What are these symptoms

[Megan213]

I am a 16 year old female. For over a year now I have the feeling as if i am in a dream, like nothing is real, and i feel as if i may not be here. I also have dizziness, severe headaches at least once a week, ringing in my ears, being lightheaded, and a slight heart murmur was just found. My blood pressure has recently been very high, which is not normal for me, and i weigh 113. I have had a Ct scan, and an MRI, which all came back normal. I have been a swimmer for 10 years now, and quit because it makes me so dizzy and faint. I am scheduled for an ECC in two days, but if that is normal where should i go next? Please let me know if someone knows anything.
Thanks in advanced!!!

[Megan213]

I went to the neurologist on the 14th. At this point I'm feeling hopeless. She said all of my tests I have had which include, CT Scan, and MRI have come back normal.My EKG had a slight blip in it but she didn't even mention that. My ENT says it is not an inner ear problem. Therefore my neurologist suggests that I go talk to a counselor and a psychiatrist because it could be an underlying anxiety problem. I don't want to go to one because I don't believe that is what is wrong! The way this feeling came on was so weird. I was at a swim meet about a year and a half ago and I just started feeling dizzy and out of the ordinary and this feeling came on and just never went away. I was never depressed or worrying about anything when this feeling came on and that is why I don't think that it is anxiety that is causing this! Please someone leave some advice or feedback on what they think I should do.
Megan

[Megan213]

I am still feeling the same way. This feeling has been going on for a year and a half now. I go to the neurologist tomorrow. The topamax has helped so much with the migraines but this feeling I am having which is, I don't feel like i am here or that I am in a dream is still here. We have talked about having an EEG and just never had one, also our insurance wouldn't approve us for an MRA because our family doesn't have a history of aneurysms, so do you think we should push for that? I will update what I find out tomorrow.
Thanks in advanced,
Megan

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

How are you now ? I am checking the thread after a long gap.

Have you considered or been advised EEG ? It is not necessarily to find out any seizure, but give a general idea about the brain functions.

Regards

[Megan213]

No thats not me:-( But gosh I need to figure out whats wrong with me. Its not normal to feel this way. I know what I am supposed to feel like and this isn't it. This is so frustrating going to doctors and im just losing hope trying to figure out whats wrong. :-(

[turbopassat]

After a lot of different doctors, diagnosis of ADD, Auditory Processing Disorder and OCD I had to basically research the internet and ask her Psych doc if it could be this and he did an EEG and was diagnosed with right temperal lobe or abscence seizures.  She would just be sort of out of it or in a trance for a few seconds to minutes at a time all during the day.  We would call her name or try to get her attention and of course when she was young we said why don't you pay attention, didn't you hear me calling your name?  I would tell her to go get her shoes on and she would go open the fridge!   It was like what are you doing, are you living in your own dreamworld? Yes she was!  When she was in 11th grade she was able to put into words the way it felt during class, when she said it was like being out of her body and floating above the classroom or being in a scene from Alice in Wonderland.  At night "shadow people" would sit on the pillow beside her while she was terrified but still tried to sleep.  Since things had been this way for as long as she could remember, she thought everyone was like this.  We thought she was a chronic liar because she was missing out on so many details in life she would fill in the blanks with her own version of the story, and it would be way out there!  She started taking Lamictal and her grades went from D's and F's to A,B & C's.  The sad part is that it dulls her right temporal lobe and she doesn't draw and play music like she used to.  But she is definately better.  Sorry to be so long, but I think there may be too many kids out there on the wrong meds or branded as daydreamers or defiant, when there may be other explainations.

[Megan213]

I've never experienced hallucination or anything of that sort but I don't always pay attention, it's hard for me to concentrate and think right on the spot, and I would most definitely forget my head if it was not attached. I don't feel like an artist like I'm drawing, but I feel like I am stuck in a dream world.. its the weirdest thing! Did they find out what is wrong with your daughter? If not, my gosh I am so sorry:-(.

[turbopassat]

I have a 20 yr old named Maegan and she had very similar symptoms.  Do you hallucinate, or do people tell you that you don't listen, pay attention and you would forget your head if it weren't attached.  Ever get lost in conversations and been accused of lying because you were trying to fill in the blanks you missed?  God I hope this isn't you!  Last of all are you an artist like drawing and playing music?

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

For any doubts on the EKG report, it is always advised that you should see a cardiologist. I am a bit surprised at the normal ear findings. Shifting on Topamax is a good move. Elavil has issues related to heart.

Watch to response of Topamax therapy. Hope you recover fast.

Regards

[Megan213]

I recieved the results back from the EKG. It was on the borderline of a QTC, and there is a little blip going on there. (Should I see a pediatric cardiologist?) I went to the ENT and everything was normal there and he ruled out the inner ear, and he said he would not be suprised if it was something vascular thats going on. The neurologist decided to put me on topamax instead of elavil(Spelling) because of the heart thing, for migraines and thinks that it could take away the foggy and dream like feeling I have and also take away the migraine problem. If anyone has anymore information or input that would be great. Thanks for your time.
-Megan

[Megan213]

Thanks everyone for the help. I am still waiting for the results for my EKG. I have a scheduled appointment on December 26 for a ENT that specializes in neurology. Hopefully I will find out something more there
--Megan

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

The heart murmur may not be related. And Hypertension should not prevent you from swimming. You should consult an ENT surgeon, and discuss the possibility of an inner ear problem.

Regards

[Megan213]

Thank you. I will update when i get my ECG Back. They have already definitely ruled hypertension out. They didn't know why my blood pressure was so high actually. Yesterday I went back to the neurologist and that was the first time it was so high. Every other time it is perfect.

Thanks you guys

[Caliber2005]

Hi,
How are you feeling now?
Your symptoms are indeed related to your high blood pressure. Hypertension can cause such symptoms. There is lot of causes of hypertension which needs to be ruled out. If a diagnosis of essential hypertension is made then management should be planned. Management includes lifestyle modifications, anti-hypertensive medications, and dietary control.
Hypertension should be under controlled as long term complication associated with hypertension are more and can affect each and every organ system.
If ECG is normal, it is good and fine. You can get one Cardiac Echo done.
Hope this helps.
Bye.

[noops01]

Hi,
Are you taking blood pressure medication? Did they tell you what was the reason for your high blood pressure? High BP in people of your age group can be due to kidney problems, hormonal disorders, some medications like steroids and oral contraceptives, overconsumption of alcohol.
You need to take regular medications to control your BP and do regular monitoring of BP.The underlying cause of your high BP at this age has to be identified. Please wait and see if something comes up in your ECG examination.