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Mind pulses, head zaps?

Thu, 03/03/2005 - 07:47
Every few months, my husband has something happen where it's like he feels pulses in his head that interupt his concentration. they only last about 2 seconds but can happen every minute or two. This lasts about 5 days before it goes away. He has not had a major seizure for about 7 years, so he is very fortunate, but we're concerned about these "head zaps" and the doctor doesn't really seem to know what to tell him. He just increased his meds. Sometimes it happens when life is stressful and sometimes it just happens, so we don't know if it is really related to stress. Has anyone else ever had this happen?

Comments

RE: RE: Mind pulses, head zaps?

Submitted by pongosmommy on Wed, 2005-02-16 - 00:34
I had Migraines since I was a child. I have had the classic pain over the left eye then the kleidascope aura before the tunnel vision and then a full on drop you to your knees, crying in the dark, trying not to vomit migraine. My saving medicine was imitrex which I didn't find until I was in my 30's. Unfortunately I have high blood pressure which ended my scrip for imitrex.These zaps and pains are nothing like the pains I had with my migraines. I tried to explain them to my Prev Neuro...He thought I was being a big baby...increased my antidepressant.My New Neuro...He is listening to what I say. All I can say I I told mine exactly what they felt like...and even showed him where I felt it, and how it makes my eyes jump. My Daughter even verified that my eyes shake/quiver at times.Needless to say...More test are being done. I am happy to anounce no T/C's since my new meds! Yahoo!Dayna

RE: RE: Mind pulses, head zaps?

Submitted by Happykatt on Mon, 2005-02-21 - 16:23

I too have never had a seizure in my life, that I know of either..........but I have had migraine headaches off and on for years.  Only recently have the headaches gotten so bad and frequent that it is becoming a problem.  Almost daily now.   I experience these undescribable/bizarre sensations, sometimes before, and during the migraine.  The best way I can describe this event is.............1) an electical shock that starts in my right index finger and travels up my arm and to my head.  It feels almost as if I have just placed my finger on some live electic current.   2) I actually lose focus/awareness of whatever it is that I am in the process of doing, whether it be watching TV, doing the dishes, or worse yet, driving  3)  During these episodes, I can feel my eyes slightly shake too.   My husband and I have joked about what I call the "finger and brain zaps" for about 10 years now...........and I even saw a MD. about it @ 6 years ago.  The MD. thought it was do to stress at the time, and possibly a cousin to the Panic Attacks he thought I had had.  He prescribed xanax.   Let me add.........that these mysterious episodes only last for split seconds, so most of the time I can regroup and continue whatever task I was in the process of doing. (Note:  The xanax didn't help the "finger and brain zap" occurences to disappear, but it certainly made me relaxed enough to care) Ha....... However, to date, these, strange little episodes are happening many times a day, and I am starting not to be able to focus on any task for long.  Reading and watching television are becoming a challenge.   My husband is convinced that I may still be suffering from stress, and is sending me to a Physciatric Doctor on Friday.   At this point I can care less about what type of MD. he suggest I see, as long as he/she can fix these migraine headaches and peculiar events, etc.   I am not 100 percent sold on the idea of stress being the main culprit here, but I'm willing to explore........... Maybe, I just need a new Brain!   Can anyone share any advice with me, like what might be going on with me and/or questions I should ask my doctor (I also plan to schedule an apt. with our General Practicioner, too)............I am starting to get scared and concerned? 

I too have never had a seizure in my life, that I know of either..........but I have had migraine headaches off and on for years.  Only recently have the headaches gotten so bad and frequent that it is becoming a problem.  Almost daily now.   I experience these undescribable/bizarre sensations, sometimes before, and during the migraine.  The best way I can describe this event is.............1) an electical shock that starts in my right index finger and travels up my arm and to my head.  It feels almost as if I have just placed my finger on some live electic current.   2) I actually lose focus/awareness of whatever it is that I am in the process of doing, whether it be watching TV, doing the dishes, or worse yet, driving  3)  During these episodes, I can feel my eyes slightly shake too.   My husband and I have joked about what I call the "finger and brain zaps" for about 10 years now...........and I even saw a MD. about it @ 6 years ago.  The MD. thought it was do to stress at the time, and possibly a cousin to the Panic Attacks he thought I had had.  He prescribed xanax.   Let me add.........that these mysterious episodes only last for split seconds, so most of the time I can regroup and continue whatever task I was in the process of doing. (Note:  The xanax didn't help the "finger and brain zap" occurences to disappear, but it certainly made me relaxed enough to care) Ha....... However, to date, these, strange little episodes are happening many times a day, and I am starting not to be able to focus on any task for long.  Reading and watching television are becoming a challenge.   My husband is convinced that I may still be suffering from stress, and is sending me to a Physciatric Doctor on Friday.   At this point I can care less about what type of MD. he suggest I see, as long as he/she can fix these migraine headaches and peculiar events, etc.   I am not 100 percent sold on the idea of stress being the main culprit here, but I'm willing to explore........... Maybe, I just need a new Brain!   Can anyone share any advice with me, like what might be going on with me and/or questions I should ask my doctor (I also plan to schedule an apt. with our General Practicioner, too)............I am starting to get scared and concerned? 

RE: RE: RE: Mind pulses, head zaps?

Submitted by pongosmommy on Mon, 2005-02-21 - 16:52
Hi Happy Kat,I suggest a Neurologist. I was having a lot of trouble on my left side that the MD's kept attributing to stress, Depression, and being a big baby. Yeah Right I gave birth withouth any medication. Baby my Hiney.Anyway, I refused to believe it was just stress. And yes I went throught the Xanax/AntiDepressant route also. Yes didn't help the numbness, or Zaps, I just didn't care...In fact I didn't care about anything at one time in my life.This time when it started getting worse and I started losing consciousness, I demanded they find what is causing it. I had to go out of network to get the help I needed.I am kinda fuzzy right now so I can't give advice OK. In fact I better get off computer.

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