Something is going on with my brain and I'm a bit worried

[Beebityboo]

Let me start by saying I am going to try to see a GP next week. I've been putting it off in the hope I'd just feel better and am a bit scared of going to a GP office at the moment due to a disability that makes me vulnerable to Covid.

Two weeks ago I was sat on the couch reading on my phone when suddenly the room went spinny and I felt like my brain had been electrocuted and my ears started ringing. The zap feeling only lasted about twenty seconds but I haven't been right since. The ringing in my ears hasn't stopped and I'm having periods of pain in my eyes and dizziness to the point where I just have to lie in bed. I also occasionally get a weird pins and needles feeling across my scalp. Not painful exactly but very odd.

Obviously I googled it like an idiot and I've terrified myself into believing I have a brain tumor. It's so unlike any illness I've ever had before.

I'm under huge amounts of stress but I'm not sure that could result in such severe physical symptoms.

Any ideas on what this could be that aren't terrifying? Could really use some reassurance.

Google always tells you you have something horrific. Stay away from it if you can.

I’m sorry you’re stressed. Can you try and switch off this afternoon and evening? Take your mind off everything?

Could be migraines. They can have some really weird symptoms - and it doesn't necessarily show up as a headache, some people just get vision issues or strange sensations during. They run in my family. They are obviously worrying but there's lots of ways to treat them these days. The best thing to do is definitely to see a GP, but please know it could well be something like this that's really treatable and not too scary.

There's no doubt at all that stress can cause almost any physical symptom you care to name. It is very difficult to separate physical and mental causes/effects in a lot of cases.

You've done the right thing to make an appointment. I hope that either everything settles down or that there is something to try next.

Definitely not getting any bad headaches, just a feeling of pressure and just being off iyswim. Just feel really anxious as I keep expecting the symptoms to go away and they just aren't!

I am suffering really badly with depression and anxiety right now but have in the past too, with little in the way of physical symptoms. But then I've never gone through a pandemic before!

Could be stress. I get dizzy when my iron levels are low too.

Hmm I am low in B12 and my injections have been stopped.

Not all migraines cause a headache. They can cause other symptoms though. The first time I had a visual migraine I thought I was losing my sight. 25 minutes later everything went back to normal. Happened when I was extremely stressed.

Can they last for two weeks though, and cause ringing in my ears?

Stay off Dr Google is rule number one! There's so many things this could be so just try not to panic. I suffer migraines with aura. I can't see properly for about 20 minutes. Then I either get a headache or a hangover feeling. Sometimes it can last a week! First time it happened, Google told me I was having a stroke.
Make an appointment with your doctor like you plan to. If it gets any worse, perhaps ring 111 for some advice. I know Covid is scary but please don't put off any health issues in fear of contracting it.
Keep us posted OP

Could be labyrinthitis OP. In which case serious but not a thing to worry about. Hope it's something simple.
www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/ears-nose-and-throat/labyrinthitis

I get ringing in my ears before a vertigo attack, it lasts until it clears.

Op I have had very similar, although not the ringing in the ears. Like constant pins and needlepoint my scalp, shooting, knock you to the floor pain's in my head..the gp diagnosed a trapped nerve. Please don't panic til you know and as others have said avoid Google

No real ear pain or leakage from ears. DH thought ear infection too but nothing seems infected.

@Beebityboo

Hmm I am low in B12 and my injections have been stopped.

Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause the demyelination of neurons in the cochlear nerve, resulting in hearing loss and tinnitus

Try not to worry. My dizziness was so bad I couldn’t walk straight and I had pins and needles in my face before I started B12 injections. Thankfully my surgery is still doing them.

@20Tinyhumansurvivalist may I ask what treatments they offered you for it?
22Beebityboo have you been put on a new medication recently? Or changed the dose of one you were already on?
Side effects can be quite severe, so that could be relevant.

I get brain zaps and jolts when I’m stressed it’s bloody frightening x

Not sure what to do about the b12 injections. The nurses at our practice have basically pulled up the draw bridge. I am taking supplements but was put on injections in the first place because supplements weren't making a dent in my levels.

FFS! Get your B12 shot right now! Demand your GP gives you it or change practice. The report from the British society of haematologists which made GPs stop giving the shots was rescinded about two weeks after it was published. The whole point of the shots is that sufferers cannot absorb the vitamin through our stomachs so taking the supplement by mouth is useless. Please get your B12 pronto you will feel much better.

Sorry, not swearing at OP personally, just feel strongly about people with B12 deficiency being put at risk by supposedly intelligent people not adding up the science.

Are you on any medications and/or changed dosage?

Very similar to my condition and started exactly the same way. I actually thought I was having a stroke. I have vestibular migraine x

I second (or third) that not all migraines have pain. I get these often especially when stressed.

But vitamin deficiency can be really bad, get your B12 shot and have your vitamin D checked. A friend daughter was seriously ill after a vitamin D deficiency

They aren't even doing smear tests and it's borderline impossible to get the GP to see anyone face to face. I am going to change asap but can't right now as it's the only Dr's I can walk to and am reluctant to get on public transport. Bit of a mess really!

I know I am probably being a little hysterical about this, but my beloved grandmother died of a glioblastoma and after witnessing her decline a brain tumour is my worst fear and I am borderline phobic of it to the point I can't even watch House in case the plot line involves one. I've had a lot of physical problems over the years but this is the first time I've had anything wrong with me involving my head so I am feeling really worried about it .

I've been going through something very similar since November, yes, November! I've had every test going, ct scan, mri, b12, thyroid, diabetes etc. Everything absolutely normal. My GP now thinks it's migraine and the subsequent 'migraine hangover'
I'm 42 and never been a migraine sufferer so didn't even know that migraine produced these kinds of symptoms. My worst symptoms are the dizziness and unsteadiness, like I'm out of my body and I can't grip the floor properly, like you, mine came on out of the blue, like a firework in my brain exploding, someone actually found me by the side of the road and called 999, I had the CT scan one hour later and it was completely clear.
Finally, my GP thinks this sudden onset of migraine could be related to the menopause and fluctuating hormones, I don't know how old you are but this could be possible for you too maybe?