Sudden flashes of confusion

[SandCon14]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum but i just don't know where else to post it.

Over the last few months i've been having moments where i'll be watching tv or something and i get this strange feeling in my brain kind of like i've been surprised or shocked, and i feel confused for just a split second. It's really scary and I don't know what to do about it. i've seen a neurologist who gave me a test for seizures but it was way before these started happening. it seems to happen more when i'm watching something on the internet or tv or something but it also happens at other random times.

Any help would be great. i'm really really freaked out by these. they make me have panic attacks when they happen because i'm afraid i'm going crazy or something.

[ggreg]

You know, it's possible, altho I don't really think so, that you're having some sort of little bleeds going on in your brain, otherwise known as mini strokes or transient ischemic attacks, which can be a precursor to a big stroke.  The reason I don't think this is so is because you notice them when watching TV or at the computer, which suggests a visual trigger to your confusion.  And the reason I think it might be is because these little strokes will cause that confusion and make you weak, especially one one side.  I am SO relieved you will give the doctor route another try, hope this one helps you more.

One more thing, getting enough protein foods will give you strength and endurance, makes tasks easier to do for longer.  And if your tummy is not utilizing some nutrients right, might be contributing to all this, with those B vitamins good for the nerves.  But the most notable item is your thyroid.  You might could spend some time looking up hypothyroidism online and see if it fits you, I haven't, but figured you already have, but if not give it a look.

[SandCon14]

Thank you for being so supportive. I've been unable to drive for over a year now because of all of this stuff, but I've been blessed with having a really supportive group of people around me. I dunno what I'd do without my friends and family.

I haven't seen a new doctor lately, but I'm calling one Monday morning in hopes of getting in as soon as possible. I'm hoping this new one will be more attentive than the other doctors I've seen. It's SO discouraging having doctors dismiss you when you feel so miserable and know something is genuinely wrong.

My stomach has always been pretty bad (that's why my b12 was so low before) so I'm wondering why doctors have never checked for vitamin deficiencies aside from b12. I feel sure my vitamin d is low if nothing else. I rarely leave the house anymore since I feel so terrible and I probably don't get near enough of it...

[ggreg]

Gosh, the doctor routine you're getting is so frustrating.  I mean, you're quite sick and docs aren't doing enough about it.  Internal medicine groups are good diagnosticians, might be a source for a good doc.  Or the one who found your B12 and thyroid problems.

I came across a few things that might be doing this, other than some sort of neurological disease or brain abnormality.  If perchance you are taking a drug for high cholesterol, you may want to consider getting off it, and of course let the prescribing doc know about it.  Those drugs have been known to create all kinds of oddball problems, some quite similar to yours.  Already we've talked about possibly being hypothyroid, and then the B12 thing you had.  There's also some kind of diabetes thing doing this or anemia, but those would show up in a blood test looking for those.

Please let a relative or friend or neighbor know about your condition, that you have been very weak and sometimes get confused or dizzy.  And that while you think you could get yourself to an ER, that could be it would be helpful if they knew about your condition.  I am actually getting more concerned each time you post, mainly because of your weakness.  I mean, not being able to stand for more than about fifteen minutes suggests something is waaaay off.  And I don't like the aspect of your confusion, that combined with your physical limitations, really puts you in a box you can't get out of.  And with these docs who aren't taking this seriously, I just don't get that.  Feel free to just go to the ER one day when you are particularly out of it, maybe have someone drive you over there.  I WISH I knew exactly what was wrong, particularly if it's neurological, and I'm thinking less and less that it's a seizure feature, rather it's grounded in some other problem with you health.

[SandCon14]

It's a really long story, but I've been dealing with medical issues for almost 3 years, and it's gotten so much worse over the last few months. It started with palpitations, weak eyes and muscle twitches, but progressed into horrible weakness and episodes of (specifically) left-sided weakness. My neuro told me that I had muscle wasting in my left arm, but gave no explanation for it, told me I was depressed, and I haven't seen him since.

Over the last month or so, I've gotten to where everything confuses me and I don't know or understand why. My brain fog has gotten so much worse also. It's extremely frightening.

Also, I can barely stand for more than 10-30 minutes without becoming so weak that I can't function. I was seeing a doctor who believes I have narcolepsy, but he keeps brushing me off. Every doctor I see barely pays attention then sends me out. I can't find a good doctor willing to sit through more than 3 visits with me before giving up. It's depressing... especially since I'm getting so much worse.

[ggreg]

Well, depends on who told you brain fog was part of what condition.  I mean, brain fog can happen from a variety of illnesses.  If it was mentioned in connection with, say, your thyroid thing, then you MIGHT could probably connect your confusion with that illness.  It's been a couple weeks since you first posted, and I hope you have or plan to see SOME doctor about these episodes.  Doctors know what this sort of thing might mean, the problem of a kind of shocky feeling and confusion in your head.  

But I think it's interesting you saw a doc sometime ago and were tested for seizures, so apparently something about one of your illnesses prompted them to do that test, which is why I said you need to get re-tested, and a 24hour or 48hour type EEG tape can be run, you carry around a little halter, to catch those intermittent flashes of confusion you get.  And I think you should do it sooner rather than later, because while I think it's a seizure thing, it could be something perhaps worse, and anyway you sure don't want this happening when you're out and about and lose your senses.  Please be careful, and let us know what happens when you see a doc.

[SandCon14]

Thank you for the suggestions. I've been trying them all out in hopes that they would help.

I've gotten a lot worse since my post. The brain fog is horrible the last few days, and I'm getting SO easily confused by everything. Even things I do on a daily basis have started to confuse me. Is this a common thing with brain fog?

[aadia789]

here's a few suggestions that may help;

have you tried turning down the brightness level on your tv and computer? it could make the problem less frequent.

it is recomended by experts, that everyone looks away from their monitors/tvs every 15/30mins and re-focus their eyes on a object at a different distance for a moment. Doing this may also make your problem less frequent.

have you visited an optician recently? putting your eyes under strain can be a cause of many problems.

[SandCon14]

My thyroid had been acting up for a while. my tsh was all over the place and the doctor would tell me we needed to keep up with it and make sure it was fine, but because it kept fluctuating so much and would get back to the 1.5-2.0 range he decided that wasn't it.

thank you for the panic attack advice btw. I tried like you said a couple of nights ago and it was a lifesaver!

[ggreg]

Maybe  you should let your regular doc do some labwork to see where your vitamin and mineral numbers are at, becuz hopefully your B12 or perhaps a couple other things aren't up to par anymore, so continuing to get a blood draw is likely a good idea.

And the seizure thing is a very real possibility, so do not be afraid.  There is some kind of seizure where it's described the way you did, a kind of surprise thing like you said, but I've forgotten the name now.  So, perhaps visit the neuro again for a seizure type test (he'll run an EEG tape).

Another thing is could be you should have your regular doc run a quick test on how your thyroid is doing.  Hypothyroid can really goof up a person, I had a problem with it one time and felt rather peculiar, and I've known a lot of people with it and it can make you tired and spaced out and all that stuff.

One thing I do want to tell you, I forgot last time, is whenever you feel a panic attack is getting ready to run you down, do some real deep breathing, and it'll make your heart slow down, and thus your anxiety will go down, too.  The exact way is to breathe in real deeply, then blow it all out, then breathe normal a few times, repeat it again, maybe four or five times altogether.  It should really help with the panic.  I have panic disorder, so I was taught that to help me get a grip.

[SandCon14]

Thank you for responding :)

I found out about a year ago that i had a vitamin b12 deficiency but it was fixed so i wonder if maybe there are other water soluble vitamins that may be low too? I have pretty bad stomach problems so maybe that's the case.

I do spend a lot of time at the computer but i try to make sure i have a break at least once every hour. I do most of my work from here so I pretty much have to be at it most of the time.

It's just scared because i've been sick for a while with a bunch of odd symptoms and this one is by far the most concerning of all of them. I think i could live with the others if this one wasn't happening. the brain fog and fatigue are bad enough without these happening too. :(

[ggreg]

Could be a lot of things causing this.  Since it's been a while since you were tested for seizures, I think it would be a good idea to go back and have that checked for again.  What first occurred to me, tho, is sometimes a simple vitamin deficiency can do this!  So, it cannot hurt to take a name-brand multi-vitamin/mineral supplement twice a week.  The other thing is actually fairly common, and I don't mean to imply this of you, but some folks who spend a lot of time on a computer will get some VERY oddball symptoms, sometimes like yours.  See, the computer screen is flipping and flashing, but it's so subtle that ordinarily we don't see it.  So, if you are spending long periods in front of a computer screen, make it a habit to get up from the screen every hour, look out a window for some distance gazing, just break that focus.  Years ago, I was working too many hours with a computer, and I almost fell out of my chair!  I was so shocked!  That was it for too many work hours.  Oh, and one more thing, sleep and enough water are good for you in general, so just be sure in general you are making that part of your lifestyle.  If you have any trouble sleeping, amp up the exercise and you'll do better with that.