Suggestions?

[SherryBerry72]

I've posted on here in the past....dating back to probably 2005. Long story short...I've been dealing w/ burning sensations on my skin since 2002. It's mainly my face, but when I get really upset or stressed (worried), my entire body can feel like it's on fire.

I have been to neurologists, rheumies, regular drs, etc. I went and saw a GP, an internist and my gyno all in the past 3 mts.

This all started when I was married and I had a very stressful marriage. When he left in 2007, I felt GREAT for almost 4 yrs. This past May, the burning came back. It actually started w/ bad fatigue - but I had not slept for a few nights (at all) when the fatigue kicked in. But it was BAD fatigue in the afternoons and evening. I, however, did not sleep for almost 3 months (no exagerating either).

I saw a health & wellness dr. who dx me w/ adrenal fatigue in July - and she put me on Cortisol & progesterone (I am, or so she said, estrogen dominant). I honestly started feelign better - but I stopped taking it all...and low and behold...the burning came back in late September. I didn't let it "get to me" so it never got bad. My gyno put me on birth control for fibroid tumors and I just started them on Sunday. As of MONDAY, my face has been on fire and my skin has been sensitive (SAME exact symptoms I've dealt w/ off and on since 2002).

My question is...does this sound like MS? Should I go back to the MS specialist that I last saw in 2005 who did an MRI and told me told me I definitely did not exhibit any signs of MS or anything neurological? Or should I go to a new neuro, for peace of mind. He is an EXCELLENT dr. so I would not mind going back to him - especially w/ my history w/ him...but he told me he didn't see any reason to worry...and said it was physical symptoms of anxiety (which I have). Every time I go to pick up the phone to call and make an appt w/ him, I think to myself, "well, it's the same symptoms as before and I bet my in-office neuro exam will be fine too." So I don't want to waste his time.

Opinions??

[Hawkgirl]

So the Cortisol and progesterone helped with the fatigue and burning ... why did you stop taking it? Is it not compatible with birth control/fibroid tumors thing? If the Corisol and progesterone were helping, I'd go back to *that* doctor and ask for it.

Meantime I'd get with a GP to control your anxiety and stress. Valium, Lexapro, Zoloft--stuff like that. That's my advice, for what it's worth.

[Redwings]

Hi Sherry:
If, after 9 years, numerous medical visits with several different specialists and normal neurological tests, your only symptom is a burning sensation in your face and skin, your presentation isn't typical of MS. It's minimally suggestive of MS in that MS is one of literally dozens of conditions that might be causing your symptoms.

From your own observations, your symptoms are highly correlated with anxiety. You might get more bang for your buck if you pursue that first. If it gives you peace of mind, you could see a neurologist to rule out primary neurological causes. As long as the neurologist is being paid to see you -- and you use the time appropriately -- you won't be wasting his time.

[billiejeane]

Hi Sherry:
If, after 9 years, numerous medical visits with several different specialists and normal neurological tests, your only symptom is a burning sensation in your face and skin, your presentation isn't typical of MS. It's minimally suggestive of MS in that MS is one of literally dozens of conditions that might be causing your symptoms.

From your own observations, your symptoms are highly correlated with anxiety. You might get more bang for your buck if you pursue that first. If it gives you peace of mind, you could see a neurologist to rule out primary neurological causes. As long as the neurologist is being paid to see you -- and you use the time appropriately -- you won't be wasting his time.

Anxiety? Adrenal insuffiency is a very real thing? Though it is not your "test book" Addisons,it is real. I think you need to go back on your cortisol. Most with Adrenal insuffiency try to get off their cortisol and never can. Anxiety?????? A. of course she has anxiety,who on this message board doesn't,but her sx's,I feel,are not anxiety related.

[SherryBerry72]

No good answer...

I don't know why I quit taking the cortisol and progesterone. The progesterone was a 15-day thing - and you start back up again the next month - and I didn't. So I just left it alone. The cortisol....I kept hearing stuff about it causing weight gain, etc....just not good stuff. So after forgetting to take take it a day or two here and and there, I just stopped. Plus I was taking the bioidenticals...and they are not cheap. The dr. that prescribed them was NOT cheap either. Health & wellness dr....they do not take insurance.

Perfect example...right now...my face burns, my lips burn, I have random spots all over my body that feel rug burned. I haven't had that sensation in years. They are sporadic. Left, right, up, down...no real rhyme or reason.

I may go see an endocrinologist and get looked at further about the adrenal issue. The dr. that put me on cortisol put me in it before she even had any blood results back. She was going off of symptoms alone. It was just all kinda odd. I wasn't real comfortable w/ it.

[billiejeane]

I don't know why I quit taking the cortisol and progesterone. The progesterone was a 15-day thing - and you start back up again the next month - and I didn't. So I just left it alone. The cortisol....I kept hearing stuff about it causing weight gain, etc....just not good stuff. So after forgetting to take take it a day or two here and and there, I just stopped. Plus I was taking the bioidenticals...and they are not cheap. The dr. that prescribed them was NOT cheap either. Health & wellness dr....they do not take insurance.

Perfect example...right now...my face burns, my lips burn, I have random spots all over my body that feel rug burned. I haven't had that sensation in years. They are sporadic. Left, right, up, down...no real rhyme or reason.

I may go see an endocrinologist and get looked at further about the adrenal issue. The dr. that put me on cortisol put me in it before she even had any blood results back. She was going off of symptoms alone. It was just all kinda odd. I wasn't real comfortable w/ it.

Did the doc that rx you cortisol,did she do a 24 hour mouth swab/spit test thingy? Or did she do fasting labs and your cortisol levels were insanely low! Tell me more. I see a wellness doc in addition too all the other docs and mine takes insurance? I want to try and help you figure this out.

[SherryBerry72]

Thanks

VERY SWEET of you BJ. She did a BLOOD test @ 5:00 in the afternoon, which I have heard is not a suitable test. My leave was a "3," I believe. But she hadn't even had my results when she prescribed the cortisol. She went my symptoms alone. I have never had the 24-hr test, nor the saliva test.

She believed it to be Adrenal Fatigue based on me being fatigued, burning (not sure if that's a sx of AF), my pupils doing something funny and just feeling like crap.

I will not go back to her, due to she is $900 for her initial visit and $150 after that. I spent $1010 the first time (and only time) that I saw her. I was desperate and didn't have insurance to got a regular dr. and she doesn't take insurance, even if I had it.

I can handle achiness and all that...but the fatigue was bad (it's gone, now that I'm sleeping again) and the burning is AWFUL. It makes me borderline crazy. I do know that adrenaline, cortisol and other hormones can cause your nerves to act crazy. But I've never had a concrete answer as to any of this. Right now...my face isn't burning so much as it is just feeling irritated. But there's never any outward sign of anything. And I can feel this all over my body at times (it's usually a sunburned sensation).