Brain zaps?

[Eddy Edson]

This probably isn't D-related but just checking ...

Ever since I was a kid I've had very infrequent episodes which feel kind of like short, intense currents of electricity through my brain & flowing to other parts of the bod. Out of the blue, last just for a second, no noticeable after effects, I think not apparent to anybody else, strange more than unpleasant. Sometimes seems to be triggered by swivelling head suddenly for whatever reason.

Before today, the last one was years ago. Today I had a sudden episode while standing at the kitchen bench chopping veges. A couple of zaps through the brain; my vision seemed to kind of snow-crash and then quickly reboot; no after effects & not noticeable to anybody else. (Nothing like a hypo seizure, I think, which it definitely wasn't.)

The Internet tells me of what sounds like similar effects from antidepressant withdrawal, not at issue here, and maybe some party-drug abuse, also not at issue (unless it can reach forward thru many years...)

Just one of those things? I guess I should mention it to the doc when I see him in a few weeks.

 

[Pamela Giddings]

I've had neck problems in the past and physiotherapy. It's sounds like insufficient supply of circulation/nerve relay messages. This is caused by constriction of neck vertebrae by muscle or skeletal problems. Sometimes it can cause a "drop attack".

 

[Eddy Edson]

I've had neck problems in the past and physiotherapy. It's sounds like insufficient supply of circulation/nerve relay messages. This is caused by constriction of neck vertebrae by muscle or skeletal problems. Sometimes it can cause a "drop attack".

Thanks for that - I've had a dodgy neck forever so it could certainly have something to do with it.

 

[Flakie]

Do you get any form of shimmering with your vision? My husband gets things like this and was told they were ocular migraines.

 

[Pamela Giddings]

Thanks for that - I've had a dodgy neck forever so it could certainly have something to do with it.

No worries, good luck 🙂

 

[Eddy Edson]

Do you get any form of shimmering with your vision? My husband gets things like this and was told they were ocular migraines.

Don't think it's the same thing - no shimmering or aura & over in a second.

 

[mikeyB]

I agree with Pamela, it’s due the nipping of a nerve or blood vessel. Don’t let it worry you - whatever the cause, it’s not what you might call rapidly fatal, is it?

 

[Eddy Edson]

I agree with Pamela, it’s due the nipping of a nerve or blood vessel. Don’t let it worry you - whatever the cause, it’s not what you might call rapidly fatal, is it?

Thanks! I've come to realise since the diagnosis that it's *possible* I won't live for ever.

I do like being told not to worry about things. My excellent podiatrist just told me I don't have any signs of Charcot foot - they should make her National Podiatrist-in-Chief.

 

[Kothgirl]

This probably isn't D-related but just checking ...

Ever since I was a kid I've had very infrequent episodes which feel kind of like short, intense currents of electricity through my brain & flowing to other parts of the bod. Out of the blue, last just for a second, no noticeable after effects, I think not apparent to anybody else, strange more than unpleasant. Sometimes seems to be triggered by swivelling head suddenly for whatever reason.

Before today, the last one was years ago. Today I had a sudden episode while standing at the kitchen bench chopping veges. A couple of zaps through the brain; my vision seemed to kind of snow-crash and then quickly reboot; no after effects & not noticeable to anybody else. (Nothing like a hypo seizure, I think, which it definitely wasn't.)

The Internet tells me of what sounds like similar effects from antidepressant withdrawal, not at issue here, and maybe some party-drug abuse, also not at issue (unless it can reach forward thru many years...)

Just one of those things? I guess I should mention it to the doc when I see him in a few weeks.

Hi I have this especially at night if I wake up with a low blood sugar or I m unwell with a virus. Brain zaps and sometimes black vision for a second. I am not taking any form of anti depression meds or other meds in that group. The zaps are highly irritating and stop me sleeping or if I wake up with them I feel really disoriented. I m glad I m not the only one experiencino this. Did you get a diagnosi?

 

[Eddy Edson]

Hi I have this especially at night if I wake up with a low blood sugar or I m unwell with a virus. Brain zaps and sometimes black vision for a second. I am not taking any form of anti depression meds or other meds in that group. The zaps are highly irritating and stop me sleeping or if I wake up with them I feel really disoriented. I m glad I m not the only one experiencino this. Did you get a diagnosi?

Sorry to hear this! For me, I decided it was most likely the brief constriction of a blood vessel in the neck as suggested by posters in this thread, so I never followed up with doc. It was always an "oddity" rather than a "problem" for me.

Can only suggest talking with yr doc about it, if you haven't already. Good luck!

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Related but not the same, I occasionally wake up from vivid, but very strange nightmares, and my whole scalp has pins and needles.
I've put that down to a construction of a blood vessel somewhere, but it feels really odd at the time.
Good to realise how common things like this are!