Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Joyce on June 25, 2016, 10:02:26 AM
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There's something not right in my body, not something I can put my finger on. I've been having strange episodes which I put down to increased anxiety. I feel just plain weird all the time. I've been doing breathing exercises which I was given when this happened about 7/8 years ago, but not helping much. I've got a constant dull head, always feeling I'm on the edge of something horrid about to happen. It builds up for 2/3 days until I have an episode. Afterwards I'm totally exhausted! Calmness follows & I feel fine. Then off I go again a few hours later. When I had these episodes before, they just suddenly happened. This time is very different. I've managed to book an appointment to see a GP on Tuesday. Don't know much about seizures but am wondering if it's something similar.
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Can you explain more about the episodes CG for those who haven't read your previous posts?
I expect you have researched seizures yourself but this site gives a good explanation of the different types of seizures. One of the triggers in some people can be the use of anti depressants. http://patient.info/health/epilepsy-with-focal-seizures
Taz x :hug: :hug:
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Are you doing too much deep breathing? This can bring on strange feelings apparently, I was told to do the exercises 3 times each hour, no more. The body can hyper-ventilate = dizziness!
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No CLKD not doing that. I do it during the episodes, gives me something to concentrate on.
Heck, hard to describe Taz, but I'll try. I have constant dull headache. Also strange feeling in my head, like being drunk, but I'm not. This continues for a few days. The weird feeling intensifies gradually. When the episodes happen I then get a strange tingling. When that happens I know episode is imminent. I sit down or preferably lie down. I'm aware of everything. Tingling changes to a weird burning sensation & I feel extremely dizzy with nausea. Lasts about a couple of minutes, then it fades. Leaves me shattered. Once my body has calmed down again I feel fine for a few hours, then it all starts building up again.
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Silent migraines?
Make a list to take and let us know. I wouldn't drive until I have spoken to the GP.
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Keeping note of BP too. Can't do it during an episode, but afterwards my BP is up to something like 156/88.
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Could they possibly be the precursor of anxiety attack ? :-\
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Quite possibly dazned. I had similar a few years back & was treated for anxiety. That time there was a definite cause, stress at work. This time they're more frequent & much stronger. Can't figure out a cause.
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Could it be that you are reacting to the anti depressant CG? In some people they cause heightened anxiety and panic. I think it's called Activation?
Taz x
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Been on them for over a year now, is that possible Taz?
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I'm not sure CG. I just wondered if it had a part to play in the way you were feeling. I had similar feelings as you originally described - deja vu followed by a feeling like I was on a fast roller coaster or chairoplane ride - as if my stomach was dropping away. It was these two feelings together that got me referred to a neurologist.
Taz x
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Doesn't feel like a roller coaster. Sorry but really hard to describe.
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Is it related to your feeding habits :-\ - does your body get hungry ………..
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No. Tried little & often, makes no difference. Appetite all to pot but that'll be the nausea.
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It sounds like when my hormones went berserk (before I controlled with the pill), I had constant pressure in my head, adrenaline rushes, severe nausea and inability to digest food, dizziness, felt as if something bad was going to happen.
GP needs to check bloods etc. to rule out anything else. They tend to listen more to the 'anything else' options than hormones!
Also check symptoms against your cycle to see if worse on certain days - that's how I eventually realised it was that. If you're in your 40s there's a good chance it's peri surges.
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I think once you describe your symptoms to your doctor he/she will probably do several blood tests, take your BP etc to get a general view of your health. Haven't you just come back from the USA?, is it possible you may have picked up a bug or something?
Depending on the results they may refer you to a specialist unless it is a virus of some sort.
I've been doing breathing exercises which I was given when this happened about 7/8 years ago,
When this happened a few years ago, was it diagnosed, did you get any treatment?
Good luck CG. I really hope you get some answers. I am going through something that is a little bit similar (different symptoms) but it is "an undiagnosed condition" & it's the not knowing that is the worst bit.
Love Cazi x
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Only treatment was seeing a psychiatric nurse. It was caused by stress at work that time.
Came back from US three weeks ago. Initially put it all down to jetlag, but not that now.
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Could it be stress related this time CG?
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Don't think so. Nothing at all to be stressed over.
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How are you CG?
Didn't you have your appointment today with you doctor today?
Cazi x
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Yes, this afternoon. No further forward though. Possibly anxiety based. Blood tests on Thursday to rule out anything sinister I expect. Zopiclone for a week to help with sleep. Told to exercise more. Until this kicked off I was swimming 4/5 times a week.
BP was fine, so a waiting game for now. I've to see her again when results come back.
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Thanks for letting us know CG.
Let's hope it is just a blip & nothing to worry about. Things may well settle down - & if not keep going back to your GP until you get a referral to see a specialist.
Cazi.
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Hello Cubagirl
I've just read your post and thought I should respond.
Have you ever heard of Alice in Wonderland migraine? Sounds ridiculous I know but google it: there are some comprehensive links and some less so. I suffered with these as a child as did my daughter: I understand they can hit at any age.
The most common symptom, that of perceived increased body size, didn't apply to either of us. The whole episode and feeling is very hard to describe. It is totally weird and it's hard to put your finger on it. My daughter had very similar experiences to me.
Let me try to describe it;
It used to hit both of us at bedtime though my daughter had 'attacks' at other times too. We were frightened by it, it was like being in a surreal situation with things looming and moving slowly and in a pulsating way, sound pulsating too and getting louder and almost echoey, sounds that actually weren't there. More than anything else though, it was just a very weird surreal feeling that couldn't easily be described. The classic migraine auras, i.e. tingling, headache etc could follow but infrequently.
My parents always thought I'd been dreaming, having a nightmare, and I remember the frustration when they didn't believe I was awake not asleep. I remember too the frustration at trying to describe what I'd experienced. When my daughter started getting them I knew immediately what she was experiencing. By that stage in my life I was suffering from migraine brought on by peri and I discussed this with a specialist who was treating me. She explained that it was Alice in Wonderland migraine, though I think it had a medical label.
Of course this may be a million miles away from what you're experiencing but it rang an immediate bell when I read your post. It was explained that they are harmless, often don't result in a headache, can happen multiple times a day for some people (we only got ours very occasionally), and can be triggered by stress, hormones or have recognised or unknown triggers.
As a child I thought I was going crazy, as did my poor daughter when they first happened. They are not pleasant!
I wish you well.
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As an aside, Cubagirl: my GP practise had never heard of these, I don't think migraine is very well understood and studied in depth unless you specialise.
Apparently the symptoms can differ from person to person but fundamentally revolve around the senses which are heightened/over active as with regular migraine. It can cause dizziness, nausea and everything feels as if it's on the move. Used to scare the hell out of me as a child my daughter was so so relieved when I reassured her after her first attack.
Migraines can appear in different ways. In children they often appear as just a stomach ache with no headache. Totally weird!
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Wow, thanks for that Elizabethrose! Away to read up more. Mine always during the day, never during the night.
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let us know how you get on!
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Very helpful ER. Not got the increased body size, but the rest fits. Strangely, the bit I've found most difficult to explain, is the feeling that things like trees or buildings seem much closer than they are & I want to push them away. The on sound distortion is very true. Going to research some more.
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I always think that we are better able to cope with these things if we can understand what is happening to us. My daughter had attacks during the day too, once in school at the age of 9, she was really upset as you can well imagine!
I once had a conversation with another patient at the COLMC near the Barbican who described to me her AIW migraines: I think she could have been writing your story. She had them frequently, every day and had learnt to adjust her life around them. Aside from a nagging headache she didn't experience the full blown migraine. Her pure menstrual migraine then started like mine at peri. Your deja vu post also describes the feelings one gets with AIW migs, it's like revisiting this surreal experience, which is indescribable. More a feeling than anything else.
I do wish you well, and hope you have a switched on GP who can advise you. If you'd like any more detail do ask.
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This seems to be a good explanation http://blog.advancedmigraine.com/blog/bid/315541/The-Alice-in-Wonderland-Syndrome-and-Migraines
Taz x :)
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Thank you for finding a link Taz, I'm ironically in bed with a migraine today and was unable to search.
Cubagirl, I have no idea of your medical history, whether you're a migraine sufferer, are on HRT or any meds. Would you allow me to say though that if a GP suggests you take an anti convulsion med that you research it first. Mine has been a very long peri/migraine journey and I've tried a lot. I was prescribed a particular anti convulsant as a prophylactic to treat the chronic migraine, that made me feel more ill than I've ever felt in my life. We none of us know how we will react to meds etc but the known side effects of this particular drug can be truly shocking. Hope you don't mind me saying this.
Hopefully, if you do have AIW migs, that just knowing and understanding what is happening to you will help reduce the pressure and stress which can help activate the pesky things in the first place.
I wish you well.
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Well ladies, feeling much better now. Headache, nausea gone. Been taking zopiclone at night. What a difference. I'd been surviving on about 3 hours sleep per night due to various reasons for several weeks. My body obviously decided enough was enough. Pills have given me a chance to catch up with myself. Fingers crossed it continues. Halving tablets tonight, so hope I sleep.
However, I was very interested in the AIW migraines.
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Make the most of any sleep you can get! It makes HUGE difference to how we feel :foryou:
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Glad you are feeling better CG.
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Any improvement?
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GP decided my symptoms were related to my BP tablets. He reduced dosage 2 weeks ago & I haven't looked back. BP still behaving itself too! Never thought it was that. I thought I had developed some awful disease. So I'm one happy bunny as I prepare to go with hubby to look after our 2 granddaughters. I was really worried as I couldn't have coped with the journey, never mind two boisterous girls.
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Enjoy your break!
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Oh I will thanks. Stopover in Penrith on the way down. Middle weekend, off to York for couple of nights, then another stopover when we decide to come home. ::)
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Haven't been to York for years++ ……. on the list, so much to do, so little time ;D
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I've never been, apart from train station. ;D
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The children will love it when they are about 10+ years old. I've been going there intermittently since I was 5 ::)
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So glad you are feeling better CG.
Have a good journey.
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Enjoy your trip CG. Love York.
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Packing too much! ;D Hubby will have a fit. ::)
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I always take too much.
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I agree but my OH doesn't.
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I was really rash, took out one T-shirt. ;D ;D ;D
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Safe journey CG. I'm in awe of women who can pack a capsule wardrobe , I'm so dithery and indecisive. I always take too much, and find it impossible sticking to one or two colours. My stuff is all random >:(
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I start off with good intentions but then the weather changes and as we holiday in the UK, one really needs to take clothing suitable for all weathers :D