[37F] Experiencing fatigue, blurred vision, and hand spasms

Patient Description

A 37-year-old female has been experiencing constant fatigue for 3-4 years, which worsens with overstimulation. Additionally, she reports blurred vision that comes and goes, sometimes appearing as if looking through a kaleidoscope, and is accompanied by pain above the left eye, described as a cold-eating sensation. This has been occurring for a couple of years but has worsened in the last year. The patient also experiences spasms and twitching in her hands, affecting her fingers and thumb, which has been ongoing for about a year and a half. Furthermore, she mentions feeling fatigued and sore in her legs at least twice a week. The severity of the eye pain ranges from 5-7 on a scale of 1-10. She has not noticed any patterns or triggers for these symptoms and mentions an increased sensitivity to light.

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Arora's Assessment

What might be happening

Based on your symptoms, several conditions could be considered:

  • Multiple Sclerosis: This is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can include fatigue, blurred or double vision, and muscle spasms or stiffness. However, this is a serious condition and would need to be diagnosed by a healthcare professional through specific tests.

    • Treatment options include medications to slow the progression of the disease and manage symptoms, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes.
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: This is a complex disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue worsens with physical or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest.

    • Treatment options often focus on symptom relief and include a combination of medications, therapy, and lifestyle changes.
  • Migraine: This is a type of headache that can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. It's often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Some people may experience visual disturbances, such as blurred vision or seeing spots or flashing lights, before a migraine begins.

    • Treatment options include medications to help prevent migraines and to relieve symptoms when they occur.
  • Fibromyalgia: This is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. It's believed to amplify painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and nonpainful signals.

    • Treatment options include medications, therapy, and lifestyle changes.

What you can do

You should seek medical attention to get a formal diagnosis and appropriate treatment. In the meantime, here are some things you could do:

  1. Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
  2. Stay active. Regular exercise can help reduce fatigue and improve your sleep and overall health.
  3. Eat a healthy diet. This can help keep your energy levels up.
  4. Avoid alcohol, nicotine and caffeine as these can worsen your symptoms.
  5. Try to reduce stress. Techniques such as deep-breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga may help.

What you should look out for

You should seek immediate medical attention if:

  • Your symptoms worsen or you develop new symptoms
  • You experience sudden, severe pain in your eye
  • You have difficulty walking or moving
  • You experience confusion or difficulty thinking
  • You have difficulty breathing

Remember, I'm an AI and this advice is based on the information you've given me. It's always important to consult with a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

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8 mo ago


People Also Ask


What are the common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis?

Common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis include fatigue, blurred or double vision, muscle spasms or stiffness, numbness or tingling in the limbs, and problems with coordination and balance. Symptoms can vary widely among individuals.


How is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosed?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is diagnosed primarily through a process of exclusion, as there is no specific test for it. Doctors will rule out other conditions with similar symptoms and may use criteria such as persistent fatigue lasting more than six months, along with other symptoms like sleep problems and cognitive difficulties.


What are the typical visual disturbances associated with migraines?

Typical visual disturbances associated with migraines include seeing spots, flashing lights, or zigzag patterns, and experiencing blurred vision. These visual symptoms are often referred to as 'aura' and can occur before or during a migraine headache.


What lifestyle changes can help manage fibromyalgia symptoms?

Lifestyle changes that can help manage fibromyalgia symptoms include maintaining a regular sleep schedule, engaging in regular low-impact exercise, eating a balanced diet, managing stress through techniques like meditation or yoga, and avoiding triggers such as caffeine and alcohol.

4 Comments


Janice#97

8 mo ago

One of my co-workers had similar symptoms and got an MRI where they found signs of MS. They filtered her blood to remove the bad antibodies that were attacking her nervous system and gave her some long-term "disease-modifying" medication that made her much better.

I'm not saying you definitely have MS but would be worth getting checked out and advocate for yourself to get an MRI if you haven't already.

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Anonymous#7311

7 mo ago

I went to see a medical eye doc last week and he referred me to have an MRI. My appointment is April 26th. Really nervous.

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Janice#97

7 mo ago

Glad to hear you're getting the MRI! Hope it goes well and at least you get some answers. Let me know!

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Leo#17

6 mo ago

Did you end up getting a diagnosis from your doctor?

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