Mental fogginess/altered state of consciousness?

[CarrieMae]

Hi.  I hope someone (especially a doctor) will have some insight to share.  I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's 2 years ago at age 29 (although it most likely began much earlier), and have had my levels managed with levothyroxine and synthroid since then.  My dosage has only ever been .25mg and .5 mg, so as my endo' says, I'm not really all that bad, and my levels stay normal when I'm on the meds.

But, my question is about a symptom that has not gotten better after 2 years of carefully managed thyroid treatment.  My problem is difficult to express clearly, but I'll try.  Basically, it's a heavy feeling of being only half-awake; of living in a dream; like I'm sleepwalking; heavy mental fogginess; serious difficulty concentrating due to this feeling; difficulty focusing on what's happening around me.  Really, it is the feeling you get right before you lose consciousness- like I'm on the edge of passing out and losing consciousness, and the world around me is seeming really distant and starting to fade away and get dark.  This feeling has been permanent since I was 16 years old, although it started as brief, random episodes when I was 12.

My endo' says that it can't be my thyroid, because my TSH, T3 and T4 levels are all normal when I'm on my meds.  He sent me to a neurologist who did an MRI, but there was nothing abnormal on the MRI, and the neurologist doesn't seem to have anything else to offer.  The only thing the neurologist seemed to suggest is that this might all be an endocrine problem.  I have no idea, but I am going to see my endo' again soon, and I am going to press him for more tests and more ideas of what could be causing this.  

It is so extremely difficult to live like this.  Every part of my life feels like a burden, because I am struggling so hard to focus and "be here", when my brain seems to be trying to shut down on me.  I've had to learn to cope, learning all kinds of ways to deal with this and try to live a normal life, and trying to get by with my mind almost shut down on me.  (This post will take me a very long time to compile, because I will reread it and fix it).  I just don't know how much longer I can go on like this, and I'm desperate for answers and help.

Thanks for any suggestions or ideas.

[MichaelSpencer]

It sounds like you might have high anxiety/depression. I have all the same symptoms you have described: fogginess, darkness, alienation, disconnected, tiredness, etc. I've been to several doctors and in and out of the hosiptal, had an MRI and several tests and nothing is physically wrong with me. A couple of doctors determined that I may have anxiety so I went to see a psychiartrist and I described all my symptoms and she diagnosed me with high anxiety/depression.  I've done a lot of research of my symptoms and it all points towards anxiety. The meds I was prescribed helped a little but were either not strong enough or were benzo's which are not to be taken regularly because they are highly addicitive (althought the benzos worked the best) I tried ignoring it which helped some but I've found anxiety is a viscious cycle that feeds itself and ignoring it only prolongs the feelings. Also, fighting anxiety or your feelings will only intensify them. I decided to just deal with it and have found that confronting the way you feel and embracing it and doing the opposite of what anxiety or fear tells you to do helps more. It may take awhile but I believe it will get better. I also believe that God is the ulitmate healer and trust and devotion to Him will cure any anxiety or bad feelings or perceptions I may have but that's just what I believe. High anxiety is an irrational fear and cannot hurt you and if the doctors have told you that are physcially ok then this could be what you're experiencing. I understand how difficult it is, trust me I'm struggling, but I'm am confident you can get better.

[norsksunshine]

What you have described sounds more like Dissociation. It comes from early trauma and EMDR and EFT will be far more effective than this typical response of desperately running around to different doctors, trying to figure out what is medically wrong...There is a movie called "Numb" that describes this so well.  So sorry to hear you are going through all this.

[gimel]

How about explaining what you mean by depersonalization and what it involves and some verification that it is worth even pursuing.

[waynejr794]

It sounds to me like a brain fog is a name for another condition. Everyone on here should look in to depersonalization. This can be treated with meds.

[gimel]

There can be multiple possible causes for some of the symptoms you mention.  Why did you choose the Thyroid Forum to post your message?  Have you had thyroid tests that indicated a problem?  If so, please post your thyroid related test results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report.  

In the long time period you mention, you must have seen different doctors.  What have your doctors said about possible causes for your symptoms?

[aphex01]

I can't believe I found this forum. I have had very similar symptoms to what some of you are describing. My first experience with this was at 17, playing soccer in high school. This overwhelming sensation hit me, like I wasnt really there on the field and that I might pass out at any second. It lasted about 3 hours. For the next 20 years ( Im 37 now) I have gradually been getting worse and experiencing this "out-of-body" sensation more often. The last 3 months have been the worst. I now cant go into a store without feeling like Im going to pass out. It hits me all of a sudden, this sensation like Im outside of my body and on the edge of consciousness. I often have to hold on to my girlfriends purse or sleeve, or a shopping cart for fear I might topple over. Its just the weirdest dream-like state, almost like Im a ghost, like my actions arent really being performed by me, I find myself reciting my phone # over and over in my head to try and stay alert.

It sometimes happens at home, like I can stand up and look at my couch, but it feels to me like the couch might not really be there. I struggle with attentiveness lately, and have zero sexual drive towards my live-in girlfriend( which presents its own issues..).

Have pretty much lived with depression and anxiety my whole life. Physicals, MRIs, blood pressure, etc. have all shown Im pretty healthy physically.