Since my stroke almost 3 1/2 years ago I have been getting what I can only describe as electric shock sensations, in my head. They usually go from one side of my head to the other & last no more than a second or 2. They generally happen at night, although not exclusively, & whilst they are a nuisance they don’t particularly bother me any more.
On Friday night however I had one of these shocks but this time it went from the top of head to the bottom & was significantly more intense than a usual one. I felt like it had split my head in half & it made me shout out. It really frightened me. I had been feeling a bit ropey all day & had gone to bed early. I was fatigued as I had been out for a meal on the Thurs night after work and guess it was related to that. Thankfully I had the day off on Friday.
On Saturday I got up & felt really really rough & this lasted all day. I felt as bad as I did when I had my stroke - the words I used to my husband was I feel absolutely awful. I don’t know if it was related to this event in my head or whether it was purely fatigue related & completely coincidental.
Sunday I felt a bit better but my head still felt woozy. But at least I didn’t feel like I was going to collapse all day. I am off work this week so will be resting up.
Thats a long winded way of me asking if anyone else gets these electric shock type things & what they think causes it? I did mention them to my stroke consultant once but he just looked at me like I had gone mad. Maybe I have
Hope you all have a lovely sunny week. The forecast is looking good in Shropshire.
Brain zaps Ann, I’ve had them for donkeys years, since my early 30s, probably about half a dozen or so in a year. Usually they happen at bedtime. But I’ve never queried or tried to figure out why I get them on occasion.
I’ve never queried them and from what I’ve read up on the internet, there can any number of reasons why you get them - over tired, coming off certain medications, run down, stressed, etc etc etc, all the usual suspects.
On this same subject, no electric shocks but sometimes I jump out of my skin, I literally jump, if there is a sudden noise like the doorbell ringing, my phone pinging or a sudden loud sound on the television. I’m somehow hyper-sensitive but it is out of proportion to the amount of sound.
It feels very out of place but it happens often enough nevertheless.
The article suggests the main cause is coming off antidepressants & I know this can’t be the reason in my case as i have never taken them. It does also say about tiredness and tinnitus & as I have both those in bucket loads I am guessing that’s the reason for mine.
Usually they don’t worry me although I would rather not have them. I get multiple ones most nights.
At least I know it isn’t just me - not that I want anyone to have them.
@Bobbi Aww Thank you Bobbi. I do feel a bit better today. Steadily improving & gave been taking it easy sitting in the garden with my book today.
That jping out of your skin thing I have too. Very out of proportion to the noise that happened. I often joke with my hubby that his phone ringing will be the death of me. He is hard of hearing so has it turned up very loud but even if he is the opposite end pf the house I still jump out of my skin. I think the stroke does increase our sensitivities in some things.
Hope you get an opportunity to get out on your scooter whilst the sun is shining.
Yes, I’ve never been on antidepressants either and I was young, fit and healthy, not any form of medication, not even contraception, never drink alcohol, go figure . Like I said, I never got to the bottom of what caused them. I do have tinnitus, but I’ve had most my life, so I can’t really put it down to that.
As for that article is just one of dozens on the internet all saying much the same thing. But to be honest I don’t think anyone truly knows or understands what triggers them. I can’t be the only one who’s never mentioned it a doctor so it’s really no wonder they don’t know much, if anything about them.
There are a number of theories for that one, if it’s only as you are dropping to sleep at night. That’s the time most people experience that experience that, even my kids know that one. And one theory for it is the brain sending an electrical shockwave throughout your body as a way to double check you just falling asleep and actually dying
But other can things can also cause this, insomnia definitely, alcohol, too much caffeine, certain meds such as morphine or co-codamol. I’ve had to use both those meds in the past and hate them for the side they have on me, I try to just stick with paracetamol. And I definitely get that hyper-sensitivity when I’m overtired or ill.
I was scooting around in the supermarket today. Hilary kept shooting a jealous glance at me giving me the feeling she might leave me sat on the floor as she takes over and disappears at speed around aisles and through the shoppers.
I have plans to get to the beach again. I’ll take the rollator. I don’t think sand will have a good effect on the scooter.
I put mine down to my stroke as that’s when they started along with my tinnitus & many other symptoms. Maybe coincidental but who knows. They are very strange but not really bothersome any more. I would happily be without them though
Sounds like you might need a tandem scooter if you want to avoid being left on the supermarket floor i hope she made up for the jealous looks by letting you choose the cakes or biscuits
Your rollator at the beach might be more practical than the scooter. You could maybe ask the local council to put monility scooter access on the beach they have this is Majorca where I like to holiday occasionally & it makes a world of difference to those of us who struggle with mobility.
The bit of beach I am visiting is frequently covered by sea water so it never completely dries out and is quite firm under foot. My rollator has chunky wheels so I think it will be okay. My next beach visit will be to find out how things are.
I believe the local council do have some wheel chairs with huge balloon tyres but I think they have to be booked and need someone to push them.
They are pretty disability savvy. In partnership with the National trust they give blue badge holders free parking places compared with the usual £10 charge.
They also have a wooden walkway over the sand hills which gives easy solid access for wheel chairs, push chairs and the disabled right onto the beach.
Hi Mrs K
I have had the electric shocks! I get them every time a sneeze. The other reason this seems to happen was when I went without Antidepressants for a week and they started about 2 days later. I hope this is helpful to you x
Hi Lynne, thanks you. It seems comibg off anti depressants can be a cause of them. It must be weird having them when you sneeze.
I’m relieved they seem to becquite common although I wouldn’t wish them on anyone. I know initially I thought there was something verybwrong in my head but after a while I realised nothing untoward was happening so I just got used to them.
Hi, I also had a stroke over 3 years ago and I also get electric shock feeling in my head and neck especially when it’s cold, I also give other people electric shocks. I’ve mentioned it to consultants who don’t seem that concerned about it but it is annoying.
I often get shocks from touching things. I wonder if the 2 are related. My consultant just thought I was mad but reassuring to hear your consultant wasn’t concerned.
. Like I said, I never got to the bottom of what caused them. I do have tinnitus, but I’ve had most my life, so I can’t really put it down to that.
i hope she made up for the jealous looks by letting you choose the cakes or biscuits 
they have this is Majorca where I like to holiday occasionally & it makes a world of difference to those of us who struggle with mobility.