I know that this sounds REALLY weird...but, every night for about the past 3 months, when I try to go to sleep initially, or after awakening, I have what feels like little shocks or zaps in my brain/head. When I close my eyes, I see a flash of light and hear a weird sound in my head. Anyone have this? It is really scary...almost like I stuck my brain into an electrical outlet or something...
[ 12-05-2010, 01:15 AM: Message edited by: triathletelymie ]
Posted by applewine (Member # 26220) on :
I have had electric shocks in my ears. Feels like an ice pick stabs you or electric shocks. This is probably the nerves being pinched or interfered with. I don't get it anymore, but I get numbness below my eyes. I think it was from a bad posture in bed. Are you sure it is not from around your ears? I once had an electric transdermal anti-inflamitory applied to my face for the TMJ pain and I would see flashes of light. This can be caused from the nerves in your face.
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
No, I don't think so...it seems like it is coming from my head/brain...and it only happens when I try to fall asleep...never when I am awake or when I am sleeping...
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Your brain's NMDA excitatory receptors are trying to party. This is actually very common with lyme. Treatment will help.
Magnesium, Fish oil and Turmeric are supplements that will help the most, too.
Liver support: be sure that is in place as toxicity is what irritates the NMDA party guys.
Adrenal support, too, really helps to calm down an overactive system when it needs to start relaxing.
Be sure all electronics in your room are unplugged. Be sure no cell phone charger is anywhere close to you - even on the other side of the wall.
Alarm clock (if you have to have one) should be across the room (far from your head) and the light of that is best as RED, no other color. If it is, you can cover the face of the clock but not the air vents. We really don't need to know the time, most of the time, anyway. A regular quartz watch on the nightstand is better than the alarm clock.
Avoid TV and computer for the hour or two before bedtime and even start dimming the lights then, too. This helps your brain start to settle down. Gentle yoga stretches and soothing music will help, too. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Support suggestions in post above are addressed in links at this previous thread of yours:
These are known to cause brain zaps..Ive had then for 2-3 years or so.
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
Thanks, guys!
James - No, 'never took them (although my LLMD prescribed some)!
Keebler - Thanks, as always, for the info. Interesting...as I have my cell phone charging right next to the bed...'will have to move that! How about a nightlight...it that a problem too? Good grief...this is scary...'sounds like something out of "A Clockwork Orange"...or something! You said that it gets better with treatment, though, right? Does it completely go away? And...I hate to be totally ignorant, but what is NMDA? And, yes, I take Mg...400 mg a day and my LLMD just doubled it to 800 mg a day.
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
Oh...and Keebler...I take fish oil too...sorry...forgot to mention that...
Posted by IckyTicky (Member # 21466) on :
Yep... this actually started for me after I got rebitten (reinfected) 7 years ago. I thought it was the Effexor I was on doing it (and it may have played a part) I would get what I called "brain zaps", especially when I was laying down or moving my eyes. I also saw light flashes. I was so scared, i thought I was dying! Not long after that I experienced racing heart... 160 bpm for no reason. Hospital would drug test me, and when it came back neg. they sent me home. Ugh! It got better on it's own until 2 years later after a hysterectomy and then a traumatic tooth extraction... then the brain started again with even worse light flashes, tremor, vibrating etc. Got better once I found out I had LD and started tx.
Posted by orrn (Member # 6672) on :
I have had this too. It is a very odd sensation. I am also on Effexor and it feels like what happens if I miss a pill. That's the only other time I have had this feeling. I also have had the racing heart rate. I didn't relate the two until now when I read this post. Strange... At least I'm not alone, not that I would wish this on anyone.
orrn
Posted by cordor (Member # 9449) on :
I am on zoloft (have been for 10+ years) and this zapping happens to me also if I miss 1-2 days of Zoloft. It is a very disturbing feeling and it is definately in the "brain region".
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
Very glad you found your way onto lymenet, triathletelymie. You'll learn an awful lot!
It's a comforting feeling to know you don't experience things alone, that there are others who understand. Healing, really.
Posted by Lauralyme (Member # 15021) on :
I've had this alot. For me it's an indicator of how toxic I am and that I need to detox more aggressively.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
. . . Many use the phrase "a vibration in my head". . . .
=======================
Be sure to avoid even a trace of aspartame or MSG. Google for all their names. -
Posted by joysie (Member # 11063) on :
I had these zaps, almost like electric shocks, when I was trying to fall asleep. They were my most frightening symptom and ruined my sleep as each one would set my adrenalin flowing.
They went away after bart treatment (Rifampin). Good luck Kris
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
Thanks 17 Hens! You're right! It is comforting to know when symptoms are not just unique to you!
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
Joysie - Yes...it happens to me when I try to fall asleep as well...no other times. And...'REALLY glad to hear that they went away with treatment! I am not on Rifampin but, hopefully, these other meds that I am on will do the trick! Thanks again!
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
Laura - I guess I need to detox more! Thanks!
Posted by D Bergy (Member # 9984) on :
I believe that these type of nervous system problems are often from nerve damage either from the bacteria itself, or the destruction of the bacteria.
My wife has been having nerve damage related trouble lately, and I am pretty sure it is from a lot of die off of Lyme and Bartonella.
Her legs are weak, and were not before. She gets electrical shock feelings in her legs.
I am going to focus on nerve repair at this time. I have some Coconut Oil, and I am going to have her consume it to help rebuild the nerve tissue.
That is the conclusion I have come to, but it could be wrong.
Dan
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I have a symptom where when I lay down at night it feels like an electrical current running through my body. Thats the best way I can explain it.
Antibiotics did not help this, although they have helped with many of my other symptoms. Since starting a mood stabilizer this symptom has gotten much better.
I think once the nervous system and or brain is involved, you have to treat that as a separate issue. The ketes get in the brain and screw up the electrical system. It can be reset with the right medication.
Posted by MDW005 (Member # 22706) on :
Triathet.. wheew long name! I have the same problems at night ....What keebler said.. works for me. take care.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Electrolyte replacements helped me. They make mixes for vomiting and diarrhea that work.
Your brains has millions of synapses firing and when you kill kete infected cells---they are not going to fire right.
I also did the B12 IM shots, and epsom soaks.
Posted by arkiehinny (Member # 26546) on :
I've had these same sensations before I ever had Lyme. But now the weirdness is intensified! I even find myself experiencing mild delusions as I fall asleep, or try to. I think I may be in a tunnel or a rose garden floating. It's the strangest thing. Then I'm really convinced that I'm actually dying. A very odd thing for sure.
Posted by Tgym (Member # 23638) on :
About 2 years after I first got sick I began to
get them. They happen mostly at night just
before falling asleep and when waking up in the
middle of the night. When I wake up early in
the morning I would get them for 2 hours or so.
About 4 to 5 pm each evening when my brain
would start to wind down and get tired I would
get them. Sometimes they would last all night
and sometimes they would go away. I would have
them for months at a time and then they would go
away for months.
The last 2 years they have been mild and
infrequent but when I did 2 weeks of IV abx
recently they came back hard. I assuming this
to be a herx reaction.
The docs prescribed me zoloft years ago which to
me was poison. I was so sick on the drug and
didn't realize it was making my symptoms ten
times worse. In the end I was dizzy everyday.
My doc sent me to a cardiologist who ran every
test on me. When they came came back negative
and he was about to send me out the door I
happened to mention I was on zoloft and he said
that may be the problem. I went off the zoloft
and the brain zaps for the next few weeks were
like sticking your finger into a socket.
Absolute misery. I talked to my doc about them
and he knew nothing about this side affect even
though every message board on the net knew about
them.
I googled every version of "brain zaps,
neurological disease" I could think of for years
to try to figure out what was wrong with me. It
took me a very long time before I figured out
they might be caused by Lyme. You are the first
I have heard of this happening to and it is
reassuring to know that others have had them as
well and they have gone away.
Great info on what is actually happening Keebler. Thanks.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
I had 'em bad for awhile. Sometimes a thought would...zaaap..be Gone, to be replaced with another ("channel-switching") Part & parcel of Lyme neuroborreliosis. I personally think it's the brain equivalent of muscle twitches... & the 'ketes & toxins they give off are at the root of it.
Hopefully, your treatment does, or will include, (a) drug(s) that cross the blood/brain barrier well, like Flagyl.
It'll diminish (get better). Hang in there.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
Quote: "[my doctor] knew nothing about this side affect even though every message board on the net knew about them."
You don't say! If I had a nickle for every pc of medical info that was accepted medical knowledge, which these "specialists" I was sent to hadn't heard of, i could retire to the Bahamas. Posted by Brandimc (Member # 22017) on :
Ohhhh, yes, I get these BAD! I am so relieved that I'm not the only one. I would describe Brain Zaps to my family and they looked at me like i was crazy. During my first herx, they would happen when trying to sleep. Sometimes 20 times a night. I even had a couple of seizures they got so bad. When the herx got better a couple of months later, they went away. So, I know that it was related to the toxins and bug load. Now they are back, but I have them all throughout the day, not just night time. It's very frightening and frustrating. I'm hoping they will go away soon.
Posted by troutscout (Member # 3121) on :
I think these are more of a bartonella reaction...why?
I got em real bad when I was on Levaquin for sinus issues (in the beginning) and the zaps were as bad as getting hit with a defibulator just as I would fall asleep at night....very bad.....very bad.
They went away with treatment and...figuring what the exact position my neck had to be in when I fell asleep each night.
Strong magnesium and something I found last fall might help also... I'll PM you on that.
Good Luck..... I actually advise Tri-Athlete's on nutrition. Funny. ;-)
Trout Posted by Lex (Member # 22860) on :
Brain zaps -- they happen mostly when I'm computer or listening to THE OFFICE on t.v. Too many sudden changes in location -- also new cell phone tower went up not far from here. I now sleep in a canopy www.lessemf.com Posted by dali (Member # 24458) on :
I had this for only one night. It was a terrible experience. Every time I fell asleep I got a shock running from my head to feed and my arms and legs would jump/flop really high. It was literally like getting electroshock.
I had been prescribed requip for restless legs and I took 1 pill that night. I got absolutely no sleep as I shocked and jerked through the night.
I stopped taking immediately and luckily have not had that experience again. Neurologist, as expected, could not explain it as he said it should have made me drowsy and sleepy.
There is something that gets out of balance in the brain due to this bug... we all have to take care of ourselves; from reading this I see the nervous system seems to get out of balance very easily.
Blessings-
Posted by Cyndy (Member # 26693) on :
I have the zaps too. Told the neuro about it and he said you're not suppose to hear it or feel it. Well I do.
They don't know because they don't have it happen to them.
I think we need to take a bunch of infected ticks and let them loose in all dr offices around the country. Then I bet we would get some help.
awh...just kidding....wouldn't do that to anybody.
Another thing I feel is as I am waking up I feel like from my head to my toe an energy going out from my body and my body feels like it needs to follow it. Very unnerving..Haven't had it happen though since on IV rocephin. Hope it's gone.
Posted by Cass A (Member # 11134) on :
My husband gets something where he has flashing lights in his eyes. He found out it's called an optical migraine. What works for him is about 300 mg of B 1, and the flashing goes away.
Best,
Cass A
Posted by troutscout (Member # 3121) on :
I can't stress what I PM'd you enough....
Cell communication...
Our Mitochondria use sugars to produce ATP/energy... during that process they also produce reactive molecules (these have two category types) These ions are essential in keeping your basic chemical makeup balance in check.
Our bodies are 70% saline solution...for a reason, we are run on chemical electrical charges. Those charges are carried by reactive molecules that are called redox messenger's and those messenger's are what the ATP by-product are.
Now remember we also have two basic reactions that MUST happen when we have an immune response, first is the -Oxidation/Inflammation Response when our bodies first see damage or cellular stress. Secondly- Anti-Oxidation/Inflammatory Reduction....or commonly known as the repair period. These immune responses are LITERALLY turned on by the second set of redox messenger's produced by your Mitochondria during ATP synthesis.
This is baseline chemical fact when it comes to our nervous system and immune system to running themselves, ie: baseline.
So, when we age...our mitochondria start make less energy and redox messenger's. As time goes on that means we can't stop oxidation or start and finish our immune response as well and it also means that your chemical electrical charge from cell to cell isn't functioning as well and we start to age faster....
Throw a disease like Lyme into the mix and guess what happens....MAJOR Mitochondrial Dysfunction.....MAJOR>
1)Less energy 2)Less control of the immune response/higher toxin load (in fact your anti-oxidants can't reduce oxidants without redox messenger's, ie: full blown oxidation no matter how many anti-oxidants you take) 3) Less cell to cell communication, ie: your cells can't talk...that includes your synapses because that is electro-chemical charging
So....the baseline to all healing and chemical balance is....
Reactive Molecules/Redox Messengers
It's not surprising that we would have neuro-toxic shocks from Lyme....not at all.
Posted by maps (Member # 19758) on :
I have had lyme (unknown) for probably twenty years.
At one point during the course of these years the area at the side of my left knee went numb, never asked a doctor as would forget.
about 6 years ago I started to get the brain zaps. I had a lot of neuro symptoms, fatigue and brain fog. Last year a head mri showed severe whit matter disease (dymlination).
Months after starting treatment the area on my leg suddenly started having what I call fork lightning pain, sensation has come back to that area although I still get some lightning strikes.
I stopped getting the brain zaps but 10 months into treatment I now suffer very badly with a toothache like pain which starts in my head and then trough my whole body, if you have every had a toothache you know how unbearable it can be.
My belief is that the nerves are coming back to life. I am sure not all of them can but so much of the sensory loss that I had is coming back.
I was interested about effexor etc., as when they thought this was all depression they tried a whole basket of meds over a four year period.
I have just started taking the supplements Dr.B recommends in his guidlines, I should have done this months ago, I am hoping that this will help with the nerve pain.
If you do get these zaps I would highly recommend support for your nerves.
Posted by marine2783 (Member # 24982) on :
I get these brain zaps too!! Its not all to often, but there in my ears and behind my eyes. It feels like iv'e been shocked pretty dang bad when it happens. It's really a strange thing and scares the heck out of me.
Posted by missing (Member # 22437) on :
TONS!
It only started though, when I started on Mepron.
Now they are all gone.
It was very weird! and tough to explain!
Posted by lymeboy (Member # 24769) on :
I get them when I herx. I HATE it. Such a terrible feeling
Posted by DJP (Member # 5893) on :
Hey T, It's me again and I did have those electrical zaps. It kind of made me laught because I just remember that feeling like your brain was...out of know where..being shocked. Like the cartoon you see of someone sticking their finger in a electrical outlet! Glad to report that symptoms went away as well! Deb
Posted by jeffinca11 (Member # 25584) on :
This happens when I am trying to fall asleep, everytime. I think the term is called "Hypnic Jerk".
Basically, your body thinks you are dying when you are falling asleep so it sends a *strong* electric current to some part of your body and it's "jerks" you awake.
I get it in my arms, shoulders and neck. It's the worst.
It could be myoclonus as well. Def. neuro related. The flashing lights as well, I see them when I close my eyes.
Wish I had some advice how to make it better. I agree with the poster who said that not watching tv, staying off the computer, putting the cellphone away before you sleep, etc...all help.
When I am "zapped", it sucks. I get the worst headache if it's my neck that is whiplashed.
Posted by surfnjm (Member # 29296) on :
Yes I get them! Always on my left side.
for a long time it was my only symptom! was convinced I was convinced I had a tumor, but a CT and 2 MRI's later.
I still have those shocks alnog with daily gastro problems, back pain, shoulder and neck pain and near fainting spells
man how I long for the days of just getting shocks!hahaha
I also used to do Triathlon, last one was Philly olympic in 2009. I can barely run 2 miles now. SUCKS!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
I get that too and the way i explain it is that the bugs are moving inside the nerves... So it's not in the brain but the cranial nerves... I wonder what tretament can get rid of that though...
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
When I was sicker, I was constantly being shocked with "Static electricity". I would touch things, and ZAP...
You get the point. It's come to my attention that their is a biochemical reason for this, but whether or not it's actually "true" -- I don't know.
Posted by Toboein (Member # 22635) on :
I swear i did not make this up!
Exploding head syndrome is a condition that causes the sufferer occasionally to experience a tremendously loud noise as originating from within his or her own head, usually described as the sound of an explosion, roar, gunshot, loud voices or screams, a ringing noise, or the sound of electrical arcing (buzzing).
This noise usually occurs within an hour or two of falling asleep, but is not necessarily the result of a dream and can happen while awake as well.[1] While the sound is perceived as extremely loud, it is usually not accompanied by pain. Attacks appear to change in number over time, with several attacks occurring in a space of days or weeks followed by months of remission. Sufferers often feel a sense of fear and anxiety after an attack, accompanied by elevated heart rate. Attacks are also often accompanied by perceived flashes of light (when perceived on their own, known as a "visual sleep start") or difficulty in breathing. The condition is also known as "auditory sleep starts". It is not thought to be dangerous,[1] although it is sometimes distressing to experience. Sufferers may experience an inability to vocalize any sound, or mild forms of sleep paralysis during an attack
The cause of the exploding head syndrome (EHS) is not known, though some physicians have reported a correlation with stress or extreme fatigue. The condition may develop at any time during life and women suffer from it slightly more often than men.[citation needed] Attacks can be one-time events, or can recur.
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
Up
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Wow experienced this 20 minutes ago. As I was falling asleep my brain "zapped" as you guys described and I felt like I had been electrocuted.
Any sort of insulin/blood sugar connection?
I did have cookies earlier and got tired a few hours after lol
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Thanks!
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