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Hi, I’m Trying To Shed Some Light On A Distracting
Question: Hi,
I’m trying to shed some light on a distracting tingling sensation that’s been occurring at various places in my head.
HISTORY
3 months ago I underwent a relatively extreme amount of stress, including:
- Non-stop fatigue for about a month
- turns out heat was the cause (my A/C was going off while I was sleeping)
- A significant life changing event … not important what it was, but I ended up overexerting myself during it’s course
- Continued a 8 month tapering off of the klonopin I’d been prescribed for 9 years prior. From 9 years ago till 8 months ago I was on 2mg a day, then slowly tapered down to 0.25m.
For the last 3 weeks, I’ve not been in any stressful situation (except for this issue, ironically).
I’m currently on:
- 45 mg of Mirtazapine (relatively high dose, but I’ve been taking it for over a year)
- 0.5 mg of klonopin (been on 2mg dose for 7 years then titrated off)
- 25 mg anafranil (very low dose, been taking it for over a year,)
SYMPTOMS
About 2 months ago, I started feeling a throbbing, tingling sensation at various parts of my head, including:
- Forehead
- *Right* above my nose.
- My right temple.
Other symptoms:
My teeth are chattering, even though I’m not cold or sick - cursory research here leads me to believe the issue could be neurological.
Shooting pains in my fingers.
*What helps, and what makes it worse*
WHAT HELPS
- Taking off my glasses relieves the tingling sensation right above my nose (the glasses aren’t too tight ).
- Chewing gum occasionally helps.
- Working out helps
- Most significantly - Last week, the tingling became so strong it really stressed me out, so - I increased the klonopin I was taking to 0.5mg… and the throbbing/head sensations all but went away :)
WHAT MAKES IT WORSE
- Putting a warm towel over my head triggers the tingling (at the barbers)
- Laying on my side at night.
- Working hard (not physical work, but mental work)
DIAGNOSTICS
Based on the above section, I think it may be neurological or related to damage to blood vessels in my head (maybe caused by stress).
I had a CT scan - and the doctor didn’t find anything wrong (as per the scan)...
I’m trying to shed some light on a distracting tingling sensation that’s been occurring at various places in my head.
HISTORY
3 months ago I underwent a relatively extreme amount of stress, including:
- Non-stop fatigue for about a month
- turns out heat was the cause (my A/C was going off while I was sleeping)
- A significant life changing event … not important what it was, but I ended up overexerting myself during it’s course
- Continued a 8 month tapering off of the klonopin I’d been prescribed for 9 years prior. From 9 years ago till 8 months ago I was on 2mg a day, then slowly tapered down to 0.25m.
For the last 3 weeks, I’ve not been in any stressful situation (except for this issue, ironically).
I’m currently on:
- 45 mg of Mirtazapine (relatively high dose, but I’ve been taking it for over a year)
- 0.5 mg of klonopin (been on 2mg dose for 7 years then titrated off)
- 25 mg anafranil (very low dose, been taking it for over a year,)
SYMPTOMS
About 2 months ago, I started feeling a throbbing, tingling sensation at various parts of my head, including:
- Forehead
- *Right* above my nose.
- My right temple.
Other symptoms:
My teeth are chattering, even though I’m not cold or sick - cursory research here leads me to believe the issue could be neurological.
Shooting pains in my fingers.
*What helps, and what makes it worse*
WHAT HELPS
- Taking off my glasses relieves the tingling sensation right above my nose (the glasses aren’t too tight ).
- Chewing gum occasionally helps.
- Working out helps
- Most significantly - Last week, the tingling became so strong it really stressed me out, so - I increased the klonopin I was taking to 0.5mg… and the throbbing/head sensations all but went away :)
WHAT MAKES IT WORSE
- Putting a warm towel over my head triggers the tingling (at the barbers)
- Laying on my side at night.
- Working hard (not physical work, but mental work)
DIAGNOSTICS
Based on the above section, I think it may be neurological or related to damage to blood vessels in my head (maybe caused by stress).
I had a CT scan - and the doctor didn’t find anything wrong (as per the scan)...
Brief Answer:
Neurological condition seems unlikely. Neurologist evaluation needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor " service.
I have read your query and here is my advice.
It would be easier to give you a more comprehensive answer if you had a brain MRI instead of CT that showed no problems.
Chances for your condition to be a true neurological are very minimal.
In this direction multiple sclerosis may have been considered.
For this purpose ( even to exclude it) I think that you should see your Neurologist and get evaluated by him.
After this evaluation by the Neurologist, if he also does exclude anything neurological, your symptoms are caused by stress, or by adverse effects of drugs.
There is not a typical condition that may be linked to vessels damage.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Neurological condition seems unlikely. Neurologist evaluation needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor " service.
I have read your query and here is my advice.
It would be easier to give you a more comprehensive answer if you had a brain MRI instead of CT that showed no problems.
Chances for your condition to be a true neurological are very minimal.
In this direction multiple sclerosis may have been considered.
For this purpose ( even to exclude it) I think that you should see your Neurologist and get evaluated by him.
After this evaluation by the Neurologist, if he also does exclude anything neurological, your symptoms are caused by stress, or by adverse effects of drugs.
There is not a typical condition that may be linked to vessels damage.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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