stroke? doctors arent sure

[Lost]

Approximately 10 months ago, I awoke with a strange stiffness/tightness sensation in my head. Not at all present the night before, this newly developed pressure enveloped my entire head -- it was most prominent in the forehead, the sides and in the upper neck region. Accompanying the physical sensation was one of mental stupor. I felt vapid -- I could not concentrate, focus or rationalize clearly. At first, I associated the pressure and mental malaise with a common cold -- I felt as if I was comming down with something (my nose was running) and that I would recover quickly -- however the feeling has persisted. I have trouble thinking, speaking, and seeing straight ...I feel as if I am in the twighlight zone since I cannot comprehend my surroundings or interact with people. Anxiety attacks, memory loss, are frequent as is a tingling sensation which shifts from my head to face to my extremities. I was a heavy drug user (ecstasy and cocaine) in the past for approx. 2 years but I do not understand how drugs could provoke this literal overnight change....especially since the transformation did not immediately occur after a binge period (it occurred about a week later). I am at my wits end..I have seen about 10 doctors (allergists, general practitioners, and neurologists)and explained to them my situation. I have had an EEG,a CAT scan, and an MRI. They have found nothing. They continually allude to the idea that my problem is purely psychological and that it was not a stroke. However i beg to differ isnce my symptoms are reminiscent of those accompanying a stroke. I have been prescribed numerous forms of medication. The most recent ones have been Valproic acid and I am now on Nortripyline and something else. These drugs do virtually nothing. Does anyone know what my problem is or have any suggestions for medication??? I cannot go on living like this. I am acutely aware of my inability to function in reality and i cant do anything about it...please help .

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PS. I am aware that I made a horrendous mistake by doing drugs in the past. I would appreciate it if you would refrain from chastising me..it only worsens the situation. I need some form of hope and guidance..

[LisaWh]

Hello
I am sorry to hear of what you have to go through. Does this activity happen all day long? Does it come and go, or was it just a one time thing? Did any DR.'s find any swelling of your brain in your head exam's? I am curios to know. I have a friend who had the same thing occur. She was also under the same situation with the same type of chemical usage. Her problems were from excessive swelling of the brain, due to a poisoning within a substance she had used. Have your symptoms cleared up yet, or do they still occur from time to time? Please let me know what your DR.s told you. Thanks

[Lost]

My doctors still have not yet found any definitive proof of brain damage.

Although I currently experience the same symptoms, they have been alleviated slightly since beginning paxil -- periodically, evanescent moments of clarity will overwhelm me, but once these fleeting moments end, I am again "lost," stricken with pain, anxiety, and depression.

Because there is a pattern here -- because the mental malaise is no longer "constant," this signifies to me that a permanent physiological change did not occurr -- rather, a profound psychological one, provoked by drugs, transformed me into a different individual.

with each passing day, i make progress....

I will let paxil continue its attempt to rectify my dilemma.. In the event that I cannot completely resurface in my original pool of normality, I will request that more highly specific tests be performed to pinpoint the source of the problem.

--lost