For me, from the onset -- one hand feeling funny like I had slept on it wrong
-- to the height of it -- both legs, lower body, left arm numb, unable to
walk on my own, urinary problems, pain in left arm, and other odds and ends
-- was just a few hours. But some on the list have mentioned symptoms
developing over a longer period of time.
I do experience or have experienced a lot of the things you mentioned,
especially holding cold things -- sometimes have to use a hot pad or napkin
to do so. Plus the numbness, vibration, and tingling.
One thing really hard, and frustrating, about neurological symptoms is that
you don't really know where they are going. I don't know, but it does seem
six months is a long time to be experiencing after effects of flu. I don't
know what tests your dr. may have already run, but I think if I were in your
position, I'd be pushing for further evaluation. I'm thinking particularly of
an MRI to check for lesions on the brain and spinal cord.
Let us know how you are doing.
Warm thoughts and prayers,
Barbara H.
In a message dated 6/18/99 12:59:26 PM EST, a-chrish(AT)microsoft.com writes:
> I'm wondering what the onset of this is like. I've been sick on and off for
> about six months. It all started with a really funky flu that made me feel
> sort of off-balance. Also, I would touch my face or something, and the
> sensation would not really be right somehow. things like cold soda cans
were
> extra-cold. My doctor said it was the flu and to rest. Then, a few months
> later, I had an inner-ear infection, which was treated with antibiotics.
> Then, I still felt imbalanced with all sorts of vision troubles and the
> doctors send me to a physical therapist, who said the inner ear infection
> damaged the nerves that communicate between my inner ear and my eyes, hence
> the vision stuff and the imbalance. For a while, I felt better. About a
> month ago, I began noticing a lot of black floaters in my eyes, but my
> retinal nerve checked out OK. Then, this last week, I've had tingling in my
> hands and feet. My hands are now pretty numb, and as I type, I can barely
> feel the keys. If i hit my hand on something, I can feel a vibration all
the
> way through it and up my arm. Holding something warm or cold feels
> extra-sensitive, and holding my hairdryer this morning, I could feel the
> motor buzzing throughout my hand. I also have neck aches and a back ache
> that I attribute to a lot of recent exercise.Before all this, I've never
had
> a single health problem. I'm really worried, but my doctor keeps telling me
> that I'm a healthy 26-year-old who just got some nasty virus that is taking
> a long time to go away. She thinks the hand stuff must be from Carpal
Tunnel
> Syndrome (I work on a computer all day, so that's possible.) So far,
there's
> been no paralysis, but I'm scared that that is the next step. I've read
> though a lot of this site and notice a lot of similarities in symptoms, but
> also notice ones that I lack (such as the paralysis,urine retention)Can
> anyone help me figure out if there is worse to come or if my doctor is
> correct? If this is just the beginning, then I need to go back to her asap
> and force her to give me more tests.Thanks much. My e-mail is
> a-chrish(AT)microsoft.com
>
>