Caring Mom

[Nicole_Eve]

Hi,
My son has been dealing with anxiety all his life..hes 24yrs old..and im so tired of hearing that its anxiety. If the doctor cannot find the problem then why label it as anxiety. It starts with a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach then it goes to his head..he feels like his head is gonna explode. After this passes, hes drained, he said it feels like he just got high r he took something to slow him down..it scares him so bad he cries. I am so fed up with these doctors that just dont get to the problem. The first thing they wanna do is put him on drugs. Really now cmon? Can someone really care enough to see that this has nothing to do with anxiety. This has taken over his life and he wants to feel normal. He has been to numerous of doctors and had several test and they found nothing wrong. If its an inner ear thing..why cant this be treated? why doesnt it go away after medication is given. Can you at least tell me if its from a birth defect r something. Dont just label it as anxiety. Anybody can get anxiety. He looks like hes in space all the time. like hes million miles away. Please someone can you give me an answer.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How is your son? Are there other symptoms present? What test were done in the past? I agree with the other members of the forum that referral to a neurologist will help rule out seizure disorders and primary headaches such as migraine headache. Congenital issues can be ruled out by additional tests and should have been ruled out already by his pediatrician when he was small. A headache journal or the headache tracker here in the forum may help identify possible triggers that he can avoid. Take care and best regards.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How is your son? Imaging studies such as MRI or CT scan may indeed help determine the underlying cause and to help rule out organic issues as well. Further evaluation by an ENT doctor may help manage any inner ear problems. Aside from prescribed medications, he can also try complementary and alternative medicine including biofeedback therapy and relaxation techniques, to help with his symptoms. Take care and best regards.

[geminigirl1963]

I agree that it does sound a bit like a migraine.  In all of the doctors that he's seen, has he ever been seen by a neurologist or headache specialist?  If he hasn't, I'd definitely suggest he is seen by one.

Has anyone done any scans (CT or MRI) of his head and/or abdomen/chest?  If so, what were the results?  If not, I think that also would be warranted to rule out bleeding in the brain, aneurysms, etc.

Has he found anything in particular that triggers these "events", such as certain foods, lack of sleep, particular life stressors?  Anything that helps more than other things, such as ice on the back of the neck, laying down in a quiet, darkened room?

Does he get any nausea and/or vomiting with these?  Any sensitivity to light or sound?  Any visual auras or disturbances shortly before they happen?

[AnnieBrooke]

Sounds kind of like petit mal seizures, or non-painful migraines.  Have you tried a doctor who specializes in seizure disorders?