Throbbing feeling in the back of head/flinching
 

Hi I suffered a manic episode from November 2017 to march 2018 some where during march 2018 I developed a feeling in feeling in my head after I would blink there would be a feeling that would follow after I woukd blink this then progressed in to a feeling the shifts the course if my eyes even when I don't blink and there's a constant throbbing feeling at the back if my head and also a slight darting feeling in my forehead that seems to to get triggered of by the throbbing feeling I have at the back of my head, I had an ultra sound on the arteries in my neck and back of the head and this all came back normal it's really got me worried, at this present moment I have my head on the pillow and I can hear the beating sound in the back of my head and every now and ten there's a stronger one that I feel in my foreheads and effects the course of my eyes? It's frustrating me i keep thinking seems it hasn't gone away now that it must be neurological damage or something although there is a throbbing sound kind of like a heart beat so it's more like a blockage?

I understand there's no doctors on this forum but I thought I would post this in the hope someone might have a similar experience or atleast be able to say that it could be from high stress on my brain and it will likely go away?

My BP is fine and the meds I take are lithium carbonate which was the drug that stabilised me over 3 months ago

Thank you

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Okay this is honestly going to sound odd probably to you.

It sounds like your having what is called an aura it could be to an
migraine, but it honestly doesn't even have to have an headache
happen.

Do you happen to have an neurologist. If so get an appointment
with him/her and go to them. Take this post with you, it explains
the feeling very well. They can then understand exactly what
you are feeling and seeing for lack of better word.

I have had aura's for migraines. My son has them for seizures.

And they happen for other things too. But I'm honestly not sure
exactly what but they have to do with neurological things.
So if you don't have a neurologist you need to have someone refer
you to one.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Hi Barney,

Your symptoms seem neurological. I agree with Donna... you may be having migraines, so it's a good idea to visit a neurologist. I take Topamax for mine. It's also used off-label as a mood stabilizer, so it serves a dual purpose for me (it's not the only mood stabilizer I take tho).

Lithium can cause nasty side effects. Were you having these symptoms before you started taking it? You can have side effects from it even if your levels are within the therapeutic range. If the symptoms began shortly after you got up to the dose you are taking now, they are probably from the lithium. If that is the case, I would talk to your mental health prescriber about it.

I'm sorry that you had to go through such a long period of mania. I have been there myself... no fun :hug::hug::hug:

Thanks dmom, I had a quick google of the symptoms of an aura I had a bit of trouble matching my symptoms tho...

I would love to see a neurologist but I can't get in to see one there's a 12 month, while I wait for my appointment I wonder if I should ask my doctor can we try and treat it with something she would give for migraine.

I was originally told by my psychiatrist sometimes high stress on the brain can do strange things and I was hooping that once I stabilised on lithium that it would go away but unfortunately it hasn't gone away

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Hi ohkay, my symptoms where actually present before I started lithium fortunately I don't have any side effects with lithium, my symptoms started towards the end of a 4 month episode I was starting and stopping medications that were not working latuda caused akesthesia so I was stuck in between appointments cycling out of mania untill my next appointment untill I was told to start epilim which I had at home i then got very itchy on that so It was then not long after I stopped epilim 1000mg cold turkey I had more stress and mania that was when the feeling started so i don't know if the cause was epilim I think USA call it something else depotek or something I guess I won't know what's going on untill I see a neurologist it doesn't seem like it's going to go away spontaneously unfortunately..

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Barney,

I’m glad that your symptoms started after you started the lithium, so you won’t have to worry about changing your dose or changing meds, which is scary when you’ve finally found stability after such rough seas.

Latuda caused me to become agitated manic, and led to a stint in the psych ward. The other med you mentioned is called Depakote in the US, and i had horrible side effects while on it (ie/ unable to walk or see).

I hope that one of your doctors is willing to try you on a med for migraines to see if that will help.

Thanks first to Kay, for telling me what the other drug mentioned was.
I was wondering .

Yes, I would ask for the doctor to prescribe something for migraines.
Especially since you tried something in the depakote family.
This is one of the drugs that is used sometimes for these things.

Topamax, is what I take as a thing for migraines daily so they hopefully
stay away. I also have what they call a rescue drug which is imitrex.

But my son's have taken something at night and its slipping my
mind right now. Not only to sleep but its also known for a migraine
prevention.

If and when I can remember its name I'll come back and post.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Hi and welcome.
Sorry you are having these symptoms.
Did you say that you were having some throbbing symptoms too?
Wonder what your blood pressure does during this time? and what about your heart rate? Does stress provoke it?
I agree with the others that you might try a migraine medication while you wait for your neurologist appointment. could you get on a waiting list/cancellation list? so you could be seen sooner?

How often does this happen and what times of the day?
Are you under a lot of stress?

bizi

Hi

The throbbing feeling that I mentioned is when I put my head on a pillow I can feel the throbbing sensation in the back of my head its as if it's the blood flow or something or some part of the back of my brain activating or something kinda like a darting motion it's like I feel the throb then straight after I get a darting motion inside my head then makes me slightly lose focus.

I can't say I'm under stress at the present time but at the time when all this started I was under massive amount of stress in fact I'm able to say that 4 months was the worst 4 months of my life! I had next to no sleep for 4 months with intense manic highs.

I'm going to book another appointment with my doctor in the next few days to ask about the migraine meds, I woukd actually like to be given benzos for a month to see if that helps but there pretty strict here in Australia

It worry me to think that this feeling is going to be permenent!



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Do you have neck pain, Barney? It could be a cervical headache if you have a damage to a disc in your neck, and that's why putting your head on a pillow aggravates your symptoms?

Do you want a script for a benzo because you are having generalized anxiety? Or do you think that anxiety may be causing your symptoms?

Your symptoms have been going on for a long time...
I really hope that you make some progress at your doctor's appointment, and start getting some relief soon :hug::hug::hug:

Thanks for your reply

I don't have any neck pain, when I said about the pillow it doesn't actually flare up my symptoms it just seems to be when I can actually hear the throbbing at the back of my head if I position my head correctly.

I would like a benzo to see what effect it has on the problem that I describe, I can't really say I have anxiety problems except when I'm in social gatherings which doesn't happen alot.

The symptoms have changed since the first onset as I used to be able to NOT blink and I woukd be able to stay focused on what I'm looking at and not get a jumping sensation it would only occur straight after I blink, but now it happens every few seconds my back of my head seems to be where the spice of the problem is but I don't for sure until I see a neurologist but that will take a good while before I get in to see one unfortunately.

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Since you said your blood pressure is fine, perhaps this is some sort of weird side effect from lithium?
bizi

Yes blood pressure is 64/115

I wish it was the lithium in some ways!

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Barney,

I hope your doctors can help you.


M

Thanks I'll be sure to post back when I do actually get to the bottom of it, unfortunately the doctors don't know what it is as they have ruled the arteries out in the head so the next step will be a neurologist but that will take a while before I'll be able to get in, in the mean time I'll definitely be asking about trying out a migraine med.

Thanks everyone

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I seen a new doctor today, he said my symptoms fit into a atypical headache syndrome.. I've been subscribed propranolol 10mg (deralin 10) I did a quick google and was surprised to see it treat social anxiety as well?

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Thanks for getting back to us. hoping that your headache goes away.
google said that it treats high blood pressure and prevents migraines and helps performance anxiety. Interesting.
bizi

I hope that the propranolol helps you.




M

I'm so glad that you found a doctor who listened to you and was willing to prescribe something (that sounds like it has the potential to help with both issues)...

I can't wait to find out how it works for you, Barney. Best of luck! :hug:
Please keep us posted!

Sure hoping this helps.

yes, I've heard of atypical headaches.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Thanks everyone, I'm hoping for a miracle day 2 of taking the medication today fingers crossed [emoji4]

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Been getting a few headaches today ive also got what feels like a slight tingling or vibrating feeling in the back of my head with the occasional head ache there as well

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I am sorry barney
bizi

Thanks It's alright I'll survive [emoji4].. It might confirm the possibility of being headache or migraine related seem I've had some random headaches lately

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How are your previous symptoms? Are they better or unchanged?

Trying this med is your first go around. If you feel any improvement, but not enough, there are other meds you can try :hug:

yes, or you never know it might not be a high enough dosage.

You can keep working on it and get an idea what is going on.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Yes that's right, fingers crossed I'm on the right path now [emoji4]

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:sunchair:
Yes, to peace and stability.



M

It seems like my symptoms are changing!.. it's not as strong as before my eyes aren't shifting course as much as they were before so it seems like the medication is working

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Good, its something that with time and an adjustment to your thinking
it might not be there at all. You have to also remember you are used
to it being there in a way.

Like I was used to the symptoms of a post concussion so weeks and months
and sometimes years after having one, something would linger in my
mind to make the symptom of a concussion be strong in my mind. Like the
dizzy and its really hard to explain some other things come back. So I would
have to tell myself that I had these when I got one, and that I was having
an symptom of a relapse. So I would just help myself through it.

It usually worked, sometimes though it would take a day of laying in
my bed and doing exactly nothing.

Donna :grouphug::hug:

I get what you are saying fully, I actually thought the same thing about being so used to it, I'm only on a small dose as well at the present time I kind of thing I would be able to move on with life if It wasn't to fully go away and correct itself!
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Yep, so just keep working on going on with life the best you can.
And if necessary adjust the dosage some. I'm personally glad
the little dose is working some. Because that means your getting
somewhere with the problem.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Thank you!

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I have a quick question, if this feeling in my head was to completely go away, and it was the medication that fixed it would that mean I would have to stay on the med all my life ?

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That is a good question for your doctor.
bizi

I'm glad you're seeing some progress, Barney! :)

Bizi is right... whether or not you may need to stay on the med indefinitely is a question for your doctor, but...
Sometimes after a period of time, doctors will suggest a trial off of the medication to see if you still need it. You can also suggest it yourself of course.

Maybe.

Sometimes people stay on the medication.



M

Thanks everyone, I'll ask the Dr next visit, it is encouraging to know it is a possibility that I could eventually come off it , I mean it's not like one had a head knock or or something , it seems stress related ..

I would also like like to ask a completely different question , how long does it take to recover from a manic episode? I'm definitely happy to be taking lithium as I've heard great thing about its promoting neurons , is there something else I could be doing to promote neurogenesis ? I've been stabilised for 4 months now I have been exercising but not as much as I could be doing ..


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every one is different and I think it takes at least as much time that you were manic to recover.There is a kindling effect that weakens us.
bipolar is a forever diagnosis.
There will almost always be mood swings they just may be better control with medications.
I have heard of folks who don't take prescription meds and only take amino acids/supplements but my guess is that is far inbetween. And they have created a low stress level for their daily lives.
Even with treatment meds and therapy. Some folks continue to have mood episodes, mania or deep depression and suffer on a daily basis. Medication management is so difficult. It can be like a merry go round, trial and more trial. what works for one of us may be awful for the other. many of us have gained weight with the meds and this is alarming. The meds may work but the side effects are unacceptable.

It is very frustrating for a lot of folks.
some of us suffer with addictions others crippling anxiety, many lack of sleep, can't work or on disability. etc.
I wish you much luck with your Management of your bipolar.
eating well, getting good sleep, exercise and monitoring your stress level will help guide you to stability.
keep posting we are listening.
(((((HUGS))))
bizi

Thanks so much for all that information!!

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