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Dealing with brain fog, memory loss, tremors, and heart palpitations... help?

Started by Kate James21 · · 👁 7 views · 91 replies

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Participants Kate James21Sarah Garcia84Brandon Lopez6melloworca6gentlesailor25Casey Phillips18Roger RodriguezGary Cox2velvetmoose9Lisa Myersswiftnomad47Rachel Hernandez2crimsongull20Bryan Ross20Sophia Moore38graniteviper5Brian Morris7Tyler James5
Kate James21 Kate James21 Active MemberOP
77 messages
joined May 2009
#1 ·
Hello everyone... I will attempt to be concise and describe my symptoms as clearly as possible.

Essentially, I drank quite heavily over the weekend (Friday, Feb 15th) and spent Saturday nursing a hangover. To be fair, I felt somewhat recovered by the afternoon, though a group of friends ended up gathering at my place later on. My head was pounding, so I took an Advil. I didn't consume any alcohol on Saturday itself.

Around 10 PM that night, I felt a sudden onset of a headache accompanied by dizziness. As I looked around, everything seemed distorted—everyone appeared strange, almost as if I were detached from reality. I stepped outside for some air, but I felt terrible. After a short while, I began shaking, my heart started racing violently, and I felt as though I might actually collapse. Physically, I felt fine, but mentally, it was a catastrophe. I sat down on the bed, turned deathly pale, developed dark circles under my eyes, and broke out in a cold sweat within fifteen seconds; it was literally pouring off me. I lay down, and a friend checked my pulse; it was around 82 beats per minute but highly irregular, with significant pauses in the rhythm.

As I lay there, my right leg began twitching uncontrollably on its own, and I just stared around aimlessly, feeling completely disconnected from time and space. I lay there for five hours, yet it felt to me as if only ten minutes had passed.

Furthermore, whenever I try to speak, I find myself stopping mid-sentence because my brain simply locks up, and I lose all memory of what I intended to say. It was as if my consciousness and cognitive functions just ceased to operate properly.

My vision and hearing were also completely compromised. What concerns me most is that even though some time has passed since that evening, and I managed to sleep and wake up the next day feeling drastically better, I am still experiencing these gaps in my memory. One day at work, I found myself unable to recall anything I had accomplished during the shift.

To make matters worse, the condition isn't improving; my head still feels "off," my spatial perception is heavily distorted, and I have this sensation similar to when you sleep for too long and suddenly wake up disoriented and start pacing the room... much like a persistent vertigo.

The symptoms are incredibly bizarre, and searching the internet has yielded absolutely nothing helpful, so I am asking for guidance on the most sensible course of action.

Can anyone provide a rough idea of what this might be, or perhaps suggest what kind of medical tests I should expect to undergo when I see a doctor?

Thank you very much in advance for your help and effort. 🙂

PS: Please don't feel obligated to offer grim or dark prognoses. I have already braced myself for the worst. 🙂

I forgot to mention, I am 26 years old. I haven't had any prior health issues, though I did suffer from meningitis as a child.
Sarah Garcia84 Sarah Garcia84 Member
16 messages
joined May 2012
#2 ·
It could be a stroke, or maybe you're dealing with a persistent arrhythmia...
Brandon Lopez6 Brandon Lopez6 Regular
656 messages
joined Feb 2010
#3 ·
To sounds like depersonalization triggered by a panic attack to me.
Kate James21 Kate James21 Active MemberOP
77 messages
joined May 2009
#4 ·
Sarah Garcia84 said:it could be a stroke, or maybe you're dealing with a persistent arrhythmia...

Does someone actually experience intense head pain during a stroke? Because I didn't feel any pain during this whole episode, just total disorientation and everything else...

Elizabeth Davis said:to me, that sounds like depersonalization triggered by a panic attack.

What about treatment? Is there any chance of returning to how things were before? This sensation of breaking apart is genuinely terrifying, and I find myself spiraling into irrational thoughts about whether I’ve developed some kind of brain tumor or something similar. It’s the fact that it involves my head rather than some other organ that makes it so unsettling...

I've been doing a bit of reading, and delirium keeps coming up. What do you all think I should do next? 🤷
Brandon Lopez6 Brandon Lopez6 Regular
656 messages
joined Feb 2010
#5 ·
Those sound like textbook anxiety symptoms. First move? Go see a psychiatrist. Once that's handled, you need to run some tests to rule out anything physical going on under the hood. After that, it’s down to therapy and/or meds. 🙂
Kate James21 Kate James21 Active MemberOP
77 messages
joined May 2009
#6 ·
I should clarify right out of the gate that I’m not even in a particularly high-stress phase of my life at the moment, and I am fully aware that anxiety and stress are usually two sides of the same coin. So, why on earth am I dealing with these memory lapses and this complete distortion of my spatial awareness? It feels as though my basic coordination just isn't functioning correctly anymore...
melloworca6 melloworca6 Regular
551 messages
joined May 2010
#7 ·
Just go see a doctor, for crying out loud.

It could be nothing, or it could be something serious. Guessing about this stuff here isn't going to help you at all. This has been going on for days now, so just get to a clinic—start with a primary care physician and go from there.
Brandon Lopez6 Brandon Lopez6 Regular
656 messages
joined Feb 2010
#8 ·
Jonathan Morris40 said:Just to be clear, I’m not even going through a massive stressful stretch right now, and I get how anxiety and stress usually go hand in hand. So why am I dealing with this memory loss and weird spatial perception? It’s like my coordination just isn't hitting right.

As for that warped perception thing—honestly, I'm still trying to wrap my head around why it happens. Zero clues so far. People say it tends to kick in during your absolute worst moments of stress and can hang around for a bit. Look, I’m no doctor, so I can’t give you any actual medical advice, just speaking from what I’ve dealt with myself.
Kate James21 Kate James21 Active MemberOP
77 messages
joined May 2009
#9 ·
melloworca6 said:Just go see a doctor, for God's sake.

It could be nothing at all, or it could be something much more significant... there is absolutely no point in us sitting here playing guessing games. This has been going on for days now, so you really need to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician, if only to get a baseline before deciding on next steps...

I just wanted to see what the consensus would be here; it's not that I'm completely falling apart because I feel unwell, but things certainly aren't where they should be. I intend to see my doctor, and I'll make it a priority to get there as soon as possible.

Thanks for the input. 👍

@Elizabeth Davis/">@@Elizabeth Davis: the sensation is truly unpleasant. I am at work, fully aware of my surroundings, interacting with people and moving around, yet no one seems to notice anything is off, even though everything feels profoundly strange to me...
Brandon Lopez6 Brandon Lopez6 Regular
656 messages
joined Feb 2010
#10 ·
I get those derealization episodes too... but honestly, it could be something physical. Low blood sugar, blood pressure issues, thyroid stuff, epilepsy, or just a million other things.

Best bet is to just go see a doctor.🙂
gentlesailor25 gentlesailor25 Active Member
63 messages
joined Dec 2011
#11 ·
Jonathan Morris40 said:@Elizabeth Davis/">@@Elizabeth Davis: man, that feeling is just straight-up awful. I'm sitting here at the office, fully aware of everything going on, chatting with coworkers, walking around, and honestly, nobody even suspects a thing—it’s like I’m totally normal to them, but to me, everything feels completely surreal and off...

it sounds like the textbook definition of derealization, really.

does this kind of thing happen all the time for you, or is it more like an occasional thing that just hits out of nowhere?
Casey Phillips18 Casey Phillips18 Member
13 messages
joined Sep 2008
#12 ·
I suppose it might be wise to start with an EEG..
Roger Rodriguez Roger Rodriguez Active Member
220 messages
joined Jul 2009
#13 ·
Elizabeth Davis said:That sounds like depersonalization triggered by a panic attack, doesn't it?

I’m not entirely sure. Given my own history with episodes of depersonalization and derealization—both on their own and hitting all at once—this doesn't quite strike me as that. Then again, when you're dealing with something that terrifying, isn't it natural to exaggerate the description just to convey how awful it feels? Could we be looking at a combination of depersonalization and a panic attack, which often sound much more intense than they actually are?
Honestly, those pauses in the pulse really jump out at me. Even when I was dealing with my worst hangover and hitting 160 beats per minute during a massive attack, I still maintained a steady sinus rhythm. If I’m going by my own experience, doesn't this suggest something might be off? It feels like it definitely needs a closer look.
The smartest move is to just head to your primary care physician first; they can order the necessary tests and guide you through the process. Why jump straight to worrying about brain tumors or those kinds of extreme scenarios? 🙂
Brandon Lopez6 Brandon Lopez6 Regular
656 messages
joined Feb 2010
#14 ·
Sarah Wells23 said:I don't know. I've dealt with my own share of depersonalization and derealization episodes—on their own and mixed with other stuff—and this doesn't really sound like that to me. Then again, someone going through that kind of thing might exaggerate because the feeling itself is just pure nightmare fuel, so maybe it is a mix of depersonalization and a panic attack. Those two can definitely sound way more intense than they actually feel.
Either way, that irregular pulse with the pauses is what sticks out to me. Even when I was hitting 160 BPM during my absolute worst hangovers, my rhythm stayed steady. Based on my own experience, something feels off there and it's worth getting checked out.
The smartest move is to hit up a GP to get some actual tests ordered. Don't go spiraling into thoughts about brain tumors or any of those other scary scenarios. 🙂

I think it’s standard practice for both psychiatrists and primary care doctors to rule out physical issues before they start tossing mental health diagnoses around. So yeah, seeing a doctor is the first step regardless. 🙂

It could be a thousand different things, or it could just be the obvious one—stress. And honestly, trying to cut stress out of your life these days is basically mission impossible.
Kate James21 Kate James21 Active MemberOP
77 messages
joined May 2009
#15 ·
Elizabeth Davis said:those kinds of derealization episodes can stem from physical issues too—low blood sugar, blood pressure drops, thyroid problems, epilepsy, or a thousand other things...

your best bet is seeing a doctor 🙂

I’ve never dealt with blood sugar, epilepsy, or any of those issues... at least not until now.

gentlesailor25 said:that is the textbook definition of derealization.

is this constant, or does it just happen sporadically?

What exactly is derealization? What are the symptoms?

this is the first time I've ever experienced this in my life, and unfortunately, it hasn't let up yet.

Casey Phillips18 said:you should probably start by getting an EEG...

What exactly is an EEG?

Sarah Wells23 said:I don't know, since I've had my own bouts of depersonalization and derealization—both separately and together—this doesn't quite sound like what I experienced. But then again, someone going through this often exaggerates because the sensation is so terrifying, so it might actually be depersonalization paired with a panic attack, which tend to sound much more extreme than they truly are.
In any case, that irregular pulse with the pauses stands out most to me, because even during my worst panic attacks or when I was hungover with a heart rate of 160, I still maintained a sinus rhythm, so based on my own experience, I'd say something is definitely off here and needs investigation.
The smartest move is to see a GP who can order the right tests, rather than jumping straight to thinking about brain tumors or similar scenarios 🙂

the description is very accurate and thorough; I am fully aware of my symptoms and have tried my best to convey them as precisely and realistically as possible. A few people thought I was overreacting, but I had several people around me at the time, and these symptoms are real and were not exaggerated on my part (unfortunately? 😬

Elizabeth Davis said:It’s standard procedure for both psychiatrists and medical boards to rule out physical ailments before they start tossing mental health diagnoses around, so seeing a doctor is always the necessary first step anyway 🙂

It could be anything under the sun, or it might just be something as simple—yet potentially devastating—as stress. And let’s face it, trying to strip stress out of modern American life is a near impossibility...

That kind of stress is the root cause of countless issues, but I find myself in a position where I don't have any major stressors in my life right now; I have my individual problems, sure, but I've navigated much larger crises in the past, so I don't view this particular struggle as some massive, life-altering event... Generally speaking, I am a very consistent person with clearly defined goals, which makes me highly skeptical that stress is the culprit here (though, I suppose, it is possible I'm just not fully aware of it)
Gary Cox2 Gary Cox2 Active Member
55 messages
joined Oct 2018
#16 ·
Jonathan Morris40 said:right now I'm in a spot where life isn't really stressing me out much...

Sure you aren't right now...
but your body doesn't forget.
Personally, I can feel a panic attack brewing.
"It was like I wasn't even in my own skin. I felt like I just drifted right out of myself, totally detached. It was nasty. Then the shaking starts, my heart starts hammering against my ribs, and I honestly thought I was gonna pass out... broke out in a cold sweat in like 15 seconds flat."
velvetmoose9 velvetmoose9 Active Member
163 messages
joined Apr 2020
#17 ·
Jonathan Morris40 said:Hey everyone... I'll try to keep this brief and explain my symptoms as clearly as I can.

So, I went a bit too hard on the drinks (Friday, Feb 15th) and spent all Saturday nursing a massive hangover. Honestly, I felt somewhat human by the afternoon, and then the crew ended up hanging out at my place again later on. I had this pounding headache, so I popped an Tylenol pill. I didn't touch any alcohol on Saturday.

Around 10 PM that night, my head started throbbing and I got hit with some dizziness. Everything around me looked weird—everyone seemed off, almost like I was watching myself from the outside. I stepped out for some fresh air, but I felt terrible. After a little while, I started shaking, my heart began racing like crazy, and I just felt wrong, like I was about to pass out. Physically, I felt okay, but mentally, things were a complete disaster. Then I sat down on the bed, turned pale as a ghost, dark circles appeared under my eyes, and I broke out in a cold sweat within 15 seconds—it was literally pouring off me. I laid down, and my friend checked my pulse; it was around 82 bpm and irregular, with these huge pauses in the rhythm.

As I lay there, my right leg started twitching uncontrollably on its own. I was just staring around at everything like it was some kind of hallucination; I completely lost my sense of time and space. I stayed in bed for five hours, though it felt more like ten minutes had passed.

Also, whenever I try to talk, I'll stop mid-sentence because my brain just locks up, and I have no clue what I was trying to say. It’s like my consciousness and my brain just stopped functioning properly.

My vision and hearing got totally messed up, too. What worries me most is that even though some time has passed since that night, and I managed to sleep and wake up the next day feeling significantly better, I still have these gaps where I lose my memory. One day I was at work and I couldn't even remember what I had actually done that day.

To make matters worse, things aren't really improving. My head still feels "off," my perception of space is super distorted, and it feels similar to that disoriented sensation you get when you're jolted awake from a deep sleep and start stumbling around the room. It's something like vertigo.

These symptoms are so bizarre, and searching online hasn't helped one bit. I'd really appreciate any advice on what the smartest move would be right now.

Does anyone have a rough idea of what this could be and what kind of tests I should ask for at the doctor's office?

Thanks so much in advance for the help and for taking the time. 🙂

PS: Don't hold back with the grim or dark predictions. I've already braced myself for the worst. 🙂

Forgot to mention, I'm 26. I haven't had health issues before, except that as a kid, I had meningitis.

You didn't specify WHICH type of meningitis (bacterial, viral—maybe something like the Kansas City Chiefs virus/HSV?). It's impossible to tell for sure how much lingering damage those old infections left behind—did you go for follow-ups, physical therapy, or specific exercises afterward? Did you take any medications—which ones, for how long, and for what exact reason?
Excessive consumption of etil is never good for anyone, especially if the brain has already been compromised; it's certainly not going to be happy being exposed to heavy amounts of ethyl derivatives...
A headache can be benign, but it can also be a sign of serious intracranial activity, especially given the described—albeit imprecise—sensations of disturbed vision, hearing, and balance, along with that dissociative state, memory loss, and potential cardiac arrhythmia (do you have a history of heart arrhythmias? Those long pauses are pretty nasty) per se, or it could all be part of a new onset disorder. You can't rule out an epi-event either...
Once you've cleared the initial hurdles with your primary care doctor—getting those basic blood panels and an EKG out of the way—you’re almost certainly looking at a trip to a neurologist. Honestly, I think a deep-dive neuro exam paired with an EEG makes total sense, and they might even need to run some neuroimaging just to rule things out. Depending on what they find, you could be looking at seeing an internist or even an infectious disease specialist too...
You're definitely someone who needs a really thorough workup
By the way, besides any etil you might have had, was there anything else involved? Like cigarettes? And hey, are you absolutely sure you didn't take a hard hit to the head? Check for any lumps, localized pain, or swelling. Any fever? Blurred vision? Or maybe issues with swallowing or tripping over your words when you speak? Have you ever dealt with anything feeling this weird before?
gentlesailor25 gentlesailor25 Active Member
63 messages
joined Dec 2011
#18 ·
Jonathan Morris40 said:So, I was just sitting here thinking about that weird, floaty feeling—you know, like you’re watching a movie of your own life instead of actually living it? It's called derealization, and honestly, it’s such a trip. It’s one of those things where everything feels slightly off, like the world around you has lost its edge or looks like some kind of low-budget CGI set. Everything feels thin, or maybe too intense, or just... fake. I guess it’s hard to put into words without sounding like a total nutcase, but it’s that sense that you’re trapped behind a pane of glass, even when you’re just walking down the street in downtown Chicago or grabbing a coffee at Starbucks. The symptoms can be pretty wild, too. People usually say they feel detached from their surroundings, or like the people around them aren't quite "real," which sounds super eerie if you think about it too long. Sometimes colors look duller, or maybe way too bright, and time starts behaving really strangely—like it's stretching out forever or just skipping beats. I mean, it’s not exactly a fun way to spend an afternoon, and it can get pretty overwhelming if you don't have a handle on it. It’s definitely something worth looking into if you feel like you're drifting away from reality, because it's a heavy thing to carry around by yourself.

So, I guess this is actually happening to me for the first time ever, and honestly? It’s still going on, unfortunately.

Even though that description I quoted nails the whole feeling of derealization perfectly, I guess it still feels kind of weird to me that it just won't let up.😕 I mean, I honestly can't even wrap my head around the fact that it’s actually that. I guess I just didn't see it coming, you know? Maybe I was being too optimistic or something, but man, I really thought it would be something else entirely. It's just one of those things where you're sitting there, staring at it, thinking, "No way, surely not," and then reality just kind of hits you in the face. It's wild, I suppose.🤷
I mean, I guess you should probably start by ruling out all the physical stuff first, you know? Like, before you go down any rabbit holes or start overthinking the mental side of things, just make sure there isn't some underlying bodily issue causing the chaos. It’s probably worth checking that out first, maybe.
Brandon Lopez6 Brandon Lopez6 Regular
656 messages
joined Feb 2010
#19 ·
gentlesailor25 said:Even though that description I quoted nails what derealization feels like, it still feels weird to me that it won't let up.😕 I don't think that's it.🤷
Rule out all the physical stuff first.

Maybe check out some stories from people dealing with derealization on a psych couch—it’s actually pretty common for it to stick around for long stretches without stopping, or at least with just short breaks.
Kate James21 Kate James21 Active MemberOP
77 messages
joined May 2009
#20 ·
velvetmoose9 said:The post doesn't specify which type of meningitis we're talking about—bacterial, viral, maybe even HSV?... There's no way to know for sure how much lingering damage remains from those previous bouts of inflammation without knowing if you followed up with medical checkups, physical therapy, or specific exercises, or even what medications were prescribed, for what purpose, and for how long...
Excessive consumption of alcohol is clearly a bad move for anyone, particularly when dealing with a brain that may have already sustained trauma; an already compromised brain isn't going to fare well when subjected to heavy doses of ethanol...
A headache can be nothing more than benign, but it can also signal a serious intracranial event, especially given the sensations you described regarding vision, hearing, balance, or those dissociative states... there's also the memory issues, potential cardiac arrhythmias—did you have any history of heart palpitations or irregular rhythms before this?—which could be a standalone issue or part of this new neurological disturbance, and one cannot rule out an epileptic event either...
After seeing a primary care physician for basic lab work and an EKG, you'll likely need a consultation with a neurologist, which would be most effective alongside a detailed neuro exam, an EEG, and perhaps some advanced neuroimaging to differentiate the cause... an internist or an infectious disease specialist might also be necessary...
You are certainly a candidate for a thorough diagnostic workup
N/A, besides the alcohol, what else have you been consuming? Cigarettes? And are you absolutely certain you didn't suffer a head injury? Are there any lumps on your head, localized pain, swelling, or a fever?... Any double vision? Issues with swallowing, or trouble articulating words?... Have you ever experienced anything like this before?

I had purulent meningitis when I was nine months old; I know they had to perform a spinal tap to drain pus from my head.

I am a smoker, about half a pack a day. As for the alcohol, I definitely overdid it. I haven't had any prior heart issues, nor have I ever noticed any arrhythmias or racing pulses.

I didn't hit my head, there's no swelling, no pain, and physically I feel fine. I haven't checked my temperature, though I could; I doubt it's elevated. My speech seems fine, though occasionally I'll just freeze up for a second and have to pause to gather my thoughts. I do stumble over my words sometimes, but that’s something I’ve dealt with forever when I talk too fast... I always assumed it was just my tongue getting tied...

I've never had anything quite like this; this is the first time. Perhaps it happened in much smaller increments in the past, but I never perceived it as anything unusual.

About two or three times a month, I'll drink heavily while out on the town. Otherwise, I don't drink for over a week at a time because I'm not going out. When I do go out, I tend to overindulge due to the social atmosphere and all that. I know that's no excuse, but let's not act like anyone here is perfect. I could quit drinking entirely; it wouldn't be a struggle at all. 👍 And if it helps, I'm planning to kick the cigarettes too.

Usually, before bed, I feel restless; my leg will twitch, or at work, my foot will be tapping constantly to the rhythm of the music... I just can't seem to settle down or fully relax my limbs. If I do manage to get still, I find myself shrugging my shoulders or tossing and turning. It's constant movement. It feels almost as if, should I actually relax, I might fall asleep or lose consciousness... it acts like some sort of reflex. This has been happening every single day since this started.

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