MetaChat - Exploding Head Syndrome, I Haz It

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13 February 2009

Exploding Head Syndrome, I Haz It A tale of surreal neurology...
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One night, only a few years ago, I was sleeping peacefully, dreaming of sugar plums or some such nonsense. Suddenly, I was jolted awake by the very vivid and LOUD sound of a car crashing into the side of my house! After a few moments of groggy analysis, I decided it must have been something outside, like a car door slam or near by fender bender.

A few nights later it happened again, only this time I thought it was an explosion, like the hot water heater blowing up.

This continued for about a year. Each time it happened, I was jarred a wake by a very audible and very LOUD noise and a sensation of impact or force, like a shockwave or falling sensation. Sometimes it was like plunging into water, sometimes it was like being hit in the head. It was never specifically painful, just "stunning" and alarming. I was concerned that I was having a stroke or seizure, or worse yet I was about to live out some weird horror movie scenario where these episodes were signs of possession, alien abductions or undead, levitating, long haired Asian teens on a vengeance bender.

My doctor had no idea what I was going on about. Then again, he's the same doctor who told my my legs were going numb because I had "carpal tunnel in my feet". WTF?? A month later I found out I had multiple sclerosis.

At some point I came across the wikipedia entry on Exploding Head Syndrome. I was astounded. Who knew!? And it's not just me! Thanks Interwebs!

About a year after this started, it started happening when I was awake, but with more dire consequences. I would suddenly hear a whooshing noise, see stars, let out a loud gasp, and pitch forward onto the ground. It was like being hit in the back of the head with a 2x4, but without the pain. This persisted in its acute form for about 6 months. It still happens today, but not as bad or as frequently.

My neurologist thinks it's caused by my MS, that maybe one of the lesions in my brain is triggering these attacks. At any rate, it's just a weird experience I thought I would share, because I myself am fascinated by weird experiential or perceptual phenomena, like synesthesia.

post by: evilcupcakes at: 15:04 | 10 comments

Jeebus.

posted by trinity8-director 13 February | 15:13

Wow, that sounds mystical. Like back in the day, before modern science identified all these neurological disorders, I wonder if a lot of legends and wizardry were manifestations of stuff like this. I mean, if you were hauling a bundle of kindling out of the woods and suddenly felt as if you'd been hit with a board, and you saw some old man's hut close by, you might say he was up to some mystical shit. Or a curse.

I know this is a rather flip take on something serious, but I can't help it. Plus, it doesn't seem like you'll take offense, so I don't know why I'm typing this disclaimer.

posted by Hugh Janus 13 February | 15:14

When my blood pressure is really high, I hear a loud, distinct swooshing sound when I turn my head. None of my docs had heard that one but none were surprised by it either, nor even a bit curious.

I guess for them, some days work is work and they don't want to deal with weird shit. The normal shit is bad enough.

posted by Ardiril 13 February | 15:17

Plus, it doesn't seem like you'll take offense

Haha, no, I don't take it too seriously. The fact that it's called "EXPLODING HEAD SYNDROME" is hysterical to me, because it sounds like the kind of thing that only *I* would get. I can totally see someone thinking something like this is "witchcraft". Like I said, for a while I was starting to entertain the thought that it had some sinister mystical origin.

posted by evilcupcakes 13 February | 15:54

You should immediately listen to the RadioLab episode "Diagnosis." (Bonus fun: "Who Am I?")

posted by mykescipark 13 February | 16:26

Oooh, I love Radiolab. I have heard the E. Frowner one, but I will check out the rest. Thanks!

posted by evilcupcakes 13 February | 16:36

There were a couple of questions about this on AskMe not too long ago. I agree that the name of the condition is brilliant. If only everything was named so truthfully -- IBS could be "Exploding Ass Syndrome", for example.

posted by loiseau 13 February | 18:45

The name is hysterical, but man, that's gotta be disconcerting.

posted by deborah 13 February | 20:57

the same doctor who told my my legs were going numb because I had "carpal tunnel in my feet". WTF?? A month later I found out I had multiple sclerosis.

And you still return to this doctor?

I read the askme about this and agree that the name is all kinds of awesome, however the condition itself sounds absolutely horrendous. I'm startled (but not all that surprised) to hear that in your case at least there may be a link with MS.

The most disconcerting MS symptom I've had would happen in the car. I'd park and turn off he ignition and start to get out of the car, when all of a sudden I would SWEAR the car was rolling. I fall back into the seat and clutch at the handbreak, which of course is safely on and the car isn't going anywhere. Often this would happen with someone else in the car, and they never felt it, so I knew I was either nuts or this was the MS messing with me. I've spoken to someone else with MS who also gets this.

I'm also fascinated by synesthesia. I reckon some manifestations of that could be downright useful. Why can't I have the ability to visualise a 3D colour coded calendar, or to paint sounds?
Stupid brain.

posted by goshling 14 February | 04:48

My husband and I both experienced this in our old house but kind of associated it with other, um, strange happenings on that property.

I was unhappy when it happened in our new house and was very glad to find it's a common enough phenomenon to have a name. I woke up to what sounded like a shotgun blast on the other side of the bedroom wall. The dogs were still in dreamland so I knew it was just me, but I still got up to look. Here's the recent mf thread and the axme.

posted by auntbunny 15 February | 00:30

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