Can you have seizure-like episodes?
 

I had this seizure-like episode and keep having some similar symptoms. First I smell ammonia/alcohol and this is right after exercise. Then I get a pressurized feeling in my neck/occipital area and that travels to the area just above my left ear and stays around there. It feels as if someone poured water inside my head making my head have too much pressure. That's the best description I can give. Then about two hours later, I have problems with spelling, writing, and recall memory. My hands get cold even in a warm room.

The first time it happened, I started to keel over to my right. I got very dizzy and lost my balance.

I have balance problems and can't handle uneven ground or slippery floors. I use the walls in my home to balance myself.

I have a whole slew of other symptoms. I just had a MRI this last week and my hands got cold and clammy during it. They also went numb. :eek: And afterward, my neck and head were feeling that familiar pressure.

Now I'm finding certain types of exertion bring on these symptoms, i.e.; lifting heavy objects, pushing heavy objects, anytime my hands are above my head, holding heavy objects, pulling wet towels from the washing machine, sideways motions and bending.

This week I'll have an EEG to see if I've been having seizures or something else.

I had an auto accident 25 years ago where I had severe whiplash and a severe concussion. My left shoulder was also pulled in an awkward position. I recovered fully from all the symptoms and no after effects.

I've been reading the symptoms of Chiari and they sound right on but it could be something else too. I guess I will know soon enough this next week when I see the doctor.

Thanks for reading!

Pressure in my head
 

Hi,
I was doing my usual google search for anyone who experiences seizure like episodes like mine when I came accross your post.
I registered with this form in hopes that I can communicate with you about your symptoms. I’ve been searching the internet and have visited countless doctors trying to get a diagnosis for my seizure like episodes.

Mine started in May 2006. I was bent over getting something out of my car and came up short hitting my head on the roof of my car. I felt an intense electrical yet numbing sensation in my neck (not unlike hitting ones funny bone) then the pain was gone and quickly as it had appeared (once again like the funny bone). I didn’t think too much more about it until that night. I bent over to pick something up off the floor and got tunnel vision and felt like I was going to pass out. This was the first of hundreds of episodes for me.

My episodes are like yours in the since that I feel the pressure in my head (the area right behind my left ear and down into my neck). I get cloudy minded. I can’t think straight. My movements become very labored, my speech is slurred and at times I can’t move at all. I am aware of what is happening around me but at the same time I can not appropriately respond. My mind is in a fog.

I know when my episodes are going to happen. I get a strange feeling that is hard to explain. I get a heaviness in my chest and get a blank stare and I just have to wait it out. My episodes usually only last a few minutes then I am a little tongue tied for a short time but basically back to my right mind. I also experience the cold and numb hands

I would like to know more about your exact symptoms when your episodes are happening to see if we might be experiencing similar episodes.

Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon.

symptoms
 

here is a list of symptoms . Only a Mri will tell you if you have it or not
http://www.chiarione.org/symptoms.html

symptom overlap
 

These episodes you have are one of my symptoms too. I have a lot more going on too, but it's interesting to read your experience and your interpretation that it's maybe a seizure. I had a sleep deprived EEG and they were unable to induce a seizure but since it doesn't happen consistently that may not mean much.

Have you guys had MRIs of your brain and C-spine? I have and am told they were normal so I am curious if yours are too.

This all sounds very close to what I go thru.
Any of this sound familiar?
Headache
Fatigue
Dizziness
Nausea
Irritability
Confusion
Difficulty concentrating (and or brain fog)
Intolerance to heat or cold
Earache
Stuffy head or congestion
Itching
Sneezing
Sore throat
Memory problems
Breathing problems
Changes in heart rhythm
Chest pain
Muscle pain and/or stiffness
Bloating or gas
Diarrhea
Skin rash or hives
Mood changes

Yes to about 75% but they are all the same symptoms that are associated with everything they have yet to rule out. I am SUPER needle phobic so I am reluctant to look at MCS until other less invasive tests have been done and ruled out.

The weirdest symptom I've had so far happened last night. Every time I laid down I smelled this strong pungent smell (like saurkraut that had gone bad). It was bad enough that I had to get up to throw up. It went away when I sat up or stood up so I slept sitting up. My temperature was 99.2 (my norm is 98.4) at the time. I sweated suddenly this morning and my temp went down to 98.6. I also had crazy dreams, felt like the mattress was being moved but nobody was there, and when I opened my eyes to see if my BF was getting into bed I saw a weird fireworks like things spewing from the air conditioners (which I could tell were not real even though I was definitely seeing them).

I found and started 1000mcg of methylcobalamin so hopefully some of the weirder things will resolve soon. sigh....

I copied and pasted this......
A doctor makes the diagnosis of multiple chemical sensitivity based on the symptoms. The diagnosis is supported if the symptoms recur after repeated exposure to the chemical substance; recur after exposure to levels much lower than those that have been tolerated previously or that are commonly tolerated by others; subside when the person leaves the offending environment; and develop in response to a wide variety of unrelated chemical substances.

A blood test may be performed to measure red and white blood cell counts and antibody levels but is of no proven value and to rule out a true allergy.


My testing was done this way, I did some blood allergy testing because I asked for it to be done.
So don't worry about any needles, you don't have to do the blood work.

Also early in MCS you scent of smell is heighten, I was able to smell all kinds of things and others couldn't (my family though I was going crazy). I still go crazy over smelling things and one one else can smell it.

I don't know if this is the same as what your talking about but I have a feeling like I'm floating or that the bed is floating a lot when I lay down and close my eyes.



~~~~LOL, to show you how well I can smell things. My son put a empty bottle of mouth wash, no cap on the bottle (Tom's of Main Cinnamint) in a zip lock bag, sealed it and brought it into the office just now, and I could smell it before he even got all the way over to me.

WOW! If only I could smell like that. I generally tend to have a diminished sense of smell. The feeling of the bed moving was literally what it feels like when you are in bed and someone heavy gets in next to you- you know how the mattress moves. Anyway, that seems to have gone. The B12 methyl gave me a huge high the 1st day I took it. Then I crashed really hard. The next day (Fri) a huge high again and crashed at around 4pm (although I hadn't taken it again). My temperature Friday night was up to 99.5.Saturday I took it and felt really tired. Then yesterday I was in rehearsal and I was feeling fine and then all of a sudden I kind of palsied up. I don't know what else to call it. All of a sudden my knees would buckle with each step I took and I felt I had less and less control over all of my muscles including my tongue. I started to have a hard time pronouncing words and started having a hard time coming up with them. I had to stop. It lasted for about an hour. I could still read out loud but trying to express my own thoughts was impossible. It gradually went away. I am really tired today and kind of dizzy again. I've heard lots of people say you feel worse when the B12 starts to heal your nerves. Is this what they mean?

I'm sorry, I can't help on this. I've never had B12 shots.

Answers to my symptoms
 

I no longer have those strange symptoms which I understand were migraines without headaches. That diagnosis was made by a neurologist. At first I thought he was shining me on but then everything made sense.

I first got these strange symptoms the same day I was hospitalized for Thyrotoxicosis on Mother's Day weekend. They were mild then but worsened as the days past. Then as my TSH raised above 0.20 to 0.46 my migraines disappeared. Boy was I thankful! No more dizziness, smelling strange odors, nausea, stuffed head feeling, etc.

Although, I do have one remaining strange symptom - a painful right ear lobe. I think my TSH is still too low for me but I couldn't convince my primary or endo doctors. They wanted me to stay on my current dose. When I exercise I get sore thighs and shoulders. From what I've read, those are the two areas which weaken with HYPERthyroidism. That's what leads me to believe I am still HYPER. I also have a faster than normal heart rate. Normal for me sitting up resting is 54. I'm currently running between 62 and 72. But no doctor is listening to me. AARGH!

I'm scheduled for tests this next week. Maybe they'll listen then when the doctors see the TSH is too low and hear my laundry lists of symptoms.