Covid and PTSD / NEADs

[Denise1968]

My son in law has PTSD and non epileptic attack disorder. He's got covid atm and is experiencing increased symptoms such as hallucinations and tremors, has any anyone else on here had increased neurological symptoms with covid infection. I'm just worried that the virus may have infected his brain. I've advised my daughter to ring 111

[AlteredWorld]

Hello Denise1968

I don't know if this is of any use as I haven't had covid yet... but my PTSD and FND combined [non-epileptic epilepsy with my FND] don't help when I have a severe PTSD episode. Just those two alone, if I can't calm my PTSD down myself, will send me into 'alternative realities'.

Once I've triggered into this heightened state, my tremors will affect me more, in turn ramping up the 'alternate world hysteria within me. I don't need covid's help on this at all.

Not all of my PTSD episodes are this bad, but when they are it can be for days not just hours if I'm stuck in the loop. I have Fibromyalgia as well and my newly acquired diabetes means sugar sends my brain crazy too - all of this ramps it up over the edge if I, or my partner don't see it coming.

The only cure for ramped up PTSD is hours of 'love' and 'care'. This doesn't need to be vocalised, sometimes a hug [for hours] is all I can cope with and all that's needed. If talking is required, for me, I need to feel safe, that I'm going to be ok and that someone else has 'got me' to take the pressure off.

To me, with all my symptoms - it sounds like your son-in-law may be in a PTSD loop, the sort he would not normally make visible in public, but because he has covid - he has nowhere to hide, and in turn, publicly being this far gone...will also ramp up the symptoms.

PTSD is a hot mess, it doesn't need much when a body is in turmoil to ramp it up further. Yes, he may have a brain infection, maybe check it out - but to me - from only my own experience, it sounds like he needs to feel safe, not be asked any questions and just tucked up and comfy with no demands on his brain. This is the first time on this site that I have thought this description is where a ptsd episode is too far gone and yes, he seems crazy ... but it sounds like it's the ptsd episodes we fear having in public. The ones we hope no-one ever sees.

I'm not a Doctor or a medical professional, so I feel awkward saying what I have, it's not medical advice. But it does sound like a never-ending hug is in order and no questions.

[Denise1968 in reply to AlteredWorld]

Hi, thanks for your very comprehensive reply and for sharing your personal experience. I do think this is what is happening with my son in law too but I've advised my daughter to make contact with his doctor just in case. He is in a loving safe environment with my daughter and their 12 week old baby boy Oliver who he adores, there was a bit of an episode with Oliver the other day as he was unwell too so this probably hasn't helped. I don't have PTSD myself but had a traumatic childhood and have vaccine triggered fnd which only causes me issues when I'm unwell so guess this could be a similar thing. The mind is a powerful thing isn't it. Happy New year to you 🤗

[AlteredWorld in reply to Denise1968]

The mind is a powerful thing and can be very deceptive at the same time. We don't yet have all the answers for what it is capable of, nor how it reacts to outside influences.

Kindness, caring, love and security are the main factors in relieving trauma... cos none of these things are involved in creating the trauma, and without them - PTSD normally emerges.

Your son-in-law is lucky you have some understanding of triggers and stressors, and yes, his new born being ill would add to any angst. Happy New Year to you as well.

With love and care, things can calm down. This will apply to you too in your times of FND crisis. 💜

[Willothewisp81]

Hi Denise1968,

when I had Covid I expereinced extreme night terrors which included hallucinations once I was awake, it was very intense and would take a long time for me to come back to reality. They continued after I recovered but less frequently over time, I still occasionally experince the odd one now and then.

I also experienced dementialike symptoms which was much more extreme than my FND foggy brain. My Husband who does not have FND also expereinced this and was terrified as he has never expereinced anything like it. I did experience tremors but I had this mildly already with FND.

I also have PTSD so there may be a link I'm not sure.

We did lots of reading into Covid from the research coming out of countries ahead of us (we had Covid in the first wave) and discovered that the dementialike symptoms and hullucinations were thought to be linked to the lymphatic system of the brain (scientists only discovered that the brain has alympathic system in 2015), as Covid attacks the lympathic system in a more extreme way than most viruses and therefore affects our entire system, which is why some people have very wide ranging symptoms.

We found that supporting our lymphatic system through drinking massive amounts of water, eating lympathic draining food and increasing our VitD, C and zinc made a huge difference to these symptomsand our recovery.

I really hope your son in law is ok and that his symptoms decrease soon. x

[AlteredWorld in reply to Willothewisp81]

Hello Willothewisp81

This is very interesting stuff, not having had covid yet, I am feeling a bit more prepared after reading this. Thank you for sharing 💜

[Denise1968 in reply to Willothewisp81]

Thanks for your reply. Very interesting about the brain having a lymphatic system. He is still unwell but recovering and hasn't needed any medical intervention but the doctor was monitoring him just in case

[thinkin]

Hi,

Histamine and other proteins that our bodies make when we are ill or injured are neurotransmitters. They found increased levels of a neurotransmitter called glutamate in the brains of people with FND. The importance of this becomes clear when you realise that histamine as a neurotransmitter regulates other neurotransmitters and although glutamate isn't on that list, acetylcholine is. This is significant because glutamate is co-released with acetylcholine.

We also produce histamine when we are stressed, hence FND becoming worse for some in stressful situations, the added attention adds to this and it can be a vicious cycle. We don't produce histamine when we are asleep and suffer no or far fewer symptoms when we are asleep. Nobody seems to have investigated why the brains of FND sufferers react this way to histamine - at least I can't find anything looking in scholarly articles.

There is the field of psychoneuroimmunology = PNI, but they don't seem to know yet how COVID is affecting people neurologically. There are people developing FND after COVID - most commonly FND seizures and tics and long covid is thought to be functional neurological symptoms. It has been known to have negative effects on people with FND and they don't yet know why it is causing this either.

Personally I get worse with every infection I get. Thankfully I do pick up, but it can take a while. Hopefully he will pick up again soon, but do seek further medical advice. It must be frightening and stressful. Get any support you can. If you are having trouble with getting the right treatment try FND Hope as the have a patient advocacy service.

I hope this helps. xx

[Denise1968 in reply to thinkin]

Thanks for your reply. Very interesting. He is recovering slowly and other than his doctor monitoring him he hasn't needed any medical intervention. Happy New year to you 💞

[padraig34]

Hi I too, had a vaccine reaction I am sure but did not report it and neither did they

I also live in UK Sunderland

I am 63

I thought I was OK for 15 years after many surgeries but now I am back in the rut and cannot get any relief

recently went to the Philippines to meet someone but I became angry at everyone.

Just made people unhappy

'I am sure its depression because I feel lousy all the time and cannot sleep.

i fact lack of sleep and anxiety were my initial symptoms after the vaccine.

I am assuming it was the vaccine O have no proof

I keep looking for a solution but cannot find one

I live alone.

I am very lonely

Never bothered me before

It does now

[Denise1968 in reply to padraig34]

Sorry to hear about your reaction. It can cause cognitive issues. Depression and such like. Yes it can be lonely on your own if you don't have a support network around you. I live alone but I work so I see people daily and I have grown up kids. Is there anyone you can confide in?