+ 3 Weird Health Problems
Hey man, wanted to share a story about what's going on in life. I'm kinda new here been creeping for a few weeks but it's cool. I've been lifting like 20 years I'm 40 but took a few years off. I started back about two months ago little by little. About the same time (related or not) I started experiencing some really crazy symptoms of maybe some neurological condition. It started Everytime I would lie down to rest or sleep I would get these shocking sensations in my head. It would also feel like I was falling off a cliff. You know, the feeling u get in your chest and head when you ride on a rollercoaster. Ya that...Anyway Everytime I lie down this happens like every few minutes until I finally pass out. Well it's gotten worse over these two months. Now it's nerve pain that's shooting...like to my feet from my head...I also get pains in my head and muscle twitching in my arms feet and face. I feel flushed when it happens like my face is real hot. I even get these weird involuntary muscle movements at times. It's got to the point where I'm literally scared I may have something serious and deadly going on. I get dizzyness, and feel like my head is a bubble if that makes sense, and (maybe this part is in my head from the stress) but I feel like cognition has been lacking as well. Like I can't find a word or how to spell something and I'm a great speller. The doctors are baffled...I've had CT scans of my chest and two of my head, also had an MRI done and a quick read of brain waves, but it really just happens while I'm lieing down to try and sleep. But it starts while I'm still VERY awake. I just seen a neurologist, and he agreed that the symptoms I'm experiencing are "weird" as he put it. Not sure if he even really believes me. He said that a negative MRI pretty much negates 99% of any brain issues, but what about the other 1%? He started me on Depakote hoping it alleviates the symptoms, but what are the symptoms from? I don't want to just cover up a problem( if it even helps which I doubt cause nothing has so far. It's been 11 weeks since the symptoms first started ...What is wrong with me? I was so pumped about getting back in the gym but now I'm scared to even work out. It's really debilitating my life completely!! I am gonna try and find a second opinion...has anyone ever heard of Encephalitis?....or maybe meningitis? I'm sure you've heard of that?...I feel like my brain is betraying me...I posted this here....idk why...because I wanna feel normal again...and I've had a cycle sitting here for two months that I won't touch because my issue...and I won't till I know I'm gonna be okay...all my bloods are normal also...just wanna get back to doing what I love ...pumping iron...thanks
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@Damike, you said something about antidepressants that caught my attention... I was on Mirtazapine for two years, then I stopped cold turkey on May 31st .... because they were causing me to have bad night terrors and sleep paralysis,these symptoms started their infancy about a week after that....so I started researching these brain zaps again...I looked at them a little bit already but not in depth because I don't make the connection due to the fact that it's been 73 days since I stopped the medication...so I was sure that it couldn't be from that...upon further research I've actually found quite a few cases where these brain zaps and other odd neurological issues continued months and in some cases years for some people who stopped antidepressants including Mirtazapine...made me really think could it be that simple? These are so intense and terrifying that I couldn't let myself think that it could be from antidepressant withdrawal...so I called my doctor and he said it's very very rare that symptoms from that will last more than a week or two...but what he did is represcribe me the Mirtazapine at a low dose of 15mg to see if actually causes the shocks to stop....kind of as a diagnostic test...so I start taking the medication again tonight...I hate to start it again because the dreams I get are really intense but I will trade them for the horrible shot I'm going through now anyday of the week!! If it is from that I would be so thankful...so I'm keeping my fingers crossed but not trying to get my hopes up too far...I just hope it's something simple like that then we can find a way to deal with these zaps....
DamikeGoing cold turkey off antidepressants def can cause brain zaps as well as a lot of other weird symptoms. Hope you figure it out soon.
Damn Mike, you may have just countered your own post.
----right...lol
ah, just realized Mirtazapine is Remeron, tried it maybe 20 years ago. The withdraw is terrible, you need to reduce the dosage over the course of a few weeks or even months depending on the length of use. If you ceased and it's causing these issues, maybe talk to your dr about starting a ramp down from a low dosage.
Let us know how this goes, I'm invested
Beat me to it. Keep things simple. If you hear hooves chances are it’s a horse not a zebra. I was going to suggest he get back on the meds and ween off. Occams Razor, the simplest explanation is usually the case.
My doctor prescribed it at low dose yesterday 15 mg and I gotta say last night I had hardly any symptoms...I felt them a little bit but not much I will know more in the coming days if this is what was causing it...if I still feel some symptoms but not as intense then it's probably something else still...I just don't wanna take a bunch of stuff that knocks me out but may be covering up the symptoms cause then the condition could likely progress unnoticed
That sounds like improvement, one step at a time. If it's alleviating your symptoms, it's probably the cause and not something else,. I can't see mirtazapine covering up symptoms of another issue that strongly mimics the effects of coming off anti depressants.
I'd also like to nominate @Damike for site GP, a highly sought after position that pays in thumbs ups and heavy criticism.
DamikeLol. Thanks
No doubt that's what I'm saying...He might've hit the nail on the head here...last night I barely felt them happen at all...night two tonight...didn't work out today and minimal caffeine intake...just relaxing on my day off work...and hoping I sleep well tonight
DamikeRemeron(mirtazpine) plays with two major neurotransmitters. Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro etc just mess with one. Should have been weaned off under a doctor's supervision. May heart goes out to you for what this probably has put you through. Just happy you didn't become suicidal or go insane stopping it cold turkey. Hope you keep feeling better man I bet it's been a rough ride.
DamikeHope things continue to improve for ya buddy.
DamikeIf your not happy with your doc see a different one. It's fine to research things a bit but I wouldn't spend hours scouring the interenet this early in the game. Common things are common. There is a lot of bad information on the internet. You can easily freak yourself out convincing yourself you have some rare, 1 in 50 million disease you found online. This can lead to a ton of unnecessary stress, mental anguish and time wasted when it turns out to be something much more simple.
Keep us updated. I hope you feel better soon.
This is a strange one, first off, find a new dr.
Reaching out past dr's is a good move, despite what some may think, dr's don't know everything and the people who might help you are the ones who have this same condition. If it's meningitis, it would be a fungal form as bacterial would have killed you by now, they'd need to run titers test and look for antibodies, there would also be a slow growing mass likely around the top of the spinal cord. You should get a full body mri, ct and x ray if you haven't already. Also check for carbon monoxide leaks in your house as well as mold.
Good luck brother, sorry this is happening to you
Sorry to hear what you're going through and definitely listen to the doctors, as most of us here are not doctors and we can only give our opinion or advice to explore and research what could be going on.
You said a few key words. But here is what I personally would look into if I had that going on.
An immune system issue. You can have your blood tested for excess amounts of neurotransmitters.
A blood pressure issue. Where you may need to have your blood pressure tested in different positions called the tilt table test.
Lastly, and I'm leaning more towards this. A problem with the SNS system. Or P-sns. Not balancing each other out. Some of what you described makes me think of the fight or flight response.
I hope you can get better and get back to lifting man. Also the rashes makes one think heavy metal toxicity as stated below by another member. Or it's shingles and your right. Definitely explore and research the hell out of what is going on. Fight those doctors tell them you want certain tests, demand it. There is also the possibility of an underlying genetic condition. Take all things into account. Your heart rate when the issue occurs. How you are sleeping. How is your digestion and sexual performance. It very well could be a bacterial infection which can really screw up your nervous system. I think you're on the right track by reaching out here and and anywhere else you can by trying to explore all options +1
I started the Depakote a few days ago. It's so crazy cause any medicine that they try me on gives me the feeling that, whatever my condition is and the medication they prescribed me, are doing a back and forth battle. It's like I can feel the medication " trying" to work..."trying", but the symptoms ALWAYS end up overcoming the medication. With the Depakote, I feel it trying to calm my nervous system down, but the jolts, shocks, and muscle twitching always pushes it's way though the medication barrier. If that makes sense...I had a follow up last night with the Community Care that works as my primary care physician, and the doctor put in another neurologist referral for a second opinion at West Virginia University Hospital in Morgantown WV. It's a better hospital than the one in my town, it's only a 45 minute drive so hopefully it's sooner rather than later. She also looked at these rashes I have on the tops of my feet and she's really not sure what it is. She said it looks like it could be shingles but she's unsure so she put in a Dermatologist referral as well. That appointment should be in the next few days. If it is shingles then everything will come together...but that's not a good thing. Shingles can go to your brain and nervous system along with other organs and cause very serious complications Including encephalitis, which can be fatal if untreated. I honestly think it may be that. Encephalitis "can" show negative; Catscans, Mri's, and bloodwork. The gold standard for testing for it is a spinal tap. I know I need this done asap but they haven't even ordered it. You would think that if I request a test that the doctor I am paying to see me would order it. Also These rashes started shortly after the symptoms began. And no matter what type of prescription cream they give me it doesn't work. This is all related my gut and body is telling me. Last night for instance, was day 4 of the new medication Depakote, and the symptoms were strong as ever. Another scary thing is that, when I get this jolt or nerve shock, it will shoot to my left foot almost always now and my foot will involuntarily jerk back and forth. And that's where the rash is. I read that shingles can follow the nerve pathway in your body and appear wherever the nerve shoots too. Almost like a transportation system. Like the nerve pathway to foot is a rail system and the infection travels along it to get off at the next stop...hope I get answers soon, I want to go back to the ER but they never do anything for me.... They do the same testing over and over and say follow up with your appointments...
This really could be anything. It’s best to keep running thorough checkups to pin point the problem. I had something very similar occur in 2018 and it ended up being mercury poisoning, another time I had heart palpitations I was dangerously low on electrolytes. Run frequent blood work, hormone panels and like these gentlemen are suggesting, consult with neurologist. Stay away from neurosurgeons, they will just check to see if there’s anything structural.
DamikeHonestly if a neurologist that has all your tests and knows your history/meds has no idea, you won't find the answer here. Stay in touch with your doctors and follow their advice. Make sure you give them your best description of symptoms. Duration, intensity, what time of day it occurs etc. Also be sure to tell them all medications/ supplements you take.
If you have recently started/stopped antidepressants such as effexor. Those can cause "brain zaps" and many other odd symptons. Also, make sure your well hydrated. Dehydration can cause a myriad of symptoms including dizziness. Diabetes also can be the culprit of a long, long list of issues.
I've done hundreds of spinal taps(lumbar punctures) they are most commonly performed to rule out viral/bacterial infections as well as brain bleeds. As long as the person doing it is experienced and your not over 300lbs it shouldnt hurt any more than any other needle stick so no reason to be afraid like most people are.
They can also measure your intracranial pressure . But that's usually only done when the patient complains of headaches that last for long durations to diagnose a condition known as pseudotumor cerebri that usually occurs in obese women.
Hope you feel better soon.
Not a doctor but do research in the neuroscience field:
At first glance it sounds like something is off with your vestibular sense giving that vertigo sensation, could be indicitive of an inner ear issue. When standing up the blood pressure in your head is lower than when you're lying down, so perhaps the increase in blood pressure when you lie down is pressing against the nerves in your inner ear somehow or there is some latent inflammation there too.
However, when you add in those other new symptoms though it becomes more complicated, but this does sound like an autonomic nervous system issue. The additional problems you've stated lead me to believe it might be Fibromyalgia. It doesn't show up on any specific tests and is usually considered a "diagnosis of exclusion", meaning if the doc can't find any other disorder for certain then they give you this diagnosis as the most likely answer. Go ahead and read up on Fibromyalgia, several of the issues you have going on fit the bill very closely, and interestingly it is often associated with inner ear issues as well.
Anyways that's my 2 cents, and again: Not a medical doctor.
My first thought even before I read your comment would have been vertigo people don’t think it’s a big issue but I’ve had it quite bad few times and seen others have it really bad causes a lot of dizziness and all sorts of strange and weird symptoms first time I got it bad to be fully honest I was certain I was dying as although I don’t know what that feels like as I haven’t died it felt like what I imagined dieng would feel like. Hard to know though if you had so many tests hope with more testing though and through trial and error with meds you can try get under control and get some normality back in life.
RealizeRealLiesIf you're concerned I would go to the er and have a all blood work done/scans etc. Your health is not to be played with.
Ya I know I've been 6 times to the ER, three times to the Community Care where I see a primary physician, and once to the neurologist on Monday. They have done everything except a CSF test to check my spinal and brain fluid. I have another regular doctor appointment tomorrow at 330. I'm gonna ask them to please do the spinal tap, regardless of the risk or the pain of it. It has to be done. I have to get answers!!
Keep us updated.