Pressure in head and ears

 

  Hi,

  My problems started in Dec. 2011 with a lump sensation or sqeezing feeling in my throat.  I went to my primary doctor and he sent me to an ENT that did tests and sent me to a Gastro doctor.  He thought I might have GERD (acid refolx) and put me on 20 mg. of Prilosec even though I did not get heart burn.  Over the next few months I started to develope other symptoms, pain in my calves and joints then I started having ringing in my ears and very vivid dreams.  I also developed numbness in my hands and feet and face. They did many test and found out I had slow swallowing so the GI doctor doubled the dose of Prilosec to 40 mg. because the throat problems did not get any better.  Over the next few weeks I started having muscle twitching all over my body, about a couple hundred a day.  Then over the next six weeks that number rose to about three thousand a day. I then started having major muscle spasms when my arms or legs would just jump on there own when I was sitting or laying down.  Sometimes they would jump four to six inches.  I asked the doctors if it could be the Prilosec and they said no.  I went back to my Primary doctor and they ordered a MRI and sent me to a Neurologist thinking I had ALS or MS.  This scared very much because I am only 44 years old and have three young children, ages 14, 11 and 2 years old and want to be able to raise them a least to young adulthood.  All of this of coarse had me very stressed out and worried and that led to anxiety and panic attacks.  I had an Aunt that died from ALS and a good friend that died from MS the year before and they both died horrible deaths.  Because of this I became stressed thinking about dying that way.  The neurologist did not know what was going on and wanted to put me on some meds.  Two days after seeing the Neurologist I was looking up the side effects of Omeprazole the base drug of Prilosec and got the same results I had gotten before.  Upset stomach, diarrhea.  Then I looked up bad side effects and got all new websites that lead me to discover it was the drug causing most of my symptoms.  So I quit taking the Omeprazole and over three months most of the symptoms stopped.  But then I developed new symptoms  tightness in my shoulders back of neck and chest thought I was having a heart attack.  Ended up in the ER they said it was not my heart they even sent me to a Cardio. Doctor and she said my heart was fine.  They think it is anxiety now.  That was four months ago.  I still have the tightness in my shoulders and back of my neck, it normally starts about halfway through the day or when I feel stressed then my throat starts to tighten up again.  about three weeks ago my vision started acting up like I have pressure in my head behind my right eye.  Now for the last few days I get this pressure in both ears and my vision goes blurry at the same time.  It feels like my head is going to blow up.

When I told this to my wife she justs says she thinks it is caused by anxiety and thinks I need to be put on somthing for anxiety.  I don't want to be labeled as "crazy".  After what I went through last year I think I have some deadly disease every time I feel different.  Does anyone with anxiety have these same symptoms?  Pressure in the head and ears, blurry vision amost feel drunk or dazed.  I'm afraid to go back to the doctors because they might find somthing bad or just tell me I'm crazy.  PLEASE HELP!!  Thanks

Post Edited (tazman2) : 3/18/2013 2:56:07 PM (GMT-6)

Hi tazman and welcome back

...although I am sorry that you are struggling with these symptoms and fears.

It does sound like what you are experiencing currently is anxiety...pretty classic symptoms actually.

Add to the fact that you have a history of anxiety...and have ruled out other major health issues...and you have pretty conclusive evidence.

Have you discussed with your doctor your options? Medication is not the only treatment...and even if it does end up being your choice, by no means labels you as crazy...on the contrary... it shows that you are smart and proactive about your health!

Self-help is another way to go. We have some great ideas in our Resources here (main page, 1st post) I also have some great book I can recommend, just let me know if you are interested.

Keep posting here with us as well. It is really theraputic to talk with others who share similar struggles and understand you. We are here to support!

Talk to you soon,

S.C.

Thanks for the responses it helps me feel better.

Dear Tazman and JPE004,

I'm new here and can totally relate to your symptoms - except for muscle twitches and squeezing lump in throat - I don't have those for the most part.
I have felt the intense pressure in my head that Taz describes, and almost constant popping ears for the past few months. I get dizzy spells from this pressure and blurry vision, and my head feels like it will implode! I thought it was from the medication I started taking in January- Zoloft for panic disorder and severe stomach knots, and rabeprazole for my stomach symptoms - like Taz I had no heartburn but GERD was mistakenly suspected.
However, when I called the Healthline and spoke to a pharmacist she said that pressure in the head is NOT a side effect for those meds.
Funny, when I had similar head symptoms about 12 yrs ago and saw a doctor at a local clinic, he thought it was a sinus allergy to air pollution. I'm pretty sure it's not cause I now live far away from the polluted air...Sooo, I chalk it up to my anxiety.
My employer sent me for a psychiatric assessment and I was diagnosed with both panic disorder and social anxiety disorder.
Like JPE004 I have started CBT and sometimes I just vent to the counsellor for the whole session. Just having someone to listen is helpful. I have felt very isolated at home, after being on sick leave from my job for over a year now. My employer is finally looking at accommodating me to a different type of work - behind the scenes - which is much less problematic for my anxiety. I was working on the front line before and spent a lot of time in the bathroom gagging or throwing up - that's how bad my stomach knots can get!