Autonomic Laboratory
Patient Question, September 2000
This Web page is designed for the general education of patients and their families.
Disclaimer: The answers provided are the opinion of Dr.
Tom Chelimsky. No patient should make any changes in their care without
first consulting their physician.
Question: I have been struggling with awful symptoms for approximately 3 years. I made stupid mistakes 3 years ago and had done Phen-phen pills and crystal meth in order to lose weight. I got severe chest pains and was taken by ambulance to an emergency room where they said I had amphetamine toxicity. I had used drugs for 6 months before this happened and have never used them since. My point I'm getting to is I have heard that I have been told by the mvp center of Alabama I may have dysautonimia (the tilt table was broken when I flew there) and I have a cardiac specialist that says I get PVC's and I have a trace to mild regurgitation. He feels certain these are common and no big deal and the problems I am experiencing are not my heart. My primary recently said I am ortho-static. I have fainted several times and I get chest pain with it. On emergency room visits they have said my magnesium, calcium, and iron are low. I have been diagnosed as anemic and borderline another time. I have had tons of er visits, doctors visits, paramedic visits, etc and I feel weak, tired, and sick almost all the time. I jog 3 miles a day (the chest pain and fainting sometimes get worse with exercise if I'm pushing myself harder and if I go a little past meal times without eating). I think I have had nearly every known blood test to man. My doctors believes something is wrong with me. I'm at a loss. I would fly to Pluto and back in order to get answers and get my life back. I am a single,professional mom and it takes every last ounce out of me to care for him. Could this be autonomic? Do you know of anyone anywhere that could help me? All my doctors have added pieces to the puzzle but I havn't been getting better. I drink 90 ounces of water a day, I exercise, I put 1/2 teaspoon of salt in my 32 ounces of crystal light I drink a day, I take multivitamins, magnesium, iron, and calcium......am I helpable? I tried a beta blocker and my blood pressure got too low, I was fainting, and I was in the hospital for two days. They have tried tranquilizers, anti-depressants, GERD medications, you name it....trying to figure it out.
Dr. Chelimsky: Yes, you may have a subacute diabetic autonomic
neuropathy, that would account for many of your symptoms. These neuropathies
classically come on early in the course of diabetes, and have a good prognosis,
with recovery expected in 1-2 years. The exact cause is unknown, but may
not be directly due to high sugars. Rather, some type of inflammation of
the autonomic nerves may be playing a role. Have you had any unexplained
weight loss? You would probably need autonomic testing to show the neuropathy
and its severity. Some of these neuropathies, early on, can respond to steroids
or IVIg. If one uses steroids, of course, the sugars have to be monitored
carefully, and sugar control adjusted accordingly. May the Lord bless you
and heal you.
If you have a question, please submit it to Dr. Chelimsky.