VSS Ramping up after 9+ years?!
Long time lurker first time poster: 22m and VS since 13-14. Knew the heavy nighttime static coupled with floaters at all times + a more noticeable BFEP was something that felt unique to me as a kid. Was business as usual and completely healthy otherwise, living my life for 9+ years. Would go months with out it even crossing my mind only popping in my head some late nights out, looking at the sky / into the the horizon where static had me questioning my vision.
Seems like my life has been on pause since first week of September. I’m laying out my case to see if anyone can give me some advice moving forward or any shared experiences. The months leading up to sept. were probably the most stressful time of my life. Putting in long weeks at work, mother diagnosed with cancer in may, taking time off from finishing my degree (not looking for any sympathy just hard not to correlate my physical health to the mental stressors)…I started feeling chest tightness/numbness along with parathesia in arms/legs on and off up until that first week of sept. Being at work one day it all hitting me at once with feeling that sense of impending doom, thought I was having a stroke, H-attack, or panic attack, but the feeling has stuck with me for weeks; headpressure/aches, tightness in chest. First ER appearance in my life that night. Chest X-rays and EKG came back clean. Dismissed feeling no better and health anxiety at an all time high. Over the days following I had a debilitating headache/pressure and I found myself right back in the ER next week. Ran though a CT scan and MRI both coming back clean. No diagnose, every doc saying stress anxiety depression. Fast forward to this month and still having 24/7 around the clock brain fog and a head pressure that changes severity.
The first week of this month is when I noticed my VS ramping up to an all time level. A crazy increase in floaters first, then a more pronounced BFEP, new to me photophobia, and static to the point that I’m conscious about it all day. Right when it couldn’t get any worse tinnitus hit up my right ear (High electric pitch buzz for me especially noticeable when quite). At a disbelief everything got this bad this quick. Had my first eye exam after things compounded, perfectly healthy eyes otherwise. Ophthalmologist heard of but not knowledgeable on VS, approved me to connect with a neuro op (who actually is a listed doctor on VS initiative’s site, excited for my first face to face with someone who knows about this nightmare) appointment scheduled in January. Constantly wondering if this everyday head pressure is related worsening VS.
In summary this VS flare is joined with a constant changing severity head pressure/ache still with me everyday now for 2months and a body fatigue with constant tiredness. Also to note I went down the MS/Lyme rabbit hole but blood tests and scans I’ve ran don’t point in that direction. My GP wants me to try Sumatriptan for what he thinks is a migraine (can a migraine be constant for 50+ days? lol). And after meeting with a psychologist I was suggested Lexapro. Never been on any med and super on the fence of trying either especially with conflicting reports of SSRIS/triptans and VS. I truly hope this is all a byproduct of anxiety and depression, and will stabilize with time but that seems to be the wishful thinking in me. Right now my life is a mess. Family just telling me to fight through it. Friends, life, and work obligations are on pause. Use to be sharp thinking, confident, energetic, be able to hold conversations, and love life that’s all at stand still.
Apologies for the long post and thank you if you read to completion. This was semi cathartic to write in the darkest few month span of my life. Any advice, similar experiences or symptoms, if you think this was anx/dep induced, thoughts if I should attempt any of the mentioned meds, or ride it out are greatly appreciated. Props to those of you that make this thread what it is.
Better days ahead 🤞🏻