Posts by George Hall

So, like the title says, I've been getting this random pressure in my ears out of nowhere... like they're clogged, plus this intense pressure in the back of my head and some stinging or tingling sensations behind my ears and above my neck. It only lasts a second or two, but it totally freaks me out because I'm worried it might be something neurological.
I actually have some issues with my cervical spine, so I'm wondering if that could be causing it or if it's something else entirely?

Props to you, major respect...
Honestly, it's probably better if I don't ask about symptoms, just so you don't start overthinking things 🙂
But man, I'm actually thinking about heading back out to get my sinuses and neck checked out—like the vertebrae and muscles too—because this headache is seriously getting on my nerves. I'm having to take at least two Tylenols a day, which sucks because I'm breastfeeding. Plus, I'm always worried that weird thing will happen again where my vision just totally glitches out... I still have no clue what causes it, it's so strange, and it doesn't even feel like a typical migraine, I guess...

Thanks so much, hun.
Well, it’s not even like I’m making this up... I was dealing with low iron, eye strain, hypothyroidism—all sorts of stuff showing up on my labs right before I gave birth. I didn't end up seeing an endocrinologist because the numbers didn't look too crazy to me, even though everyone from my primary care doc to my internist kept insisting I go... But now I'm reading that high blood pressure could be causing some of these symptoms too. Believe it or not, that actually makes me feel a bit better... I just hope it isn't anything serious. My head is really bothering me, but hopefully everything is fine there. I used to have sinus issues as a kid, and now my neck is killing me, so maybe the headaches are just coming from that or maybe even the eye strain...

I'm trying, believe me, but it's just hitting me harder now because I was always such a chill person before. I never even bothered with doctors or worried about my health, but this pregnancy has totally wiped me out... And honestly, reading stuff online just makes it worse. Like yesterday, I stumbled upon info about derealization and started spiraling, worrying if that weird half-dream state I had earlier—when I felt super faint after not eating anything—was actually that. But I didn't feel panicked or anxious back then, just weak... Now, the only thing is when I get hit with actual panic, it feels like my ears are plugged and my own voice sounds distant, like I'm hearing myself from far away. But everything else feels normal; I don't feel like my surroundings or myself are distorted at all. That's not what it is, right?
Thanks so much, you're an angel 🙂

And honestly, I’m naturally thin and struggle to put on weight, even though I work out regularly with them both and I'm barely 23... but my mind is just racing lately 🙂
Is it okay to drink these teas while breastfeeding? My OB-GYN and primary doctor told me to take Xanax for my blood pressure, and I've taken it a few times, but I really don't love it. It calms me down, but it also just leaves me feeling totally wiped out, and I'm worried about getting hooked on it...

I’ve always been super chill, honestly... I barely ever saw doctors unless it was my OBGYN or a dentist when things got serious 🙂
But this pregnancy has just completely drained me, and everything seems to be hitting at once..
And yeah, I’m dealing with stress and stuff, but even back when I lost my twins at six months—which was easily the most stressful thing ever—my blood pressure was actually low. I always struggled with low BP, but now all of a sudden...
Thanks so much, you really helped ease my mind about the blood pressure thing.. I immediately thought it was just juice for me since I'm usually a low BP person, so I totally freaked out thinking it might be a stroke or heart issue 🤦

I honestly don't know... I deal with panic attacks, for sure. They started toward the end of my pregnancy when I began feeling this weakness, and I eventually learned how to just ignore them until they stopped. But that tightness and the fear of feeling weak or having vision issues and dizziness... it stuck with me. Now that my blood pressure has been acting up, I've already had a few attacks again...
Panic aside, the headaches and eye issues are actually terrible. There's this constant pressure in my ears and head, plus awful pain in my neck—it feels like the pressure starts right at the base of my neck, if that makes sense... And this whole thing with my chest and blood pressure is new; it all started after I gave birth, which is why the doctors were so worried about pulmonary embolisms. I'm really hoping a good D-dimer test rules that out at least..?

Just to clear up what I mentioned first, what else could those symptoms be? Back then, I wasn't even panicking or feeling stressed, and I've never dealt with any mental health stuff before this...

Hey everyone, hi!
I’ve been Googling my symptoms like crazy and this forum always pops up. You guys seem like such a great community with awesome advice, so I figured I'd reach out...

Let me start from the beginning. I’ve always had low blood pressure. One time, I skipped breakfast, had two coffees on an empty stomach, and suddenly felt incredibly weak with this massive headache. I figured my pressure dropped since that’s my norm. I ate a banana, took some Tylenol (I was six months pregnant at the time and dealing with constant morning sickness), and headed out into town. Suddenly, for just a few seconds, it was like I was dreaming or reliving random memories while still being totally conscious. I could talk normally and stick to my diet, but it felt like I was in a half-dream state... It wasn't scary or weird, just surreal. I rushed straight to the ER, but by the time I got there, my blood pressure and sugar levels were totally fine. They gave me some Xanax because I was freaking out about what was happening to me. The next day, I had an exam, and I completely blanked on everything I studied—I couldn't even remember my Facebook password. Even though they questioned me, I was totally aware and communicating normally; everything seemed fine by the morning.
It hasn't happened again, but I’m still low-key terrified about what that actually was. My GP said it might have just been a sudden blood sugar crash causing that confusion. Has anyone else dealt with something like this or have any idea what it could be? I've never experienced anything like it before.

Things were fine for a few months after that, until right before I gave birth. Then the brutal headaches started—this stabbing pain behind my eyes. Tylenol helps, but only for a bit. Also, whenever I look sharply to the side and then back, I see these little flashes of light for a few seconds.
Then, one time I was lying down watching a movie and my vision just went totally blurry and distorted. I panicked, felt lightheaded, and had to get some air.
My vision gets fuzzy sometimes too, though I am nearsighted (0.5 in one eye, 0.75 in the other). I saw an ophthalmologist, and she said my eye pressure is fine, just that my eyes are extremely strained, but she couldn't give me drops because I was pregnant.
I also get this intense pressure in my head and ears...
I saw a neurologist too, but since I was pregnant, they didn't order any major scans. The physical exam was fine, except for feeling a bit dizzy when I close my eyes.
Everything seems to be blamed on my low iron (7.2).
I gave birth a month ago. Back on February 14th, I had to see a pulmonologist because of sharp chest pains shooting into my back. Lung imaging was clear, and they sent me to an internist. EKG and cardiac enzymes were all fine, but my TSH was slightly high and my Free T3 was low. I haven't seen an endocrinologist yet, but I can't imagine those would cause *this* much trouble, right?
And about my blood sugar—I've always been on the low side despite stress, but one night I ended up in the ER because my pressure spiked to 160/100.
Now it’s all over the place, swinging from low to high. My heart rate rarely dips below 90. This morning it was 105/85... that's way too close, isn't it?
I also had a D-dimer test this morning because they were worried about a pulmonary embolism due to the chest pain, but that came back normal. No tachycardia on my last EKG, but my heart does race occasionally, which triggers full-on panic attacks because I'm so scared of what's going on.
Should I go back to the neurologist and ask for a CT or MRI?
I also got a referral for an ENT to check my sinuses, because sometimes my left ear feels like there's water trapped in it.
I asked my GP for another referral to an internist regarding my blood pressure, but she said I don't need one and should just monitor it.
Please help me out if you have any advice or similar experiences... I'm losing my mind trying to figure out which doctor to see next...