Trying to work out what happened to me yesterday?!

[inigomontoyahwillcox]

I got very bizarrely ill yesterday morning and for the life of me can't work out what was wrong.

Was mid way through some berry granola when I started feeling sick. Didn't think much of it but stopped eating. About 5 minutes later I went completely spaced out, eyes rolling to the back of my head - I honestly felt like I had taken something (was transported back to my ecstasy taking 20s but not in a good way), so much so that I checked my daughter's ADHD medication in case I'd taken one with my normal tablets but I hadn't (there were only 2 gone from the pack which corresponded with what she had taken).

I got very panicky so messaged my friends who live a few doors down and I went to theirs for a few hours (was working from home alone other than the kitchen fitter being there!) - I could hardly remember their names and kept getting these waves of feeling "high" accompanied with nausea. I eventually was sick and felt quite a bit better (the spaced out/on another planet feeling mainly subsided) and made my way home. Spent the evening still feeling nauseous and very tired. Took my usually tablets again and went to bed but have spent the night feeling very sick, headache and occasionally spaced out/having weird thoughts.

WTF? Did I ingest some funny berry in my granola? Was it an odd panic attack, atypical migraine, bog standard stomach bug with added bizarre symptoms? All very strange.

As not to drip feed, I take propranolol for migraines (have done for about 13 years) along with lansoprazole (again, have had for years). Unless there's been some fuck up at the factory I can't imagine they caused it.

Mumsnet medical sleuths - do you have any ideas? I didn't seek medical advice as I wasn't sure exactly what to say? "I feel like I'm on drugs but I haven't taken any"?

I used to get regular migraines that were period-related and fairly predictable, however I did have one once (in the middle of Subway ordering my sandwich) that I am half convinced was an actual stroke. One side of my body went numb, and I was trying to say words but saying completely different things (I remember trying to say lettuce and actually saying bed several times, which must have confused the poor server). I put it down to a migraine as I did have an aura and by the time I got home the headache had come on, but it was absolutely terrifying.
They're horrible things and can have so many different symptoms. I would definitely see the GP.

I once had something like this, about 3 or 4 sips into a glass of mulled wine. It had been served from a big tureen and nobody else had the same effect so pretty certain it hadn't been spiked. I suddenly felt very woozy, sounds around me were like I was listening from underwater, and my eyesight went strange in a way I can only describe as splintered, like I was trying to look through a smashed pane of glass.

Within a few minutes I threw up, and ten minutes later after a sit down and a glass of water I was fine again. I didn't seek medical advice as it was all over so fast, I just put it down to a crazy reaction to something that was in the wine. It's never happened again!

Not very much help to you OP, sorry, aside from that I understand your confusion about it!

OP that’s so weird because I have had the exact same thing happen to me recently and when you mentioned the auditory hallucinations I was like WTF cause me too! They have only happened a few times and it’s just as I am drifting off to sleep. I called my sister over the other day and I thought something was seriously wrong. It passed but I called the doc the next day and have been referred for an ECG, and had full blood panel done today.

Yes both auditory and visual hallucinations are signs, also strange smells/tastes. Auditory hallucinations can range anywhere from buzzing/drumming/ringing etc to hearing voices. Other things to look out for would be feelings of numbness/tingling, sudden strong feelings of joy, fear, anger, panic etc, lightheadedness, stiffness/twitching. You don't have to tick all these boxes but each one could be a sign. You might have only noticed in passing at the time and not thought much of it.

I'm very sorry if my post worried you OP but when I read what you described, and what I have witnessed first hand I just couldn't read and run. I really do hope you find answers and that it isn't anything serious.

Possible vertigo migraine - I have had exactly that. But I am not a doctor

How odd SusGus. Let me know if they reach a conclusion - I guess the bloods will show if you're deficient in anything that might cause it? I know B12 deficiency can cause lots of issues including neurological ones. I know I am low on ferritin - it's something that keeps on dropping with me, but definitely not caused this kind of symptom before.

So yesterday I had a banging headache (migraine?). Dragged myself out to a charity quiz as a local village hall with DH and some friends as was feeling slightly better. That was a mistake, felt horrendous and had a couple of "attacks" of going deathly pale, shaky, out of it again. Also had a conversation earlier in the evening with DH which I couldn't remember having later on when he mentioned it to me.

Just wish I known what was going on. Hope the GP doesn't take too long getting back to me.

That sounds very scary. I know migraines can cause terrifying symptoms - a friend of mine whose migraines got worse during pregnancy ended up in A&E as she went temporarily blind with one! She must have been terrified. My migraines (which are rare these days due to the beta blockers) usually start with the classic aura symptoms followed by the headache. Guess this could be an atypical one.

I will do OP, and hope to get results on Monday. I had considered B12 deficiency as well and hadn’t taken any in a few months so have started again so fingers crossed that might help. Have you had minor symptoms separately from each other for a while? That’s what it’s been like for me, a little dizzy one day, shaking another, and so on. But then it culminated in that horrible episode the other day. My sister said she had never seen me so pale. I have also had more migraines, and had separate attacks two days in a row last week which has never happened before.

Fingers crossed we both get some answers soon.

Gas leak wouldn't cause this but do you have a carbon monoxide alarm? As CO poisoning can cause the druggy spaced out feeling.

OP this sounds very similar to episodes by dd was having. Are you under more stress than normal?

I, and many drs suspected she had eplipsy from the description of her episodes. After numerous hospital stays and almost every test you could think of she was diagnosed with having psychosamatic seizures.

Not every episode was the same, some were more like a panic attack, some more like a seizure with jerking motions. Some were like she was sleep walking, yet she was awake.

Unfortunately it was a long process to get to the bottom of it, as everything medical had to be ruled out first. She has triggers though... being unwell, anxious, dehydration and a drop in blood sugar and blood pressure can trigger them, although these aren't concerning medical issues in their own right.

I hope the gp can come back to you, although be prepared to be fobbed off as a panic attack.

In the meantime, if you feel one starting again try to get to a seated or laying position.

Please kup as I know it's a frightening experience.

I recommend going to a good high street optician and having a thorough eye check including examination of the back of your eyes, visual field, pressures.

@inigomontoyahwillcox it sounds to me that you have had quite frightening symptoms two days running . I would be seeking more immediate medical help than waiting for my GP to reply to a message if this didn't happen in a couple of hours . I suggest you ring 111 and just see what they advise - they may say there's no immediate problem and wait to speak to your GP but they might recommend you attend A&E.

Have phoned 111 and someone calling back in the next 30 minutes.

Feel like I'm on morphine or some other opiate, can hardly string a sentence together. So so nauseous too.

If you are going downhill again, I would get someone to drive you to A and E and stay with you (and advocate for you to have a brain scan urgently)

I suffer from migraines and one of my symptoms is basically being completely spaced out & can barely string a sentence together. I also find this lasts much longer than the pain.

I did in the end @SeaToSki - well I called 111, spoke to the OOH GP who sent me to A&E. Been here since 10.40 last night and still waiting to see a dr. Some bloods have come back - haemoglobin and hematocrit are low (anaemia?) - INR is low too, which is worrying me as I had a massive pulmonary embolism back in '18. Anyway, hoping they get to the bottom of it as I am still feeling crap (no sleep hasn't helped).

I hope you have a good outcome in the end @inigomontoyahwillcox
Given your history I think getting medical advice was the right thing to do.

Carbon monoxide poisoning?

@inigomontoyahwillcox have you mentioned the kitchen refurb/gas pipe to docs? PP have mentioned it a couple of times and it was my first thought as DH and I were exposed to carbon monoxide once and our symptoms were just like yours.

You’re getting lots of good advice OP. Hope you get some answers soon.

Hope you get some answers soon

Hope you are ok and they have worked out what is going on. Xxx

It can feel awful but I don't believe it's a panic attack

So I spent 14 hours in A&E (in the waiting room), blood tests show low haemoglobin and haematocrit but the dr didn't think I was anaemic (RBC was on the low side of normal), they didn't test my ferritin. White blood cell count was slightly raised apparently.

Neuro exam was normal but sent me for a CT anyway - it was normal. Dr spoke to the neuro team who said they think it's an atypical migraine and to follow up with my GP (who can speak to the neuro team of they need advice).

I did feel better when I got home (less sick/disoriented although incredibly tired with no sleep at all on Saturday night) but am back feeling super sick and headachy this morning.

We do have a carbon monoxide alarm somewhere but I can't bloody find the thing (the downstairs rooms are full of boxes due to the kitchen and other room renovations). I'll have to buy a new one I think - although I'm the only one in the house who is ill.

I guess I'll have to wait for the GP to get in touch.

(DH found the carbon monoxide monitor - it's reading fine)