Chronic “drugged,” “drunk-like,” “woozy” feeling in head – Help!

[earprints]

Hi, I’ve been struggling with a chronic head condition since August 2008 and I’m now at wit’s end. Most hours of the day I suffer from this persistent “drugged,” “drunk-like,” “woozy” feeling going on in my head. I wouldn’t, however, really call it dizziness or fogginess.  It’s severely affected my social life (I hardly go out any longer) and I’m barely coping at work. I just can’t seem to resolve this and it’s distressing! I’ve seen several types of doctors/alternative doctors and so far nothing:

- Primary Doctor (2x)
- Neurologist (1x)
- ENT Doctor (1x)
- Chiropractor (1x)
- Holistic/Nutritionist/Chiropractor (1x)
- Upper Cervical Chiropractor (2x)

I’ve had the following tests taken and they all came back NEGATIVE:
- 2 blood tests (among other things, the tests tested for Lyme, Hepatitis C, Mono, AIDS)
- CAT Scan (Sinus, head – w/o contrast) [this did show, however, that I have a deviated septum]
- MRI (Brain)
- EEG

At this point I DON’T think it’s:
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Anemia
- Something Nutritionally-related
- Electro-sensitively

The only other ideas I have right now are:
- Some type of Sleep Disorder (e.g., Sleep Apnea)
- Anxiety
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

I’m supposed to get a Sleep Study done soon. But I don’t think it could be Sleep Apnea since I don’t fit the description (34 years old, thin). I thought that *maybe* it could be anxiety-related which I definitely suffer from.  I have Benign Fasciculation Syndrome (sporadic twitching) which might have been brought on by stress/anxiety. I also have Tinnitus which may/may not have been induced by anxiety (actually I think it came about from over-exposure to loud music). So could this head condition somehow be anxiety-related? I know that dizziness is often a symptom of anxiety but being that I don’t have that, I’m wondering whether my “drugged,” “drunk-like,” “woozy” feelings could still brought on by it. I’ve occasionally taken the anti-anxiety medication Klonopin to see if that would help but it hasn’t. I’ve made an appointment with a Psychiatrist and I’m praying that he can shed some light on this issue.

Any other ideas/advice you might have would GREATLY be appreciated. I want to get on with my life!

Many thanks!!!

[chelseabearcouture]

i know that it sounds simple, but when I described it to my doctors before, they didn't think vertigo.  They started doing complicated tests and exams.  The way I found out was online, and when I found the term, I told my doctor.  After that, they realized that the cause was pretty simple. (just calcium crystals in my ear?? something like that.)
I guess it was just one of those things that are "right under your nose".  If what you're feeling is vertigo, this may narrow down what could be causing it.  
Hope I helped a little... If not, I'll check back and see if you update so I could possibly help you think of other possibilities.

Chelsea

[chelseabearcouture]

have you considered the fact that you may have vertigo?

[remar]

Do you also have depression? You did'nt mention it but some people with depression have these symptoms. Also anxiety can have all kinds of different symptoms. It's good that your going to see a psychiatrist, make sure you tell him/her all of your symptoms. It really sounds like depression and anxiety to me. I have all the symptoms you mentioned. Take care. Remar

[atticus565]

It sounds like anxiety to me. At least, you've described how I've been feeling for the past eight months almost perfectly, and I've been officially diagnosed as having an anxiety disorder. I've had all of the tests done that you've mentioned and seen all of those specialists. They all said that I was as healthy as could be. After six months of frustrated searching, a neurologist finally said with certainty that she knew what my problem was. Like hundreds of other patients who had come into her office with a "drugged", "woozy" feeling, I was suffering from some form of anxiety. Naturally, I didn't want to believe it at first. After all, how could such real symptoms be caused by something so simple as anxiety?
                  I've since learned to look at it this way: Over the past eight months, although my symptoms are terrifying and frustrating at times, they have not caused any serious health problems. And if this drugged feeling was caused by a more serious illness, I would have been experiencing more serious symptoms by now. This woozy feeling is not going to go away tomorrow. I've learned that it's an ongoing struggle and you overcome it with strength, discipline, and perserverance. Find out what makes this woozy feeling worse and stay away from that. Find out what makes you feel better and hold on to that. If you can convince yourself that certain things make you feel better, than they probably will when you do them. It's a matter of training your mind. I'm still struggling with it. But I've begun going to therapy weekly and taking celexa, which has helped. I've also cut back on my caffeine intake and begun exercising regularly. And even though it's hard, I try to go out with people at least once a week to maintain a social life.
          This will pass. Tell yourself that. It's all that you can afford to tell yourself. You'll move onto another phase in your life and the stress and anxiety will subside. Give it time, but find a routine in the meantime that makes the condition more manageable. Good luck.