Brain fog, dizziness, vision problems, head pressure, headache PLEASE HELP
Posted , 353 users are following.
Hi everyone!
I don't know where else to go, and was hoping someone could please help me. I'll start off by saying I'm a 23 year old Caucasian female. Going on 5 months now, I have had absolutely debilitating symptoms which have hindered my daily life. I feel these symptoms every moment of every day.
It started with dizziness and a persistent brain fog. I just thought I had a bug, and tried to go on about my life. However, my symptoms have never gone away. This "brain fog" I am talking about is a feeling of complete mental confusion, I have no memory, I cannot concentrate on anything, it feels like there's a dark blanket on my brain clouding all my thoughts. I have extreme disorientation and haziness. I feel like I'm always in a dream like state.
I am constantly dizzy and feel a pulling sensation, as if I'm ready to fall over at any moment. It feels like there's air inside my head, and I'm always very lightheaded. Whenever I try to drive I feel this pulling sensation pulling me down.
Another problem I have is with my vision. I am having very blurred vision and have double vision. Everytime I look at something up close it is extremely blurry and I cannot see at all. My perception on things has completely changed. I feel like everything looks very odd and strange and I don't have the right depth perception. It's like I'm in a horrible dream like state all the time.
I have been having headaches and head pressure as well, and having horrible pains behind my eyes. The pin starts from the back of my head close to my neck and continues up my head and the sides of my temples. My eyes hurt so bad, and it feels like knives are jabbing my eyes. My head also feels extremely heavy all the time.
All these symptoms have been causing me severe anxiety, and I have been having panic attacks from them and feel like I'm dying. It is causing a strange disrespity sensation, where I feel like I'm not even here anymore and there's a detachment from myself and my body. I have had to drop all my classes at college and quit my job because these symptoms make me lay in bed all day long. I have been unable to drive for months and can barely get up to walk around. If anyone could please help me or know anything as a suggestion to try.
I have been to my general doctor, 2 ENTs, 1 neurologist, have had 2 MRIs, a hearing test, VNG, multiple blood tests, and no one knows what is wrong. I can't live like this anymore. Any help is greatly appreciated.
-Elise
14 likes, 1771 replies
shantanu49282 Elise93
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Elise93 shantanu49282
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alex_89584 Elise93
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Everyone on here, if you're having multiple symptoms (dizziness, brain fog, headaches, visual problems, etc) you need to first rule out vestibular dysfunction (by getting tested with VNG and VEMP, ordered by an ENT). Also, get a dilated eye exam and an appointment with a neuro-ophthalmologist if possible. You also need to look into getting a sleep study to look for sleep disordered breathing, which can cause many symptoms. Stanford is the best place for this if you're able to go. Also, if you are really confused and still aren't getting answers, consider seeing a neurologist that can order a spinal tap to look at your CSF pressure. There is something called IIHWOP (intracranial hypertension without papilledema) that exists, but can go easily missed since it isn't the usual presentation and most people do not know about it. And I'm sure with the symptoms your doctor probably already ordered an MRI or CT to rule out major issues. Also keep in mind that some people have mild Chiari/cerebellar tonsillar herniation <5mm, which normally radiologists do not report, even though there is research being done that shorter herniations can cause symptoms in some people. It's a lot to keep in mind but you have to explore every possibility.
terrie27149 alex_89584
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alex_89584 terrie27149
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You may want to print this one out to keep or take with you as well:
http://cdmbuntu.lib.utah.edu/utils/getfile/collection/ehsl-nam/id/566/filename/567.pdf
Also, for anyone interested, here is the one about Chiari and the fact there are some issues to be raised on the subject of the size of the cerebellar tonsillar herniation and symptom severity:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4023655/
"CTH greater than 3–5?mm as a marker for CMI has been established as a ‘rule of thumb’ over time. This is problematic, as incidental observation of CTH has become more common with increases in the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for head and neck injury examinations. Recent research has shown that as much as 3% of the pediatric population, 2% of the adult female population, and 1% of the adult male population have greater than 5?mm CTH [8,9] and CTH varies throughout life (Fig. 2)."
"However, large retrospective clinical studies have shown that CMI symptom severity does not always correlate with CTH depth [7]. Patients with large CTH may present with mild neurological symptoms and vice versa [6]."
So there are people with larger herniations who are not as symptomatic, and ones with smaller ones who are. I have a 3-4mm herniation that was previously ignored by all radiologists that read my MRI. I have some issues which may possibly be correlated with this, although it isn't certain yet. But it's important to know that the research is not completely solid and mainstream medicine isn't up to date with some of the research.
[b]https://www.conquerchiari.org/education/chiari-faqs[b].html
sevenof13 Elise93
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Hiya Elise
Can't believe this discussion is still going. How are you feeling now?
I have, now been off work for 15mths
With constant disequilibrium and head pressure.. trouble walking and nerve pain...derealization etc
I tested postive to 2 strains of lyme disease but its not recognized here in AUS. So cant get treatment.
I have had lumbar puncture.. 6 Mri's now for my spinal lessions.. I still wonder about MS for me even though the neurologist says no.
Guest sevenof13
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sevenof13 Guest
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Hiya Jenjen
I had test done from Dr through
Rickettsial labs in Victoria you can look them up online and find them.
I tested postive to 5 different Rickettsial ticks and band 41 and Lyme infection... apparently that's not enough for a postive test here... but according to all Lyme communities it is
Elise93 sevenof13
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What test did you get done for it?
Michael1776 Elise93
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Hello. Here's my story. In early 2016 I noticed some sound sensitivity with routine sounds around the house. A door closing or fork dropping would stay in my head and ring for awhile. I dismissed it until I started having forehead pressure, eye pressure, ear pressure/ringing, lightheadedness and anxiety attacks throughout 2016. I would wake up feeling ok, but as soon as I would start driving, I could feel some dizziness and anxiety start to come on. My brain was working so hard during the day, I could fall asleep literally within a minute of lying down around 8 pm. I saw general practitioner, ENT and neurologist in early 2017. Bloodwork and tests came back clean. I visited a nutritionist to see if there was a chemical connection. No luck, but did get gut health back in good working condition in order to absorb nutrition. Do this. One day I Googled " anxiety while driving". I came upon a site which treats a condition called veritcal heterophoria, a misalignment of the eyes which can cause the symptoms I was having. Turns out I had a slight misalignment of the eyes. I ordered some prism glasses which helped slow down the eyes a bit and gave some relief for awhile. After a few weeks, the head/ear pressure and dizziness returned. A possible breakthrough! I was given the name of a lady who does Cranio- Sacral therapy. She asked if I had concussions. I haven't, but did have a cervical sprain in Fall 2015 that may have triggered all of this a few months into 2016. She explained the skull/sacrum's relationship to the central nervous system and had seen my symptoms before. She detected some blockage of the cerebrospinal fluid near the sprain. The fluid moves continuously and helps to wash and mobilize parts of the central nervous system. She felt like she was able to return that CSF flow back to normal. Also turns out there were some internal misalignments within the skull that did not have the proper space to move into. The CSF doesn't need an injury to block it. It can be as something as simple as bad posture from sitting at a desk or in a car. I've had one session and feel like the head and ear pressure are subsiding. My eyes are more stable and able to focus.Still having some symptoms but do feel like real progress was made in the first session. I'm aware of the debilitating nature of these symptoms. Your condition may be caused by something different than mine but hope some of this helps.
Lnodes Michael1776
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vanessa24559 Michael1776
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It’s funny because I’ve read about vertical heterophobia and it pretty much listed my symptoms.. anxiety while driving, brain fog, drunk feeling, ear pressure. I was my doctor and he had no clue what that meant.. he thought maybe it was some company trying to make money off of people.. Then I saw an eye specialist that ran some test on me and everything was good.. I mentioned the vertical heyerophobia and he said he knew if a mother specific specialist that tested forbthat but because my results of my eye exam didn’t indicate any red flags them he said my insurance wasn’t going to pay for it.. ugh!!! I live in California by the way..
Which state do you live in?
Elise93 Michael1776
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Michael1776 Elise93
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Michael1776 vanessa24559
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Correct. Not every eye doctor is able to diagnose VH. I live in Texas. Here's a link of doctors near you that can diagnose.
https://vision-specialists.com/doctors/neurovisual-specialist-near-you
terrie27149 Michael1776
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Michael1776 terrie27149
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Michael1776 terrie27149
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Here's a brief link to the methods used
Moderator comment: I have removed the link(s) directing to site(s) unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.
bonnie31305 Michael1776
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I was also tested for the binocular visions dysfunction ( have all the same symptoms as everyone here) and have a slight misalignment. I haven’t really tried the prism glasses yet because the first time I did, it didn’t seem to make a difference and i shied away. I have to come them see what to do. Theres only about eight doctors in the US who do this testing arc this point. Who did you see? Interesting that it only helped you, but that there was more to the story. I definitely feel like that’s the case with me as well. The doctor did say that the glasses may need to be tweaked after the first try if they aren’t Making a difference. I discovered that all of my symptoms started after taking an antibiotic last February. I do have long standing digestive issues though, so doctors have confirmed that patients are more likely to suffer from toxic reactions to Antibiotics when they have liver/gut issues. This eye dr specialist i saw in Illinois for BVD said that this Issue could’ve arose as part of the toxic reaction. He did say that in order to heal fully that you have to take care of digestive issues, which he thinks is the root cause of all of these symptoms and problems it’s causing. Besides that, i have major neck/back issues and I have also been looking into craniosacral therapy. How did you find her? I don’t know how to go about that process. Does she have a title? Thanks!!
Michael1776 bonnie31305
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I came across a Michigan based BVD specialist online. They had a directory of doctors who provided the testing. Found one a few hours away.I linked it earlier but the post is still being moderated. The CS specialist recently started at an office of a family friend. She had been filing up fast and the friend recommended giving her a try. I'll ask her if there's a similar directory of providers. I don't want to give anyone false hope, I can say the progress after 24 hours of the first CS session has been the most positive to date. I agree anyone with these symptoms needs to make sure gut health is optimal. I was told recently, you're not what you eat, you're what you absorb. What was the antibiotic?
bonnie31305 Michael1776
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Did you have more than a slight hairline misalignment? I feel like a lot of their diagnosis was based on questions I answered after trying on prisms etc. I’m hoping I didn’t answer wrong. They did do some actual testing too but I’m not sure how a diagnosis was made for me. Did you notice right away with the glasses that you felt better? I’ve been told that’s the case but I did not seem to feel that way after getting my glasses. I literally put them to the side because I was so bummed but I do need to go back to them and try again and give the place a call. All of the doctors who do this testing have gone through a training in the Michigan location where it was founded. So I’m sure they all do the same protocol of testing
Michael1776 bonnie31305
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The misalignment I had was not uncommon. The doctor said they used to consider it as insignificant, but some of the latest research says that may not be the case. I noticed a difference right away. My eyes weren't working nearly as hard. The lightheadedness and full head came back after about a month though. I've worn them every day since. After the first CS session yesterday, I didn't feel like I needed them as much. She noticed a slight misalignment around the skeletal frame where the eyes are and felt it move back into place during the session yesterday. Afterwards, I kept waiting for the eyes to start working hard and head to start feeling full, but didn't really get much of that yesterday.
Michael1776 Elise93
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Good afternoon. Just reporting back after the second Cranio-Sacral therapy session last Thursday. I can say I've seen about a 65-70% reduction in the head/ear fullness symptoms. Still a little lightheaded at times but much improved. The practitioner adjusted the sphenoid bone on the first session that helped stabilize the eyes. My eyes are not working nearly as hard to process information and I've not used the prism glasses since. The improvement in head/ear/eyes have helped to take anxiety levels way down. Overall good progress so far, but work left to do.
bonnie31305 Michael1776
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bonnie31305 Michael1776
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Do you mind sharing the name of the craniosacral therapist? Possibly in an email if you’d prefer? Thanks!
Elise93 Michael1776
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Michael1776 bonnie31305
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Michael1776 Elise93
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Elise93 Michael1776
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Michael1776 Elise93
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