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Head pressure, Brain fog, odd head sensation, feeling detached

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Recoverandheal
Recoverandheal

Hi all, 

I decided to become a member and make a post here after reading the forums for quite a while, great site by the way. 

I am currently suffering with various symptoms and am in a bad way and just don't know where to turn any more so thought I would post here and see if anyone has any similar experiences or advice. 

So first of I am male and 26 years old. I have been suffering with the symptoms in the title pretty consistently for about 2 and a half years now. I used to have some relief from the symptoms for a day or 2 here and there or maybe a bit of relief for a few hours in the day but recently the symptoms are pretty much constant and I cannot shake them. 

I have an overall mild pressure feeling in the head, its not painful but is just very aggravating and feels really strange. I also have extreme brain fog with this and like a fuzzy head, there is a constant cloud over my brain and I never have any mental clarity or a clear head. My cognitive function is extremely poor now, my short term memory is non existent, its scarily bad. I often feel, detached from reality when the symptoms are bad and suffer from de-realisation, although I think this may be down to some anxiety and depression I experience when the symptoms run me down. I also get random sharp cramping pains in the head, they are quite painful but do not bother me so much as they only usually last a second or 2, it varies on how many I get of these each day but its usually less than 5. It often feels as though my brain is malfunctioning somehow and my cognitive function and senses are all out of whack, its hard to explain. There can sometimes be a build up of these symptoms throughout the day and by the night I can feel like I somehow how the flu without a fever? Like I have the head pressure, completely foggy headed, I feel super unwell, weak, sometimes even start feeling cold. Also have night sweats usually for about 4 or 5 days each month, there doesnt seem to be any sort of pattern to them that I can notice, so not sure if they are relevant. Another thing I have is ringing in ears which is mild but seems to have gotten worse recently if that sounds relevant at all. The main thing that gets me is the odd head pressure/sensation and the utterly life hindering brain fog, my brain feels like it is coated in a dark blanket constantly.

I do suffer from anxiety, I know many of these symptoms can be caused or made worse by these symptoms. I dont doubt that anxiety is a contributing factor and the way I think about they symptoms probably makes them worse but I have come a long long way with my anxiety, I have good control over it, I haven't had a panic attack in a couple of years, I manage to control most of my concious anxiety and stay in a positive mindset. No doubt I still have some subconscious anxiety underlying and I am working on that but I am not convinced this is the route cause of my symptoms. I am in therapy for my anxiety. I do not feel I will ever fully recover while I have these symptoms hanging over me though. 

I have been to the doctor about these symptoms, although I do think I struggle to explain them or put them across very well in the doctors office. I have have blood tests which are all normal. I saw a neurologist couple of years back when this started, had a CT scan which was normal, they put the stabbing pains down to icepick headaches and thought the other symptoms were probably made worse by my anx/depression. Since then I went away and have been on anti depressants etc with no improvement of symptoms. I have also had a few ECGs and a 24hr ECG as I have slow heart rate and low bp so thought maybe the symptoms could be down to low bp and lack of blood to the brain, doctors do not think think this is the case and all my results came back normal. I have recently been back to the neurologist who is referring me for an MRI although he said he is sure there is nothing sinister and thinks the symptoms are probably tension type headaches and made worse by and previous drug use, he only put it down to the drug use when i told him about it though so it seemed like a convenient diagnosis. I forgot to mention I used to take drugs on the weekends socially, cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy on different occasions for a couple of years, I have had periods where I have felt ok since taking these drugs and do not really think they are the cause, I was not an addict this was just one or 2 nights a month at the weekends. So I have an MRI coming up but the neuro thinks it will be clear and obviously I hope it is and I am looking for other answers. 

What could be causing these symptoms? Other than anxiety which i no can be a factor, but I have periods where my anxiety is pretty much non existent but these symptoms still build up out of nowhere and persist. I was thinking maybe some sort of allergy could be a possibility, I have tried cutting out gluten and lactose, this didn't seem to make much difference although I didn't stick to this for very long. I actually did a juice fast for 2 weeks with eating nothing other than fruit and veg juice put through a juicer to see if that would help but it didn't really give me any relief. Are there any other stomach issues that could cause this? I never have diarrhoea or constipation, my stools always float recently though, to the point of not being able to flush them, also whenever I have seen chance medicine doctors they check me out and say they think i have issues with digestion, i don't feel i have these issues but do wonder if there might be something in it. 

Could there be something going on with the blood vessels in my head? Could it be a spine/posture issue? Some sort of epilepsy or electrical activity in my brain? I just have no idea now and am desperate for some relief. If anyone has any ideas or advice I would really appreciate it. 

Oh just to add I am reasonably fit, I try go to the gym a few times a week and I do some weight lifting. I am a normal weight. I have been losing some weight recently which is a concern but I am still in a normal weight range for height and age. 

Thanks for reading

56 likes, 1496 replies

1496 Replies

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  • luis74497
    luis74497 Recoverandheal

    Posted

    I've been having a headache for one year and five months no appetite for 2 years I have the same feeling in my head ears ringing a little before it was worse  drink eight bottles of water every night Use to wake me out my sleep Dry mouth  testicle pains back pains was just my left side now is both wake up with my right side num and tingling Foamy urine I don't know my body won't shut down  Constant pressure in my head haven't took a nap in one year and five months haven't had a relaxing  Sensation The pressure won't let me after tell me doctors tell me depression Anaxzity disorder 

  • luke2442
    luke2442 Recoverandheal

    Posted

    I've been experiencing these symptoms for about 8 months now. Lots of brain fog, head pressure, derealization, difficulty concentrating, and vision problems (sensitivity to light, visual snow, decreased vision in low lighting). My situation is slightly different though as everything started with a serious bout of anxiety and depression, but I feel the same as you in that I have a much better hold on my anxiety and don't really give into it much at all anymore. 99% of the anxiety I have now is in relation to these issues. I didn't sleep but 1-3 hours a night for the first 2 months of this and then went on Zoloft as I thought all of this was just depression. Zoloft didn't work so I then went on a combination of Zoloft/Welbutrin which also didn't work. Now I'm off the Zoloft (about a month off) and currently coming off of Welbutrin in the hopes that this will help with these issues. Did you ever find a solution for your situation? Has anyone ever had any experience like this? I'm not sure whether this is just a result of the depression that I'm experiencing or if it is side effects from the medication or if it is something completely different. Would really appreciate anybody's thoughts. 

    • tensenmann15005
      tensenmann15005 luke2442

      Posted

      Hi Luke, Its quite possible that your symptoms may be caused by something in your diet (even if you may think that your diet has not changed in over 8 months). Can you please list the foods, drinks, and supplements that your frequently take? specific types of stimulants (coffee, tea) and supplements are of high interest here. 
  • Autumngirl67
    Autumngirl67 Recoverandheal

    Posted

    Hi . Ive had strange sensations for about 27 years after being diagnosed with ebstein barr.

    I was in bed for months . I also have anxiety made worse by the virus. I have been dealing with this almost everyday . Im lucky if theres a day without. After ebstein barr tbey said i has cfs the fibro now RA ive had a ton of test. I do have some narrowing in the fluid passages in my spine. I have hadaches everyday

    Its very scary im still searching for answers . Goodluck .your not alone . I try to ignore it most days then it creaps into my scary thinking again the what ifs.......

  • tensenmann15005
    tensenmann15005 Recoverandheal

    Posted

    Hi Terry, I wanted to ask you some questions that I think may be related. Do you regularly drink green tea or coffee? And do you take any other supplements? Thanks for any reply!
  • tensenmann15005
    tensenmann15005 Recoverandheal

    Posted

    Hi Terry, I wanted to ask you some questions that I think may be related. Do you regularly drink green tea or coffee? And do you take any other supplements? Thanks for any reply!
  • john14403
    john14403 Recoverandheal

    Posted

    Just adding this in case others with a similar set of symptoms end up here like I did. I can relate to the OP almost to a tee. Without fail, symptoms would slowly kick in from about 30 or 40 minutes after waking and get worse and worse until they reached a peak at about 1pm and then they'd just be like that for the rest of the day. Tried an elimination diet. No help. Tried eliminating chemicals, fragrances etc. No help.? Symptoms just like the OP had gradually just got worse over a 5 year period. Also tinnitus and eye floater issues over that same period.

    ?I went and saw every specialist under the sun. MRI. C-scan, radioactive dyes, lumbar punctures, a thousand blood tests - vitamin deficiencies, cortisol, thyroid - EEG, man, you name it. I ended up at a neurologist and I asked him to test me for everything - early onset dementia, Alzheimers etc. Everything. All came back okay. Thankfully.

    ?The last test my neurologist had left was a sleep study. Sleep study? I didn't snore that often. I never work up feeling like I wanted to jump out of bed (it was usually a real effort) but I figured that was just normal. I wasn't obese, pretty fit, non-smoker. The results that came back showed that I had sever obstructive sleep apnoea. The report showed that during REM sleep I was waking (choking) 36 times every hour. Not enough to actually wake me up, but enough to break my sleep without me even knowing. 

    ?I remember pulling some all-nighters in the past to meet a project deadline. When I saw the report and the doctor explained that it was possible I hadn't had real, restful sleep for this 5 year period it started to make a little more sense. Although I had thought I had had the obligatory 7+ hours sleep, I hadn't. It was like pulling an all-nighter every night. I wasn't necessarily feeling super tired physically, but my brain was just crying out for help because it felt like it had been up all night. Again, and again, and again.

    ?A sleep study is easy to get done. They can give you a kit and you just take it home and wire yourself up. Results within days. I'm now exploring a few treatment options. Either CPAP, mouth appliance or surgery. Wish me luck.

  • Mdob
    Mdob Recoverandheal

    Posted

    Ive had most of these symptoms for 13 years and finally come to accept that it is all related to the mental. I have had all the tests and sensors, been to every doctor out there and im perfectly normal, physically. My issues started after a emotionally traumatic experience when i was around 18, that brought up something deep inside me from when i was a child. 95% of everyone with issues in here should stop looking for a physical disease, misalignment, etc. and im almost sure it’s related to anxiety and repressed emotions. You should read about the mind body syndrome and how negative thoughts and repressed anger/sadness will result in physical ailments. Look to therapists and talk through your life, its usually that. Dont let a netative stigma around mental health or the desire for quick fix (xray shows this or blood tests show that so i rake this pill and im better), it doesnt work like that. Our thoughts and mind control our body, what happens when you get mad or nervous, your body reacts. So imagine your subconscious is in a constant state or stress or bother, dont you think your mind and body will be fatigued and feel crappy all the time. Fix your mind and you fix your body.
  • ChimpLegs
    ChimpLegs Recoverandheal

    Posted

    Just like to add my experience here.

    I had some kind of sinus infection over christmas 2017. According to the ENT there is no sign of infection, but it has left me with Tinnitus in both ears.

    I also have this god awful feeling over the top of my head which feels like numbness, pressure, dullness, sometimes feels like liquid moving around. Also my nose tingles like hell and feels as if it is broken.

    I am awaiting a CT scan. I see Lyme disease tests on here, where would I get one?

    Good luck to all!

    • amit29874
      amit29874 ChimpLegs

      Posted

      Hello, I too developed tinnitus so sudden and pressure in top head, ENT has to say it is because of my Sinus however I feel little dizzy also. Somehow I m not convinced and I m on antibiotics for a week time lets see how it responds, 
  • SoniaMariaGut
    SoniaMariaGut Recoverandheal

    Edited

    I’m in kind of the same boat. 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 26 year old Caucasian female. Going on 14 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. My ears are sometimes clogged or  hurt. 

    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 always think I'm having a heart attack, stroke, blood clot in my head or cancer all the time because doctors still don't know why I get these symptoms. I can’t sleep and if I do get lucky and fall asleep I usually wake up out of no where shaking and my heart beats extremely fast, then I get shivers and my stomach starts to cramp. It’s bad. I don’t know what to do anymore.  My life turned around so much because I’m in bed all day long. 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 1 Head CT, Head EEG, a hearing test, multiple blood tests, and no one knows what is wrong. I can't live like this anymore. Any help is greatly appreciated. I really am desperate and my life has lost so much quality. I don’t recognize myself anymore. 

    • rob10979
      rob10979 SoniaMariaGut

      Posted

      I had these same symptoms and ended up going to a endocrinologist before finding out I had hypothyroidism. Don’t go to a regular doctor because they only check your TSH you have to go to an endocrinologist to get your TSH,T3 and T4 checked. You won’t know if you have a thyroid problem unless all these are checked.
    • thierry40000
      thierry40000 rob10979

      Posted

       You did have 24/7 brain pressure with foggy brain and bad headaches at time, Thank you and will check it out. 
    • SoniaMariaGut
      SoniaMariaGut rob10979

      Posted

      Thank you for the info. I’ll call around and see if I can get an appointment. 
    • allise47209
      allise47209 SoniaMariaGut

      Posted

      Have had some of the same issues, went to opthalmologist which found I had optic nerve swelling due to fluid on my brain.
    • joshua60012
      joshua60012 SoniaMariaGut

      Posted

      I have been having these same exact, word for word issues. I want to go to the doctor but I don't know how exactly to describe the symptoms. If you get any answers can you please let me know?! I just want to feel normal again. It's been like 8 months and it's not going away.

    • allise47209
      allise47209 SoniaMariaGut

      Posted

      Had to have a MRI which showed the fluid on the brain. Then had to have lumbar punctures to remove the fluid.
    • reekoAg
      reekoAg SoniaMariaGut

      Posted

      Have you been tested for increased intercranial pressure? I think you have to do a lumbar puncture to test for it.
    • paula08755
      paula08755 SoniaMariaGut

      Posted

      Hi Sonia, my partner has been suffering with exactly the same, he's seen multiple specialist GP, neurologist, and psychologist all with no idea, he's had ct scan that showed nothing blood tests show nothing, he has no has the best start in life and suffered neglect and abuse as a child his sister also suffers with something similar,, he truly believes this head pain an tension is coming from a combination of medication he took bromazepam, piracetam helcor and magnesium. But I don't know, I am starting to think he is suffering with PTSD as he also has anger issues since taking this medication.

    • thierry40000
      thierry40000 reekoAg

      Posted

      I did the lumbar puncture and nothing either but it is a good test for headaches.
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