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
Maikal Elise93
Posted
Hi Elise
Same symptoms me.
i went Neuro-Otologist Dr.Tejaswini Patel (Narayana Multispeciality Clinic Bangalore India) Dr. Advised me to take Amitiptyline and told i am having vestibular Migraines.
And said to do regular vestibular exercises.
Now i am on Doctor's way.
lio98990 Elise93
Posted
Hi Elise,
I just came across your post. I hope you're doing better, since it's been some time since your post. I had almost every symptom you described and over the past 2 and a half years have come to a place where I'm much better so I thought I would share in hopes it could help you or someone else.
I was in a minor car accident two years ago and suffered whiplash. From the accident on I had a complete brain fog most days, pressure around my head, straining on my eyes, and blurred vision and minor headaches. At the beginning it was hard to read a ton and concentrate. I was affected and still am strongly by bright lights and loud noises and neurologists have told me I have a lot of migraine symptoms but without the intense pain. I also had a ton of balance issues and went to a physical therapist for three months following the accident and got massage therapy and deep needling in my neck to relieve the tension but it still continued. I did lots of balance exercises to improve my balance and overall symptoms. I improved a ton but over the next year and a half was still super impacted and struggled to work long hours, read, or think critically (I was trying to study for a standardized test and it was a nightmare with the symptoms). I went to a bunch of neurologists and had an MRI, EEG and some other tests done on my neck. I tried to take homeopathic medicine(I think zinc) and used essential oils but it didn't improve. I also continued to work on my neck but even when it's at it's best I still get symptoms.
I got put on Nortriptyline, which is an older and weaker antidepressant and pretty immediately it started to help. I started off taking 1 or 2 pills each night and gradually moved up to four. While I still get all of my symptoms if I have a particularly strenuous day of work or am in a bright or loud area, it only lasts an hour or so and I don't get symptoms all day, every day. I haven't experienced any side effects of the medicine and overall just feel so much better! I've been taking it about a year now and the effects of it haven't worn off, which is great. I wish I had learned about it earlier and hope this can be helpful to you or anyone else out there with these symptoms!
lor85672 Elise93
Posted
hi Elise,
sorry if you already did this, but my daughter had a lot of the same symptoms, we been to all of the doctors you have listed as well with normal results. They all said it was anxiety or said it just "in her head". I am a nurse and know that whatever it is, it is causing her anxiety. we did not give up. I just left a neurovisual specialist. She has a misalignment of her eye and is trying prism glasses. She feels better already. The last 6 months have been hell. i hope this might help you, or hope you are feeing better.
stoic lor85672
Posted
Thanks for posting. I also have had problems with my vision and saw a neuro ophthalmologist. He didn't seem to think my symptoms were related and diagnosed me with an astigmatism and ordered me prescription lenses. I used to wear glasses but had PRK surgery back in 2010 which corrected my vision. I still have 20/20 vision, but I have trouble focusing in my left eye. The glasses do make things look more clear but do nothing to fix the focusing issue. I'm going to bring up prism glasses next time I saw my ophthalmologist.
naomi_48931 lor85672
Posted
if your a nurse could you please help me i have all them light headed symptoms of balace every time i walk brain fog eyes feel funny i feel so fatiuge i have a young child and have to do it all alone please talk to me thank you xx
seb56455 Elise93
Posted
Hi Elise and all the others who feel the same like me . 3 years in and lots of money spend for nothing , until I finally met the right person that could tell me what is going on here !! It is a spontaneous muscle contraction being rooted in your upper cervicals causing all these symptoms . Why this happens is not clear , probably a combination of stress built up , incorrect posture , especially during sleep and exercising , but also exposure to cold , like a/c for example . Alcohol and nicotine do probably support the whole thing . Anyway this 'doctor' told me to do certain muscle stretching exercises with the aid of a large rubber band , which he had given me . Basically what I have to do is put this band around my head and tighten the other end around a solid obstacle , door for example and then pull and stretch the muscles around my head and neck as much as I can , from all angles , especially the ones beeing right up my upper cervicals . You then immediately feel that something is not right in this area and that you have to get this out ! The muscles need to be stretched in order to loosen up again . The whole thing is extremely pain full and exhausting, and takes time .... Anyway he guaranteed me that I will get better this way . Another approach is to ease the contraction with injections , but here you will need a specialist , also not recommended according to this doctor as you might cause nervous damage . Please let's do this all together and share our experience !
GUYS THERE IS HOPE AND A WAY OUT OF THIS I AM TELLING YOU !
deepti08900 Elise93
Posted
Sorry to hear this. I was diagnosed with BPPV a month back and was treated with epley manuever for right and then left side. Epley stopped the spinning sensation but I still feel imbalanced, have somehow rejoined work but everything is a task nowadays. I am doing some rehabilitation exercises that the Dr. prescribed but feel they dont do anything for me.. I feel I am stuck in this state from too long. Had vertigo 6 months back as well but that went away on its own in 2 weeks, this time it has been 6 weeks .
I am not sure if this is normal course of recovery to feel so imbalanced or my Dr. dint treat me right.
hmoosey deepti08900
Posted
be careful of just accepting the BPPV diagnosis. most get this initial diagnoses but it ends up being something completely different. there are many vestibular issues that cause that imbalanced feeling. however, most PCP, ENT, nuerololgist only know a few. and most just slap on that BPPV diagnosis. they tell you that you will be better soon, then when you arent they move the date. since you had vertigo 6 months ago, you may have something else going on instead of the BPPV- what ive learned is we have to not just accept the diagnosis. we almost have to do all the research to save ourselves. had i not done this, i wouldnt be ok today. 2 misdiagnosis. 2 hospitalizations. finally found an otolaryngologist who has given me my life back. google this doctor. google dizzy clinic in your area. you should have blood work and vestibular testing done. if this hasnt been done yet, run away from your doctor and run to an otolaryngologist.
sab65033 hmoosey
Posted
hi Homoosey,
otolaryngologist what treatment you had?
sab
hmoosey sab65033
Posted
hi sab
i am on medication. norotryptiline, metapropol, imitrex. in the beginning, i was in vestibular PT. my doctor had ordered all the tests to rule out everything else. caloric, the spinning, the water, the MRI, catscans. my doctor wants me to join a meditation program at the hospital. i am less than thrilled. i just dont have time between work and family. but i have to figure it out. diet changes, he gave me a list of triggers. i also have to do visual vertigo therapy. i hate it cause it makes me sick but i guess its the point to push thru and get used to it. i still have visual vertigo with certain things. but, its the medication that has made me feel like me again. has allowed me to work and travel now. thats a big deal to me.
sab65033 hmoosey
Posted
Hi Hmoosey,
I saw my GP and I have requested Norotryptilin but she advised me not recommended for migraine, but she prescribed me amytryptyline instead for 1 month and stop candesartan tablet as is not doing any good.
I am hesitating to take the amytryptyline.
let me know what do you think.
sab
DizzyLizzy68 sab65033
Posted
Sab, I'm not hmoosey, but wanted to chime in about nortriptyline and amitriptyline. They are both used for migraine prevention. Typically, nortriptyline is the one neuros go to first, but either can work. Supposedly, nortriptyline has less side effects than amitriptyline, but for me it was the opposite. If a person has side effects to one, often the other can be tolerated. Amitriptyline should be taken before bedtime. It can also help you sleep, and is also used for chronic pain. Nortriptyline is supposed to be less sedating and less likely to cause weight gain, which is why many Dr's choose it first. I personally did better with the amitriptyline.
sab65033 DizzyLizzy68
Posted
Hi DizzyLizzy,
I am really sorry for you name confussion,
thank you for you information, i will start taking the Amitriptyline in September for a month and see how it goes with me.
many thank you, just let me know if you cured.
all the best
Sab
DizzyLizzy68 sab65033
Posted
There was no name confusion- I jumped in on your reply to Hmoosey and just wanted to let u know!
Anyway, I am much better now. I have been on propranolol for abt 7years. I think it helped some, but not enough. In March I started Effexor at very low dose- 1/3 of the 37.5mg capsule. I don't take more because it gives me wicked insomnia and makes me feel wired. Either it is helping (even at the lower dose) or menopause is finally done with me (I am 51). I haven't had any dizziness since April. It's weird, I have gotten 2 or 3 REGULAR migraines since then. Bad enough to have to take imitrex. Haven't had those migraines in a very long time. But no dizzies, brain fog or visual issues at all since April.
hmoosey sab65033
Posted
HI Sab
your GP is wrong. sorry to say these doctors have no clue. dizzylizzy is correct. noro and ami are both used. for me, the noro worked immediately. others its the ami. take it sab, you wont know until you try. but norotryptiline is a preferred medication for this. its even listed in medical journals published. so is the amitryptiline. try it. what if it help sab? GP have no clue. you have gotten bad medical advice. research it. there are many articles about it. why are you going to wait ? What is going to change in a month? what if you get an immediate reaction to it. and listen to dizzylizzy, she may not know but she helped me at my worse. reading her posts and answering questions. she knows what she is talking about. thank you dizzylizzy.
DizzyLizzy68 hmoosey
Posted
Aww..thanks Hmoosey! I'm glad you are doing better. Everyone has that certain med that will work for them... You're right- the neuros love nortriptyline for vestibular migraine. Effexor is quickly becoming a top favorite too because it, for some reason, does really well with the dizziness component. Many have to take small doses since it can be stimulating. But it seems to work, even at tiny doses.
sab65033 hmoosey
Posted
Hi Hmoosey ,
you absolutely right, as well as dizzylizzy.
the reason I have said i will try the amitriptyline in September as i am going holiday in few days flying on Friday for 3 weeks after 2 years, I haven't travelled because of my symtoms so I was scared if I start amitriptyline now side affect may be worst.
but I will try it definitely.
please keep me post it as I feel really good talking to you and dizzylizzy.
thank a lot
sab
sab65033 DizzyLizzy68
Posted
Hi DizzyLizzy,
thank you so much for your advice and I really agree for a lot of information you have given.
I will try the Amitriptyline, I hope it will work with me.
I am just scared of side affect and weight gain 🙄
sab65033 DizzyLizzy68
Posted
HI DizzyLizzy,
thanks again, I am 51 too, my neurologist prescribed me candesartan 4 mg for my migraine, I have taken it for 3 months with no result. so I had to stop it, I contacted him to see me ASAP so he can change the medication, so now I saw my GP which advised me to take Amitriptyline for a month and see if helps.
I will give it a try .
DizzyLizzy68 sab65033
Posted
Ahh yes. The dreaded weight gain. Propranolol has done me no favors in that department. And yes, many of the preventatives can cause weight gain unfortunately. The exception is Topomax- it can actually cause weight loss, and is also used as a weight loss med. My Dr wants me to try it since I've gained on propranolol, but I'm afraid of the speech side effects (trouble finding words to communicate). I need that capability in my job, so I haven't tried yet....