Spaced out, high, Drunk Feeling. Please help me. (5 MONTHS)
Posted , 160 users are following.
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.
7 likes, 262 replies
EmmanuelD ecdirtdevil
Posted
Hey, I'm a very late reply but I'm 15 years old and experiencing exactly what you are describing. It's been happening to me for about a year now and I'd just get random feelings at random times throughout the day of "drunkness" and "dizziness." Similar to what you said, I'd have visual disturbances and it makes it extremely hard to think correctly. This really has been screwing with my life, and I don't know what to do.
lian92495 ecdirtdevil
Posted
hi, ive been experiencing the same symptoms for several years, fluxotene has helped slightly and it recently turned out i had a vitamin d deficiency which might explain the symptoms, worth getting checked out
jeffrey36526 ecdirtdevil
Posted
i have cerebellar ataxia
jeff73591 ecdirtdevil
Posted
I've been experiencing all of this as well for the last 15 years or so and would love to hear from others who are going through this as well.
The visual stuff is really the hardest to describe... it feels like my eyes are misaligned or something. It's like how you feel if you stare at a computer screen all day and your eyes get feeling heavy, it gets harder to focus on things and you almost feel slightly cross eyed. That's how my eyes feel 24/7. I find certain situations make it worse... like being in busy visual environments like a grocery store or the mall... especially ones that are very bright. I find it especially uncomfortable when talking face to face with people because I feel like I'm completely stoned sometimes and thinking they must thing I'm stoned because this is how I feel... it's a very strange feeling. It's like "visual vertigo"... my eyes feel dizzy.
In addition to the visual symptoms my cognitive function is really poor. I feel like I'm in a daze all the time... it's incredibly hard to concentrate and maintain focus on things, I'm forgetful and in general just lack mental clarity and feel REALLY "slow". Constant light-headed and woozy feeling. It's as if my brain isn't getting proper oxygen or blood flow. I also get head pressure and my eyes and ears hurt most of the time.
Another big problem for me is trouble sleeping. My brain feels like it's in a constant state of hyper-awareness which makes going to sleep impossible. I've been on sleep meds for probably 10 years and tried to get off them so many times but my brain doesn't shut off without them.
All of these symptoms that I have mentioned I have been experiencing constantly 24/7 for 15 years or more. About 7 years ago now I developed new symptoms that also have been constant. These include fatigue, muscle weakness, eye floaters, tinnitus, and many more... I could go on and on 😃
So sorry to anyone who has to go through this and not get any answers.
john3218 jeff73591
Posted
have you ever treated with a neurologist?
jeffrey36526 jeff73591
Posted
i have cerebellum ataxia
jeff73591 john3218
Posted
I had a consult with a neurologist and this was what was said in the report. "On examination, the most distinctive feature was his unremitting concern over symptoms; it was almost of delusional intensity." It then goes on to say that my cranial nerves, motor, sensory, and cerebellar systems were normal.
john3218 jeff73591
Posted
yeah man i deal with those exact same symptoms from time to time since i was 14. im 31 now. a big part of it is your bodys reaction to stress but that is not all thats causing it. over the years i found it has to do a lot with muscle tension in your neck and shoulders. this affects the nerves in your head that activate your brain which causes those confused feelings and visual problems. its been described to me as a type of tension headache. my neurologist told me that half of his day is dealing with people that have these symptoms. it doesnt show up on any tests so they cant diagnose it but they can treat it. stretching, ice, medication like amitriptlyn, all help me and for most of my life it was controlled. dont drink any alcohol and smoke weed either it makes it worse and will keep it around for months
john3218 ecdirtdevil
Edited
I did some more research on this because it is something I have been dealing with off and on since I was 14. I am 32 now and although I got these symptoms young, I can say that most of my life I have had it under control and have not had to deal with it.
What is going on is your body is getting stuck in flight or flight mode. Its kind of like a panic attack without the panic. Blood flow gets redirected from the head, you get sensitive to light, headaches, muscle tension, dizzy, etc, etc, etc. This can be caused by anything from migraines to bumping your head to smoking weed or drinking. Its very common and the biggest reason for these symptoms is STRESS & ANXIETY. Its important to note that these symptoms do not manifest until days or even months after the stress. Its easier said than done but the first step in recovery is stop being stress or anxious. Look up the term derealozation but do not get stuck on anyones personal story. This will go away if you take care of yourself. If anyone needs to contact me you can reach out at
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eliseo71130 john3218
Posted
This is the same thing my doctor told me but im not sure i believe it.
Its been two months now and I still have a heavy head with pressure. In the mornings I can feel my fingers have pins and needles or is numb. Also parts of my back ache in the morning...and my feet have slight burning sensations...getting chills anytime its cold outside.
Very odd behavior from my nerves.
And it all started after having flu-like symptoms in January. As I was recovering I developed slight vertigo.
It went away but eventually a few weeks later turned into ear fullness and facial tension. And has progressed into the symptoms I have now. Burning, throbbing sensations, swollen head pain (especially when leaning forward or moving too quick) -and slight shortness of breath.
Any idea of what it may be?
kyre08892 john3218
Posted
hey john ive been dealing with this for awhile now do you have a direct number or could i message you on here?
joshuawillow90 ecdirtdevil
Posted
i have the same symptoms and i noticed them when i was in primary school aged about 10. Every year i would have periods of really bad dizziness fainting spells and headaches with eye pain plus brain fog and other things. Since November last year I have got worse with energy levels. i have been refered to a local hospital because my symptoms fit with M.E or CFS. The hospital have a chronic fatigue service so hopefully all other conditions are ruled out and i can be diagnosed properly.
kyre08892 ecdirtdevil
Posted
hey ive been dealing with the same exact but also with slight ear pain been the an ent says my ears are fine, i always feel drunk with dull headaches honestly want to sleep all the time. how were your out comes been to chiropractors seem to help just a little bit
eliseo71130 kyre08892
Posted
Do you have headaches or head pressure?
I also have throbbing, burning numb sensations in my hands and feet sometimes
kyre08892 eliseo71130
Posted
mainly headaches and drunk feeling with visual discomfort, sometimes pressure in head an eyes