Weird experience. Opticians? Doctors?

[cluelessandhopeless]

I had a weird thing happen today.
The doorbell went and I went to answer the door. When I opened it I could not focus my eyes, I couldn’t see, couldn’t focus but also, everything seemed to go a bit blank? Then it’s as if I snapped back into the world and I was looking at the post woman who I actually know very well, who was stood smiling at me… but also looking a bit bewildered.
The blurred vision is something I noticed a couple of weeks ago and mentioned to my husband I may need an eye test, but this felt very extreme today and the feeling of blanking out was really weird.
I have some other bizarre and unusual symptoms happening recently which I’m not sure are worth mentioning or whether they are related but I have had things like the feeling of extreme electric shocks in my neck and hand, a sore stiff neck and brain fog.
Would you go to the doctors about this? I’m really worried about wasting peoples time. Or would first point of call me the opticians? I really don’t want to go to the opticians if I’m honest as I am really really squeamish with eyes so I’m really putting this off.
Advice would be appreciated or if any one else has had similar experiences?

You don't happen to be withdrawing off antidepressants, do you?

I'd say that collection of symptoms is worth contacting a gp about.

I would see a doctor about this definitely

Many opticians offer NHS urgent eye care appointments these days. Have a look for one in your area and phone them asap.
primaryeyecare.co.uk/

Hi @ClumpingBambooIsALie ,
No not on any medication at all and not coming off any medication either.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads @Georgeskitchen
Ok, I wasn’t sure if they might think I’m wasting their time. I’m thinking if I say I have blurred vision they might wonder why I’m there and not at the opticians.
but in all honesty I really don’t want to book in with the opticians 😭 and I know people might think that’s absolutely ridiculous but I’ve never had an eye test and it is my ultimate fear! So I just keep putting it off.
I can barely focus as I’m typing though so… I don’t think I’ll have much choice soon!

I would check out where your local eye casualty is, they are usually not part of A&E.

@SoS505 That is really helpful thank you.

There's all sorts of things it could be, from needing glasses or something more serious. With the brain shock and electric shock feelings as well, I'd start with the GP.

Look in the mirror and stick your tongue out. Is it straight? It sounds like a stroke or seizure to me and I’d go to the Dr.

Go to the GP, they will probably refer you to a neurologist.

While you wait for the neurologist appointment, make an optician appointment, just to rule out an ocular cause.

Opticians do a lot more than test sight, they also test eye health and can raise red flags for more serious things like tumors.

I understand that you're afraid, and that no reassurance from me will help, but if its any reassurance at all, I find visiting the optician to be pleasant... 9000x better than a smear test.

If you feel like that again, it's perfectly rational to go to A&E, losing (full) consciousness is serious. I'd be tempted to call 111 even now and expect then to send you to A&E.

There will be a long wait, but there's no better place to be (when you could be dangerously ill) than surrounded by doctors, even if you're just in the waiting room.

Of course it could be any number of non dangerous things, I had similar symptoms with migraines (lots of nerve and eye weirdness, no headache).

See GP, for urgent neuro assessment OP, I don’t want to alarm you, it may possibly be nothing to worry about. The GP will know from a neuro exam. And will refer if appropriate.

I have symptoms like you described very frequently, I have Multiple Sclerosis, good luck, I hope it turns out well for you.

Ring now if your surgery is still open, OP, explain the symptoms I am sure you will be seen as a priority.

Did you manage to hook a gp appointment? I would say gp before opticians in this instance but you may need to see both. Definitely call your gp though.

Without wanting to frighten you OP they sound a little like seizures. I would get to the GP as soon as you can - do you drive? Maybe don’t until you’ve been seen just in case. Hope you feel better!

How old are you OP? I experienced similar and later learnt that they were panic attacks caused by the menopause. Our of the blue, lasting from minutes to days. Very scary.

Thank you everyone for the advice. I will ring the doctors tomorrow morning - although I think it’s unlikely I will get an appointment for a while. The last time I called it was a 3 week wait for an appointment.

@vivainsomnia I’m 30. I have very regular periods and haven’t noticed anything unusual in that respect.

If they triage the appointments correctly, I am sure you will be seen quickly OP. Good luck.

Sorry but I don't think you're taking this seriously enough. I don't want to scare you but it sounds like my mam's first TIA and you need checking urgently.

These symptoms are not something to wait 3 weeks for.

Did the electric shock in your neck happen when you were looking down ?

Definitely get seen by your GP.

Not saying it is, but MS can cause epilepsy due to lision placement.

'Lhermitte's sign, also called Lhermitte's phenomenon or the barber chair phenomenon, is often associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). It's a sudden, uncomfortable sensation that travels from your neck down your spine when you flex your neck. Lhermitte's is often described as an electrical shock or buzzing sensation'

@Cheeptweet ive only had it happen twice.
The first time was about 2 months ago and it was in my neck. I’m not sure if I looked down but I remember just sitting on the sofa and then suddenly felt the most intense electric shock in my neck, it was so violent that I think I swung my head forwards or to one side, grabbed my neck and remember being in shock.
It was completely out of the blue, really painful, scared me to death but then did not happen again until the other night, but this time the shock was in my hand. I reached out to grab a cushion and once again felt the most extreme intense shock in my hand, and did honestly terrify me, this was followed by a real intense burning sensation in my hand which lasted for a couple of days and was worse if I touched the area or washed my hands.
the burning has now stopped but it progressed to itchiness which kept me awake a bit the other night, but now it does seem to be back to normal.
I think the reason I’m hesitant to say anything to doctors about the shocks is because it’s not happening frequently, this has only happened twice 🤷🏻‍♀️

Tell them, once is enough to mention it.

@Cheeptweet ok. Thank you, will give them a ring in the morning.