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Avatar universal

Feels like I'm vibrating!

I have started feeling like my body was "vibrating" - not spasms, or jerking - like there is a vibrator in my body.  Feel it most in the back, but everywhere else too.  Mostly happens when I am sleeping or relaxed - it will wake me up, but has happened once when standing. Does not hurt - just very disconcerting.  What is it?  Who do I go to for it? What words do I use to check the internet?
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Avatar universal
First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.      
     The symptoms that you describe of 'vibrating' is very atypical and does not fit in a neurologic disease that I am aware of.  That being said, some people with numbness or other sensory complaints associated with multiple sclerosis, seizures or even TIAs (transient ischemic attacks) have described such strange sensory phenonenon.  I would suggest that you get an MRI of the brain with contrast to evaluate for a structural lesion (such as MS, stroke, tumor, etc).  I would also suggest an EEG (brain wave test) to evaluate for any possible seizure activity.  If the above test come back normal and you have been evaluated by a neurologist, I would suspect that your symptoms could also be due to stress/anxiety (although this diagnosis is only to be considered after the testing is done).  
I hope this has been helpful.
Helpful - 2
Avatar universal
First time i ever heard anyone mention this. i feel better all ready. i get the same vibrating in the center of my back- only at night when i sleep. when i awake for any reason ,its there. if i get up, it disapears.not every night-seems to be random. we can rule these things out
I eat healthy
I take no meds
no alcohol or caffine
no smoking or drugs
no diet drinks of any kind
I do have arthritis in joints and spine
i have something that is affecting my muscles, getting weaker in legs
I pray someone is friends with a doctor and ask him or her to read these posts and try to help a bunch of people all at once. i have a suspicion it is a virus that attacks the muscles or nerves. if some one can figure this out i will give them a reward!
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Avatar universal
The internal vibrations sure do a number on your sense of control with your body connection.  I used to lie on the couch with a cold cloth over my head and pray that they would just stop.  I thought I was going out of my mind.  The worse thing is that they aren't detectible by a doctor and they think you are psychotic.  My family also thought I was making up all these weird symptoms, buzzing, stabbing pain, numbness, pins and needles.  My finger nails feel like they are being squeezed in a vice. I can't walk properly and my speech is affected.  If you first met me, you would probably think she has been sipping all day.  I am female, age 60, and had no known health problems until I came down with a virus in 2002.  They have ruled out Lyme and I have had four MRI's, EMG and an EEG, which were all normal. So, I have an undiagnosed neurological condition.  Like so many others, without a diagnosis, you are kind of lost in the maze, and have to fend for yourself.  However I knew what a normal life once was and my sympathies go out to the other people also affected by these weird troubling symptoms, while at the same time trying to keep our sanity.  God Bless and hang in there.  
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Vibrating sensation throughout my body!?! was started.
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Avatar universal
I'm a healthy person and I had done different checks because of these signs which I associated with kundalini. I still have these sensations or vibrations on spine and my sleep pattern is changed. Different people say different things on this but many people go through this.
For more information you can check out the signs here:
http://www.domin8rex.com/serpent/spirit/k.htm
http://www.kundalini-teacher.com/awakening/serpent.html
http://www.mudrashram.com/kundaliniemergencies.html
http://kundalini.se/eng/symptoms.html
http://www.visionandpsychosis.net/Schizophrenia_Cause.htm
http://www.kundalini-teacher.com/awakening/shamn.html
http://www.healingtaobritain.com/p67magazinequestforspiritualorgasm.htm
Yoga, meditation, stress or drugs can trigger the raise of kundalini, as i found out after I researched.
THis vibrations i can feel  in the night and I'm trying to make my sleep as before as I used to have a perfect sleep pattern which is now ruined, also the dreams are unusual, and there are some ESP dreams too.
IF you have a better answer I'm open.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I am a 56 year old male.  About two years ago I felt my head and shoulders    vibrating.  At first, I felt it at night and now it is also occurring in the day, but not as noticeably.  As a teacher, about 5 years ago, students asked me why I was shaking and I said "I don't think that I am," I thought they meant my hands.  They said that I was shaking all over.  Anyway, I have taken a high dose of Wellbutrin for 15 years.  The past few months I have had an obvious jaw vibration and chattering of the teeth which I can't control that well.  Did anyone ever hear of this?  Also, my father has Parkinson's and my mother has Essential Tremors.  If it didn't get worse it is just very annoying, but I know that my jaw is disconcerting to feel and others to watch in a typical conversation.

Like many other people, I should see a doctor but haven't, hoping that the problem would just go away.

Thanks
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
What is going on with you is complicated and obviously difficult to understand, so I don't know if I have much to offer.  Just a few things, though.  Though it's not clear what is causing your constipation/bowel problems, you did mention you had several gastric emptying scans.  I'm not sure why they are different each time (slow, rapid, normal times), but possibly you have intermittent  gastroparesis (not sure what would cause it to fluctuate though).  If you haven't already tried domperidone (promotility drug) you might want to ask your doctor about it.  I order mine from Canada and get a pretty good price on it.  It helps me some (with bloating, pain, etc., from the gastroparesis).  Unfortunately, Zelnorm is being taken off the market so that is no longer an option.  

Regarding your low blood sugar, how do you know that isn't related to your stomach also?  I have been having more episodes of low blood sugar since my gastroparesis has gotten worse, most likely due to the uneven/delayed time it takes for the food to leave my stomach, be absorbed by my small intestine and enter my bloodstream.  If you have delayed stomach emptying that could affect your blood sugar levels.  

If I were you I would try to get in a question to the forum neurologist, though it will probably be few weeks, or go straight to a univ. hospital/major medical center and see if they can figure it out.  If you are in graduate school maybe you are near a good one.  

I also experienced a link between fluctuating hormones (at time of ovulation every single month) and acute exacerbation of all my symptoms. You said you were no longer having periods at 25 or 27.  What do the doctors think the cause of this is?  Have you been worked up for thryoid and other endocrine disorders?  I went through an early menopause at 43 (not exactly premature ovarian failure, but earlier than the norm) and I believe it is due to my autoimmune autonomic neuropathy.  

I'm not sure I understand the connection between your neck and bowel problems (something to do with the vagus nerve?)--I'd have to go back and read what you wrote--but possibly, if the vagus nerve is involved, you do have some type of autonomic neuropathy problem.  Autonomic dysfunction is complicated and hard to diagnose-or at least to identify a cause in every case, so maybe if you had the chance to explain your symptoms to an autonomic dysfunction neurologist he/she would be able to figure it all out.  
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Avatar universal
I found this website interesting http://www.jeffmann.net/NeuroGuidemaps/spinalcord.html
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Avatar universal
wow... I'm glad I'm not crazy!!!  The first time I experienced the head vibrating was January of 2006.  The doctor thought it was possibly a precursor to a migrane, gave me some medicine for migraines and sent me on my way.  It did not work.  He did a CAT scan Xrays & blood work all showed nothing wrong.   After about 2 weeks of constant vibrating it just stopped.  it started doing it twice over the course of the year but went away after a couple of days.

Last week it started again.  It's pretty constant but gets more intense at times.  Trying to explain to a doctor that your head is vibrating inside while it's not actually moving does make one feel crazy!

Unfortunately I no longer have medical insurance, so visiting a nurologist is pretty much out of the question for now...
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Avatar universal
I also have this sensation; it seems to be centered down by my bladder. Just below my naval, centered and about 1/3 of the way inside my body. It feels exactly like I have a small cat on my lap, gently purring, with rhythmic pulsing. It only started this week, and its starting to drive me nuts.

I just googled 'vibration in abdomen' hoping to find a good resource for this, but instead this thread is the only thing I have found. That worries me.

At first, last week, I found myself reaching or my cellphone (which I keep set to vibrate), but it wasn't. Then this week when I began to be able to isolate the sensation, I started to think that it had something to do with how I was standing or something....like maybe the joint in my hip or knee was stiff and 'creaking' or something. (I'm 48, BTW)

Today, I started wondering if maybe the sensation has something to do with my breathing. I am just recovering from bronchitis, and I was hoping that maybe my lungs were wheezing at a very low frequency that was being felt in my abdomen. But I can tell that its not related to my breathing at all.

Is there a name for this? I really would like to find out what the heck is going on, and hopefully make it go away. I don't think I can get used to this....
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Avatar universal
You described the vibrating sensation in my head perfectly. It just happened today when I got up from the chair at my hair salon. I have never felt anything like it before.

I've been having strange symptoms since November, and it looks like my diagnosis going to be Lyme Disease. I came up negative on the ELISA test, but I had 3 positive bands on the Western Blot.

I have my first appointment with a Lyme Doctor on Monday.

Did you have your MRI yet? Did it show anything?
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Avatar universal
I asked my neurologist about the vibrations the other day and he was the only one who did not look at me crazy ! So I said well What the *** is it he said that they call it abnormal sensations ....lol well duh !!!!

Well atleast it is acknowledged ....
I believe it has something to do with the chiari malformation . Just my opinion . I personal have not had a viral infection , just brain lesions and a sagging brain , i like to say  i just have such a large brain it cannot all fit into my skull so it is falling out .

Better to laugh than cry i suppose .
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Yes, what you describe is similiar to mine - I had to describe it to a consultant recently and I couldn't find the words, I said; It's like an electric shock or spasm, or it feels like my brain is shaking ( he looked weirdly at me when I said that) or it feels like you are been pushed from behind and you have to reach out and grab something before you fall over - He never mentioned vertigo, although this came to me, because there is a family history of it.  
Anyway I'm booked for an MRI on the 14th - it may bring up something - although I had an MRI before and it was perfectly normal.  It is a hard thing to describe, but seizure or vibrations, it is scary when it happens.  

The neck thing is interesting too, because I always wake with a pain in my neck and can never get my head into a comfortable position at night - I regularly buy new pillows, special ones, fluffy ones, orthpediac it doesn't seem to make a difference.


Regards
J
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I thought it was very interesting that you have a "shaking" vibration in your head... I have had SEVERE vertigo for many years and I have had a feeling as well, like a vibration in the brain... When this happens, it almost feels like some sort of a seizure to me... I also feel as if I am moving across the room "real fast"...   It will last for a brief time and be mild to severe ( in sensation).. I have explained this to many doctors over the years and they just say, hummm, never heard of that... So, I really do not know what is the cause. I occationally get really bad pain in my neck and wonder, if due to poor posture over the years (??) it might have something to do with my neck area... ANYONE out there feel the same...? This vibrating feeling in the head is to weird....
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Avatar universal
I am a forty year old female nurse .
For 10 years , except for the last three up until yesterday I have been going to dr's under going test after test after test, i can tell you this , it is not lyme .

I am negative for lyme disease more than once , negative for lupus more than once tsh for the last 10 years normal !DO NOT LET THEM SAY ITS FIBROMYALGIA ITS NOT !
However all they can find is , multiple brain lesions dx Possible relasping remitting MS but the lesions are never active .
I have Chiari malformation , I believe that is the culprit of the vibration.

I wll tell you why ...for three years I have done well up until now , now I am in the worsepain i have ever been in in the upper spine a pain you cannot describe not in the muscles , numbness tingling is back in the arms and hands , visionis getting screwy , and well the vibration is in my feet and legs and is most noticable after walking and it goes all the way to the buttocks , the doc said beore I told him anything just by looking at me and the way I was carrying my self you have chiari when I told him everything he said , i do not know if is worse and now we have a nerve study scheduled and mri .... As wellwas very intrestred about the vibration .

My advice Find a good Neurologist ....i you have pain in upper spine , if coughing or straining causes the most God awful pain in your head you have ever experienced in your life first bend your head forward it wil relieve it , second tell your doc, ! upper body weakness and pain 9 times out of ten with the vibration it is chiari malformation , find a good Neurologist .and internist not a family doctor
Good Luck
Ps it took me about ten neurologist and more internist before i got help !
Leigh
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I have the same "vibrating feeling." I usually feel it when I'm laying down. Whats weird is that I can't see anything shaking. I look at my hands, arms....nothing! I haven't told anyone about it. The doctor aleady thinks I'm crazy enough with all the joint pains I complain about. Hope someone can up with something on this one.
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Avatar universal
An EMG and a spinal tap could possibly help reveal some infection in the spinal fluid and neuropathies.   I have the buzzing and my neuropathies are caused by what doctors think was a viral infection contracted last spring.  I had 5 hospital visits and spent months in a wheelchair due to extreme weakness, buzzing and tingling in my arms and legs.  No fun at all, I am sympathetic!
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Avatar universal
Thats amazing that you said that your problems all started after a viral infection.  I have had these feelings for 6 years now, I got really sick on New  Years Eve day in 2000, it started all of a sudden, I felt sick, weak, and very nauseous.  The nausea lasted for 3 months, went and had blood work done, doc said it was a virus.  I couldn't eat for almost 2 months, no appetite, lost a ton of weight, went down to 108 pounds.  After the nausea went away, is when the weird feelings started.  I get buzzing feelings, and cold water feelings.  I did have the vibrating feeling, but went away after stopping Prozac.  I was a very sick pup.  When I think back, I don't know I survived it.  In fact, I cry when I think back.  My husband told me it was all inmy head.  I would call my poor parents at 3 a.m., and tell them to take me to the ER.  This happened 3 times.  Had all kinds of stomach tests done, upper GI, colonoscopy, hepatabiliary scan, and scope down throat.  Nothing, everything was normal.  My brain MRI last spring was also normal, c-spine showed a bulging disk.  Its awful.  How long has yours lasted?  Do you have numbness?  I don't.  Just these weird feelings on a daily basis.  Been tested for lyme, lupus, TSH, sed rate, FSH, IPEP/SPEP, multiple myeloma, RA, and EBV.  Normal.  Its very awful, I can sympathize with you.  Thanks and take care, Jennifer
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Just another commment on our collective weird vibrating feelings - When I was going through the worst of Sarcoidosis, at night I used to get vibrating feelings all over my body - you know like goosebumps, but uncontrollable ones that just kept coming, until i eventually fell asleep.  I took them as night chills, but they were horrible and as I said uncontrollable, I notice now in times of stress, like if I had to address an audience ( sometimes part of my work) I will get these dreadful uncontrollable vibrations and they render my limbs almost numb, like I'm going to faint.  I don't think it is a psycological symptom, but I am sure the Doctors think I am neurotic as hell!!

I have never taken anti depressants, but I was prescribed them for palpitations once. Can your body just react more nervously as you get older?

All the best
J
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Avatar universal
So others have this too?  For the past 3 years I have had vibration in abdomen.  Feels like the purring of a cat.  Started out on left side only when I am sleeping.  Not painful but wakes me up because it feels so weird.  Past year it has spread occasionaly to right side, and sometimes entire abdomen, still only when I have been asleep.  Have been to 5 doctors, I fear they all think I am a hypo.  I continue to worry what is causing this.  Gastroenterologist told me the good news is it hasn't killed me yet.  I was not consoled.  The vibration feeling goes away if I sit up, get out of bed or change position.  Sleeping on my left side seems to bring it on sooner.  At first I only had it occasionaly but now I have it almost everynight.  Help!
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Avatar universal
This came after my first attack with an unknown condition that caused topical numbness from the waist down-considerations were Acute Transverse Myelitis, Multiple Sclerosis or Lyme disease.
It started as an echo in my chest, then, became (epicenter low back) full body. While all of my other symptoms have for the most part subsided, this remains-but-is becoming less and less frequent.

I have never taken psychoactive drugs.

Hope that my contribution helps, and, despite a growing opinion-I am not playing doctor.

I am just smart and educated.

Peace.
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Avatar universal
It sounds like we are a lot alike. I also have MS-type lesions but I also have a positive lyme test so I'm not sure which I have. I also sometimes get the "vibration feeling." In my case, it's restricted to my left leg. I also get a pulsing sensation in that leg that only occurs when I lay down. The weird thing about this is that it is the same rate and rhythm as my pulse. I can suppress it by tying something tight around the leg (gate control theory, perhaps?) and that is how I manage to sleep at night. Like you, I tend to get the vibration feeling during periods of stress. For me though, this tends to make me more anxious which brings out more paresthesias and I get a nice positive feedback loop going. I just hope these antibiotics do the trick.......
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Avatar universal
I often wear a pager at work that silently vibrates in my pocket when paged.  I noticed I continued to reach for the pager long after I returned home at night and even weeks between wearing the pager. The sensation genrally occurred at lower abdominal to upper thigh area frontal area.  Always thought it was just a memory association, electromagnentic field or something equally unusual. I stopped the vibration while wearing the pager and put it on beep, but I do continue to have the sensation.  It is truly a bizarre feeling and occurs quite frequently.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Vibration all over my body was started.
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