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#1
Dec 16, 2015, 06:22 AM
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So. I've been having a tough week (finals) and my already constant anxiety has been at roof levels. I had 3 panic attacks this past Friday and 2 felt too close to heart attack symptoms for my liking. Well, right now, I feel both anxious and "high", but the thing that's scaring me is this phantom smell, because it seems like everything mostly says brain tumor or seizures are the cause of it. Now I'm panicking even more. I can't even type straight because my hands are shaking so bad (I'm on my phone).
Thing is, I've had these occasional phantom smells for years. They only started when I had a really bad cold one year. My nose was so messed up, it was like the smell became trapped and stayed until the cold was gone. It's not a bad smell. Sometimes it smells like Fruity Pebbles cereal ( which was what I was eating when I was sick) sometimes it doesn't. What it always has in common is that it's like a "warm" scent. I was a bit congested earlier, but I've never paid attention enough to know if im congested everytime it happens. More often than not, it comes with a sense of elation. But I often have "highs" without the smell (I've never been diagnosed with anything, but I've been suspicious of bipolar for awhile). One more thing I think I should mention. When I was little, I had these weird, nonsensical dreams. Everytime I had them, I woke up feeling nauseated. I don't have them anymore, but the only explanation I've ever seen for those is, again, seizures. But, I had every heart/brain scan you can think of from several doctors and they never said anything about seizures. This was after the dreams, but before the scent inducing cold. If I had epilepsy, wouldn't they have found it? Could this just be stress getting to me again? That's the one thing all my weird episodes have in common throughout my life. Can you get an mri on medicaid? Which I don't have, but can probably get, if I need it... Please help, I'm so scared. |
 Anonymous200325, avlady
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#2
Dec 16, 2015, 06:57 AM
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Hey love, sorry you're in a rough spot.
If you'ver already had brain scans, they would have found a tumor or other abnormality then. It never hurts to go to the doctor and tell them your concerns, though. Not sure if medicaid covers MRIs. Maybe someone who knows will chime in. |
| avlady, obscurity
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 globularrae, obscurity
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#3
Dec 16, 2015, 07:08 AM
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I probably need to go to the doctor anyway, though. It's been forever since I've been. I hope it's just some weird trick my brain is playing on me. |
| avlady
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#4
Dec 16, 2015, 08:19 AM
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i have epelepsy and have medicaid and medicare. i was able to get an mri, but i think you need both medicaid and medicare. if you have another insurance to suppliment medicade then you may be able to get one.good luck
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| obscurity
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| obscurity
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#5
Dec 16, 2015, 10:43 AM
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#6
Dec 17, 2015, 05:50 AM
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Can I ask, when you were diagnosed with epilepsy, did they have to specifically look for it? Or is it something that they'll easily see just from looking at the scans? |
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#7
Dec 17, 2015, 05:58 AM
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I hope your thyroid gets better. 
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#8
Dec 17, 2015, 01:24 PM
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Thanks, love.
right back at ya
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#9
Dec 22, 2015, 12:19 AM
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Stress and lack of sleep are the two biggest seizure triggers. A fever can cause them too.
I don't know if you are having seizures. However some people with epilepsy have normal MRIs and normal EEGs. Most general neurologists are not adequately trained to treat epilepsy. You really need to see an epileptologist at an epilepsy center to be sure. At the very least you should see a neurologist and have an outpatient sleep deprived EEG. It can't prove you don't have seizures, but might show you do, and it's the first thing they check. Some people have seizures similar to what you described and that's all they ever have. Uncontrolled seizures are really bad though because they affect your functioning and quality of life, but even more because they can become more frequent, more severe (including grand mal), and more difficult or impossible to control with meds. I'm just saying that you should be looked at somewhere to find out what is going on. Your local GP or neurologist probably won't be adequate. "Coping With Epilepsy" is a good forum online. |
| obscurity
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#10
Dec 22, 2015, 07:29 PM
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The thing that frustrates me the most (besides my body constantly trying to self destruct) is that these tests sound very expensive. And if I DO have epilepsy, that's going to add another bill with medication and I literally can't afford all of this. I'm in school and have the Pell Grant, which is helping me to survive and I live with my mom, but she sure wouldn't be able to pay for it. I'm in a chronic state of unemployment because everything decent is too far away. And why I'm having such a horrible time getting into fast food or retail is far beyond me. Its so frustrating  I hope there's some dirt cheap insurance out there I can find.Thank you, though. That helps narrow down what I need to do and who to go to. |
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#11
Dec 23, 2015, 11:45 PM
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If you have a pell grant, and aren't earning much you probably qualify for medicaid. Since you are in school, you probably have insurance through your school or mother. For seeing a neurologist and getting meds cost really shouldn't be a huge obstacle, but you need to know what to do. Basically, even with bad insurance or no insurance, you should be able to see a neurologist, get an EEG, and get meds.
Figuring that stuff out is a royal pain, but you have to be persistant. The first thing I would do is go to the health or admissions office at school. They can point you in the right direction. Otherwise make an appointment at social services. You could also try the hospital, they have an office for patient assistance as well as social workers. Let them know about your problem, and that you need seen. If you do end up with a bill, call the hospital or doctor's office and arrange a payment plan. They will usually let you pay as little as $10 a month, or what you can. If you don't have insurance doctors or hospitals will often give you a discount, but you have to ask. It can be as little as half what they ordinarily bill. Drug companies may provide free medication. https://www.pparx.org Most insurance plans provide meds, but you may need a prior authorization. To get brand name (highly advisable for epilepsy) ask your doctor to write "brand name only". There are also discount cards: www.needymeds.org www.familywize.org Let us know how it goes. |
| obscurity
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| obscurity
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#12
Dec 24, 2015, 01:22 AM
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I also feel physically better overall, except for that cold that keeps trying to come back. Probably because I'm on break. I guess I should see a school counselor on stress management, too. I'm still trying to hold onto the hope that its sinus related and the rest is just a weird non seizure stress reaction. If only to keep myself from being up all night with the shakes. I'll tell you how it goes after I get an appointment. Thank you again <3 |
| Walking Man
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#13
Dec 28, 2015, 12:01 AM
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You're welcome! Best wishes!
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This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.|
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