Seven Neurological Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
Symptoms Provide Information And Warnings
Just before I turned forty, I blamed the neurological symptoms I was having on women’s issues such as hormonal fluctuations and perimenopause (I’m not in perimenopause).
I also blamed these neurological symptoms on the genetic condition I live with, known as 22Q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. November is 22Q awareness month, and I’ll be talking about this disorder as much as I can.
These neurological symptoms have become a major interference in my daily (and nightly) life.
A year ago, I discovered from an MRI that I have an adenoma pressing on my Pituitary Gland.
The Pituitary Gland is part of your endocrine system and regulates growth, hormone regulation, and body temperature. Other functions of the Pituitary Gland include regulating metabolism and responses to stress and trauma.
The adenoma was the culprit behind the hot flashes, cold sweats, and other various neurological symptoms I was dealing with.
These are the seven neurological symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore.
Headaches That Feel Different
One of the first neurological symptoms I experienced was a headache. The behavior of my headaches shifted as this Pituitary Gland came on the scene.
My headaches used to begin with ease, but now, they are intense the second they occur. I’ll be sitting at a table with family members or friends, and all of a sudden, it feels like a little gremlin in my brain just hit my head with a sledgehammer, and I’m done for the day.
Headaches that suddenly occur with extreme intensity are a classic sign of a Pituitary Adenoma. Though adenomas are typically benign, in rare cases, they can bleed internally. That hasn’t happened with mine yet, at least, I hope it hasn’t.
Frequent Lightheadedness
Lightheadedness is another classic neurological symptom of a Pituitary Adenoma. I started having lightheadedness while eating meals, and now I experience lightheadedness three or four times a day.
If you experience episodes of lightheadedness, don’t ignore that. Symptoms are information and alert us that it’s time for medical testing.
Nightly Vivid Dreams and Nightmares
Six months ago, I started having nightly vivid dreams and nightmares that were interfering with my REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. I blamed these constant interferences on hormonal fluctuations and ageing.
If you’re having dreams and nightmares every time you’re sleeping, that means something is pressing on the Hypothalamus part of your brain.
I believe my adenoma could be pressing on that structure of my brain. The Hypothalamus regulates body temperature, hunger/thirtst, sleep-wake cycles, the autonomic nervous system, the endocrine system, emotions, and stress.
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Now that this adenoma is affecting my sleep and multiple body systems, it has to go.
Vision Disturbances
The first vision disturbances I dealt with were blurred vision and double vision. I blamed my vision issues on ageing and hormonal shifts.
I also started having kaleidoscope vision, which accompanied a headache, though not every time.
Exhaustion That Is Worse Than Fatigue
Exhaustion and fatigue aren’t the same. The kind of exhaustion I’ve been having is making me nod off here and there throughout the day. Yesterday, I was in my kitchen and literally fell asleep on my counter.
Exhaustion feels worse and more intense than general fatigue. My eyes feel heavy almost all the time, and as the day goes on, this extreme tiredness is impossible to ignore.
Depression (That Doesn’t Feel Right)
When I started having depression, it didn’t feel right. It felt discordant, like I shouldn’t be depressed. Everything in my life is in order, and I am content with everything despite my health.
This adenoma, I believe, is responsible for this weird depression I’ve been feeling for the past six months. Constant sleep interruptions can cause depression and exacerbate anxiety.
The Things You Love Doing Seem More Difficult
I’m an artist and writer. Always have been. Lately, creating art and writing have become more challenging. Writing is more challenging because of this Pituitary Adenoma that I hope I can get rid of.
That’s one reason I got back to blogging: I want to exercise my brain. I’m also focusing on creating something every day and pursuing a new hobby.
Concluding Thoughts
If you’re dealing with any of the neurological symptoms I listed in this article, don’t ignore them. As someone with a genetic condition, I must undergo medical evaluations regularly, like every six months.
Ignoring these symptoms won’t help, and they won’t just go away. They will become more intense over time.
This week, on the fifth, I will have a brain MRI to see what my Pituitary Adenoma is doing. I may also have a sleep disorder, which I hope isn’t the case. I’m exploring these possibilities so I can get adequate treatment.
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