Spaced out, high, Drunk Feeling. Please help me. (5 MONTHS)

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Hi everyone.

My name is Erik. I am a 20 year old male, thin build. 6' 2'' at 170 lbs. I have had really debilitating issues for the last 5 months. The issue is that I feel drunk, spacey, loopy, high and dizzy all the time. It basically feels the same as if you were tipsy or the high feeling you can get. I also have visual disturbances. My vision has become blurry and I have somewhat tunnel vision. I just feel all around out of it. I find myself daydream, when I say this I mean my eyes don't focus on anything (go blurry) and just look at nothing. I think it might be slight double vision. Sounds are also very werid and it takes alot of energy to focus on visual and audio stimulants. Additionally, I am tired all the time. Extremely tired. Some days I will sleep very well for 10-11 hours and still be tired when I wake up and exercise will not wake me up. It is like the type of good solid sleep you have when your body is sick.. My memory has gotten really bad as well as my ability to process thoughts and engage in conversation. Imagine being drunk all the time...first I have been reading on boards like this for a long time now and have seen some people with these symptoms but no answers!! People seem to disappear. I hope hey have solved this problem but please let me know how!

Let me start by giving some background information. In August 2015 I was in an indoor rock climbing gym and fell from 15 feet straight onto my back. I could not move for a good 15 minutes because it hurt so bad. I wasn't able to do anything athletic after that day for at least a month. However, I did not have my current symptoms after this fall. 

Fast forward to December 15th 2015. I got really sick, was in bed for 4 days. Sore throat, eyes hurt like crazy, and super tired. It was during and after these 4 days that I developed a headache. This headache causes a pressure/dull/sharp pain behind my eyes, the upper bridge of my nose and right in between my eyes on my forehead. This headache lasted for about 4 months. 

At about 3 weeks into the headache I went and saw an ENT as I thought it was a sinus infection. i took multiple sets of antibiotics over the course of the next month to no avail. I got blood tests and liver test at around 2 months into the headache and nothing showed abnormal. I then was able to get into a nuerologist. They were unable to find anything after taking an MRI of my head with a barium contrast. 

Since the beginning of my headache I have been seeing a (PT) physical therapist mostly for my neck and back since after the fall my back is sore constantly. I had a neck injury about 5 years ago on a trampoline so I have a sore neck, tight muscles alot from that. 

At about 3 months into the headache (3/15/2015) I developed a new symptom, the drunk/high, dizziness, loopiness. I had the headache at the same time at this point. My PT suggested that I may have a blood vessel being pinched in my neck or a nerve being pinched in my mid back area where my rock climbing fall pain is mostly at.

I have been to 3 different chiropractors since this has occured about 5 times to each one. It has not helped so far. My PT gave me massages in my affected back and neck areas. 

Also a new thing I've noticed recently is that when I look up (bend my neck to look at the sky) I seem to get some sort of relief? Also ever since the loopy part started (this did not happen when I just had the headache) any amount of alcohol at all will make me SUPER DRUNK, literally like 2 sips. I used to be able to drink 3 full beers before getting buzzed.

I am thinking I want my doctor to give me a full head (brain/upper atlas) to lower back (tailbone) MRI so that my nerves and blood vessels going to my brain can be evaluated. Do you think this is a good idea? Has anyone had these symptoms before? I am now 5 months into this and it is debilitating. 

No doctor is taking me seriously because I am so young and the chances of having a serious problem are supposedly slim because of my age. PLEASE HELP!!! I feel like I'm caught in a dream and losing my awareness and my IQ. I am afraid something is damaging my brain and this is going to be permanent.

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  • Posted

    ive been feeling like this for over 1 year and i cant get an answer. my primary first said to drink more water then maybe my migraines i dont get an answer and this feeling is so frustrating please let me know if you find anything out.

  • Posted

    Hi everyone. I have been dealing with the same symptoms for the past 7 months and it has been extremely debilitating. I will list my symptoms below - I hope anyone is still on this thread and can relate/provide insight.

    Sleep - No matter how much sleep I get, It feels like I haven't slept at all. Getting out of bed is near impossible. As soon as I get up I immediately want to go back to bed or just lie down. I feel like I could sleep for weeks at a time and its ruining my life. I am such an active person, personal trainer, I love being up and exploring and doing things and being active 24/7, its like a flip switched and suddenly I cant do anything. I'm so tired.

    Eyes- My eyes are so sensitive to light, I'm constantly squinting and have this weird burning sensation behind my eyes as if I am about to cry but nothing comes out. I can hardly keep my eyes open during the day and I have tunnel vision and blurry spots all around my vision. The eye floaters are terrible too, like I'm constantly looking through a dirty windshield.

    Back- IMPORTANT - For years now, my upper back pops, grinds, snaps, when I take in a deep breath. When I bend down to pick things up it pops on my way up. When I lie down on my side it gets infinitely worse, it pops and snaps with every breath and sometimes its so loud it echoes in the room and my girlfriend is concerned. Its like my upper back is made of bubble wrap... as weird as that sounds. It pops HUNDREDS of times a day and it is not a fun, comfortable feeling. I have a strong inclination that this is a main culprit of why I feel the way I do. I got a full X-ray, but everything came back perfect. Weird...

    Brain Fog- I have always been a very sharp, quick, alert person. I enjoy puzzles and riddles and challenges and trivia, I love researching and learning many topics. I've considered myself an intellect nearly my whole life. This has all gone down the drain. I feel like I'm living in a daze, like this constant dream-state. It's like I am constantly in-between awake and asleep. Mental Purgatory I call it. Driving is difficult, I space out so much, I have difficulty finishing my thoughts. Time is distorted, I worked a new job for over 6 months and I thought I was there for 2 months....... freaky. I feel like I am constantly in a hurry, time flies by yet everything around me is in slow motion. Sometimes it feels like I am looking through the eyes of someone that is not myself. I am super jumpy at loud noises. I used to be so calm and relaxed and grounded. Healthy. Now I feel like a vegetable and a complete loser. It's like I'm not in the drivers seat anymore.

    Ears - They pop and snap every time I swallow. I open up my mouth and past a certain point, they pop. I feel dizzy often and it sends me into a panic attack because I feel like I have no control over myself and my body. I'm oddly clumsy now.... I walk into things, drop things, feel like I have very little motor control and spacial awareness. My body feels light as a feather and my limbs just feel weird, a floaty, weak feeling in my arms and legs that I can't accurately describe.

    How can someone go from being an athlete that spends his waking hours doing physical activity, maintaining a very active social life, having so much energy and mental fortitude to take on the world; to a bed-ridden, brain fogged, sleepy, lazy, depressed, mess of a human being? I feel like my life is over. I want myself back. I am seeing a Cranial-Sacral therapist this week and will report my findings. I'm scared.

    • Posted

      I have the same exact issues. we're you ever diagnosed? my vision is going out it seems. Also feels like I never sleep. I suspect craniocervical instability. Will message you friend.

  • Posted

    i have been going through this for 4 years! having a pretty bad week as well this week. extreme fatigue, ears feel blocked. has anyone else had what feels like pins and needles in one side of the head and twitching around the temples? seen the doctor multiple times, says its due to depression and anxiety! had bloods done, no issues found. even went to the emergency room and was told i was healthy unwell and it was all in my head. (well yeah thats why i went!) i also feel sick but my main issue is that it will go for sometimes months on end then come back for no apparent reason.

  • Edited

    I have something similar usually last a couple seconds or minutes. I will feel drunk or high disoriented, dizzy, my vision will become blurry feels like being in a dream. I work in costumer service and usually it happens in front of costumer. When it happens it is extremely hard to talk or have any type of communication. Everything becomes overwhelming like I'm about to faint but I won't. Listening to people is kinda easy but processing and understanding what have been say become as hard as trying to talk. It happens out of no where without warning, tho sometimes I will know a few seconds before it start by ants feeling in my hands or in my chest. Doctor thinks it might be a brain injury, cancer, infection or even a type of epilepsy. So far no conclusion they have no idea... if someone knows anything let me know. it is gradually getting worst and happens multiple times in a day. Also, I noticed after every episode it makes me really tired or exhausted. I used to have a high memory before. Could remember every stuff, days, moments without problems as if it was an hour ago. Since this started I notice a huge decline in my memory...

  • Edited

    Hello Erik did you figure out what was causing this? I have the same exact symptoms went to many different specialists and I've come to suspect it's a condition called craniocervical instability that had developed a couple weeks after a traumatic neck injury. Apparently it can only really be seen on an upright flexion/extension mri and or an rotating xray. Anyway hang in there friend would love to know how you are doing!

  • Edited

    did you find out the cause? i am 27 and this is exactly how I've been feeling for the past few months too, minus the injury, but i do take part in pole dancing classes so I'm not sure if maybe that might have triggered it by being upside down a lot. i had doctors in June and they said it was down to dehydration but I've been constantly drinking so i don't think it is that. i also had a bloody test that came back "satisfactory." I recently had a retinal migraine too which i think could be linked. I'm constantly getting headaches, like tension headaches with pressure feeling in my head, and if i bend down my head feels like it may explode. I feel like my memory hasn't been too good lately and today i felt really confused and disoriented at work. I'm really scared and hoping its not anything serious. I keep googling which i shouldn't i just need answers. i have a doctors appointment coming up so hope i can get some closure and reassurance as to what this is.

    • Posted

      what did your doctor say? this is similar to me as well. thanks!

  • Posted

    Holy hell, ive been having most of these issues since 2009 and doctors haven't been able to find out whats wrong or even care. I've had multiple scans in 14 years and my last scan my neurologist said that I just need therapy. It's been getting worse and it's so debilitating. my head feels so foggy like in constantly tipsy or drugged up. I never fell or anything, it just started done day. My rheumatologist just referred me to a cardiologist so hoping maybe some answers. Can't take it anymore 😞.

  • Posted

    hey, im 19 and ive been having these same issues. for me as strange as it sounds, mine seemed to be to an oversensitivity to vitamin B, seemingly b6 or b12. if you happen to consume liquid iv, or other high sodium/electrolyte drinks id look into it and see if youre taking a surplus of something. i stopped taking it about a month ago and i seem to slowly be getting better. best of luck!

  • Edited

    Hi,

    I have been suffering from this for last 3 years and I am just tired of this. I tried explaining this to my doctors but they don't really understand. I see things but i feel its blur or i am day dreaming most of the time. i sleep but my brain does not and in the morning i am so tired. I am so clumsy now. i drop thing, i hit glass hard to my mouth while drinking. I forget names, my task. I feel stupid. please some one who received help kindly let me know how

    regards,

    shabaaz

  • Edited

    i have dealt with all these same symptoms for 4 months. same story of seeing many doctors and getting no answers. i found an article from

    someone that interested me. It said that, for him, it turned out to be persistent postural- Perceptual Dizziness, and Vestibular Migraines .https://vestibular.org/spotlight/my-life-changed-in-an-instant-i-felt-as-if-i-was-drunk-24-7-and-had-no-idea-why/

  • Posted

    hi Eric i came across this post, im going through the exact same thing. did you get any relife or accurate diagnosis ?

  • Posted

    Hello, I am currently experiencing every symptom youve stated, including the neck pain and problems. I have a baby and feel debilitated with life, bad basic doctors checks but no scans, I cant live my life like this anymore, any one have any revelation?

  • Posted

    please has anyone found the cure for this?

    mine started few days ago. Am so scared

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