Severe brain fog, cognitive impairment, spaced out, drunk like feeling, hair loss?!

Posted , 18 users are following.

Hi, 

this is my first post on here, and im hoping to find some sort of answer to my truly debilitating symtoms which have been effecting me for the past 6 months. I'm 23, male and from the UK. When these symtoms came on I was a third year undergraduate student. Apologies if this is't written very well, I really struggle writing stuff nowerdays. 

During January I realised I was not thinking as clearly as I once could, and was not as quick wittet as I was before. completing an assessment started to take considerably longer as I was finding it much harder to write my essays than in previous years. This was not related to the difficulty, rather that my ability to write was diminishing. I struggled through and managed to get it completed. However, the 'brain fog' was getting gradually worse as the weeks went by into feb/mar. I as also experiencing extremely painful muscle pain in my back which had no identifiable cause. During this time admittedly I was incredible anxious about my dissertation and all other pieces of work as I felt my abilties were becoming more and more limited. It was no only my cogntive function that was suffering at the time. I was also suffering from constipation which led to (sorry this is gross) after every movement after wiping there would be a clear mucus like liquid on the paper. I tried to put my health worries to the back of my mind and crack on with my assessments which were due in the following month.

This was until I was sat in the library working and then realised that there was dandruff like flakes all over my arms. This is when I began to worry something really wasn't right, and after a google search i thought I may be suffering from 'candida' so I decided to change my diet. I ate clean and drank plenty of lemon water for a few days. Two days following this 'new diet' I began to feel incredibly unwell, with a pulsating headache which left me in bed all day. The following day when in between being alseep and still awake I had racing thoughts which could not be shifted, I have no idea how long this lasted all I know is that it was a scary experience.

The following day I felt really rough, and at noon I suddenly became 'zoned out' and just not with it. I was struggling as it was before this but this changed everything.  It was at this moment I was thrown into a zombie like state where I feel nothing, but yet cannot function. I was only able to get 3 hours of sleep a night and just felt completely gone. My ears felt full, I became cold even when the heating was on  and I became incredibly worried about completing my course. 

At one point I decided that attempting to complete the 20,000 words needed to pass was futile, so I returned home and tried to accept that I had failed uni. Strangely, the zombie like state lifted that evening, only to return again upon waking up from a sleep. This happened a few times where I would snap out of it for a few hours, go to sleep only to wake up back in the 'funk'.

Of course I couldnt fail my course and waste all that money so I continued to plough on despite my abilities being severely limited. with some help of friends, I managed to get 3/5 of the assessments done before I chucked in the towel and realised that completing the year without getting any sort of extension was impossible. 

By this point I was trying to find any cause for this zoned out brain fogg state and thought it may relate to the ear fullnes. I convinced myself it must be some kind of problem with my ears initially, and began constantly pop my ears by holding my nose. This didnt solve anything, and has given me tinitus. god knows why I did that but I did. 

By this point I had been to the drs and tried as best I could explain what had happened. He thought it was a anxiety related and prescibed some proprodomol, which had no effect. I also had blood tests done including 

a thyroid blood test, a full blood count, and vitamins checked. All frustratingly normal.

I have been in this state for just over 3 months now. I've had to quit my part time work, and drop out from the work I was planning to undertake in the summer. I've lost my girlfriend because of it as despite her being pateint theres only so much you can support and wait around for your bf to be anything near normal. I also dont want to do anything with friends as i wouldnt enjoy it and id just feel embarassed and zoned out. I was a very very sociable guy before all of this. 

I have no clue what this could be, I dont feel I can work as my mind is blank and I am unable to process and remember information. Ive spent the last few months literally sat wondering wtf has happened and how to get out of this state, time completely wasted. I have managed to submit the remaining pieces of work for the course so I should pass my degree but the whole thing is very embarassing. 

has anyone got any idea what this is? if this is just a stress response do people eventually come around? what advice would you give? could it be something physical?

Its in the title but my hair is also much thinner than it used to be and doesnt grow anywhere near as quick?? 

I'm lost, this is ruining my life. Ive tried getting back into the things I used to enjoy like football but when I play I just feel zoned out and drunk. I get zero enjoyment from doing anything or talking to anybody in this state.

Im so confused. If anyone could give some advice it would be greatly appreciately, as my life has quite simply stopped being worth living. I will just add that I was happy with everything I had in my life prior to this coming on so I dont believe it to be depression.  

Sorry for the poor structure of this post. 

3 likes, 18 replies

18 Replies

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  • Posted

    Hey tris40466

    Sorry you're going through such a difficult time! Not having a diagnosis is one of the hardest things!

    Are you feeling exhausted all the time? Cos a lot of the symptoms you describe could fit with CFS/ME.

    I'm afraid I dont have any answers for you, its just when I read your post it reminded me of a close friend who has ME and so I thought I'd message in case it was worth you looking into.

    I hope you find some answers and that you start feeling better!!

    Charlotte

    • Posted

      Hi Ceejay,

      thanks for your response and words of support. Initially I did wonder whether it could be ME but as drs dont seem to recognise it as a thing, and as I'm trying to remain as rational as possible, I decided not to look into it any further.

      It's not so much tired its more constantly wired/zoned out/spaced out without the ability to process information, I will just add that my memory isn't 'working' either and I have no sense of time. Ive been in this state for 3 months but it feels like only a week has gone by. 

      I'm going to try and get some structure in my life by getting some menial factory work for a bit (the only work I can imagine actually being able to do in this state), to A get some money and B hopefully the structure of a job may kick start my brain to work properly. 

       

    • Posted

      Getting some structure in your day is definitely a good idea! When my condition is bad and I'm not doing anything day-to-day I end up getting so tired and time slows down and I get really low. But when I add some structure things tend to pick up a bit.

      Yeah my friend with ME had really bad memory and concentration, she couldnt read a page of a book when things were bad.

      Are you on any sort of medication or drugs that could be making you feel like this?

      I hope someone replies who's a bit more helpful than me!! Sorry I don't have any answers!!

      Charlotte

    • Posted

      ME is also know as CFS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. As to exactly What it is, and What causes it, the experts are still arguing about that, and have been for longer than the 30 years I've been suffering from it! But I can testify that it does exist and it can totally floor you. There have been times when I've been unable to walk or function normally, and I know of people who have been bed-ridden with it.

  • Posted

    I have had ME for about 30 years, with it affecting me to variable degrees, and I can identify with many of the symptoms you describe. I'd suggest that you go back to your GP with a list of your symptoms, so that it is easier to describe what you are going through without the brain fog getting in the way. There are more blood tests that should be done so don't give up. If it's affecting your life to such an extent, then you deserve some answers and hopefully some solution. For example, the dry scaly skin, slow movements and thoughtand, and brittle hair are all listed as symptoms of an underactive thyroid, but are not symptoms of anxiety/stress as far as I know. Also listed in the symptoms is depression , which would make you feel hopeless, as if it will never end and nobody cares. So keep trying with the doctor is my advice. I hope you get the help you need, so you can get on with your life. Pixie xx

  • Posted

    I am so sorry you are going through this. I am a 48 year old woman and have the same symptoms for about two years now. I have had a million medical tests and everything is normal but I feel like I am dying everyday. Dizzy exhausted foggy hair falling out. So I get it. I sit in mtgs at work and litterally cant even think straight. Feel drunk or drugged. So frustrating. Has taken a major toll on relationship and quality of life. Can't ever get a diagnosis. Tried diet exercise vitamins. You name it I've tried it. So know you are not alone. Haven't felt normal in years. Please let me know how you are doing. I pray you are better.

  • Edited

    Hello, Anymore light on this? I'm 23 and am suffering with the exact same symptoms, i feel quite unalive sometimes, i'm sleeping well but seem to always feel tired, brain fog, sensitivity to some lights, drunk like feeling, exactly how you discrible, hair is thin, i don't know what to do, i get dizzy too, doctors keep telling me it's anxiety, i really don't think it is, heartrate stays low throughout the day, no pounding heart or panick feeling 

  • Posted

    Finally being sent to Mayo Clinic.   Will let you know.  
  • Posted

    Have they tested you for lyme, fibromylegia or epstein barr virus? 

    There are complimentary doctors..alternative doctors that specialize in all this stuff. Some take insurance and some do not.  Integrated doctors do tend to take insurance as they are medical doctors but prefer using complimentary routes and they most definetly will be more involved in figuring this out. You would have to do a search in your area for one.

  • Posted

    Have you had your b12/folate levels checked? I know this is never a standard blood test which is annoying but sounds like some of the symptoms.
  • Posted

    I'm so sorry. Mine started at your age and I'm now 48!! It got better for a while and now back with full force. I'm headed to Mayo Clinic next week so stay tuned. I promise if I figure it out I'll get back on and help as many people as I can. It's awful and I will pray for you. Stay strong and keep in.

    • Posted

      Hi Pink, I'm 2 years into the same exact symptoms right down the the hair and brain fog, and just a couple years your junior. Please update with any info you get. I added a link to this discussion damn near everywhere I can think of (desktop, phone, bookmark bar ect ect) to ensure I don't forget to check back. LOL

      Do you symtoms tend to have good days a bad days?

  • Posted

    i have been struggling with exact same now for little over 2 years. have gone through all possible testings and specialists without any findings.

    one more thing has remained though, root canals. i have 2 and both are about 12 years old. does any of you with identical or similar symptoms have root canals or metal fillings?

  • Posted

    i feel exactly like you've described.. it only started about 3/4 months ago overnight i thought it would go after a few days or even weeks but it's still here.. the breathlessness and the fatigue are truly annoying but i could honestly live with them but this drunk/high sensation just constantly there... i wouldn't wish it upon anyone

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