head trauma in past,feelings of blacking out,seeing things,voices

[Nitsuj242]

Hello, I was wondering if I could get some insight and advice on what I should do and what I should get done. I was born with mild brain damage due to low oxygen levels.Through out my life it's always been a struggle with tons of mental health problems.Throughout the rest of my life i've been hit in the head alot. I've recently just developed a reoccurring headache in my right temple(i've been hit there before too), my leg will randomly kick and i'll get an electric like jolt that will run through it, i've hallucinated, heard voices when I was falling asleep and seen bright blue flashes of light while I was awake. How should I address this to check for anuerysms or what ever else may be going on? What all could these symptoms be so I can know what to have the Dr. look for? What are the diseases that can cause hallucinations? Thank you very much for reading. I've been very desperate and i'm suffering badly with many issues. Your guidance,advice and help will be valued beyond explanation.

[Nitsuj242]

Thank you so much Dr. Newey,
                                               Your response is greatly valued and appreciated as well as very helpful. Yes, I do suffer from extreme anxiety and am suffering from a brain injury as well as being hit in the head on multiple occasions. Yes there are hallucinations as well as auditory hallucinations they always seem to come and go. It seems to only happen when I am right about to fall asleep(the auditory hallucinations). Again,it comes and goes. I've been awakened twice by a demonic voice saying F you Jesus as well as one telling me I was dying of heart failure. I was beyond unsettled. As of today I was falling asleep and kept hearing a "popping" type of sound that was very unsettling. It scared me and had me thinking something in my head popped or busted like a artery or something. It was very scary. One earlier occasion I actually suffered from that "exploding head syndrome" where you hear a super loud gunshot in your head right as you are falling asleep due to sleep deprivation. So you are saying that it could very well be the brain injury and head trauma causing this as well as my anxiety? Thank you and I will seek to see a neurologist or a Dr. in my area to be evaluated when I can.

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to obtain a history from you and examine you, I can not comment on a formal diagnosis or treatment plan for your symptoms. However, I will try to provide you with some information regarding this matter.

First of all, if you are hearing voices and having visual hallucinations, you need to go to the emergency room ASAP and be evaluated for psychiatric intervention.

Regarding head trauma, there are multiple grading scales for concussion. The American Academy of Neurology scale is graded on a scale of 1 to 3, where grade 3 has any loss of consciousness. Grade 2 is with any symptoms lasting more than 15 minutes. If there is any loss of consciousness or alteration in mentation or neurological deficit, labeling the injury as traumatic brain injury would also be appropriate.  

There are many post-concussive symptoms including headache, dizziness, memory challenges, difficulties with concentration, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and increased or decrease in sleep.  

Anxiety is a psychological and physiological condition with a multitude of symptoms. They include heart palpitations, muscle tension, fatigue, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, headaches, and GI symptoms such as diarrhea to name a few. Anxiety can also be accompanied with panic attacks such as a feeling of impending doom or death.

These are just a few of the possibilities. Again, you should have your psychiatric symptoms evaluated. Also, you need to discuss your concerns with your primary care physician for further evaluation and management.

Thank you for using the forum, I hope you find this information useful, good luck.

[Nitsuj242]

Also my face,cheeks, and eyes keep spasming.My main concern is also tons of chest pain, stomach pain,left arm pain, neck pain and again the random bouts of about blacking out. It seems I get very sleepy all of a sudden and then I have to fight to stay concious. I also suffer from anxiety.