sinus pressure, hazy vision, anxiety, vertigo, tinnitus

[lissad]

About a year ago I had a moment when i spaced out for about 15 mins while driving.  When I came to I suffered a mild panic attack.  About this time I stopped taking Effexor that was prescribed for PPD and I had been taking 75 mg for a year and weaned off it for a span of 6 months.  After a month off effexor I got a sinus pressure/heavy head feeling.  My doctor wasnt concerned.  then my vision got really hazy, like bad tv reception.  I went to an opthomalogist  and eyes were perfect.  Over the year I have gotten worse.  I cant drive because I am in a constant hazy, dizzy fog.  I have since seen another Optham., a Neuro, and a Neuro Optham. only to be told I was okay with the exception of mirganes, which is started only 3 weeks ago.  I have had every eye test, a CTA, and blood work.  All normal except every doctor over the years say I have a post nasal drip that makes my ears hurt and my throat hurt.  I am so confused as to what is going on.  I am afraid to drive or go to the store because I get so dizzy.   I am going under cognitive behavior therapy for the anxiety but the other symptoms are still there and getting worse.    Sometimes I feel like Im dreaming my head is so foggy.  I am 27 yrs old, have two kids, and cannot function.  I have tried every antidepressant, most nasal sprays, migrane meds, and antihistamines by order of the doctor.  No luck.  Please help me come to some conclusion or a road to take because I am tired of doctors only treating the symptoms when I have all the signs of like 10 different problems. below is a timeline of symtpoms in order of occurance:

PPD                                 2  yr ago
panic attack                      1 yr
severe sinus pressure        1 yr
foggy head                        1yr
hazy vision                        1 yr
extreme light sensitive        1 yr
ringing ears                        2 months
dizziness                           2 months
migranes                            2 months

[sinus_guy]

A related discussion, Same Problem was started.

[sinus_guy]

A related discussion, Chest problem was started.

[pax80]

A related discussion, how are was started.

[elaine1972]

My symptoms were:
migraine for over a month (i have had them for years but usually only 1-2 days at a time)
numbness/tingling in arms and legs (felt more like burning rather than pins/needles)
electric shock sensation when bending head forward (called L'hermitte's sign)
vision disturbances (excessive floaters, blurry vision, extra time to focus on objects, etc)
feeling apathetic (not depressed, just not anything really--very flat)
jerking in legs and sometimes arms
poor memory (usually have great memory)
difficulty focusing on activities or people talking to me (very foggy feeling)
constant lightheaded/dizzy feeling

I never had the anxiety/PPD or the ringing in the ears but both are common to b12 deficiency.  Also, pregnancy is a time when more b12 is needed/used from your body's stores so it may be linked to the PPD (i'm assuming you mean post-partum depression).  I am light sensitive too but I always have been so I don't know if it is connected or not.  There are alot of symptoms and they affect different people in different ways so even if they don't all match it could still be possible.  I'm glad you are going to a nutritionist and hopefully thay will test your b12 level.  There is a great book called "Could it be B12: An Epidemic of Misdiagnosis" by Sally Pacholok and Jeffery Stuart if you are interested in learning more but also tons of stuff on the internet.

[lissad]

hmm no.  But i did find the "correct term" for what is I see.....its visual snow.  i wonder if the Effexor caused a drug induced "persistant perception disorder."  I am going to a nutrionist  and im sure they will run that test.  Thanks.  what are your symptoms

[elaine1972]

In all the blood work that was done, did anybody ever check your vitamin b12 and folate levels?  I had some of the same symptoms and my neurologist found a deficiency in b12.  After only 4 b12 shots my symptoms went away and I now take a daily supplement (at a much higher level than a multivitamin) to keep my levels up.  I do want to warn you that what the labs consider normal (approx. 200-900) is not always ok for some people--my levels were 313 (technically normal) but I was having neurological symptoms anyway.  My neuro explained that because b12 is sooooo important for nerve function she considers anything under 450 low.  Definitely worth checking out as it is really a simple blood test.  Please google b12 deficiency to find out more info before going back to the doctor so you can advocate for yourself if needed.  Good luck!

[National Jewish Health]

The most important distinction to be made by your doctors is between behavioral disorders and disorders that have a demonstrable (EEG, MRI, PET Scans etc.) physical basis in the central nervous system.  That is, are your symptoms on the basis of an emotional disorder or a physical disorder, with the understanding that the distinction between the two is no longer as clear cut as we used to believe it to be.  You might wish to request a second opinion perhaps from a neurologist at an academic medical center who is engaged in research on molecular imaging of the brain and on the treatment of Migraines.  If no physical basis for your symptoms is evident, a migraine variant may be the problem.  Another possibility would be a seizure disorder, the "spaced-out feeling" being typical of some post-seizure states.

Your symptoms are most unusual and the diagnosis may require the use of specialized brain imaging techniques.  That is why you may have to seek consultation with an Academic University Medical Center Neurologist.