Terrible brain fog/pressure in head

[Brainblues]

If anyone has any similar experience of this or advice, please feel free to reply!

Have had a very stressful couple of years including being bullied out of my job, DH health problems, house move, toddler not sleeping - you name it. I’ve had a couple of health scares recently too and had a short stay in hospital a couple of weeks ago, which i found extremely stressful. I’ve also suffered depression and anxiety for 20 years, and health anxiety for two.

A few years ago I had some terrible dizzy spells (room spinning) and was superficially diagnosed with labyrinthitis (no further investigation or treatment). The dizzy spells passed quite quickly but the feeling of brain fog/pressure remained on and off for some months. Eventually it all went away.

I’ve now found myself with similar symptoms - had a few room spinners back in November and had a few spacey/foggy hours here and there ever since. However this past couple of weeks since my hospital stay it’s been near enough constant! No more spinning but head feeling really full, slight buzzing in ears, trouble focusing eyes/thoughts, a general feeling of not being with it. I almost feel stoned?!

Optician said I've got 20-20 vision, and couldn’t see any shadows or spots. I was referred for an MRI by the hospital which will happen on Friday. Obviously I’m petrified it will be a tumour/MND or something else chronic and horrible. Could it just be stress overload? I’ve been having panic attacks and living on the edge of my nerves for 18 months now.

Full disclosure - I used to (stupidly) smoke a lot of cannabis when young, and am not on any hormonal drugs or medication. I’m almost 40 and my periods have become quite irregular and shorter in the past year, so possibly perimenopausal too.

Thanks very much for any help.

Hopeful bump

Yes it could be stress overload. I had symptoms very similar to yours about 15 years ago but with no spinning. I had lots of tests including am MRI, but everything was normal.
In the end they said they thought I'd had an adrenaline response at a time of extreme stress. Like a fight or flight response. As I started to relax and not worry about the symptoms, it slowly went away. However, all these years later, if I'm very anxious, I get the feelings again. Just very spaced out and detached.
I've never done drugs. In your case that may have something to do with it but I really don't know. Just didn't want to read and run as your symptoms were so like mine.
Good luck with the MRI, hope all is ok.

I have no experience but just wanted to send sympathy. If your MRI is clear and Doctors rule everything else out, I'd suggest really looking after yourself... drink lots of water, do yoga, take a good multvitamin. And also acupuncture. If it turns out to be a stress type problem then acupuncture can do wonders for you.

Oh this is sounding very familiar. I have vestibular migraine and it presented similarly. Having said that there are a number of similar conditions related to the Vestibular system which can be damaged by inner ear infections.
Vestibular migraine is not especially well understood and you would probably want a referral to neurology. It causes all the symptoms you describe and mine came on 4 months after I recovered from labyrinthitis. It's common amongst perimenopausal women. Give me a PM if you want to chat as I have quite a few resources now.

Also have this. It’s horrible.

Don’t think mine is stress related.

Would love to know any of the resources @ElysiumFeels please?

Wow, thanks a lot for the replies and support. Having a bit of a shit evening so really do appreciate it

@augustusglupe Thanks a lot for the support, great to hear you’re mostly cured now and that you’ve moved on from that period of your life. I hope my MRI is similarly clear and I can tick serious problems off the list.

I was thinking of acupuncture @whatisheupto, I’ve heard it’s good for this kind of thing. Been trying some acupressure techniques these past few days (found them online, bound to be doing them slightly wrong though!).

@ElysiumFeels I will PM you now, thanks a lot.

@RSItooloud Are your symptoms the same as mine? When did it start?

@RSItooloud

Also have this. It’s horrible.

Don’t think mine is stress related.

Would love to know any of the resources @ElysiumFeels please?

I will pm you

Have you had things like BPPV and Menieres ruled out op?

Try not to worry because dizziness can cause a feeling like you have a heavy head. Buzzing in ears also sounds like a vestibular issue to me. I'm NOT a doctor though.

Brain tumours cause things like slurred speech, weakness in parts of the body, double vision, headaches and vomiting etc.

Obviously it's great you are having a scan to rule out anything sinister. If it all comes back clear, try and get to see a vestibular physio. They can do things like the Epley manoeuvre which may be able to help.

Thank you @ElysiumFeels.

I don’t have nausea or buzzing myself. Just the sensation of heavy, stuffy head! Big uncomfortable headache... It gets worse when I stand up. It’s been happening for at least a year... Like the upwards pressure if going from sitting to standing is too overwhelming for my head! Frequently have sore ears. Dizzy - rarely only when it’s really bad. Codeine is really helpful. But obviously not ideal...

Off to google the Epley manoeuvre.,,

have you had bloods checked? iron and b12 issues gave me similar problems, plus tinnitus.

RSItooloud maybe have a check up with a go if possible before trying any violent manoeuvres! Hope you feel better soon too.

GP not go!

Thanks very much for all your replies. I’ve bought a nasal rinse thing from Boots in case it’s Sinusitis - @RSItooloud could yours be something similar? I find it hard to breathe through my nose quite often and my ears pop or crackle sometimes so I’m wondering if I have a problem with blocked sinuses...

I'm going through something similar OP and vestibular migraines have been mentioned. They've started me on Amitriptyline to see if that helps
How was your MRI?

How did you get on OP? I’m experiencing very similiar! Xx