Is this "wonky head" that many describe or something else...

[windy]

Hi All,

Since last month I have started having abnormal feelings in my head in an unpredictable manner.  The first episode appeared out of the blue last month.  I was working on my computer when I suddenly had an extreme case of nausea.  I stood up and felt something like electrical currents running in a wave like pattern throughout my head.  I then had a feeling that I was going to pass out.  The electrical current type feeling passed quickly, but the feeling of almost passing out and nausea stayed with me for several minutes.   I went to a "doc in the box" type place. They felt like I had something like an aborted seizure.  I felt the same way.  The next day, I had a mini episode again, but not to the strong degree of the day before. I went to the ER.  They ran a MRI which showed little change in my tumor size.  The next day they ran an EEG.  It did show spikes that could be related to seizure type activity, but did appear "fairly normal", other than the significant spikes.  My internal medicine doctor wanted me to see a neurologist ASAP.

Since that time, I have unusual feelings that go on throughout my head.  I truly don't know what I am feeling, but something is definitely abnormal.  Is the feeling of "wonky head" that many describe anything like what I am feeling?  I have never had any type episodes like this before.  I truly have to say it is scary.  It seems to come out of the blue, odd sensations pass though my head, and I feel like I am going to pass out.  I have only had the electrical current feeling once more, but still have the overall head issues.  I took my blood pressure and it was rather high, but with a very low pulse, so am confused as to why I feel like I am going to pass out.  I did want to make note that a couple of weeks prior to these episodes, a physical therapist worked on my neck/head and caused a tremendous amount of head pain afterwards.  It was sore to even touch my head in the days that followed.  Also, I had been having headaches daily since he did some kind of "adjustment" to my head and neck.  I have not been back to him since that time. I have no idea if it is related to the strange sensations.

Has anyone on the board every experienced something like this before?  I am not sure who I need to turn to medically.  I went to a neurologist, but as he was a tremor specialist, he said he did not handle anything in the way of seizure type issues.  With that said, I have never had a true seizure.  I am just having very abnormal head issues.  Any input you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

[leapyrtwins]

Best way I've ever heard wonky head described is that it's like being a bobble-head doll.

Jan

[kenneth_k]

A couple of years before my diagnose I had some fainting/near fainting episodes. I never got an explanation for this. I had several tests run on heart and blood pressure,  but nothing conclusive. Maybe it was the tumor messing up things.

My impression of wonky head is something different. Like a semi-drunk state, where small head movements feel like big ones and like the head is to heavy.

I hope things will improve, because dizzy spells/vertigo and even fainting can be quite frightening.

Best regards,

Kenneth

[ppearl214]

Best way I've ever heard wonky head described is that it's like being a bobble-head doll.

Jan

Jan's description works.... I usually describe it as enhanced dizziness with that "head disconnect" feel some get with taking cold meds......

Funny, the docs on the cyberknife forum and my dr's now also use the term "wonky head"...... Capt Deb needs to get it trademarked or sumptin.

Phyl

[cindyj]

I agree with the others that wonkiness is more of a disconnect, slightly drunk, on cold meds kind of feeling...however, I have also had electric zaps similar to what you're describing.  They have become less frequent the further out I get from surgery, but I do still have one every once in awhile.  I just assumed it was another AN thing to live with and have never asked my doc about it.  This has been brought up in several other threads in the past - don't think anyone has ever said or found out exactly what it is.  Never would have thought of them as mini seizures, but now that you mention it, that seems like a good explanation...Let us know if you get to the bottom of it and/or if yours continue or stop eventually.  It is quite bazarre when it happens, I'll admit

Cindy

[windy]

Thank you all so much for your input!!  I don't think I am having wonky head, based on your descriptions.  I don't really feel a disconnect.  I wonder if anyone who has had the electrical current type issues, has also had the feeling of passing out at the same time.  I am going to do a search to further investigate!!  I hope it passes over time.  So far, it has been going on for about a month.

I did want to add one thing.  I am used to shooting pains and also soft waves that go throughout my head since the AN diagnosis and post radiation.  This particular experience has been different though.  The electrical current type problem came with a big force in waves in my head, along with with nausea and a feeling of fainting.  I guess the force of it all is what has me worried.  I have wondered if it could be a strong variant of a migraine.

Again, thank you for your input.  It really helps!  

[cin605]

If you still have the AN .....These are the symptoms i had which led to the diagnosis.
i would get all that and feel like i was going to fall over...would also get a wahhhhwahhhwahhh sound in my ear.
Hope you feel better soon.....

[cin605]

There is also a thing called acoustical migraine and you get the shock and the sound effects going through your head and your head and body kind of spaz.

[windy]

I did want to give a little update on this post.  I saw my neurologist who specializes in headaches this week.  After describing all the symptoms to him, he felt almost positive the problems related back to my neck adjustment that I had late March. That is the point when I started having headaches daily.  He said a neurologist NEVER recommends any type of neck adjustment as they see the aftermath of things that can go wrong, neurologically speaking.  Oddly, I was seeing a physical therapist for something else and was not even having neck or head issues, but he adjusted my neck very forcefully three times during the session in an unexpected manner.  Oh well...  I am scheduled for a MRA to make sure there is not a small tear in one of my arteries.  Needless to say, I have not been back for therapy again!

[moe]

  Oh well...  I am scheduled for a MRA to make sure there is not a small tear in one of my arteries.  Needless to say, I have not been back for therapy again!

So sorry you have to go through all this   Being a nurse, the only thing that caught my attention was you said you had low pulse and high blood pressure which are signs of intracranial pressure. NOT to say you have increased intracranial pressure, but maybe keep a log of your blood pressure and pulse to show the docs if your symptoms continue.

Hang in there!
Maureen