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What Causes Blurred Vision And Dizziness With Anxiety And Depression?
Question: Symptoms started: 10 Months ago, and getting worse
Reason for Consult:
Constant Vision Problems (Blurry, Haze, Dim). Constant Brain Fog. Detachment and Disassociation as if in a dreamworld. Feeling Spaced Out. Dizzy Spells. Severe Anxiety and Panic. Headaches. Feeling Unco-ordinated and off balance at times. Fatigue. Depression now as well due to long suffering.
Previous resolved symptoms include Numbness and tingling in hands and face, Heart Palpitations, muscle twitching. Strange attacks of Tunnel vision followed by Panic (probably controlled by Clonazepam at this point)
Patient:
41 Years Old. Was Fit, Active. Secure with good life. No sudden changes in life. No history of mental illness. Great Family. Great Friends. Great career.
Suspect Labs:
Brain MRI showing 12 White Matter Lesions.
Higher than normal Cortisol
Igenex Labs tested suspicious for Lyme Disease. Subsequently visited Doctor in New York who started treating me for Lyme Disease, Bartonella and Babesia. However, I find the diagnosis suspect as I tested negative for all of that in Canadian Labs.
History of Problem
Seen Many Doctors. Have had much conflicting information. GP said anxiety disorder. Phychiatrist said suspects Biological reason as he suggested it would rare and unusual for someone like to me to suddenly develop a mental illness out of nowhere. Other Psychiatrist suggested bi-Polar to which my Family GP scoffed at. I am not Bi-Polar. MS Specialist ruled out MS. Still have not found cause or reason to brain lesions, but they are of concern to me.
Drug history
Patient Story:
Last September I had a strong and strange feeling like I was going to faint. This feeling scared me so much it launched me into a panic attack. Since then, it has been nothing short of a nightmare as I continue to degrade. Because I am 41 years old, fit, financially secure and have a great family and friends and never had issues with panic or anxiety before, I found it odd that I would suddenly develop an anxiety disorder so I was convinced it was something physical that was triggering the anxiety. I got a brain MRI which showed 12 non-specific lesions. A follow up for MS proved negative. I was tested for Lyme disease, which also came back negative in Canada, but suspicious for Lyme and Bartonella at Igenex in USA. I am currently on clonazepam (Klonopin) 0.5 mg per day. I suffer daiily with constant Vision problems, Feeling surreal as if in a dreamworld, dizzy spells, severe anxiety and feeling detached.
This has completely consumed my life. I am in a constant state of waiting to see other specialist, but wait times for appts are months. And I keep degrading and am losing control of my life and family. I have 2 young children (10 and 8) and I need to find an answer for them. I have reached a point of desperation and despair and truly need to reach out for some other help.
I will attach Lab work and imageing results.
Reason for Consult:
Constant Vision Problems (Blurry, Haze, Dim). Constant Brain Fog. Detachment and Disassociation as if in a dreamworld. Feeling Spaced Out. Dizzy Spells. Severe Anxiety and Panic. Headaches. Feeling Unco-ordinated and off balance at times. Fatigue. Depression now as well due to long suffering.
Previous resolved symptoms include Numbness and tingling in hands and face, Heart Palpitations, muscle twitching. Strange attacks of Tunnel vision followed by Panic (probably controlled by Clonazepam at this point)
Patient:
41 Years Old. Was Fit, Active. Secure with good life. No sudden changes in life. No history of mental illness. Great Family. Great Friends. Great career.
Suspect Labs:
Brain MRI showing 12 White Matter Lesions.
Higher than normal Cortisol
Igenex Labs tested suspicious for Lyme Disease. Subsequently visited Doctor in New York who started treating me for Lyme Disease, Bartonella and Babesia. However, I find the diagnosis suspect as I tested negative for all of that in Canadian Labs.
History of Problem
Seen Many Doctors. Have had much conflicting information. GP said anxiety disorder. Phychiatrist said suspects Biological reason as he suggested it would rare and unusual for someone like to me to suddenly develop a mental illness out of nowhere. Other Psychiatrist suggested bi-Polar to which my Family GP scoffed at. I am not Bi-Polar. MS Specialist ruled out MS. Still have not found cause or reason to brain lesions, but they are of concern to me.
Drug history
Patient Story:
Last September I had a strong and strange feeling like I was going to faint. This feeling scared me so much it launched me into a panic attack. Since then, it has been nothing short of a nightmare as I continue to degrade. Because I am 41 years old, fit, financially secure and have a great family and friends and never had issues with panic or anxiety before, I found it odd that I would suddenly develop an anxiety disorder so I was convinced it was something physical that was triggering the anxiety. I got a brain MRI which showed 12 non-specific lesions. A follow up for MS proved negative. I was tested for Lyme disease, which also came back negative in Canada, but suspicious for Lyme and Bartonella at Igenex in USA. I am currently on clonazepam (Klonopin) 0.5 mg per day. I suffer daiily with constant Vision problems, Feeling surreal as if in a dreamworld, dizzy spells, severe anxiety and feeling detached.
This has completely consumed my life. I am in a constant state of waiting to see other specialist, but wait times for appts are months. And I keep degrading and am losing control of my life and family. I have 2 young children (10 and 8) and I need to find an answer for them. I have reached a point of desperation and despair and truly need to reach out for some other help.
I will attach Lab work and imageing results.
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Good day.
Noted your case history and attached reports.
I am sorry to hear that no clear cut diagnosis has been made so far.
I noted that an EEG or a holter test was not done.
However, from endocrine perspective, there are few things to discuss.
The slight rise of 8 AM serum cortisol could be stress induced. To rule out hypercirtisolism, you need to do 24 hours Urine free cortisol.
( do you use alcohol ??)
Othe other thing to rule out is an adrenaline rush ( pheochromocytoma). Did you feel palpitations or headcahe at the time of panic attack ? Any high blood pressure noted anytime ?
We may have to stop the psychiatric medications for few weeks and to do a 24 hours Urine metanephrines/nor metanephrines and serum catecholamines to rule out these. Pheochromocytoma also has been reported to present with MRI signal changes in braiin, especially in the posterior aspect of brain. It may be worth doing this test.
These are the two things i can think of from an endocrine point of view. Please discuss with your GP to arrange these tests.
Kind regards
Binu
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Good day.
Noted your case history and attached reports.
I am sorry to hear that no clear cut diagnosis has been made so far.
I noted that an EEG or a holter test was not done.
However, from endocrine perspective, there are few things to discuss.
The slight rise of 8 AM serum cortisol could be stress induced. To rule out hypercirtisolism, you need to do 24 hours Urine free cortisol.
( do you use alcohol ??)
Othe other thing to rule out is an adrenaline rush ( pheochromocytoma). Did you feel palpitations or headcahe at the time of panic attack ? Any high blood pressure noted anytime ?
We may have to stop the psychiatric medications for few weeks and to do a 24 hours Urine metanephrines/nor metanephrines and serum catecholamines to rule out these. Pheochromocytoma also has been reported to present with MRI signal changes in braiin, especially in the posterior aspect of brain. It may be worth doing this test.
These are the two things i can think of from an endocrine point of view. Please discuss with your GP to arrange these tests.
Kind regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor
Thank you for taking the time to look over my case. I did have an EEG and a Holter but I was not given paperwork but they came back normal.
I did use alchohol, but very little. I would average maybe 3-4 drinks per week on the weekends only. But I stopped all of that a couple months ago. I currently am not consuming alcohol, caffeine or sugar.
My blood pressure is fine, as I check it regularly. No headaches or palpitations during an attack, but I do get headaches and palpitations on their own from time to time.
I just sent lab work yesterday for a 24 hour Cortisol Saliva test that I purchased from a US lab. I hope this to be of help. Are you referring to Cushing's Syndrome?
Could this be any other Endocrine type issue like Testosterone or any other hormone? Could it be a combination of some biological issue that is causing the tunnel vision and adrenaline attacks, and the blurred vision and that has in turn created it's own psycological issue of anxiety?
Lastly, does this Pheochromocytoma cause brain lesions?
Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to look over my case. I did have an EEG and a Holter but I was not given paperwork but they came back normal.
I did use alchohol, but very little. I would average maybe 3-4 drinks per week on the weekends only. But I stopped all of that a couple months ago. I currently am not consuming alcohol, caffeine or sugar.
My blood pressure is fine, as I check it regularly. No headaches or palpitations during an attack, but I do get headaches and palpitations on their own from time to time.
I just sent lab work yesterday for a 24 hour Cortisol Saliva test that I purchased from a US lab. I hope this to be of help. Are you referring to Cushing's Syndrome?
Could this be any other Endocrine type issue like Testosterone or any other hormone? Could it be a combination of some biological issue that is causing the tunnel vision and adrenaline attacks, and the blurred vision and that has in turn created it's own psycological issue of anxiety?
Lastly, does this Pheochromocytoma cause brain lesions?
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
I dont suspect Cushing's syndrome in your case, but since the cortisol level was elevated, we need to rule out that. In your case, the most likely cause of rise in cortisol is stress itself.
Pheochromocytoma has been reported to present like this and unless we have a strong suspicion, we may miss it. GP may not really think about it as they dont see them often.
Yes, they do cause some MRI changes in brain and i have seen 3 of them, but they were due to severe BP changes during an attack.
It may be worthwhile doung a 24 hour urine free cortisol or a mid night salivary cortisol to rule out Cushing's syndrome and necessary bloood works for Pheochromocytoma.
Regards XXXXXXX
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
I dont suspect Cushing's syndrome in your case, but since the cortisol level was elevated, we need to rule out that. In your case, the most likely cause of rise in cortisol is stress itself.
Pheochromocytoma has been reported to present like this and unless we have a strong suspicion, we may miss it. GP may not really think about it as they dont see them often.
Yes, they do cause some MRI changes in brain and i have seen 3 of them, but they were due to severe BP changes during an attack.
It may be worthwhile doung a 24 hour urine free cortisol or a mid night salivary cortisol to rule out Cushing's syndrome and necessary bloood works for Pheochromocytoma.
Regards XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Doctor XXXXXXX
I will ask my GP about a test for Pheochromocytoma. This is a blood test you say?
I have to wait months here to see an Endocronologist so I must seek out other ways to get diagnosed.
This is the Adrenal Test I ordered. Is this helpful? It is a 24 hour Slaiva Test that I did an already shipped back to lab.
https://www.mymedlab.com/international-tests/adrenal-stress-panel-international-zrt
I will ask my GP about a test for Pheochromocytoma. This is a blood test you say?
I have to wait months here to see an Endocronologist so I must seek out other ways to get diagnosed.
This is the Adrenal Test I ordered. Is this helpful? It is a 24 hour Slaiva Test that I did an already shipped back to lab.
https://www.mymedlab.com/international-tests/adrenal-stress-panel-international-zrt
Brief Answer:
Hi
Detailed Answer:
Pheochromocytoma testing include 24 hour urine test as well as a blood test. It is beter to stop the psychiaric drugs atleast 2 weeks before the test.
Unfortunately, i couldnt open the website which you provided, because it ask s for the pincode. I am outside USA and hence i couldnt open it.
I will be away until late evening tomorrow and if you have any further questions, i will reply by tomorrow evening. But if you have no questions, you may cloe the query
Wish you good health
Regards
Binu
Hi
Detailed Answer:
Pheochromocytoma testing include 24 hour urine test as well as a blood test. It is beter to stop the psychiaric drugs atleast 2 weeks before the test.
Unfortunately, i couldnt open the website which you provided, because it ask s for the pincode. I am outside USA and hence i couldnt open it.
I will be away until late evening tomorrow and if you have any further questions, i will reply by tomorrow evening. But if you have no questions, you may cloe the query
Wish you good health
Regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Doctor. I appreciate you input
Brief Answer:
Hi
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you. Do you have any further questions? If yes, i am more than happy to answer them. If not, may i reuest you to close the query
Regards
Binu
Hi
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you. Do you have any further questions? If yes, i am more than happy to answer them. If not, may i reuest you to close the query
Regards
Binu
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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