Hi Gang,

I had a weird experience last night and I’m wondering if it’s the product of my TBI.

I was sitting at dinner with my family and it suddenly felt like they were far away. I could see, hear and understand them, but I couldn’t will myself to move or say anything. I’d say it lasted a good ninety seconds. They didn’t notice so there was no intervention.

I had absence seizure early on, but with those I just lost all awareness of my surroundings until I snapped back on. This was more like the way you feel before you faint, but I wasn’t nauseous or anything. I did feel a bit dizzy though and have noticed more dizziness of late. At best, I think I would describe what happened as an out of body experience.

Things are more complicated for me because, in addition to the diffuse axonal injury, I also have spinal cord damage and it can be hard to know which problem is triggering which symptom. I will faint if I turn my head too far or too fast, but I was wearing a cervical collar at the time.

Any idea what might be up?

Thanks

hi hockey sorry you have this on top of every thing, don,t know mate but try to keep a note of if and when it happens and tell your docs about it, the neck condition and fainting could have something to do with it, kind of like hypoxia on set symptoms
best wishes

This is an idea...

I just started study medicin here in Sweden and I came across a case were the patient had short "blackouts" were he felt gone for a while and then came back, as if he fell asleep a short while. I dont know if he ever had any neurological trauma or deficiensy. But after a LOT of testing, they came to the conclusion that something was wrong with his vestibular system. He also had high blood-pressure btw which might have interacted with this problem.
The measurements showed that the bloodsupply to his brain almost stopped for a while which caused him these blackouts. Nothing dangerous, except for what injuries can be caused by getting a blackout while walking, driving etc.

I cant give you an answer other than it sounds like what you experienced. An injured brain also normally have a less accurate vestibular-control and also yhe brain itself is more sensitive to changes in bloodpressure, o2 supply etc!

This is possible explination.

Did you sit in a static way for a long time before this happened?

My braininjury has sometimes caused me to feel dizzyness just like a low bloodpressure in situations were I have been in a static position with my head/neck or if I get up after sitting down etc.

Emil

I have experienced the same thing as hockey. It is very strange. It is like a combination of an anxiety attack and absence seizure. i have never found any information about it.

It also is similar to the tunnel vision that happens as you start to black out from the high G forces of a roller coaster loop. It may be a blood flow issue. Or, it could be related to holding one's breath.

Since the senses shut off in a series , not in parallel, when oxygen to the brain is reduced, the blood flow or breathing makes the most sense.

Coincidentally, this morning, I just had 8 vials of blood drawn for some hormone and other blood work. I passed out cold after undergoing the same symptoms.

As mentioned before, journal all of the factors before and after this episode.

And be very careful if you need to drive.

Weird! I'm sorry I don't have any ideas about what happened, but definitely keep me posted.

Hockey

It sounds very much like another kind of seizure or even just experience with not being able to talk to folks for a short time period. Hard to explain. There is a form of seizures called simple partial that I think it might be considered.

But I like the person who suggested vestibular issues too. I have these, and when they return I can do some of the things you do. But usually can talk.

Donna

Thanks Gang,

Yeah, I was leaning toward a blood flow or seizure issue. (SIGH) I'm already on the maximum dose of seizure meds.

It seemed so strange to have awareness, but no will to act. I was a pretty sraightlaced kid, so I don't have any experience with being stoned. However, I was wondering if this could be related to my meds.

There's always the chance I overdosed as I have trouble remembering whether or not I've taken my pills. I have a chart, but can forget to mark it. Today I bought a weekly pill dispenser and my husband is going fill it.

I'll report this to my neurologist, but frankly, he's an idiot. (And sadly, he's the only idiot within four hours of my house.)

Thanks for taking the time to help me puzzle this out.

Hockey

Another idea if it was a seizure. It can easily be that you were just at a time of needing to have one. Or a brainoverflow. Does that make sense.

So don't go so much thinking that you took to much, or that its you need more meds. But you can think that you already take to much meds.

My son has at times taken to much medication. And when I finally talked the doctor into reducing one of the medications we lowered his seizures.
And I have found that when we made a mistake this summer with his
new medication, he got the dosage wrong. And took way to much.

that he started having more seizures. But it got corrected, and after a while luckily the seizures got back under control. But he was at the new 2nd neurologist yesterday, and the VNS was changedl. I have to say, weird,
had a doctor state he was having more seizures and changed his settings.

Donna

Thanks Donna,

My dose is sky high because they're also using the seizure meds to control the terrible nerve pain and spasms from my spinal cord injury. After reading your post, I can see how this might be a less than ideal situation.

Cheers

Does anyone think it could be an acute form of Depersonalization or Derealization? I have read and heard that people who depersonalize are able to see their on bodies, as if they were floating above them. Depersonalization is very common among people with head injuries. However, people without head injuries can also depersonalize from a traumatic event or drug use-especially from smoking too much marijuana.