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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Katt on August 28, 2001, at 13:31:45
I have written about this before, but things seem to be worsening. I have had three occasions where I see insects that are not real, move before my eyes for at least 30 seconds or so. The first time, I saw bugs on the wall when I was in someone's office. The second time, I saw bugs on the shower curtain while I was showering. The third time, was quite intense. I saw what I believed to be flies right before my eyes, just rapidly flying all over the place. The things that these bugs seem to have in common is that they are all very colorful, somewhat flashy, psyhedelic. They also leave me paralyzed for the duration of their existence. What are these things? My psychiatrist believes that because I am under a lot of stress, I am having transiet psychotic episodes. However, I have been waking up with terrible headaches and nausea, although this is more recent. Please, if anyone has had any experience with any of this, let me know. I need all the input I can get.
Katt
Posted by Zo on August 28, 2001, at 15:43:18
In reply to Brain Tumor? Psychosis? Dissocation?? HELP!!, posted by Katt on August 28, 2001, at 13:31:45
Katt, I feel even more strong than before - because of the colorfulness and shimmering - that you should look into possible Temporal Lobe seizures. I'd be glad to help in any way I can. What is your dx again? People do seizure in the night, and people do have nausea.
Dissociation is going numb, you certainly don't see anything interesting there! Whether these are hallucinations, I can't say, but does anything else like this happen? Any sense of deja vue? How do you feel afterward?
IMNSHO, it is that paralysis for the duration that is most strongly suggestive of seizure. My guess is, your pdoc doesn't know much about it, so -- what else is new -- he brushes you off. Gawd.
I don't think that's what a brain tumor does! But if it worries you, why not press him for a CAT scan. It's your right.
Zo
Posted by Katt on August 28, 2001, at 15:54:58
In reply to Re: Brain Tumor? Psychosis? Dissocation?? HELP!! » Katt, posted by Zo on August 28, 2001, at 15:43:18
My dx again are depression, anxiety, bpd, anorexia, ptsd, trichotillomania. He feels that the episodes are one of the criteria of bpd.
I do dissociate, esp before or after hurting myeslf, and no, I don't see anything like this when I dissociate. After seeing the shimmering flies, bugs, etc, I either wait shocked, thinking that maybe they will come back, or I just burst into tears.Katt
> Katt, I feel even more strong than before - because of the colorfulness and shimmering - that you should look into possible Temporal Lobe seizures. I'd be glad to help in any way I can. What is your dx again? People do seizure in the night, and people do have nausea.
>
> Dissociation is going numb, you certainly don't see anything interesting there! Whether these are hallucinations, I can't say, but does anything else like this happen? Any sense of deja vue? How do you feel afterward?
>
> IMNSHO, it is that paralysis for the duration that is most strongly suggestive of seizure. My guess is, your pdoc doesn't know much about it, so -- what else is new -- he brushes you off. Gawd.
>
> I don't think that's what a brain tumor does! But if it worries you, why not press him for a CAT scan. It's your right.
>
> Zo
Posted by judy1 on August 28, 2001, at 21:22:16
In reply to Re: Brain Tumor? Psychosis? Dissocation?? HELP!!, posted by Katt on August 28, 2001, at 15:54:58
Dear Katt,
We have similar diagnosis(s) bipolar, borderline ptsd, panic,etc. I also have periods of dissociation before cutting, and often hallucinations (auditory) during manic and depressive episodes. The only time I experienced a visual hallucination was during a seizure (TLE like Zo suggested). You probably should have a complete work-up by a neurologist although in many instances EEG's are negative. I guess I'm trying to tell you not to worry, since stress can make things worse. Luckily the meds in bipolar (is that what bpd was or borderline?) are the same in epilepsy. I hope you feel better soon- judy
Posted by Zo on August 28, 2001, at 23:22:12
In reply to Brain Tumor? Psychosis? Dissocation?? HELP!!, posted by Katt on August 28, 2001, at 13:31:45
And Katt, see an Eleptologist, rather than a plain Neurologists, who tend to have their panties in a permanent bunch, if you know what I mean and I think you do.
How long do these episodes last? Do the things you see seem to be almost out of the corner of your eye?
Zo
Posted by Katt on August 29, 2001, at 16:20:45
In reply to Re: Brain Tumor? Psychosis? Dissocation?? HELP!! » Katt, posted by Zo on August 28, 2001, at 23:22:12
I don't know anything about either type of specialist. These episodes last about 30 seconds or a minute. No, they are not out of the corner of my eye, but rather, right before my eyes. Right there, right in front of me.
Katt
> And Katt, see an Eleptologist, rather than a plain Neurologists, who tend to have their panties in a permanent bunch, if you know what I mean and I think you do.
>
> How long do these episodes last? Do the things you see seem to be almost out of the corner of your eye?
>
> Zo
Posted by Katt on August 29, 2001, at 16:28:09
In reply to Re: Brain Tumor? Psychosis? Dissocation?? HELP!! » Katt, posted by judy1 on August 28, 2001, at 21:22:16
BPD is for borderline personality. Are you saying that even if I got tests done, nothing would probably show up anyway?? That feels a little discouraging.
> Dear Katt,
> We have similar diagnosis(s) bipolar, borderline ptsd, panic,etc. I also have periods of dissociation before cutting, and often hallucinations (auditory) during manic and depressive episodes. The only time I experienced a visual hallucination was during a seizure (TLE like Zo suggested). You probably should have a complete work-up by a neurologist although in many instances EEG's are negative. I guess I'm trying to tell you not to worry, since stress can make things worse. Luckily the meds in bipolar (is that what bpd was or borderline?) are the same in epilepsy. I hope you feel better soon- judy
Posted by judy1 on August 29, 2001, at 19:28:17
In reply to Re: Brain Tumor? Psychosis? Dissocation?? HELP!! , posted by Katt on August 29, 2001, at 16:28:09
I did see an epileptologist (sp?) who did an EEG with nasopharangeal leads and a 24 hour monitor that showed spikes when testing by my neurologist revealed normal results. They are expensive however, and most insurance companies don't cover them. The positive is klonopin seems to keep everything in check for me, are you already on it? The other meds- depakote, tegretol, etc have too many side-effects although I do take depakote for manic episodes. If you're able to find the right medication to resolve your symptoms then it really doesn't matter what your tests show. (Although I agree it feels better to wave around an abnormal test when most psych diagnosis rely on a shrink's opinion). Take care, judy
Posted by Else on August 31, 2001, at 21:25:53
In reply to Brain Tumor? Psychosis? Dissocation?? HELP!!, posted by Katt on August 28, 2001, at 13:31:45
> I have written about this before, but things seem to be worsening. I have had three occasions where I see insects that are not real, move before my eyes for at least 30 seconds or so. The first time, I saw bugs on the wall when I was in someone's office. The second time, I saw bugs on the shower curtain while I was showering. The third time, was quite intense. I saw what I believed to be flies right before my eyes, just rapidly flying all over the place. The things that these bugs seem to have in common is that they are all very colorful, somewhat flashy, psyhedelic. They also leave me paralyzed for the duration of their existence. What are these things? My psychiatrist believes that because I am under a lot of stress, I am having transiet psychotic episodes. However, I have been waking up with terrible headaches and nausea, although this is more recent. Please, if anyone has had any experience with any of this, let me know. I need all the input I can get.
>
> Katt
The headaches and nausea could suggest migraines and the "psychotic" symptoms could be migraine auras. In any case, the same drug (Depakote) would be effective for migraine, TLE or manic-depression.
There are other meds that work for migraines like Zomig and Imitrex, however. I have also read something about Nardil being a good drug for migraines. Your doc seems a bit off, really. Your symptoms don't sound psychotic at all. I don't mean to suggest that you are an alcoholic but I do know that hallucinations involving animals are typical of delirium tremens, while those involving insects specifically, are often related to cocaine or amphetamine abuse. I am not saying you are using these drugs in any way, only that these symptoms are more typically neurological than psychiatric. A neurological problem does not necessarily show up on an EEG, especially not a migraine. Take care.
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