Brain Shakes and Dizziness

[mg409]

I have read multiple descriptions of "brain shakes" on this forum but none seem to describe my experience. I have gone to two different general practitioners and they tell me that I am suffering from vertigo but my symptoms do not seem to completely match vertigo either.

I am a 27-year-old, healthy and active woman. Several months ago, I began experiencing these random episodes of brain shakes that are followed by dizziness. The "brain shakes" feel like a jolt and vibration that last about a 1 second. These "brain shakes" are sometimes violent and because they are unexpected, I react by placing my hands to my head. But my head does not actually "shake", its is merely an internal sensation that I'm reacting to. The "brain shakes" are immediately followed by dizziness. I feel like the room is spinning and sometimes I become flushed and nauseous. The dizziness lasts less than a minute. The dizziness is initially severe and then it fades away and is completely gone in about a minute.

These episodes have occurred approximately 6 or so times. They appear to occur randomly and they are spaced out; sometimes a couple weeks and other times about a month apart. I am almost never moving when these occur. In other words, they don't seem to be caused by sudden movements or physical fatigue. Most times it has happens when I'm sitting at my desk working or in a car or at lunch with a friend. When they occur, I am immediately fine when the dizziness wears off as if nothing happened. They also occur one at a time; I've never had more than one per day. Also, these episodes to do not appear to be stress or mental health related. I am a mental health practitioner and was able to rule that out.

Although these episodes have not significantly impaired my life functioning, they are certainly scary and concerning. Any insight about what might be happening would be greatly appreciated!!

[Zielger]

I have shaking inside my brain to wear my eyes are shaking also and I can push on the back of my left side to use it

[CicadaGirl]

My mother has been dealing with the exact same symptoms for the last few years, and was seeing a neurologist who couldn't pinpoint what the issue was. Then one day while at work, it hit again, only worse, and the limbs on her one side started flailing. She drove herself home from work (we still give her a hard time for this, she admitted she had trouble sticking to the road), and my sister immediately called 911. Long story short: the neurologist she had been seeing was called in and kept insisting on a seizure, which was later proven to be a misdiagnosis by another doctor who was brought in after her blood work came back odd. It turned out she had a TIA (transient ischemic stroke), and was diagnosed with APS (antiphospholipid syndrome). The worst part about this was that doctors were so adamant to stick to "it's not a stroke b/c she doesn't have weakness in one side, she has the opposite". Stroke isn't the same in all people, and we later learned by the blood doctor that if her situation had been taken more seriously and she had been given blood thinners when she was brought in with a stroke, she wouldn't have lasting brain damage like she does. So consider having your blood work done and have them test for APS and any other clotting disorders.

[Kate49x]

Hi, I am 67 years old and have just started having these 'brain shakes' and reading these many comments has helped knowing a lot of others suffer from this.  Mine appeared to have been triggered by a lack of sleep and hours spent on a computer (doing a special project) but the dizziness could be stopped right away if I got down on the floor and lay flat for a few seconds.  Since then I have noticed if I lie in bed on my left side my brain seems to 'shake' if I lie on my right side it doesn't.  As I had a headache when the dizziness first started I put it down to some sort of migraine but the headaches have gone but the brain shaking hasn't.  I notice it a lot more in periods of activity, especially using a computer. I have also had the dizziness if I got up out of bed in the night.  This seems to be different from 'vertigo' which I had badly 20 years ago, but at this stage haven't been to a Dr or specialist.  But I'm going to take up the suggestions made of 1.drinking more water 2.more exercise..... thanks for these posts.

[Renny001]

Any answer from the doctor? I have just suffered from the exact "brain vibration and consciousness sinking". It's the second time for past two years. And this time i can feel exactly it happened to the right hemisphere and lasted less than 5 seconds. And before this, i had suffered a "brain sinking and consciousness sinking" when i lied down on the bed for sleeping.
Hope it's not AD omen or cerebral thrombosis.

[Renny001]

i am only 30!

[Alm1106]

Hi , Even i feel same  for at least twice in a month .
I guess all should mention what are the other medical issue they have ..i guess we can figure it out if we have all have same.

1>I have Sinus
2>Nasal septum deviation
3>Heavy head

Otherwise i am healthy with my daily routine

[MinecraftMom176]

Interesting note on the migraines.. But before I comment on that just want to say I take NOTHING prescription.  I am taking more vitamins.. just a good general women's health one and I take extra B every day b/c I have a fatigue problem.   So it's not a medication side effect.

Relative to migraines.. I see that as a common thread.  I have never, to my knowledge, had migraines.  THAT said, my daughter, who is now 10, developed something called Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) at around 18 months old.  Even now from 8 years ago there's is more known and it's more definitively tied to?  Right, migraines.  That's one of the things when she finally got diagnosed (after 2 years and finally a trip to the hospital where they labeled her "blue and non responsive" when the ambulance picked her up) that they asked was "do you have a history of migraines".. I don't.. her father's grandfather did and his father did.  Me?  None.  But some women do develop migraines in perimenopause and I would say in the 6 months or so before this started I would get monster headaches that would take me 6 to 9 advil to kill (and I'm normally someone who can take 3 advil for monster menstrual cramps and be all set for 24 hours).  

So I think there may be a migraine link.. which for me would make sense because I'm getting the episodes now around my period.  Like I got my period yesterday.. 2 nights before I started.. not terrible but I noticed it.  I also think I don't react the same now?  You get used to and the violence of it seems to dissipate because you've learned to compensate.  Just my theory.

[MinecraftMom176]

Same thing.. never standing.. ALWAYS sitting.. or coming from a sitting position but that's rare.

Someone mentioned looking at a screen when it happened.  Check.

someone mentioned having astigmatism.. Check.  I definitely feel my prescription has changed and I do know this, when it happens now, is I'm looking at my phone.. computer screen.. If I focus too long it seems, then it might trigger.. but not always.. Just sometimes..