I have this exact same problem. Have you found any solution? I am at my wits end now
I have been following this thread for several months because my husband has been having episodes just like you describe. They used to happen periodically which I just more or less chalked up to him not being able to handle much alcohol any more (maybe physical changes, or different medications, etc.), but, like you, I have watched these things happen right in front of my eyes with no alcohol involved. However, starting about three years ago they began to happen every week and then several times a week. He felt that it was a strange symptom of depression. He had been laid off and suffered a number of difficult life events so it sort made sense. I was going crazy. He was unavailable to me and his two boys for most of the time he was at home. He seemed to be able to hold it together at work, but he could spend an entire weekend in and out of this "mood." It was seriously affecting our lives. Then I described these episodes to my psychologist during one of our sessions hoping he might have some insight. His response surprised me. He said this is NOT a typical response to depression and that we should look to medical causes. Thus began our quest to try to figure out what was going on. We started with our family doctor. I went along to make sure that my husband did not minimize his sypmtoms when talking with the doctor. Like most men my husband saw this as some sort of weakness that he'd rather others not know about. Our family doctor was truly perplexed but we decided in that appointment to pursue at least two possibilities: that it was neurological in nature, or that it might have something to do with sleep apnea which I was convinced he had (my husband wasn't; but I was the one listening to his breathing at night. And he snored as well). Our doctor referred us to a Neurologist and to a sleep disorder doctor called a Pulmonologist. It took almost a year of tests, MRIs, doctor's appointments and sleep studies and this is what we discovered: first he suffers from unusual migraines in which the headache part is minimized but the neurological effects are maximized. I have sometimes seen them called "Migraines with Brainstem Aura," but the neurologist never actually used that term. The neurologist started him on preventative medication. They seem to use antiepileptic medications for migraines. He prescribed Trileptal. It takes a month or two to take affect. I noticed a little bit of a difference, but it didn't seem to solve the problem. Then shortly after he started the migraine medication, he was diagnosed with SEVERE sleep apnea by the pulmonologist. Well, there are many kinds of triggers for migraine: stress (physical and emotional), lack of sleep are among the big ones. Now he has begun using a CPAP machine when he sleeps. It is definitely an adjustment for him and is not yet wearing it the entire night. Nevertheless, I am seeing a difference. The gaps between these episodes are getting longer. The neurologist felt that the medication was helping and he began increasing the dosage and I am seeing more of an impact. I think between finally getting some decent rest and the increased medication he is on his way to a solution. It was huge relief for all of us to finally have some answers. It took a long time. I was so desperate that I didn't let my husband have a choice about seeing the various doctors and I went along to hear what they had to say. In my mind he was either going to cooperate or I was going to be finding a way out of this marriage (and we have married 25 years). So it gave me a certain determination which helped when the going got tough with endless appointments, waiting for results, various set-backs, follow-up appointments, etc. Moreover, he also began to see some benefit and was relieved to find out that it wasn't all his fault. Interestingly I am reading that depression is significant among people who suffer from migraines. I will try to give an update after a few more months .
It is interesting that the symptoms happen in a cycle for 3-6 days. This suggests it could be related to menstruation - as she is 48, has she gone through menopause yet? Could this possibly be menopause related/hormone related? if it is happening on a regular cycle every month then very high likelihood it is hormone related - ask the doctor to check hormone levels, and may need to find a menopause specialist.
Im am a male, 14, on Effexor and lexipro in the morning and Geodon and melatonin in the evening. I have Chronic depression, anxiety and BPD. Last night something happened that is very hard to explain because i remember very little but from what ive heard from my parents i was acting as if i was intoxicated, repeating and slurring speech, getting upset and frustrated and just acting completely out of it. This has never happened before and it quite scared me because i was semi conscious. I will try to explain what i remember: I was very exausted by around 9:00 which usually happens due to the geodon and melatonin kicking in, I must have been also very tired because i had been working on homework since i got home. I remember having a headache so i went into the medicine cabinet and taking a headache relief pill, from what i remember i only took one, i dont at all remember putting the cap on the bottle and returning it to the cabinet or even returning to bed. My mom was in the restroom and my father was in bed so nobody was around to witness me doing this. The next thing i know and started to regain some consciousness was when i found myself in the restroom sitting on the toilet, My entire backside waist down was covered in my own feces and so were my pants that were on the other side of the restroom. This completely baffled me as i tried to make sense of the situation. I took a quick shower to clean myself off and once i was finished i put a towel on and went to go change and go back to bed. My mother and father stopped me at the door of the bathroom and started to ask me a bunch of questions like "What did you take?" "what are you on?" "did you drink anything?", Which are questions im sure any confused parent would ask their child who appears to be under the influence of something. I remember standing there and getting a sensation in my body that has never happened before, I felt very dizzy and lightheaded and my body to myself felt very cool and uncomfortable, i remember trying to tell my parents that i didnt take anything and i didnt do anything. I remember begging them to let me go lay down because of how i was feeling standing there, they wouldent let me because they still wanted answers from me which i myself didnt know the answer to either. I sat there on the bathroom floor, still in a towel, while my father continuously asked me the same questions. I remember trying to explain to him that i didnt do anything and that i didnt know what was going on but apparently i was slurring my words and sometimes speaking jibberish. This all happened at around 10:30 last night. Finally my parents had realized that asking me questions wasnt going anywhere they finally decided to let me go get dressed and lay down in their room. For me, i only know bits and peices of what happend because my consiousness was drifting in and out. I eventually fell asleep. I woke up the next day, which is today friday, Mar 13 2015. I woke up perfectly normal and got ready for school but i still felt a little "off", like i wasnt all there, As i would try to explain it as "fuzzy" or "cloudy". I sat down with my parents and talked to them about the situation and tried to explain to them that i didnt know what was going on. Now they both assume that I had done something like drugs or drank alcohol even though i had absolutely no access to these things whatsoever. They both told me that if it ever happens again that they will call and ambulance and take me to the hospital. Now I am in school typing this off of one of the computers and i still dont feel very good. I wish I could give you more information but i dont have anything else. answers would be appreciated
I suggest that you tell your parents that you'd like to see a doctor as soon as possible (your family doctor if you have one). Tell them that you'd like to discuss this episode with a him/her. At your age you can request to see the doctor alone, unless you want one or both parents with you. You might be able to speak more freely without them. Or, on the other hand, if you invite them into the exam room they may be able to describe to the doctor what they saw. You can also have them in the exam room for just part of the appointment by asking for privacy at any time during the appointment. It's entirely up to you. I am the mother of a 14 year old and when I take him to the doctor for his annual exam they do not assume that I will be in the room with him unless he asks for me to be. And I always respect that. The doctor may refer you to a neurologist. Definitely go to the neurologist if that is the case. I am so sorry that you are going through this. Be determined to get some help. My experience is that because the symptoms can suggest very different conditions you end up needing being referred to a variety specialists. We started with our family doctor and he referred us to a neurologist and a sleep disorder doctor (pulmonologist). It would be smart to inform the doctor who prescribes your medications. Perhaps you could even start with an appointment there. My husband's anti depression meds are managed by a psychiatrist whereas his other medication is prescribed by the family doctor. Good luck!
Did anyone figure out what was going on with this? I have scoured our house for alcohol, and found none. My husband has the same symptoms - like a switch he goes into rapid speech and ranting (arguing for no reason), slurred speech, sometimes falls down or gets very angry. He doesn't stop until he goes to bed and sleeps it off. No violence against me, but I'm always on edge. Would love some advice.
What about low testorone? I am dealing with this as well, and this message board is helping us make a list of things tonconsider for testing at hb's doctor appt next week.
Great thought. We have a doctor's appt on Thursday. Ill post when i know more.
I am dealing with this right this second...my husband is acting drunk, slurring his speech, he has trouble with his balance, forgets everything and starts sentences and forgets what he was saying..I have searched the entire house for alcohol and haven't found anything..I am extemely worried...it seems as if stress tends to exacerbate this..
Hng in there. My husband was diagnosed with Reactive Hypoglycemia which is where his body overreacts (makes too much insulin) when he eats. In the process of ruling out an insulin tumor on the pancreas - but highly unlikely. Be persistent with your doctor....and make them test for blood sugar issues. Good luck.
Has anyone found any concrete diagnosis of this condition?
I have also been searching .. My sister is having this problem . Iam lost as to what is going on .
please help did you find anything? This is getting worse and worse. Iam so worried and the doctors have found nothing. They say seizures for sure but not epileptic . It is happening everyday now . She never fully recovers . She is not a drinker and never has been so i know it is not alcohol . Pease anything?
Just saw this on TV. Something called Autobrewery Syndrome. The body has too much yeast & it ferments. Sounds odd but they said it was something they were just starting to see. The doctors cut out anything with yeast out of the diet. Ask your physician about it.
Yes, no joke - I just saw this on tv myself. Auto Brewery Syndrome. Look it up. The gut ferments yeast into alcohol!