4 years of pressure feeling in head, sleepiness, strange vision, slurred speech [Archive]

hickoryguy28139

11-09-2006, 10:28 PM

pab

11-10-2006, 07:02 AM

if you have lived at the same place for 4 years, try staying somewhere else for a little while......and see if you can remember what may have been different about those few good days....and when you stay some where else, dont bring your pillow...good luck

LIZARD

11-10-2006, 10:50 AM

Anytime anyone has symptoms of head or neck pain and vision issues/dizziness for a prolonged period of time, particularly if they are worsening, an MRI should be done. If you haven't done this yet, get one right away. The symptoms can indicate a multitude of neuro issues, including cysts, tumors, and malformations.

Good luck...

LIZARD :)

hickoryguy28139

11-12-2006, 09:08 PM

I had a MRI last year at Bowman Grey a leading neurological teaching hospital in North Carolina and they seemed to think it was stress related also. I have lived in three different counties over the last four years so I don't think it’s environmental either. My symptoms don't seem to be getting any worse or better. Could it be thyroid, migraine, anemia or diabetes related since these illnesses run in the family. Right now my front teeth are killing me, my eyes are dry, I feel like I'm wearing a halo and the lights are dim looking. Its almost like I have a sinus headache all the time without the sinus problems.

LIZARD

11-12-2006, 11:20 PM

I had a MRI last year at Bowman Grey a leading neurological teaching hospital in North Carolina

Has it been checked out by a neurosurgeon? You could have something easily missed by a neurologist, such as a "small" Chiari Malformation. Neurologists are not trained to treat matters of brain structure and malformations, and something that may seem "insignificant" to them can actually result in a multitude of debilitating symptoms. If a nsg trained in "small" growths and abnormalities of brain structure hasn't looked at it yet, get one to check it out. A second--or even 20th--opinion when you have symptoms like these, especially for this long a time, is always a good idea.

Good luck!

LIZARD :)

hickoryguy28139

11-13-2006, 11:18 AM

The MRI was actually done and evaluated by the head neurosurgon of Bowman Grey. My mother had some connections!! . Then again later by just a plain neuro doctor in the county. I guess I could go to another one if still palusable.

pab

11-13-2006, 02:18 PM

thyroid, migraine, anemia or diabetes related since these illnesses run in the family. Right now my front teeth are killing me, my eyes are dry, I feel like I'm wearing a halo and the lights are dim looking. Its almost like I have a sinus headache all the time without the sinus problems.

This may seem like a stretch....but if your case were easy you wouldnt have found us,lol.......please check out the gluten sensitivity forum, here at braintalk...just go to forum jump and scroll till you find it, good luck

jcc

11-13-2006, 08:46 PM

Yes, you might want to check out The Gluten File linked below my name, and don't miss the page on B12 deficiency either. Gluten sensitivity/Celiac Disease does have an increased association with autoimmune thyroid disease and type 1 diabetes, and anemia is often seen in those with Celiac Disease/Gluten Sensitivity. It is even associated with migraine...there is a page on headache in The Gluten File. Just browse down the right bar for topics of interest.

Detecting Celiac Disease in Your Patients by Harold T. Pruessner, MD (http://www.aafp.org/afp/980301ap/pruessn.html) (AAFP)

Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy (Celiac Disease): More Common Than You Think by David A. Nelson, JR, MD, MS (http://www.aafp.org/afp/20021215/2259.html) (AAFP)

Gluten sensitivity as a neurological illness, M Hadjivassiliou, et al. (http://jnnp.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/72/5/560)

Cara

Tootsie

11-14-2006, 05:53 PM

Hickory Guy, you seem to have rejected the doctors suggestion that this is related to stress. Why?

Do you spend long hours at a computer? It is a fact of life that doing so means that you blink less often than normal. That, alone could account for the dry eyes as they are exposed to air constantly without being moistened by blink.

Have you tracked and identified what occured before those days when you felt so well?

What do you do for enjoyment? Do you have a hobby? Try and identify something that is fun. When did you last do that?

Living in three different countries means that you have had to adjust to different cultures, food, possibly language, and the stress of simply moving.

If going out with friends causes you to have an "attack," find a friend and activity that focuses totally on the activity that you both enjoy. Instead of looking for physical causes, you might try counseling with a licensed social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist. I certainly wouldn't advise trying drugs for depression at this point, without a definite diagnosis of depression.

Once the insurance companies found that there were drugs that helped people, everyone stopped using time and effort to talk to people about their lives and problems. Sad.

We're here to listen and suggest....keep trying. Cheerio.

hickoryguy28139

11-14-2006, 11:55 PM

I believe I will try a gluten free diet for a while and see if that helps any. One person asked why I didn't think it was stress related. Well I don't have any stressful events in my life. I love my job, I love my family, friends and theres not anything I would change about my life. I run three times a week on a treadmill and I like to get out whenever I feel decent enough to get out. The only activities I avoid are ones that involve speaking a lot due to speech difficulty being my most embarrassing symptom. The swollen, watery feeling eyes, constant foggy headedness, fatigue and sleepy feeling all the time are just irritating. My symptoms almost perfectly match up with the b12 deficiency site that was mentioned earlier.

babs

11-15-2006, 07:50 AM

Hi Hickory, while it is true that many Neuro disorders have very common symptoms, I have experienced most of yours. I was first diagnosed with Graves disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, As treatment for those progressed I was left with some very odd neuros. 1 Year ago next month I found a neurologist who is not afraid to look outside the box. She diagnosed me with Hashimoto's Encephalopthy, a rare disorder in which antibodies attack the brain. I had first "somethng" on MRI and then "nothing". I hope you get help soon. Don't stop looking, maybe an endocronologist can get you started.

Somersetlass

11-16-2006, 03:18 AM

If it were not for the fact that you have already had an MRI I would absolutely recommend one! I had very similar symptoms which turned out to be a colloid cyst.
If this continues perhaps you should get another MRI?
Good luck!

waggoner1

11-16-2006, 04:19 AM

Just a thought,

Dry eyes, dry mouth, teeth problems, vision issues, and fatigue are also symptoms of sjorgren's syndrome. You might do some research and see if it fits.

Take care

Kristina

hickoryguy28139

12-03-2006, 10:27 PM

pab

12-04-2006, 05:17 AM

http://www.dcnutrition.com/problems/Detail.CFM?RecordNumber=371

Austinsmom

12-12-2006, 10:54 AM

Sounds like sleep apnea to me. here's a site http://www.awakeinamerica.org/
hope this helps
Deborah

http://www.apneasupport.org/

jcc

01-05-2007, 07:32 PM

I finally broke down and started taking cymbalta for depression and anxiety. Its been four weeks and I'm 80% better. Doc said that I could be depressed and anxious without knowing it. Guess he was right so far.

I am happy to hear the medication is working for you, and that you are feeling better. That is a good thing.

Some more to chew on~ in regard to low serotonin~

I am really rotten at understanding biochemisty, but nutritional deficiency can contribute to low serotonin... vitamin B6 is a necessary cofactor to serotonin production. So, if you are low in B6...you will be low in serotonin. So, I would still be sure to cover the nutritional bases, as you already mentioned your symptoms lined up with possible vitamin B12 deficiency. P5P is the best/active form of B6, as methylcobalamin is the best/active form of B12. I was deficient in B12; my daughter in B6... but we both do better on both.

You might find these little tidbits of interest:

B6 also plays a role in the brain chemical production of serotonin. Studies show that people who are depressed have low levels of B6 and serotonin. Certain drugs, such as hormone replacement therapy, oral contraceptives, and anti-tuberculous medication can interfere with the body's use of B6, creating a borderline deficiency.
Other B vitamins also participate in mental health. Folic acid deficiency can cause personality change and depression. Vitamin B12, at just marginally low levels can contribute to depression and memory problems. Folic acid deficiency is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies in the United States. Not only is it easily destroyed by cooking, but is most abundant in leafy green vegetables- an often underconsumed food group. As we age, vitamin B12 may not be absorbed as readily, even if the recommended daily requirement is met through the diet.
Minerals that play a role in the development or prevention of depression, irritability, and mood swings include calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, and zinc.
http://www.healingwell.com/library/depression/beardsley1.asp

On serotonin deficiency:
http://www.nutritional-healing.com.au/content/articles-content.php?heading=Serotonin%20deficiency

And you might be interested in this link about pyroluria, a condition associated with Vitamin B6 deficiency:

The effect of pyroluria can have a mild, moderate, or severe depending on the severity of the imbalance. Most individuals show symptoms of zinc and/or B6 deficiencies, which include poor stress control, nervousness, anxiety, mood swings, severe inner tension, episodic anger (an explosive temper), poor short-term memory and depression. Most pyrolurics exhibit at least two of these problems. These individuals cannot efficiently create serotonin (a neurotransmitter that reduces anxiety and depression) since vitamin B6 is an important factor in the last step of its synthesis. Many of these persons appear to benefit from SSRI medications such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, etc. However, as with all mind-altering drugs, side effects occur and the true cause of the mental difficulties remains uncorrected. In addition these individuals often have frequent infections and are often identified by their inability to tan, poor dream recall, abnormal fat distribution, and sensitivity to light and sound. As you can imagine an SSRI will not correct these metabolic effects. More healthful benefits may be achieved by giving the appropriate supporting nutrients.

Cara

hickoryguy28139

01-07-2007, 10:17 PM

Some symptoms just won't go away and my daytime sleepiness is back. After taking cymbalta for two months I've noticed that it has helped with the panic greatly and some of the symptoms such as ringing in the ears and pressure feeling in my head have gone away. Now I just have excessive daytime sleepiness everyday, fatigue and bouts of slurred speech, confusion and sometimes vision trouble. I'm glad that the symptoms have however decressed in severity. I've had a few people ask me about being check for Lyme disease. I have decided this week to kick the drinking habit and see if this helps. I also read that drinking to much can cause vitamin deficiency's. I don't drink but once a week on the weekends about 7-8 beers. so I don't think it could be causing my trouble but who knows. I'll post back after a few weeks.

all4jesus

01-15-2007, 01:52 AM

PainInTheNeck

01-15-2007, 02:08 AM

This is a long shot but.....you might want to scroll down and read some of the posts in the CSF leaks forum. Especially if you experience headaches that get considerably better when you lie down. Most leaks happen as a result of an epidural or spinal procedure but some people have spontaneous leaks.

annelb

01-15-2007, 10:56 AM

Hi, if you do try a gluten free diet, in order to give it an honest trial you will need to go 100% gluten free.

Do check in at the Gluten Sensitivity/Celiac Disease forum for some hints on living GF. There is a learning curve as it is much more than giving up breads made of wheat.

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=152

Anne
Good Health and Gluten Free 3 years

hickoryguy28139

01-21-2007, 09:56 PM

I am going to get tested for lyme again. Does anyone know what is a good remedy for lyme. I tried the Vitamin c and salt remedy for 72 hours and it didn't seem to help any. I've also heard that cats claw can be good. I am desperate to get rid of this disorder.

hickoryguy28139

01-21-2007, 10:19 PM

I am crying right now reading your first post...I am new to this forum and I am having just about the same problems right now....
I feel a huge pressure on the top of my head, dizziness, hard of hearing, heaviness in breathing, blurred vision to some degree...I too am on Paxil CR and have felt better the last rwo years until recently. I was told by doctors that it was stress, the anxiety and depression, had a cat scan but never an MRI done. They found nothing with the CAT-Scan I got prescribed some haldol for the severe depression in the emergency room and got severe alergic reaction. Anyway, I am doing pretty crumby. I went to see the naturopathic doctor that tested me positive for gluten sensitivity. This was all 2 years ago. And I have been able to go to work, finish getting my Bachelor's degree but I am struggling right now with this new detoxifying diet and elimination of gluten. It's so hard right now especially working in a restaraunt. I am thinking of doing some changes.....Please give me any advice about tests I might want to do so that I can take care of this....I am encouraged to know that I am not alone in this.

Thanks! Cam:(
A test I would recommend for women would be defiantly thyroid since this is common in women. Another for men and women would be just a total blood panel to count out any easily correctable issues. I've heard that heard conditions can cause these symptoms as well such as a a mitrial valve prolapse. Another disorder that can cause these symptoms is candida. It is a overgrowth of a natural fungus in the colan and causes you not to get the vitamins from your food. Another problem is a b12 defeciency that is easily fixable by a sublingual b12 supplement. One last test that I would recommend that I am going to have done is the Immunetics C6 Lyme ELISA test. I had a western blot test done that showed nothing. But after talking with people that do have lymes and their tests have still come back negative I have decided to have the c6 test done. It is the most accurate lyme test to this day. One thing that gets me about the doctors is that they seem to want to cover up the issue instead of make it go away. I have done years of research trying to figure out what is my problem but nothing is a total fit. Maybe yours will be one of the easily fixable things such as a B12 defecieny.

razzle51

01-23-2007, 04:21 PM

It really sounds like to me you have Chiari malformation and possible Syringomyelia . here is a list of the symptoms of Chiari and only a MRI will tell you if you have it. Seriously think about it.
http://www.chiarione.org/symptoms.html

timaca

01-27-2007, 05:07 PM

Here's some info on Lyme disease:

A good symptom list on lyme is www.canlyme.com/patsymptoms.html.

A good article on lyme is www.canlyme.com/donta.html. Another article on lyme is at www.lyme.org/conferences/98_abstract.html (scroll down and read “Lyme Borreliosis and Related Disorders”—it’s about halfway down the page). Also at www.ilads.org, look on the left side. Click on “Treatment Guidelines.” Click on the article by Dr. Burrascano. Also at www.ilads.org, on the right hand side, click on “National Guideline Clearinghouse Treatment Guidelines.”

An article about chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and lyme is www.canlyme.com/fibrocfslyme.html.

Some good labs for lyme testing are Igenex lab www.igenex.com
Medical Diagnostics Lab www.mdlab.com
and SUNY at Stony Brook www.path.sunysb.edu/labs/ticklab/TICKLAB.htm
It is suggested that one orders an IgG and IgM Western Blot test, at the very least. Ask the lab to report ALL bands. Ordering tests from more than one lab is also a good idea.

Some good articles on lyme testing are www.canlyme.com/wb.html and www.igenex.com/labtest.htm and www.igenex.com/lymeopt2.htm. Please note that there is NO definitive test for lyme disease. Lyme disease is a CLINICAL diagnosis….lab data is supportive ONLY. See the recent reseach from John Hopkins University: http://tinyurl.com/pjnkm.

A lyme magazine is Lyme Times and can be found at www.lymetimes.org

Some good lyme web sites are www.canlyme.com
www.columbia-lyme.org
www.lymediseaseassociation.org
www.lymepa.org
www.lymeinfo.net/lymefiles.html
www.ilads.org
www.unh-lyme.org
www.lymenet.org (a lyme disease support group)

To find a doctor that knows about lyme, go to www.lymenet.org. Click on flash discussions. Click on seeking a doctor and post there. Also go to www.lymediseaseassociation.org. Look for “Doctor Referrals” on the left hand side. Post there. They will get back to you in a week or so.

medbuff

07-24-2007, 10:42 PM

I'm not sure if you're still monitoring the site, but I think I may know what's going on. I have a similar condition, well, conditions would probably be the best way to describe it.

Can you remember if you came down with a cold, or what seemed like the flu, in the months before your symptoms started?

I've pieced together bits of information from peer-reviewed journals and numerous doctors and I've put together a theory that probably applies to both of us.

To make a long story short, 3 years ago I contracted a flu-like virus, I was extremely sick for about 5 weeks. Within months, I developed a hideous hacking cough, then severe nasal/sinus congestion and headaches. Just when I had finally gotten those symptoms under control with medications and nasal surgery, I contracted another virus. The headaches worsened afterward, and I experienced many of your symptoms: blurred vision, difficulty speaking, restless legs, swollen eyelids, dry eyes, fatigue (and a few more).

I have been diagnosed with vasomotor (non-allergic) rhinitis and chronic panic migraine (a relatively new phenonemon). Here's where it gets interesting, vasomotor rhinitis and migraine can be linked in that they both involve neurotranmitters causing blood vessels to swell (in the nasal mucosa and brain, respectively). And some of the latest research involving vasomotor rhinitis suggest a link to guess what, a virus! Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, which can mimic flu-like symptoms.

I wish I had a complete answer, but right now, my working theory is that in some people, repeated viral infections with RSV, genetic predispositions, and factors like smoking and drinking (inflammatory agents) cause permanent damage to part of your nervous system (primarily the part that controls blood vessel contraction and expansion).

The good news is that you should be able to get your symptoms under control, the bad news is that it's going to take a lot of work.

Exercise is key, at first it seemed impossible for me, but after about 3 months my headaches improved significantly - and I'm talking about serious exercise, biking, push ups, pull ups, sit ups. You may have inflammation in your nasal passages, so nasal/sinus sugery is something to consider. If your sinus mucosa are inflamed, you may want to consider a new surgery called balloon sinusplasty, which widens the frontal (forehead) sinuses. For the migraines, magnesium supplements do help a little (probably why you noticed a slight improvement), low magnesium levels have been observed in people with chronic migraines. But the best thing I've tried is ginger root, I take it at the beginning of a headache, up to 2400 mg a day (in 600 mg doses). It's worked better for me than prescription medications (triptans)! And there is actually evidence that it works. The other thing you need to do is avoid stimulants, no more coffee or nicotine. It will be hard, but you WILL notice a difference, and quickly. It's probably best to avoid alcohol, but if you do drink, spraying some afrin in your nose may help with the post-drinking fatigue. I've found that my nasal passages swell hideously when I drink, and I think it interferes with my sleep, hence the fatigue afterwards. But you have to be careful with Afrin though, don't use it more than once a week, or it will end up causing nasal congestion (rebound rhinitis).

Good luck!

eheine

08-02-2007, 07:09 PM

Hi Hickoryguy!

I'm new to this site, but couldn't help but notice some overlap in your symptoms and mine. Like Babs, I too have Hashimoto's Encephalopathy. My thyroid hormone levels have always been normal on paper, but my thyroid antibody levels are elevated and so I was diagnosed with HE after years of complaining about migraine-like headaches, severe fatigue, balance problems, memory difficulties, language difficulties (slurred speech and trouble word finding), numbness... Every case of HE looks different. Some patients have psychosis and seizure and coma!!! The disease responds very well to steroids. Though I got really hypothyroid on the steroids, afterwards I felt a lot better and the weakness in my legs was gone.
Not that many neurologists know about this disease, but I suspect that the knowledge of it is growing. At least, I hope so because for years I was written off as a psychosomatic case. Please don't believe the crap they feed you about it being anxiety or stress. If you know there is something wrong with you, don't give up until you get your answer, whether it's HE or not I don't know, but do not give up.

-E

hickoryguy28139

10-07-2007, 09:39 PM

Hi everyone. Just wanted to let everyone know that I still have all the symptoms but they have lessened. I have avoided all alcohol for a few weeks and that seems to be a major part of my problems. I am now trying to get off this evil cymbalta. I am not sure but I believe my problems are digestive related in some way even though I have avoided dairy, wheat and eggs and not really had any improvements much. But I do feel worse when I eat stuff with yeast. If I do have Lymes or some kind of brain issue, they are not showing up on the tests. The good thing is that I have learned to just deal with being foggyheaded all day. I do miss the feeling of being connected to the things around me but on the good side I have got promoted at work. I believe the people at work think I'm a little strange as I don't talk much and I look sleepy and tired all the time, but I am still able to hold my own.

Buttons2

10-09-2007, 06:29 PM

Nice of you to update. Are you just gonna give up on finding an answer now? About the Lyme you mentioned several times. (I suspect this is my problem), the pain one person feels might not be what another does. If it's neuro-Lyme the brain issues will be the worse. I've gone several years without any horrific pain,not the same today however.

You've been given several ideas for what's ailing you. I have a simple question: did you have the MRI with contrast?

Also you stated enviromental has been ruled out. You moved several times,but did you change your work place?

I don't recall that you mentioned your age,if you're young & showing symptoms of slurred speech & foggy headed,I would think some further testing is needed. Too many docs seem to pass off what they don't know as "stress" related. Yet you claim no stress in your life!

Has anyone suggested a sleep study?

Did you go totally GF free for any period of time? Did you get some B12? Why did you cut out dairy & eggs?

I just think there must be something being missed here! Why should you miss out on conversations the rest of your life? At one time I couldn't talk well either,and lived in a world I hardly recognized.....foggy brain indeed! I credit B12 with most of my improvement & cutting WAY back on aspartame consumption! I was even chewing sugar-free gum,nice way to fry out my brain cells! Google aspartame poisoning,you might be surprised at what you find out. Just one more idea!

Good luck,Buttons

hickoryguy28139

10-24-2007, 11:35 PM

I am just 27 years old so I don't think I will ever give up trying to find out what this is. I am pretty determined to find out my problem but money is a big problem for getting tested for stuff. I have cut out all kinds of foods just in case I have some kind of intolerance. But I have started eating regular again and can't tell any difference so I guess its not a food allergy. I never had intestinal pain either. I am kinda wondering if it is possible to have a fungal sinus problem. Even though no fungal balls showed up on the MRI it just seems to me that this is something sinus related since I have pressure feelings around the eyes and the bridge of the nose, puffy feeling eyes, itchy ear canals, floaters, a white film covered tongue in the mornings and fatigue. I get an occasional quick sharp pain in my ear. I don't know if that means anything. Mornings are killer. It takes 2 hours after I wake up to start feeling halfway decent. And boy if I oversleep then I feel really bad. I do have to say that the speech problem has gotten a bit better and so has my overall feeling. I have tried so much stuff that there is no telling if one thing in particular has helped. I am a programmer for a living and sometimes I get so focused on the words that I get a motion sickness feeling and that makes my speech act up a bit. Decongestants seem to help some but the cause me to have anxiety. I do remember some of this starting when I began drinking diet sodas years ago but I cut out all aspartame for two weeks with no change. I wonder if I should try to cut out aspartame for a while longer cause a lot of those symptoms match mine. But then again I have symptoms of candida, celliacs disease, lymes and b12 deficiency too. Someone mentioned TMJ on another page but I don't think I have that cause I don't have any jaw pain. I have tried b12. I bought dermal patches that are suppose to be as effective as getting a b12 shot and I have also tried taking a very high dose of 9000 mcg per day for a week with no change. Right now I am mixing sea salt, 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract, pau d arco and cats claw and spraying it up my nose. It burns a bit but who knows, I might find a cure. Oh well life goes on and there is more stuff to cut out and to try I guess. I do know one thing. It is not depression or anxiety and I feel like strangling doctors who tell me that. They must be trained in med school to say that if they don't know what it is. I'll keep a posted on my next trials. If anyone has any other ideas please let me me know. I'll try about anything except urine therapy.......yuck.

Buttons2

10-25-2007, 06:13 PM

OK, I'm guessing you have been on some Lyme forums from the sea salt,etc that you have tried (or still are).

White tongue is a red light for yeast infection. Google systemic yeast infection & see what matches your symptoms.

Glad some things have improved (speaking more). Understand the money issue & testing! I think B12 might still be an issue for you,and sometimes it can take a LONG time to see improvement.

Good to know you cut out the aspartame.

Some people are willing to try anything(urine therapy), I find that a bit disgusting myself!

Year before last & tried the salt/vitamin c therapy,it did give me some amazing results,however it also raised my blood pressure so I stopped. My brain was so foggy at the time that I was taking far too much & didn't even realize it until someone on a Lyme forum caught my mistake.

You might consider a salt pipe,these aren't too expensive (around $30 as I recall),I believe they come from England. Worth a try anyway. I personally think you're ingesting too many herbals into your nostril but then that's just my thought.

Good luck,Buttons

Chryssius

01-09-2008, 08:54 AM

Hi,

I have exactly the same symptoms. Going on 20 years now. I've also had the depression/anxiety diagnosis. I've tried many antidepressants and even some anti psychotics. Absolutely no benefit at all. So far I've found that if i limit my intake of - all sugar, gluten, caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes I start to feel OK.

So , if I live like a hermit I might feel ok.

Have you made any discoveries yourself, since your last post???

Tootsie

01-10-2008, 11:32 PM

Please check out the Gluten Sensitivity/Celiac Disease Forum here at Braintalk.
Scroll down to the rectangular box on the right side of your screen and click on the small arrow.

There are 2 sets of Indexes! You need the second one where various conditions and diseases are listed alphabetically. You will find many helpful people there, all who must live, and feed families without the use of gluten. They manage just fine, and don't live as hermits. Cheerio.

painfree3

01-15-2008, 03:11 PM

Hi everyone. I am a 26 year old male that works for a medium sized company. For the last 4 years I have had this pressure feeling on the top of my head like wearing a hat and my vision is not blurred but, more like I'm looking through glass all the time. I have floaters in the eyes and they feel dry a lot but yet they water alot, sleepy all the time, tinnitus, can't remember stuff well, short attention span, fatigue and my speech gets slurred and I can't pronounce words unless I go really slow, heart palpations. Allergy tests came back negative for anything. In stressful situations these symptoms get worse. I have these symptoms almost 24-7. Once every few months I'll feel great for a day then it’s back to the foggy feeling life again. I have restless leg sometimes but I get plenty of sleep. I'm not overweight and eat decent. My jaws don't click or hurt but sometimes my ears itch and feel full like I need to pop them but can't. If I drink alcohol in excess then the next few days are horrible. I don't have any pain anywhere which discredits Lymes. I don't seem depressed; in fact I would love to go out with friends if I wasn’t afraid of having a serious attack. I'm not under a lot of stress. Vitamins and magnesium seem to help a little. Mornings are worse than evenings most of the time. My doc seems to be stuck on the idea of anxiety and put me on paxil but after 7 months of no improvement and feeling more zombie like, I quit taking it. I’m not looking for a diagnosis but just any ideas about what test I should have or what it might be to give me some direction?

A common cause of mild to severe headaches and autonomic phenomena are Myofascial Trigger points in the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle(S) or knots in the muscles in the front to side of you neck.

There are two divisions the sternal and clavicular.
Trigger points in each division can evoke referred pain, autonomic phenomena or proprioceptive disturbances.

Pain can be felt above the eyes (optical migraine), in ear, cheeks, to the throat, back and top of the head.

Autonomic phenomena from the sternal division involve the eye and sinuses, and may refer pain to the vertex (crown) while the clavicular division are more likely to concern the forehead (sweating of the forehead on the same side) and ear (vertigo), including dizziness related to disturbed proprioception and spatial perception.

These symptoms seem to match a large portion of the posted problems with the headache and vision and reoccurring droopy eye.
Dr.’s may diagnose this as atypical facial neuralgia.

The motor nerve fibers of the sternocleidomastoid muscle have an unusually close association with the brain stem. They pass through the cervical portion of the cranial nerve XI (accessory nerve). These motor fibers of the cervical portion arise within the spinal column from the ventral roots (motor fibers) of the upper five cervical segments and ascend, entering the skull through the foramen magnum to join the cranial portion
of the accessory nerve. Together, they exit the skull in close association with the vegas nerve through the jugular foramen.

Trigger Point therapy may help resolve headache and automatic phenomena symptoms and function.
You can learn to self treat this muscle.

Activation and Perpetuation of these trigger points are commonly initiated be an episode of mechanical overload and perpetuated by persistant overlead caused by structural inadequacies of the body, or by paradoxical breathing(chest breathing). Whiplash injuries, structural faults (short leg or small hemi-pelvis), overhead painting, carpentry, wallpapering; horseback riding, front-row movie seats, coughing, chest breathing, working for long-periods with head turned to one side (“word-processor headache”). It is also irritated / compressed by tight collar or tie.

You may want to research this type of pain and dysfunction. You may have access through your medical library to the Travell & Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction Trigger Point Manual Volume 1: Upper Half of the body and Volume 2: The Lower Extremities

Round Earth Publishing has some great information on this subject, take a look at: http://www.round-earth.com/HeadPainIntro.html
Make sure to read about the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle!
Good Luck

Lee157

01-16-2008, 10:42 PM

Painfree has probably come the closest to what could be wrong. Occipital Neuralgia is capable of affecting the eyes, face, neck and top of head. And with this comes pain, and with pain chemical reactions in the body. I have this, and the pain caused major problems with the rest of me. Not sure yet if there was a TBI, but the pain doc put me on a beta blocker and the stiffness, paralysis, spasticity and numbness has all but gone away. I have also been on zanaflex since June and this helped, but the recent addition of the blocker last Thursday gave me back movement with the start of one pill.

trynhard

01-19-2008, 07:58 AM

I haven't read all of the replies to this post but I just wanted to let Hickoryguy know that about 2 years ago I went through a lot of the same symptoms. It turned out I had some Mercury poisoning. We had bought some fluorescent bulbs and replaced all the bulbs in our house. We bought the bulbs at Big Lots - a store that carries mostly discontinued items and the mercury was leaching out of the bulbs. So if you are around fluorescent lights you might want to google Mercury Poisoning Symptoms. Good luck.

wacerdo

02-06-2009, 01:31 AM

I have been having very simlilar, actually near identical symptoms to
the ones you posted. I know it has been some time now...have the
problems stopped? Did you find the cure? I have had so many tests (MRI,
labs, heart tests) and nothing comes back irregular. Any help would be
so appreciated! maybe we could compare what tests and treatments have
been tried. Thank You!

Proton Soup

02-08-2009, 11:05 PM

i've had a lot of the same symptoms. normal b12 (cyanocobalamin) never helped me at all, but SAMe and methylcobalamin brought about dramatic results, and melatonin at night seems to help, too.

as for drinking, i believe this can cause two problems related to this. one is acid reflux. this becomes a problem especially at night, and the acid causes damage and inflammation to the sinuses and inner ear. this then leads to panic disorder. also explained why sometimes i would feel better when taking lots of ibuprofen. if you can get rid of the inflammation, symptoms should improve.

Naomi M. Simon1, Mark H. Pollack1, Kimberly S. Tuby1 and Theodore A. Stern2
(1) Anxiety Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
(2) Avery D. Weissman Psychiatry Consultation Service, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114

Abstract Dizziness is a common and costly condition that causes significant distress and impairment yet often confounds appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Among patients presenting for evaluation and treatment of dizziness, rates of panic disorder are elevated to 5 to 15 times the general population rates. In addition, the limited studies to date of dizziness in patients with panic disorder suggest that panic patients frequently experience significant dizziness and often demonstrate evidence of vestibular dysfunction. In this paper we review studies investigating the relationship between panic disorder and vestibular dysfunction. Currently, there are three main explanatory models for the association between panic disorder and vestibular dysfunction: the psychosomatic model, the somatopsychic model, and the network alarm theory. Systematic investigations of the treatment of patients with vestibular symptoms and panic disorder are lacking, though prevalence, associated costs, and disability suggest that they are needed. Serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors are good candidates for future treatment studies.

the other thing that gastric irritation and reflux lead to is b12 deficiency, via reduced absorption from two sources: loss of parietal cells and therefore intrinsic factor, and taking acid reducers leaves b12 bound to protein in the gut. the loss of b12 then exacerbates symptoms and makes any neurological damage harder to heal.

excessive alcohol will also cause liver damage, where both b12 and SAMe are processed. to what extent moderate alcohol consumption would contribute, i don't know, but i never had any blood tests that indicated liver damage, and no doctor i saw ever expressed concern for the amount of alcohol i consumed.

annoki

03-27-2009, 03:14 PM

You may also have trigeminal nerve issues.. or perhaps...musclar issues on the skull.. I do.. I also have Sjorgren's disease...I have alot of simlar issues... and the itchy... for me meant bone infection of the skull.. have your had a bone scan and glow....

Hi everyone. I am a 26 year old male that works for a medium sized company. For the last 4 years I have had this pressure feeling on the top of my head like wearing a hat and my vision is not blurred but, more like I'm looking through glass all the time. I have floaters in the eyes and they feel dry a lot but yet they water alot, sleepy all the time, tinnitus, can't remember stuff well, short attention span, fatigue and my speech gets slurred and I can't pronounce words unless I go really slow, heart palpations. Allergy tests came back negative for anything. In stressful situations these symptoms get worse. I have these symptoms almost 24-7. Once every few months I'll feel great for a day then it’s back to the foggy feeling life again. I have restless leg sometimes but I get plenty of sleep. I'm not overweight and eat decent. My jaws don't click or hurt but sometimes my ears itch and feel full like I need to pop them but can't. If I drink alcohol in excess then the next few days are horrible. I don't have any pain anywhere which discredits Lymes. I don't seem depressed; in fact I would love to go out with friends if I wasn’t afraid of having a serious attack. I'm not under a lot of stress. Vitamins and magnesium seem to help a little. Mornings are worse than evenings most of the time. My doc seems to be stuck on the idea of anxiety and put me on paxil but after 7 months of no improvement and feeling more zombie like, I quit taking it. I’m not looking for a diagnosis but just any ideas about what test I should have or what it might be to give me some direction?