoms didn't match my imaging and test results. She mentioned fibromyalgia or "mood disorder."

I'm back on Wellbutrin, and I'm hoping to slowly start returning to the gym.

Good to know the situation is looking up. There is nothing serious for you to worry about, so try to keep your mind off it-- You deserve that after so many days of prolonged worries and turmoil.