Unusual and severe early pregnancy symptoms - looking for solidarity!

[Stilts]

I'm 11 weeks pregnant and suffering with very extreme brain fog, headaches, exhaustion and hallucinations. I can't work, read or write for more than 15-20 mins without having to lie down for 2 hours with the whole room spinning. Can't drive, or even walk upstairs without becoming so dizzy I need to lie down. It is causing depression and despair as I am completely cognitively impaired and can't fulfil my job or properly engage with my 4-year old.

This is my second pregnancy and I had none of these symptoms first time around. I've spoken to my GP and even been sent to hospital for full blood tests, CT scan and MRI so I know it is not anything sinister. I'm usually someone who is very good at ploughing on with work when ill and this is on another level, completely disabling.

I really just wanted to know if anyone else had experienced anything of this nature and when it got better for you. Sorry all, a bit desperate and clutching at straws.

N.B. If you are reading this and having hallucinations or severe and worsening headaches, please don't assume it is just pregnancy without talking to your GP. They can be symptoms of a serious medical condition which should be checked.

Did the Dr mention anything like inner ear infection? Vertigo?

Thanks @thingymaboob, its not an infection as would have showed up in blood tests; may be vertigo but GP says that's not a condition in itself but a symptom of other things, none of which seem to fit. Her current theory is that it's an extreme reaction to pregnancy. Seems pretty extreme to me!

Someone I know experienced something similar, though I don't know all the details of her situation. As I understand it, she had an undiagnosed genetic problem that impacted her muscles and ligaments. When she got pregnant, the additional hormones caused her muscles to relax an extreme amount to the extent spinal fluid was leaking and caused her debilitating headaches, dizziness and illness.

Thanks @peanutmm that sounds pretty scary for your friend, I hope they are doing better now. I had a Google- to be honest a lot of the symptoms sound very similar but I'm assuming the CT scan would have picked this up? I will run it by my GP again to check

She had several scans, but it was only discovered recently (years later) by a specialist. It is extremely rare what has happened to her, so it's unlikely your situation is identical to hers, but maybe it'll help point you in the right direction?

@peanutmm I will mention it to the GP. She has been great but still the outcome at the moment seems to be to assume its about pregnancy, when I've never met anyone who's had symptoms like these just with pregnancy.

I'm really sorry to hear you're going through such bad symptoms. It seems like a good & bad thing that the GP hasn't found any underlying health issues, at least there's nothing else wrong with you but it must be incredibly stressful dealing with such intense symptoms from your pregnancy.
I was going to commiserate with you because I also have quite bad symptoms & am 12 weeks today with no sign of them getting better but mine are definitely less severe than yours.
I really hope you feel better soon.

@peanutmm

Someone I know experienced something similar, though I don't know all the details of her situation. As I understand it, she had an undiagnosed genetic problem that impacted her muscles and ligaments. When she got pregnant, the additional hormones caused her muscles to relax an extreme amount to the extent spinal fluid was leaking and caused her debilitating headaches, dizziness and illness.

I would expect that's Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

I have it, it tends to get worse with every pregnancy as the ligaments and tendons are affected by the hormones. People with it often have issues with some hormonal contraceptives, as well as peaks and troughs of when they're affected during the menstrual cycle.

Thanks @jolota sorry to hear you are feeling miserable too. Hope we both feel better soon - I'll be 12 weeks on Thursday so I imagine we'll be due around the same time.

I know someone with Ehlers Danos @HappilyHadesBound - it sounds rough, thank you for sharing this. I don't think it's the issue here but just strikes me how many things have an impact on menstrual cycle, pregnancy etc and how many people have a rough time.

@HappilyHadesBound yes, that was it. She had no indication prior to her pregnancy that she had it either.

It's so complex!