25 Years Old With Multiple Neurological Symptoms

[raspberrydiamonds]

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I feel blessed to find this site, I have been feeling quite lost and unlike myself for a few months now, and I have read so many posts of people who are experiencing exactly the same things I am, but they are being pointed in several different directions (Neurology, Ophthalmology, ENT, ect.) which frightens me!

BACKGROUND which may contribute to my symptoms:
- I am 25/female
- Smoker
- Heavy caffeine drinker (3 cups/day)
- Had a concussion with complete loss of consciousness/vomiting/CT scan when I was between 10-11 years old
- I have been a vegetarian since July 2010
- Started taking a multivitamin only a few weeks ago.
- I have a history of eye ulcers (both eyes, within past 5 years)
- I am diagnosed with depression & anxiety
- I have been taking Effexor XR (150mg) since March 2011 and about a month ago I stopped taking it. I had missed a few days, then would take one. I have not taken it at all in the past 2-3 weeks. I have read posts on this website that the withdrawal may be the reason for the symptoms.
- Experienced 4 close deaths this year, before this - I hadn't had a death since I was 4 years old. Despite this, I am generally NOT depressed.

SYMPTOMS:
- "Whooshing" sensation and pressure in my HEAD, when turning my head or moving my eyes back and forth. This is almost constant and has been going on for about a month.
- Memory loss/short term: My memory has been terrible for about a month or two now. I cannot recall what I was doing 5 minutes ago, and often walk into a room and realize I cannot remember why/what I went in there for.
- Hearing: My hearing has seemed worse for about a year now. At my last vision exam, (earlier this year), they did a hearing test, and I could hear both beeps - so they said there wasn't anything to be worried about.
- Vision: My vision seems to be getting worse, but it is hard to tell - I have always had significantly bad vision. My eyesight 'fades' in and out, and my eyes cross.
- Dyslexia/Trouble explaining myself: These symptoms have also been within the past few months.
- Inability to concentrate: I started taking BrainStrong (DHA) a week ago because this has been so bad.
- Insomnia
- Body stiffness
- Twitches: Fingers, arms, wrists.

Any help you can provide would mean the world to me. I am in an even larger dilemma because my insurance only covers providers who work for my company. I work from home, in a DIFFERENT state, so my insurance is pretty much useless to me. Because of this reason and the cost, I am dropping my insurance, effective 1/1/12 and will not have insurance at all. I need to know if I should spend the extra money to see an out-of-network physician before the end of the year :[

[emmae849]

See if you can get your calcium and vit d tested hun

[Londres70]

Glad to hear the DHA is working dear.  

Keep us posted.  

[raspberrydiamonds]

No, I have not had any basic labs done yet. I have been treating the symptoms from home, assuming that it's from exactly what you said above (vitamin deficiency & withdrawal). That seemed to make the most sense to me. I guess I have been ignorant to the fact that there would even be withdrawal from Effexor!

Since I starting taking DHA about 2 weeks ago, I feel much better - my symptoms seem to have been relieved and I do not have the "whooshing" sensation nearly as often. Plus, I've been without Effexor for a while now. So, I hope it was just a vitamin deficiency combined with withdrawal. We'll see how it goes!

Thank you for help & advice.

[Londres70]

Have you had any basic labs done?  i.e. Iron panel, b12?  

I am not sure if you are lacking vitamins, proteins and minerals that are usually obtained from meat.  

I am thinking your issues (neuro) are secondary to a deficiency. OR, withdrawal symptoms secondary to the Effexor.  You CANNOT stop this drug "cold."  You must be titrated off it.