Hi, I’m 22 years old and from Nova Scotia, Canada.

Mid-September 2022, I got hit in the head with a sports ball while at work. I also have a history of multiple concussions. However, following this hit I begun to have daily migraines and was hit with extreme fatigue.

October 4th, 2022 was when I started to become worried about my symptoms and went to the ER for the first time. I had begun experiencing facial drooping, photosensitivity, and uncontrollable twitching of my right eye. A CT scan was performed to rule out a stroke and I was given pain meds.

The CT scan ruled out a stroke, therefore I thought the scan came back completely normal.

A few days later, I begun to have bouts of seizure-like activity (eyes would roll upwards and extreme pain was felt around my right eye), alongside muscle spasms and back and neck pain. In addition to these symptoms, it felt like I had a raging sinus infection - increased pressure in head, ear (felt full of fluid or clogged), and increased tension in my jaw on the right side.

Another trip to the ER resulted in a diagnosis of psychogenic seizures. This discovery was made after the doctor went over my list of medications, one in particular that I take to help manage PTSD.

I was prescribed Propranolol to prevent migraines and help with heart palpitations. However, my symptoms continued to progress.

Over the next couple of months, I begun to experience numbing and tingling sensations in my right arm and leg - it become so bad that the right side of my body would become temporarily paralyzed.

Each time a new symptom developed I would go back to the doctor only to be told that there was nothing they could do but suggest I go to therapy (which I already had been doing).

May 2023 I lost my ability to speak and it became increasingly challenging to swallow. I was told this was due to a lot of tension surrounding my vocal cords. I went without speaking for 2 months, relying on charade moves and technology to communicate. I was admitted to hospital from July 28th-August 16th 2023 due to an episode of ventricular tachycardia. During admission, I was then put on amitriptyline to help combat the migraines.

While the medications helped with the pain associated with the migraines, my other symptoms continued to occur.

More recently, I was experiencing periods where my heart rate was rising from 68 bpm to 175 bpm. The ER doctor mentioned that it is possible that I may have POTS, so he increased my dosage of Propranolol.

2 weeks ago, after expressing how debilitating my symptoms have been and continue to be with my family doctor, I asked him to go over my previous test results with me. It was then over a year and a half later that I learned that I have an arachnoid cyst super-lateral to the optic chiasm, to the left.

Turns out, I have a family history of cysts on the brain. I also learned from research that head injuries and Covid-19 can have an impact on arachnoid cysts.

For the past year, I have been continuously shut down from further investigation of my condition and told that it was all psychological. I don’t believe this to be the case.

This has impacted my ability to work, my ability to attend university, as well as my social life. I feel as though I am sleeping away my life; I’m like a walking zombie 24/7. I want my life back.

Has anyone experienced anything like this before? And if so, I would be greatly appreciative to hear how you manage these symptoms or who you sought out for help.

Thank you! 🙂