Not sure what's causing brain fog, anxiety, hormonal imbalance?

Posted by catcr505 @catcr505, Dec 16, 2020

Hello, I'm Cat, 19 years old. I may be posting in the wrong section but I thought I'd give it a shot. I am at a great weight for my height (154 lb, 5'9") , over all healthy and happy college student currently getting my nursing degree.

In October of 2019, I was standing in my kitchen and suddenly needed to sit down; not like dizziness but I felt very out of it. I figured I had too much coffee and went to sleep. However, I woke up the next morning and still felt that way. The best way to describe it is feeling 'high', everything feels very smooth, dull. Due to the fact that it mimics the effect of being intoxicated, I didn't drive, leave my dorm and ended up having to see a therapist because it was brought with a lot of depression and anxiety. I ended not driving for about 4 months, February 2020.

During that period I was seeing every doctor I could think of and getting every test they recommended from a full physical, blood tests, several thyroid tests as I have Hashimoto's, EKG, lots of therapy and everything was coming back normal. I eventually met with a neurologist who dismissed this as a neurological issue but did mention my Kyleena hormonal IUD I got back in June of 2019. It made sense in my head as my period did normalize in October when this 'brain fog' started and that was the only new thing I had added to my life.

Flash forward to November 4, 2020, I finally got my IUD removed after finding an article on Buzzworthy titled "My Hormonal IUD Ruined A Year Of My Life" . It was the only thing that explained my symptoms to a T, the only difference was a different brand of IUD and I have not experienced any form of disassociation/derealization. I wish I could say things got better after this but they actually got much worse. My symptoms intensified, feeling 'high' seemed to get worse, my anxiety has gotten to the point where all that helps is a .5 mg of Lorazapam and sleeping. I had to quit my job and move back home with my mom because living alone and not being able to leave my house was both impossible and unnecessary when it came to my anxiety.

I understand that this may be a hormonal imbalance and I have been taking the appropriate measures to try to get them back on track by taking my Levothyroxine everyday, for my thyroid, which I always have, Zoloft and Lorazapam to help cope with my current situation, a low dose birth control pill, Magnesium, and Vitamin D3. I have also been eating a low-carb diet and trying to get on an appropriate sleep schedule. Although I feel very out of it all the time, cognitively I feel the same. Nothing has changed in my mobility, my memory is fine; I was able to complete 2 semesters in college with an A,B average and i have not displayed or felt any form of psychosis.

Anyway, is there anyone else who has had an experience similar to this and has gotten through it? Also, is there any form of treatment I could be doing to help rebalance my hormones faster? I know naturally is the way to go but with the amount of anxiety and depression this has brought, it feels impossible to wait 3-4 months to get back to normal, at 19 almost 20, I see much more of myself than living in my bed and dreading the next day ahead. I have considered going on a higher dose birth control that I have used before that did not cause any side effects but is that a good idea?

I appreciate whoever takes the time to read this, I know it's long and confusing. Additionally, if you do share the same story I feel for you and know that everyday is an uphill battle but you're not alone!
Thanks!

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jessnnic1 | @jessnnic1 | Jun 3, 2023

In reply to @terrirussell "Wow you are having a rugged time and a few things come to my mind that..." + (show)

@terrirussell

Wow you are having a rugged time and a few things come to my mind that I have! One is Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which I take Effexor xr for! Life changingly wonderful! I was never actually depressed….but untreated this can LOOK like depression when it is a geneticly inherited disorder! It can feel very much like you are describing adding a possible panic attack or a nervous tic in the eye or arm?…….hives or rashes when stressed……?…..and one or two things you simply can’t tolerate, bridges? Tunnels? Heights? ……are common but I know folks with different ones. It is much more frequently diagnosed properly in women but men have it as well. It’s so very important to get this in check. One of the other issues that came to my mind was another one that is often co morbid w GAD and thats POTS. And you have a lot of flags to indicate getting that one looked at. My version of POTS is simply a rapid pulse, very! And I take 25 of Tenormin for that for decades, and I also experienced some vertigo btw!…nasty stuff vertigo. That may be what you are referring to.!!…..it’s hard to describe. I remember being under a lot of stress more than a few times when it really hit me before Tenormin and Effexor! Never had any of that again. You may notice other family members that as they age become very controlling and bitchy if you alter anything and they don’t handle NO very well at all. Thats what GAD looks like as an other difficult woman….or man…..undiagnosed and treated was what happened to Robin Williams who then developed Parkinsons Lewy Body, just like my mother. So much was learned from his brain study and diaries he left to help others. He was Welsh and so it my mother, so I, as a professional counselor and before that teacher, soaked up every finding. And yes, my family is riddled with it. My two adult children are now both medicated for GAD and finally enjoying a normal happy productive life. My son said he was shocked at the difference it made in his life. He was a tough one to convince.!. If nothing else, this will give you a few things to look at and consider! Don’t let any doctor blow you off! You must be the advocate for yourself and you are so very smart to ask on an open site like this! Bravo to you! I would have loved this possibility at your age!…..God Bless you!!!!

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I have GAD too and am getting treated for it myself. I am scared to take one of the medications so she is trying me on a low dose of propranolol. What a shocker someone who has anxiety being anxious of starting any medications. Like I had posted below I am getting established with a new and different general doctor and I believe things will start happening from there. My mom is currently established with her and she is wonderful. Doesn’t hesitate to refer out when things are out of her realm. I feel like with my slew of symptoms I’ve been having on top of the GAD, which include now edema, due to possible IUD placement, the brain fog, the extreme anxiety even more so than my GAD has ever gave me. Gabapentin is the other medication. I have, in the past, had terrible depression suicidal side effects from medications where before I took them I never did. Medicines in the same class as EFFEXOR. So from everything I have read and the fact that I have chronic migraines, propranolol seems to fit that box. Now I realize I will need to have my kidney function checked, and often. I have already had issues in the past with a kidney stone. But anything to stop the GAD symptoms on top of the other symptoms I’ve been having lately that I feel might lead back to the IUD. Thank you, your post helped.