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Seizures? Nerve Damage? or something else?

Thu, 07/01/2004 - 15:29
Im not exactly sure what I have. If its seizures, nerve damage or something completely different. I figured I would try and post on here and see if someone could give me some guidance. Im 24 and have no medical insurance, I do plan on going to a doctor and getting referred to a neurologist but im trying to wait till i get insurance before i do that. Here is some background on what i think the problem is. from age 18-22 i was a heavy crystal meth user and pot smoker. On 2 occasions I overdosed on meth, the side effects of an OD are psychosis, paranoia and the one if found most odd was that i couldnt control my eyes, they would move independently of each other on their own. I quit doing meth but continued smoking pot. Every time i smoked though i felt like a small electrical storm was happening in my brain followed by severe tingling and sometimes jerking motions of my limbs. I quit smoking pot because this was absolutely one of the most horrible feelings ever and would last for hours. After i quit i never had these up until about 6 months ago i took some unisoms to help me go to sleep one night and it gave me the same feeling of tingling and jerking of the limbs, and that feeling at the base of my skull. I went to my doctor (since i had insurance at the time) and he diagnosed it as a panic attack, prescribed me xanax and sent me on my way. The more i read on panic attacks the more i can see that this is not one. On top of this I have this feeling now every day. Sometimes on top of the feeling in my head and the jerking of the limbs and tingling, i also experience repeated physical movements such as pacing the floor or constantly putting my hand up to my face. Where my symptoms differ from what i keep reading is in how long they last they never last under and hour its always an hour or more. The xanax do temporarily take them away but after they wear off they are just as bad or worse than they were before. Recently I have also started experiencing sleep paralysis, impotence and pretty bad insomnia. Do you think these are seizures, that it is in any way related to epilepsy or that it is extreme nerve damage or something i havent even considered? Any help would be appreciated because im about to go crazy.

Comments

RE: Seizures? Nerve Damage? or something else?

Submitted by GKT on Mon, 2004-06-28 - 13:10
My opinion (layperson's opinion) is that what you are experiencing is not epilepsy. But very possibly caused by damage due to the drug use. You should, however, see a physician for a determination.

RE: Seizures? Nerve Damage? or something else?

Submitted by eghawk on Mon, 2004-06-28 - 22:17
Although I am not a dr. I studied neurophys. @ UCSD and I am going to grad. school in pharmacology. I was diagnosed with epilepsy about 6 years ago. My opinion from what I know is that you are experiencing nerve damage which is something that is seen in heavy crystal meth users. You can search this on the internet. As a result of this damage you may develop epilepsy. My recommendation is to see a dr. when you can.

RE: Seizures? Nerve Damage? or something else?

Submitted by seeker2 on Tue, 2004-06-29 - 00:02
The advice given so far in this message thread is good.You should see your doctor and get checked out.Until then read -as advised by others all you can.There are some great articles on this site.Might not relate to damage done by drugs,but worth reading all the same as they give insight and are always useful to read through so that you can pass the knowledge onto others who just one day may experience what you have,and want to share their own experiences.Going crazy isn't the way to go....So please? Get yourself checked out and read up until then all you can.Note your symptoms,and then take a list or whatever you have documented-even your own posts upon here if you can print them out with you and discuss the way you feel with who treats you for your condition up to now and in the future.Is there any possibility that you could have some form of therapy that maybe would help in reducing the anxiety levels for you and helping you through this difficult period and allow you to express how you feel in a safe secure environment?Failing that a good friend you can talk to?As always the advice is to make a note of the side -effects as well of your meds and check them out as well to ensure they are not adding to your problems.Good luck with this and keep us posted.

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