Aa
I don't know where to turn...
Ok, this is going to be a long question because there is much of a backstory to it. I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. My girlfriend and I are expecting a baby boy in the next 5 months. Well for 4 months straight now she has had CONSTANT migraines, vomiting can hardly keep anything down, stomach ulcers, (all of which she's had a history of prior to the pregnancy but pregnancy has definitely made things worse). We've taken her to the ER more times than I can remember, and all they keep doing is hopping her up on drugs. She's bounced from her OB to her general practitioner, to the ER doctor (who told her to STOP taking what she WAS taking for her migraines unless she doesn't want her baby...some sort of nose spray).
Ok, so while in the ER the last time they gave her compozine which helped for the time being with the nasea and the migraine. She saw a neurologist who could not find any abnormalities (still to this day is having what she calls a 10 headache)
During that last visit a day or 2 after she got home she noticed that the site where they had the IV was swolen and she said she had a tiny clot in her vein. I looked this up, didnt seem to be something anyone ever worrys about so we left it go. A few days later she said her hand was going numb and she had pain from her hand to her elbow. A few days after that the pain had moved now between her elbow and up over her shoulder to her back (pulsating sharp pain).
Shortly after that she started complaining about her skin itching so badly that she scratches until she breaks the skin. She also has scoliosis (i dont know if that's pertinent to anything like the migraines or not).
So here are my concerns. Besides her doctors just writing her prescription after prescription and not really attempting to solve the problem (literally a shoebox full of medication that I don't personally think she should be taking), I started doing a bit of my own research. Granted, I'm no MD but I wanted to try and figure out what could POSSIBLY be going on. I could just be pregnancy, it could be something way more serious. It's hard to tell given the circumstances and limited treatment options.
I've come to the conclusion that a lot of her symptoms describe the onset of MS. I HOPE I'm wrong. I just want someone's advice on how serious they think all these symptoms are. I know that no one can diagnose her over the internet of course, I'm just looking for options, suggestions, where to go...how serious it sounds, that sort of thing.
Oh, and lastly, I forgot to mention that on quite a few occasions she's "zoned out" right while someone was talking to her. Then you say her name or clap or something, and she shakes her head and comes back kinda like "what? why did you just do that?" Then you tell her she was just staring aimlessly for a few seconds and she doesnt believe you.
Her grandfather told her not to tell the doctor about her zoning because they'll take her driver's license away...but I think that's a stupid reason especially if this is a life-threatening or serious thing.
I just can't believe the laundry list of symptoms that have popped up with her...please help!
thank you so much!
Ok, so while in the ER the last time they gave her compozine which helped for the time being with the nasea and the migraine. She saw a neurologist who could not find any abnormalities (still to this day is having what she calls a 10 headache)
During that last visit a day or 2 after she got home she noticed that the site where they had the IV was swolen and she said she had a tiny clot in her vein. I looked this up, didnt seem to be something anyone ever worrys about so we left it go. A few days later she said her hand was going numb and she had pain from her hand to her elbow. A few days after that the pain had moved now between her elbow and up over her shoulder to her back (pulsating sharp pain).
Shortly after that she started complaining about her skin itching so badly that she scratches until she breaks the skin. She also has scoliosis (i dont know if that's pertinent to anything like the migraines or not).
So here are my concerns. Besides her doctors just writing her prescription after prescription and not really attempting to solve the problem (literally a shoebox full of medication that I don't personally think she should be taking), I started doing a bit of my own research. Granted, I'm no MD but I wanted to try and figure out what could POSSIBLY be going on. I could just be pregnancy, it could be something way more serious. It's hard to tell given the circumstances and limited treatment options.
I've come to the conclusion that a lot of her symptoms describe the onset of MS. I HOPE I'm wrong. I just want someone's advice on how serious they think all these symptoms are. I know that no one can diagnose her over the internet of course, I'm just looking for options, suggestions, where to go...how serious it sounds, that sort of thing.
Oh, and lastly, I forgot to mention that on quite a few occasions she's "zoned out" right while someone was talking to her. Then you say her name or clap or something, and she shakes her head and comes back kinda like "what? why did you just do that?" Then you tell her she was just staring aimlessly for a few seconds and she doesnt believe you.
Her grandfather told her not to tell the doctor about her zoning because they'll take her driver's license away...but I think that's a stupid reason especially if this is a life-threatening or serious thing.
I just can't believe the laundry list of symptoms that have popped up with her...please help!
thank you so much!
UGH--- my typing is not so great lately. I meant to say "........ have their driver's license taken away" not "awake".
I agree with Spade.
I have to add that the part that disturbed me is that she won't mention the zoning out to her doctor. I'm a driver on the road and I have two small children. If someone was zoning out, they should have their driver's license awake because she could crash and kill a mother, a father, their children, a grandparent, etc. It's not fair to me or any other driver out on the road.
Not to mention her medications can be giving her serious side effects (including zoning out/passing out). And you may want to check the labels because they might say, "DO NOT DRIVE while taking this medication". Common symptoms associated with medications include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, migraines/headaches, etc. Maybe if she stops taking them all of that will go away?
Scoliosis can definitely affect her nerves and migraines as well. The spine shifts when pregnant and the pelvis tilts as well.
I have to add that the part that disturbed me is that she won't mention the zoning out to her doctor. I'm a driver on the road and I have two small children. If someone was zoning out, they should have their driver's license awake because she could crash and kill a mother, a father, their children, a grandparent, etc. It's not fair to me or any other driver out on the road.
Not to mention her medications can be giving her serious side effects (including zoning out/passing out). And you may want to check the labels because they might say, "DO NOT DRIVE while taking this medication". Common symptoms associated with medications include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, migraines/headaches, etc. Maybe if she stops taking them all of that will go away?
Scoliosis can definitely affect her nerves and migraines as well. The spine shifts when pregnant and the pelvis tilts as well.
Hi,
you are very caring for your GF.
It does sound like what she is experiencing is an exaccerbation of her preexisting pregnancy conditions, which is pretty normal during pregnancy.
The recommendations from the other ladies also good.
IV's can be a funny thing and yes, they can cause pain after and even remote site. But do get checked out again if things get worse.
Regarding the MS. I think you should not worry about it. The symptoms your GF is having can be due to the increased blood volume of pregnancy. For women who do have MS usually the symptoms get very much better in pregnancy. Pregnancy affects the immune system in a way that is beneficial for people with MS, so much so that there is even research ongoing on how the changes in pregnancy could be applied to people with MS. Therefore I think it is pretty much unheard of for MS to first show during pregnancy.
Hope this helps.
you are very caring for your GF.
It does sound like what she is experiencing is an exaccerbation of her preexisting pregnancy conditions, which is pretty normal during pregnancy.
The recommendations from the other ladies also good.
IV's can be a funny thing and yes, they can cause pain after and even remote site. But do get checked out again if things get worse.
Regarding the MS. I think you should not worry about it. The symptoms your GF is having can be due to the increased blood volume of pregnancy. For women who do have MS usually the symptoms get very much better in pregnancy. Pregnancy affects the immune system in a way that is beneficial for people with MS, so much so that there is even research ongoing on how the changes in pregnancy could be applied to people with MS. Therefore I think it is pretty much unheard of for MS to first show during pregnancy.
Hope this helps.
thank you both! I'll definitely keep doing what I can. for the past few days she's seemed much perkier and hasnt complained about the arm/shoulder/neck pain since i posted this.
I'll make the suggestions you made to me to her and see what happens. I just felt like the docs could be trying a little harder rather than just prescribing drug after drug.
sorry about the long post! but it was a lot of stuff.
again, thanks a lot and happy holidays!
I'll make the suggestions you made to me to her and see what happens. I just felt like the docs could be trying a little harder rather than just prescribing drug after drug.
sorry about the long post! but it was a lot of stuff.
again, thanks a lot and happy holidays!
I too, am not a doctor but here is my take on your post.
Most of the symptoms you describe are very common pregnancy symptoms - migraines, nausea, itchy skin, even the "zoning out". Since she was examined by a neurologist it seems unlikely she has early onset MS. Did she have an MRI? There are several classical MS symptoms that she doesnt display. Also, bare in mind that the spine shifts during pregnancy to accommodate the baby which coupled w/ her scoliosis could lead to numbness, back/neck pain and even contribute to the migraines. Have your GF keep a food journal too and keep track of when her migraines present. Sometimes, there is a correlation between the two.
All that being said, 2 things about your post bother me:
1) You mentioned she had pain moving up her arm which started at an IV site. You also mentioned your GF said she had a "clot" at this site. Im not sure how she determined she had a clot but it is absolutely VITAL she seeks medical advice for this symptom ASAP (today)!
2) The severe itchy skin needs to be mentioned to her doctor. There are several liver problems that can occur during pregnancy and it is important to rule these out.
Most of the symptoms you describe are very common pregnancy symptoms - migraines, nausea, itchy skin, even the "zoning out". Since she was examined by a neurologist it seems unlikely she has early onset MS. Did she have an MRI? There are several classical MS symptoms that she doesnt display. Also, bare in mind that the spine shifts during pregnancy to accommodate the baby which coupled w/ her scoliosis could lead to numbness, back/neck pain and even contribute to the migraines. Have your GF keep a food journal too and keep track of when her migraines present. Sometimes, there is a correlation between the two.
All that being said, 2 things about your post bother me:
1) You mentioned she had pain moving up her arm which started at an IV site. You also mentioned your GF said she had a "clot" at this site. Im not sure how she determined she had a clot but it is absolutely VITAL she seeks medical advice for this symptom ASAP (today)!
2) The severe itchy skin needs to be mentioned to her doctor. There are several liver problems that can occur during pregnancy and it is important to rule these out.
OK like your question was long i guess my suggestions are too LOL
Firstly Im really sorry you are going through all this when its surpose to be such a happy time for you both.
Secondly well done your sound like a really caring person and are doing a great job trying to find this information for her, thats great to hear.
Ok the numb arm-hand thing? well it is fairly common after an IV to have a small amount of nerve damage, im talking about it going right up her arm but if its just hand soremess and swelling its fairly common, now the fact that it went up into her shoulder and neck is NOT i mean NOT a good sign at all, was she sick at the time? i mean like may it have been a flu sort of symptom causing the neck pain or do u believe it was definately related to the IV because if so that sounds like some sore od nerve damage that is alot more than normal, ok something else alot of these sypmtoms can be pregnancy symptoms as well, i remember fainting zoing out alot when pregnant with my second son, it was scarely but was caused by blood pressure and the constant changes in the pregnant body maily blood flow. Also the itchy skin, i had this also with my second son it ended up being due to specific things i ate! ok there is also a serious pregnancy condition where itching is involved tho and i cant think of the name off hand but the itching is often on feet and hands and legs and is very serious!, I wish i could offer you more i wouldnt jump to the MS conclusion but her GP should be able to test for all this with blood tests, get her blood pressure checked urine sampled etc this should have been done already im guessing and they still havent found anything?
I would keep onto it keep going to the ER if you are worried and visit gp often if he wont listen find a new one or get a second opinion, it wont hurt.
You need to tell the dr about the zoning out tho its important because if in these zoning out time its for soem reason slowing blood flow to her brain it may also affect the baby, just dont worry to much but get it all checked out again and again if you have to!
also becareful not to internet diagnose.
I wish you all the best and make sure she gets plenty of rest naps during the day and drinks lots LOTS of water! :) let me know how you go, i hope i havent rambled on to much im sleep deprived tonight with a sick child so hope it all made some sense xx
Firstly Im really sorry you are going through all this when its surpose to be such a happy time for you both.
Secondly well done your sound like a really caring person and are doing a great job trying to find this information for her, thats great to hear.
Ok the numb arm-hand thing? well it is fairly common after an IV to have a small amount of nerve damage, im talking about it going right up her arm but if its just hand soremess and swelling its fairly common, now the fact that it went up into her shoulder and neck is NOT i mean NOT a good sign at all, was she sick at the time? i mean like may it have been a flu sort of symptom causing the neck pain or do u believe it was definately related to the IV because if so that sounds like some sore od nerve damage that is alot more than normal, ok something else alot of these sypmtoms can be pregnancy symptoms as well, i remember fainting zoing out alot when pregnant with my second son, it was scarely but was caused by blood pressure and the constant changes in the pregnant body maily blood flow. Also the itchy skin, i had this also with my second son it ended up being due to specific things i ate! ok there is also a serious pregnancy condition where itching is involved tho and i cant think of the name off hand but the itching is often on feet and hands and legs and is very serious!, I wish i could offer you more i wouldnt jump to the MS conclusion but her GP should be able to test for all this with blood tests, get her blood pressure checked urine sampled etc this should have been done already im guessing and they still havent found anything?
I would keep onto it keep going to the ER if you are worried and visit gp often if he wont listen find a new one or get a second opinion, it wont hurt.
You need to tell the dr about the zoning out tho its important because if in these zoning out time its for soem reason slowing blood flow to her brain it may also affect the baby, just dont worry to much but get it all checked out again and again if you have to!
also becareful not to internet diagnose.
I wish you all the best and make sure she gets plenty of rest naps during the day and drinks lots LOTS of water! :) let me know how you go, i hope i havent rambled on to much im sleep deprived tonight with a sick child so hope it all made some sense xx
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