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
kimberly3553 Elise93
Posted
I know this message is from 3yrs ago. I just couldn't believe that someone else has had the EXACT symptoms I have. I have been suffering for about a year on and off. I have not read the comments yet or even to see if you found any answers. I have not even though I have been to the Doctors and have been tested for several things. Like I said, I haven't read the comments yet but will do that now, maybe I can find answers. Thank you for writing in about your symptoms. I feel less alone and less crazy.
squirtless Elise93
Posted
I am basically going through the same thing and trying to get help.
I have been making the round of doctor's too. I would suggest getting your eyes checked to see if you have issues with your optic nerve.
You sound like you have a few things going on at once like me. It would be helpful if those were all pointing to one diagnosis though.
You probably have multiple types of headaches on the go. Try and find a headache clinic run by a doctor.
You also might be suffering from vertigo, which is very debilitating. There are 4 maneuvers that can be done to get rid of it. Ask your primary to send you to a doc or physio who can do one. Don't try the at home one.
Always wear flat shoes.
Get a washcloth nice and cold and lay down and put it over your eyes.
Stay away from packaged foods.
As for meds, one that helped was Naltrexone. It helped right away with headaches and dizziness.
I really hope you can get a diagnosis. Please keep track of everything medical. Do a journal if possible. Keep fighting!!!
fred85137 Elise93
Posted
Hello
I recognize myself in what you re describing, feeling of derealization, light sensitivity particularly at night, make it impossible to drive, wake up with it or can be fine during day light and when dark comes so symptoms comes too,
The issue with this is that can be from so many different causes ( digestives, neurologic, vision, brain, spine...) makes it very very difficult to diagnose
I had it for months, years and suddenly disappeared for years and decided to comes back for 18 months now, why did it comes back ? no idea
The most frustrating for me is to not know, to not be able to explain it, I had so many theories about it but none were accurate proving me wrong each time
I feel sleep is a big part of it,, digestive issues like ibs ,migraines too this are my 3 tops possible explanations
good luck, hope you feel better since the time you posted
Gettingbetter Elise93
Posted
I saw your post and it sounds like me...were you able to identify the cause/solve the problem?
shtick55313 Elise93
Posted
hey i need everyone to go check out their vertebrobasilar arteries im 100% sure its vertebral artery compression
shtick55313 Elise93
Posted
Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia look this up please and talk to your doctor about it !
Stef0083 Elise93
Edited
This post is the closest description ive found to what ive been experiencing. the 2nd closest was binocular vision dysfunction but after a long drawn out process with eye docs i discovered that is not my problem. plus im experiencing fullness in mu ears and tinnitus (saw ENT who ran a battery of tests to discovery everything was "perfect").
ive been dealing with this for almost 4 months. out of the blue on a short road trip (i was driving) i became "dizzy" while going over a bridge/overpass. i didnt feel like i was going to pass out but almost like my eyes went out of focus or something. it happened again the next day driving through the mountains and i talked myself down from a panic. the next day i was driving surface streets and felt so weird...like i was in a dream or a movie. shortly after, a legit panic attack came over me and i had to pull over. i felt like i was going to faint because i felt so out of my head and then realizing i was behind the wheel of a 2 ton piece of metal sent me into a panic. That weird feeling hasnt gone away since and my eyes go out of focus especially whenj looking at my phone. i have to take anti anxiety meds before driving and i avoid bridges/overpasses. im getting headaches regularly, ears feel full, pressure behind my eyes, tinnitus and general fatigue. brain is foggy and i feel like im delayed on thoughts/visual/movements. NEVER felt this before in my life and its pushing me into depression. my life has stopped. im an active person and i do a lot of things solo (use to) and im not an anxious person AT ALL so its beyond frustrating having doctor after doctor tell me ive just randomly developed a panic disorder overnight.
2 ER visits to rule out serious stuff. bloodwork, ekg, chest xray, non con head ct were all normal. ENT exams all good including a sinus CT. All eye exams good. next appt is a neurologist. ENT said she thinks its vestibular migraine so she prescribed propanolol but im not noticing a change. im at a huge loss.
Crow_Rose Stef0083
Posted
This sounds exactly like mine. even down to thinking BVD, I got the special glasses, the only thing that stopped were the headaches (about 99% of them anyway) However, none of the dizziness,Anxiety,Panic or sort of out-of-body feeling has stopped. I've been to multiple specialists..nothing, they all say it's just anxiety, which i didn't deal with until this started..(not to this capacity anyway) Both neurologists i went to were absolute jokes, now the cardiologist tells me i have POTS...without running a single test..literally just had a conversation with Him, and now I'm on Metropolol (Beta-blockers) that do absolutely nothing for me 😕
Stef0083 Crow_Rose
Posted
i finally have an appointment set up with a neurologists in s couple of weeks but, just like you, im afraid its going to be a waste of time. im going to have to seek out alternative/eastern medicine for an answer after this. none of this makes sense. So they did no test for POTS? did they at least get orthostatic vitals on you?
is there anything in your recent past that you think would be a factor? illnesses? do you have any issues with your neck/c-spine? ive been looking into info on vagus nerve compression.
ugh i cant believe this has gone this far. thank you for your reply !
shtick55313 Stef0083
Posted
look into vertbro basilar dolicoestacia i think this is what your dealing with. ive been dealing with this for almost four years now. youre still in the early stages so its very much fixable stay. ALSO this is important considering you have the pressure still try VITAMIN A tell me if helps. it got rid of my symptoms for a while
Stef0083 shtick55313
Posted
thanks for your reply and the information. i hadnt heard of that before; interesting and a little scary =\ i looked up the symptoms and dysphasia keeps coming up. did/do you experience that? what about headaches? crazy, i just got vitamin A a few days ago! i read it could help unblock ears if they are plugged.
shtick55313 Stef0083
Posted
i havent been diagnosed with it but i am sure my symptoms are caused by that or a compressed jugular vein. and no i havent i think symptoms range from person to person. i felt all the symptoms you did pressure in my head on the left side behind my eyes ears would pop ear fullness dissociation pain along my jaws like i was in a whole different universe it almost felt like
Stef0083 shtick55313
Posted
wgat have you been doing to manage it? are you planning on going in for a diagnosis? i definitely feel "pressure" in my head and neck too. its difficult because it radiates. from the cery beginning i thought it had something to do with my neck
shtick55313 Stef0083
Posted
ive gone to see the doctors so many times now and everything keeps coming back normal so they pretty much gave up on me. i got an appointment with the neurologist soon so ill see where that takes me gonna ask them to run tests on my veins and arteries cause im certain thats where the root of all my problems stems from. ive lived with this so long now that all the pressure is gone its almost like a numbness now and brainfog is the one symptom i still have left and that usually stems from either anxiety or a compressed jugular vein so im focusing my energy into looking into that.
Crow_Rose Stef0083
Posted
No test at all! No vitals either! Crazy, right?
Nothing i can think of, mine started Sept. 8th, i was just sitting there in an orientation and everything went grey and i almost passed out, then the dizziness never went away.
No issues that i'm aware of, i know i have scoliosis but not very severely at all. I have heard a lot about c-spine issues for some people like us where chiropractic work helped but, i haven't tried it myself.
shtick55313
Edited
i suggest getting a dopler echo for anybody here. seems like everyone gets mris and everything just comes back normal
Stef0083 shtick55313
Posted
i have a neuro appt in a couple weeks and im defintely going to bring that up. im also going to go to a naturopath/chiropractor and start down that route. the surreal/dream like state makes it scary to drive and random moments ill get dizzy- seems to be triggered by seeing large bridges and the scenery changing . my mind goes into panic mode because it knows something isnt right. i can imagine how those arteries/veins would effect everything in your head including your eye function. i just cant believe this us happening and no answers from the "professionals". thank god for forums like this where we can communicate and educate each other
Stef0083 Crow_Rose
Posted
that is so scary. do you get dizzy like the room is spinning. my dizziness isnt like that but its hard to explain; the doctors get so frustrated . i just cant believe something like this comes on out of the blue and theres no answers (so far) . orthostatic vitals would be step one i would think if you believe someone has POTS. then again i went to the ER with these symptoms (including feeling like my heart was pounding ) , all test came back fine so the doctor suggested i contact my Primary care doc about a heart monitor to wear. Meanwhile he didnt even listen to my heart or lungs with the stethoscope!!!! they can be so a$$ backwards. you really do have to research and advocate for yourself ! on that note thank you for your insight and feedback
shtick55313 Stef0083
Edited
yeah exactly i also recommend getting an dopler echo test a lot quicker to get than an mri and it'll show you if theres any restricted bloodflow
Stef0083 shtick55313
Posted
great info thank you !
Crow_Rose Stef0083
Edited
My dizziness is hard to explain as well, almost more like an un-calibrated feeling? not room spinning dizzy or drunk dizzy.
Yeah i had a dopler done recently..everything was "perfect" so, i would like to maybe try the Halter monitor, but i'm curious to see how your upcoming tests go!! Hoping it can give you some answers, as well as the rest of us hopefully!!
Stef0083 Crow_Rose
Edited
im almost 40 and ive went my whole life never hearing about anyone feeling this way. it is so so strange. ill definitely be reporting back after these appts! thank you
Stef0083 Crow_Rose
Edited
went to the neurologist today and she was really thorough with getting my history and listening to concerns. she did what im assuming is a standard neuro exam and of course i passed with flying colors. she is starting me on a migraine medication and setting up sn appointment for MRI. i asked her if it could possibly be vertibrobasilar dolichorestacia and she said its not likely as every patient shes seen with that has had some kind of vertigo symptoms which i dont have. hoping for answers soon. i just applied for disability insurance as its almost impossible for me to work like a normal person and driving is difficult. fingers crossed. going to see a naturopath in a few days too
Crow_Rose Stef0083
Posted
I DO have the vertigo side of things unfortunately,but i hope you get the disability insurance! please keep me posted! but yeah driving is the absolute worst with this 😕
Stef0083 Crow_Rose
Posted
so get to where its like the room is spinning, lose balance etc?
Crow_Rose Stef0083
Posted
Only once or twice has it gotten to room spinning, otherwise yeah it's more of a loss of balance/ uncalibrated feeling?
When driving i'll get the stong urge to tilt my head to try and help the balance for some reason.