Arachnoid Cyst not causing my symptoms?

[amina]

I visited a neurologist recently with the following symptoms - dizziness (sometimes severe enough to cause nausea), occasionally feeling off balance, daily tremors, tingling-vibrating sensations in my feet and legs, sensations of internal tremors, constant low ringing in my ears, nystagmus primarily when I close my eyes, urge and stress incontinence (although not to the point I have accidents). None of these are debilitating, although they've been daily occurrences for the past year. Some have been present longer. The dizziness is what I find the most troublesome, as simple movements such as turning my head can bring it on, or a five minute car ride can provoke it, and if the dizziness persists, it affects my productivity. I also have severe unexplained fatigue at times. I can't really describe it, but it's certainly not connected to my level of activity or amount of sleep I've been getting.

After examining me, the neurologist did not suspect anything "serious" but felt there was indeed something going on, so she ordered a brain and neck MRI. The results showed an Arachnoid Cyst at the rear of my brain, at the level of the brain stem, causing compression of the cerebellum.

The neurologist thought this was good news as the MRI ruled out MS or other serious disease. She did not consider the Arachnoid Cyst to be of major concern, but referred me to a neurosurgeon for follow up, and encouraged me to seek a second opinion, particularly if surgery was recommended.

The neurosurgeon said the cyst was not serious but that it should be checked annually with an MRI. He was ready to dismiss me, but when I asked if the cyst could be causing my symptoms, he said no, my symptoms are likely related to stress and anxiety. He then asked what symptom I am most bothered by (I answered the dizziness), and proceeded to write prescriptions for sulpride and tanganil and magnesium. At prompting from my original neurologist, he also said he'll do an EEG in several weeks after the medicines have had time to work and make me less "anxious."

I am stunned that the very symptoms which warranted a brain MRI are now regarded as insignificant, as though I'm psychosomatic, and that a doctor can decide in 10 minutes without knowing a thing about my daily life that I am stressed enough to bring on this range of symptoms.

I certainly don't want to make a mountain out of a molehill, but am I wrong in thinking the next step should have been an effort to find the causes of my symptoms? And is it really normal for a neurologist to say that a cyst can't be causing my kinds of neurological symptoms?

I am female, 44, not overweight, and have always been active and in general good health.

[Lindsey989]

I recently had a seizure, and my mri revealed an arachnoid cyst in exactly the same location that you described. I also have all of the symptoms you described : dizziness, shaking and tremors, feeling off balance, difficulty speaking, extreme unexplained fatigue, although the ringing of the ears I only experienced during and after the seizure.
I also got basically the same response from my neurologist. He said it was very common and basically acted as if it were no big deal, and told me to come back if experience anything else, and did absolutely nothing! I am now on edge just waiting on my next seizure and am wondering why nothing more was done to help me. But in relation to your question, seeing the similarities in the location of the cyst, and our symptoms, I think its pretty safe to say the cyst is to blame!