I don't know how a blood test can rule out stroke but I think the doctor who
advised of paraneoplastic or radiation is thinking the right way. I have
seen references indicating that radiation can cause a chronic
neurodegeneration but this is radiation directly at the CNS itself.
Paraneoplastic, by my _very_ limited knowledge at least, is sometimes
associated with the presence of a current tumour and not a long term
downstream consequence. Sorry to bring this news to you but if you are
experiencing paraneoplastic syndrome now it may be indicative of secondary
tumours. I would find myself one clued up neurologist to examine the
possibility of paraneoplastic and if confirmed start looking for that. Note
that chemotherapy can sometimes sensitise the CNS to immunological insult.
Perhaps you should also consider the carotids, transient ischemic attacks
maybe?
I am way out of my depth here but would advise you find some doctors who
take your complaints seriously.
This ref may help as a starting point, you can obtain it at the PNAS
website. www.pnas.org I think. :
6/01/03 8:22pm
Onconeural antigens and the paraneoplastic neurologic disorders: At the
intersection of cancer, immunity, and the brain
Authors:
Robert B. Darnell
Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, The Rockefeller University, New
York, NY 10021
Journal:
PNAS Review
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
Vol. 93, pp. 4529-4536, May 1996
Location:
Neuroscience\Ni
Onconeural antigens and the paraneoplastic neurologic disorders: At the
intersection of cancer, immunity, and the brain
Date obtained: 16/05/01
Web Page:
Date Read: 19/06/01
Date to Review:
Keywords:
Printed:
No = subject: 0
Notes:
1:09AM
John H.
"Victoria" <victoria at southslope.net> wrote in message
news:2c430f6e.0301281002.10870a0a at posting.google.com...
> I am a 45 year old female with a complicated med. history and will try
> to be brief. I had had breast cancer in 1995 and my treatment was a
> lumpectomy and radiation. My recent diagnoses are: sudden onset of
> high blood pressure (attributed to prednisone for "suspected"
> autoimmune disease), Cushing's syndrome (due to the prednisone, but
> being investigated for an adrenal tumor) vestibular neuropathy with
> hearing loss, dehydration, abdominal stasis, scarring alopecia, and
> errosion in my stomach. I also have a recent onset of loud snoring and
> sometimes make a high pitched whistling noise while I sleep - per my
> husband. I am unable to sleep or even lay on my back as my breathing
> is obstructed - but only when I exhale. This occurs with an audible
> "flop" or click, and I can feel something moving? in my throat or
> trachea. I have a thick family history of coronary artery disease. For
> example, my sister had a double bypass at age 39 and my maternal
> Grandfather died of a heart attack at age 32. Although I've had
> symptoms since the 1980s, autoimmune disease was completely ruled out
> this week. I am doctoring at a large teaching hospital and have been
> seen in numerous specialty clinics. The specialty clinics do not seem
> to be communicating regarding my health care. Although I may receive a
> diagnosis in one department, the next department is not aware of it.
> My GP is not doing a good job of putting the big picture together for
> me as he is only available 2 days per week. He recently apologized for
> not keeping up to date with my case.
> I have had recurring episodes of confusion and sometimes experience
> anger or rage. When these episodes first began, I was choking on water
> for no apparent reason, but now I choke on food. I also experience
> episodes of "tipping over," tripping, shakiness or tremors, slurred
> speech, feeling cold and numb (especially in my extremities), some
> drooling from the left side of my mouth, and headaches unlike any I've
> experienced before. I'd describe them as sharp lancing pains in my
> head, and sometimes they are just fleeting. I am articulate, but have
> difficulty expressing myself. I guess I would call it the inability to
> "find the right words" during these episodes. With great frustration,
> I either end up rephrasing my question or just shake my head and give
> up. I was taken to the ER during the 1st episode as a patient
> presenting as a "possible stroke victim." My physician ordered blood
> tests and a chest x-ray (I had just had a bronchoscopy 2 days prior to
> the ER visit). He told me there was nothing wrong with me and not to
> waste my money on another ER visit and ambulance ride. Please keep in
> mind that this was my first ambulance ride and the first time I
> requested medical assistance via 911. When my husband and I asked the
> doctor what I should do if this were to happen again, he replied that
> I should "take an anxiety pill." The other two times that I went to
> the ER, I had an irregular heartbeat and was diagnosed with fluid
> depletion, atypical chest pain and then released. I have never had an
> MRI or CT scan. Although I think I know the answer, can a stroke be
> ruled out with a simple blood test? Please tell me what the "typical"
> procedure is for ruling out a stroke.
>> I recently had an endoscopy and anorectal manometry. My
> gastrointerologist said that his findings indicate that something is
> destroying my CNS. He said they were either paraneoplastic? or damage
> caused by radiation during my breast cancer in 1995. Again, although
> he practices at the same hospital, he did not know of my other
> diagnoses aside from the vestibular neuropathy.
>> I'm tired of trying to manage or orchestrate my own health care (I
> don't WANT to and I'm obviously not qualified) - I'd sure like some
> "pointers" or to at least get some feedback.
>> Thanks in advance,
> Victoria