Covid Brain Zaps? Anyone that had Covid experience this?

[tulipsandroses]

Almost 3 weeks since I was diagnosed. The first 2 days I had horrible brain zaps. They went away, came back today. Not a lot of info on this as a symptom.

[Lochloosa]

1. Brain Zaps? Not sure what that is.

[W_HAMILTON]

22. To me, they felt like that sensation where...

... you are just about to fall asleep, but you are jolted awake, like you are falling back into your body or something.

Except you would get that feeling randomly while awake.

[Ocelot II]

2. What's a brain zap?

[CentralMass]

3. What is a brain zap ?

[Glorfindel]

4. I googled brain zap and came up with this (I'd never heard of them before)

"Brain zaps are sensory disturbances that feel like electrical shock sensations in the brain. They can happen when a person decreases or stops using certain medications, particularly antidepressants. Brain zaps are not harmful and will not damage the brain."

I had a very mild case of covid almost a year ago. Never had any brain zaps. I'm sorry you're having to undergo them.

[tulipsandroses]

12. Thanks for posting that. Yes that's an accurate description of what it feels like

Electric shock or multiple rapid “brain freeze”. Brain freeze like when you drink something really cold too fast.

[USALiberal]

5. I have no idea what brain zaps are

[at140]

6. I had loss of balance and fuzzy thinking during covid infection

Also extreme tiredness. Cough non-stop. I got batter fast with only cough lingering for 3 weeks. Could not take deep breaths for 3 weeks.

[Tree Lady]

17. I lost my balance getting up

from bed and slammed into dresser. Sprained a couple of toes. Still sore that was 3 weeks ago.

[at140]

24. The loss of balance results from.....

covid is primarily respiratory infection. And ear canal is connected to throat. The virus gets into ear and causes bad balance because your ears help your balance.

[dweller]

7. Have you reported these symptoms

to your Dr ?
It might be a safe move


✌🏻

[Patterson]

11. Doctors either don't know about them or poo poo them.

[johnnyplankton]

8. Had 'em when I abruptly stopped an antidepressant

Was not a good idea (stopping Abruptly) and BZs persisted for a nearly a year. Hope it's just temporary...

[tulipsandroses]

13. I've had them before during tapering off medication

So this feels exactly like that

[W_HAMILTON]

23. Yes, when I was weaning myself off an anti-depressant...

...to start a new one, I also got brain zaps.

[ecstatic]

9. Did you take a new medication? I experienced what I call squigglies

when I took a new medication a few years back. It didn't hurt but it was weird and unsettling--a lot like a zap or a very tiny spasm sensation. When I stopped the medication, the squigglies eventually stopped as well; however, some of the other issues the medication caused--like panic vomiting, have not been resolved.

[tulipsandroses]

14. No new medication. It started the same time I was diagnosed with Covid

Didn’t stop meds either. I’m happy to hear yours went away. It’s an uncomfortable feeling.

[FakeNoose]

10. I think it's called vertigo or maybe dizziness

It comes and goes, even if you're sitting still and not moving, you have brief sensations of dizziness. When I had them I didn't even know it was a symptom of Covid, I thought I was coming down with a cold, or just tired I guess. It only lasted for a few hours.

But 3 days later I lost my sense of taste and smell, and that's when I knew I had Covid. No temperature, no sore throat, no cough, I wasn't sick at all. But it took about 4 days to get my taste and smell back.

If you search for "vertigo" you'll probably find more info on that.

[tulipsandroses]

15. Thanks for your response.I've had vertigo with ear infections. Brain zaps feel like electric shocks

I’m glad you recovered quickly.

[Bluethroughu]

16. I'm not sure if this would help, but when you get a brain freeze

You are supposed to press your tongue to the roof of your mouth and hold it until it subsides.

Now, I know it's not a real brain freeze but maybe it's effecting the same nerves that cause the brain freeze sensation. Covid may have damaged the nerve and it needs retraining.

It's worth a try.

[tulipsandroses]

18. Thanks for posting that. I will give it a try

Thanks

[Hekate]

19. There have been plenty of reports about neurological effects from COVID, so I am not surprised

Brain fog seems to be common.

All the best in your recovery.

[SheltieLover]

20. Seuzure-like activity?

I'm not a med professional, but I'd get an EEG to rule out.

What triggers this? Foods? Light? Movement?

[W_HAMILTON]

21. Yes, I definitely had them back when I had COVID that first summer.