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Sudden blurred vision, out of it, fatigue, tight throat, pain in back of neck and skull for 5 months

Posted , 15 users are following.

ethan87408
ethan87408

HI there, I want to start by saying that I am going to be as thorough as possible with this post so be patient as I will be entering a lot of information starting with when my symptoms started exactly. 

For starters, I recently turned 20 years old and am entering my third year of University. I am an athlete and have been active and in good health my entire life. About 5 months ago, I was living a pretty normal life until one day my symptoms started. I remember it like it was yesterday, I hadn't gotten much sleep one night and had also been drinking that night. The next morning I had to wake up early to help set up for a super bowl watch party. Obviously I was sort of hungover but I didn't feel any different than usual. My friend and I went to the store to get some stuff, and suddenly I started feeling a strange "out of it" sensation. I felt dizzy, had blurred vision, and I remember having a tight sensation in my throat or feeling like there was a ball stuck in it. I figured maybe it was from the drinking and although I was worried I figured it would be gone when I woke up in the morning. 

Well, it didn't go away the next day and a day later when I was walking on campus towards my first class, I just couldn't make it there and felt like I was going to pass out. Since these symptoms first started, I have had good days and bad days, but ultimately my main symptoms have been blurred vision, a constant brain fog, sensitivity to sound and light, stiff feeling in back of neck and base of skull, fatigue, feeling like there is a notch in my throat. 

To date, I have had blood tests done, blood sugar tested, blood pressure, and an eye exam. Also it's not my heart because I had an EKG done a year ago when I was having shoulder/chest pain, turned out to be muscular. i have also been given sinus and migraine medication even though I knew it wasn't either of those causes. 

Ever since this started it has affected my grades, as I have had to walk out on exams for fear of passing out, it is affecting my personal relationships because anytime someone wants to hangout I just feel like I can't because I feel out of it and don't feel up to do anything at all. I have been working our 4-5 days a week since I was in high school it has been extremely hard to keep on working out since this started. I am tired a lot and have no drive. 

Based on my symptoms the main things that I think it could be and haven't been tested for would be a chiari malformation, lyme disease, Atlas sublexation in my neck, or something else. 

If any of you have any information that may help me with this, I would be so grateful, I really just want my life back and will do anything to get better. Thank you. Let me know if you need any more info. 

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • ethan87408
    ethan87408

    Posted

    Also, I forgot to add that I've noticed that when I drink alcohol the symptoms will momentarily be sort of numbed for that night, but I guess that's to be expected. However, if I do drink, for days or weeks afterward the symptoms are substantially worse, causing me to stay in bed almost all day and feel nauseated. Its basically like a hungover feeling times 10 and with my symptoms I already have. Also I've noticed that if I get little sleep the symptoms are worse than normal. 

  • rocksolid
    rocksolid ethan87408

    Posted

    Problem is most of us are the same and nobody seems to know why. I have been spaced out or light headed for over 6 yrs everyday. My Nuero thinks it vestibular migrains and I am going to try botox injections. How is your posture? My head is always forward and it pulss on ytour neck which can mess up your muscles like the SCM muscle and that can mess up your balance. You may weant to consider a chiropractor or going to P/T
  • lou07190
    lou07190 ethan87408

    Posted

    Hey man same symptoms for like a year now, today i just got an incision done in my middle ear and so far no pressure headaches for two days (its a start) no vertigo either. Also, if you wear glasses and you never wear them that may be a problem, i rules out so many things ive had , menieres, sinnisitus, tmj, eustation tube dysfunction, pots, pill toxidity and countless others. So far the incision has been helpful, what ive noticed is that we all have anxiety on this page and that may be it, not so sure yet but almost everyone has some form of anxiety and you would think its because the feeling sucks but it might also be the cause. Ill keep you updated if you havent already had the procedure done. Best of luck.
  • Sprozz
    Sprozz ethan87408

    Posted

    I'm in the same boat mate. Been around 5 months now.

    I think anxiety related but I'm not sure wither these are symptoms of anxiety or whether anxiety is a symptom along with everything else.

    Been tested for alot of things, but nothing seems to help.

    Anxiety tablets, namely propanolol has helped calm some of the more physical effects. I put that down to the anti inflammatory properties. So that's an option to calm things.

    Other than that, i've been to a chiropractor last week. And basically my thoracic spine was curved and immobile and I had forward head posture which was limiting my range of motion in my neck.

    Alot of nerves run through various parts and if ur scm muscle becomes short due to forward head posture it can cause alot of problems.

    Atm I'm doing alot of exercises to help pull my head and neck back into alignment, but that's after I had a chiropractor loosen up my spine.

    I would recommend you stop doing any gym activities as if u have bad posture u will only be strengthening muscles that are already causing problems, which is the mistake I've made.

    I knew I had posture problems since a teenager and thought blasting out exercises would help with that, when I just made everything worse. I'm 26 now.

    I've had one session so far, and got to go back once a week for 6 weeks and then RE asses, but i already feel alot more mobile.

    See a chiropractor, and in the meantime check out the scm muscle and look up stretching and releasing trigger points that build up along it.

    Hopefully one of us on this thread finds something, because as u say, it's really putting a downer on everything.

    I've got a kid on the way, and I can't afford for this to affect things.

  • brooke44393
    brooke44393 ethan87408

    Posted

    Your symptoms sound a lot like what I’ve been battling.  I have Chiari Malformation I.  The problem is that most doctors are taught that a herniation of the cerebral tonsils 5mm or less doesn’t cause any symptoms.  But the size actually has nothing to do with the symptoms.  You need an MRI and if you think it’s a strong possibility you need to find a neurologist and neurosurgeon that specialize in Chiari.  

    This may not be your issue of course but it’s worth looking into.  Most people are born with it but mine was caused by an auto accident.  It’s common for people to go their whole life with no symptoms and then suddenly in their 20’s and 30’s start getting symptoms.  The one thing that makes me think this is you mentioned the pressure at the back of your head.  Pressure and pain and headaches in the back of the head are one of the main Chiari symptoms but there are a lot of others too.  

  • tana42984
    tana42984 ethan87408

    Posted

    Ethan, I have had the exact same symptoms you had. The daily migraines, blurry vision, foggy brain, neck pain, facial palsy, nausea, numbness in arms, and also severe hair loss. I’d desperately like to know if you figured out what was causing you all the medical problems? I’ve had daily migraines for two months now. My vision is getting worse by the day. I’m seeing a Neurologist this next week and I am really worried. I have daily chronic pain and feel like I’m losing my mind. I can’t concentrate and feel exhausted all the time. I’m hoping you can help me? I know it’s been two years since you wrote, but if you can help me in anyway I would so appreciate it. I’m really scared. My symptoms seem to be down to the three things you thought you might have. I just hope my doctors will figure out what I have. I’m pretty much bedridden last three weeks. Praying for my life back. Thank you for listening. Tana
    • lisa50263
      lisa50263 tana42984

      Posted

      Research a Chiari Specialist... no one else knows a damn thing. Try to relax, keep the anxiety down... and please have your thyroid checked.
    • angela25349
      angela25349 tana42984

      Posted

      I’ve been experiencing these symptoms for 10 days now. I had a CT brain two days ago that showed low lying cerebellar tonsils but they says it not low enough to cause severe symptoms so I should get my vision checked. I have an appt Tuesday so let’s see what the eye doctor. I’m really scared too especially being a single mother of two. All I do is cry and worry.  All I want to do is go to sleep and hope I wake up and feel normal again. 

       

  • chelsie18782
    chelsie18782 ethan87408

    Posted

    i have the same exact symptoms, but my neck and head will get shaky. almost feels like a seizure but i had an mri done & it came out good. 

    my neck has no curve to it, & i have two bulging discs. i’m so over this.. my head and neck feel so heavy, i have spots in my vision.. and alot more. still trying to figure out exactly what’s wrong. i also have vertigo. 

    let me know what you figure out please! 

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