unable to focus when reading, foggy and feeling of being disconnect

[Ranger01]

I've been experiencing some odd symptoms over the past few years and they have since gotten worse and now concerning to me.  My vision is constanly bothering me and I have a hard time focusing on words when reading.  In the past I've had spells of blurred vision followed by a lathargic state and then a pounding headache.  This headache sometimes lasted for more than 24 hours.  About 3 years ago, I had an MRI done and all came back clear.  I recently had bloodwork done and thought Diabetes was the case, but all results came back clear except my liver count (elavated AST and ALT).  I'm still going through some tests for the liver, but already had an ultrasound and Hep A,B,C test which were all clear. The blurry vision/foggy feeling has me concerned since I have recently been to the eye doctor and all was good. He simply gave me computer glasses and sent me on my way. The feeling is almost like being intoxicated and being disconnected. When I have conversations with people, it's hard to concentrate on that subject and even hard to remember what was talked about earlier. I'm a 31 year old male (6'1 210lbs) and in relatively decent shape.  I drank alcohol somewhat heavily on the weekends in college, but have 3-6 drinks a weekend at the most now.  

It's gotten to the point that I'm stressing about it and searching the internet for any clues.....If you have the same symptoms and hopefully a suggestion, please let me know. Any help is appreciated.  It seems that doctors have shrugged it off and I'm desperate for answers.

[medco]

that sounds like depersonalization, particularly the "feeling disconnected part." you should look into it.

[CaliChiarian]

After reading - at times just trying to make out the words- what you have all described, it is also what I have been dealing with, along with a lot of pain and headaches.  I had an MRI of my cervical spine after a car accident in 2004, but even then, the radiologist did not write about what I DO have.  I have been diagnosed with Chiari Malformation.  It is rare and there are only a few doctors that specialize in Chiari.  Chiari is a herniation of the Cereberal (sp?) tonsils past the Foramen Magnum.  Look into it and ask your doctor.  Most heard about Chiari in Med school but like my PCP who has been in practice over 30 years, I was the first case he had seen.

Hope this helps someone.

www.chiairchamps.proboards77.com

[stonem]

I think you may have a mild traumatic brain injury which often go undiagnosed for years.  You don't necessarily even have to hit your head to sustain one.  Even a whiplash type of accident can cause a mild traumatic brain injury.  In some cases the damage is caused by your brain hitting against your own skull, much like shaken baby syndrom.  Try calling the help line at the Brain Injury Association of America or go to www.mybrainconnections.com for helpful information and links.

[Eldo87]

hey stonem you mentiones mild traumatic brain injury, i have been experiencing what i think are panic attacks, it starts what a weird feeling in my stomach that spreads through my chest and my heart starts to beat really fast and i begin to sweat, then after that i feel very weird like i he says " disconnected" and i have experienced a lot of sleep paralysis while trying to go to sleep and some after waking up. Now i know it can either be panic/anxiety attacks or temporal lobe seizures but i remember when i was like 12 years old i got banged pretty good in the back of the head playing around with my brother, so could i have a traumatic brain injury? my family thinks im a hypocondriac or how do you spell that?...please help me this is really stressful. thanks

[Delta Elise]

Eldo87, it sounds like the classic panic attacks. I was born with them as well as depression, agoraphobia and ocd. Through the years, the dominant symptoms seem to change. It's hard to live with, but we can. I have found that group therapy and a low dose of xanax help. I take the xanax only when having a panic attack and it helps. I refuse to take anti depressants anymore though.

[Delta Elise]

Firomyalgia is a possibility but Drs. are leary of that diagnosis