My Struggle with Severe Tics Affecting My Health
I am living with a tic disorder, having received a formal diagnosis of ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and OCD, among others. However, today I want to share a particular challenge I’ve been facing recently. A new tic has emerged that inflicts significant discomfort, rendering me unable to drive. The issue lies with my eyes. They protrude and move rapidly in various directions, causing intense pain. The muscles surrounding my eyes contract and twitch, leading to considerable distress. I feel like my eyes are swelling, and my head is throbbing as a result. Currently, I am on a regimen that includes Sertraline and Guanfacine, primarily for ADHD, with Guanfacine also being used off-label for managing my tics. Recently, I experienced heart palpitations coupled with some chest pain, which prompted me to discontinue these medications. My doctor advised that I should stop if any adverse reactions occurred, so I followed that guidance. As I avoid treatment, my tics are worsening day by day. On particularly challenging days, the severity of these tics can temporarily impair my vision in one eye, reducing my sight to merely a faint blur. What should I do next?
Answers (1)
2/17/2026, 6:00:51 AM
OpenHealth AI
I'm truly sorry to hear about the significant challenges you're facing with your tics and the impact they're having on your daily life, including driving and your overall comfort. It’s important to address both the discomfort from the tics as well as the other concerning symptoms you have experienced, like heart palpitations and blurred vision.
Main Points:
- Addressing Current Symptoms: Focus on managing discomfort and tics while ensuring your safety.
- Monitoring Your Health: Keep track of any new symptoms and changes.
- Reassessing Treatment Options: Consider future discussions with healthcare professionals about alternative treatments.
Explanation:
Your experience with new tics, especially those causing eye discomfort and affecting your vision, is understandably distressing. The fact that you've stopped your medications due to side effects is important; however, untreated tics can indeed worsen. Heart palpitations and chest pain are concerning symptoms and should be monitored closely.
Next Steps:
-
Symptom Management: Until you can seek further medical advice, consider trying relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness. These may help reduce overall tension, which can sometimes lessen tic severity.
-
Document Your Symptoms: Keep a detailed record of your tics' frequency, severity, and any new symptoms (like blurred vision or pain). This information can be vital for future discussions with healthcare providers.
-
Limit Stress Triggers: Identify and minimize exposure to stressors that may exacerbate your tics, such as loud environments, excessive screen time, or multitasking.
-
Consult a Specialist: While I can't recommend specific healthcare consultations, it's crucial to discuss these compounded symptoms (tics along with anxiety about driving and heart-related concerns) with a neurologist or psychiatrist who understands tic disorders. They can evaluate your symptoms and potentially suggest alternative treatments or therapies that may be safer and more effective.
-
Safety First: If you feel your symptoms significantly impair your ability to drive or perform daily activities safely, it may be best to refrain from driving until you have better control over your symptoms and have discussed this with your healthcare provider.
It's important to prioritize your health and comfort. You are not alone in dealing with these challenges, and seeking support is a strong step towards finding relief. Please keep me updated on your progress or if you have any more questions.
Related Questions
Seeking Insight on Recent Health Concerns
Greetings, everyone! This is my inaugural post on Reddit, and I find it necessary to address a serious matter. I'm a 19-year-old woman experiencing convulsions in my mid-abdomen and middle back that have persisted for the last three to five days. I initially dismissed it as my own tendency to be dramatic, but the issue shows no signs of resolving. Additionally, I've noted a decline in my memory over the past several days, potentially extending to weeks or months. I’ve dealt with anorexia nervosa for over a year, but I’ve made significant progress and currently maintain a healthy body mass index. However, I've also struggled with generalized anxiety disorder since I was 11. Lately, my anxiety has skyrocketed, and I'm starting to feel the physical repercussions. Though I’ve been in therapy for several months, I regret to say that my discussions have made my counselor uncomfortable—something I completely understand, given the sensitive nature of the topic, and I feel genuinely distressed about this. On a side note, I've increased my physical activity, including sit-ups, walking, and biking, so I am curious if these convulsions could be related to muscle spasms. If that is the case, why are they specifically concentrated in my torso? I welcome any suggestions or feedback, and please let me know if more details are required. Thank you!
Struggles with Unexplained LUP Discomfort: Seeking Guidance
I'm reaching out for help due to mounting frustration with my health situation. I’m a 31-year-old Caucasian woman with a complicated medical history. Here are some potentially relevant details: - At 16, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and have been taking Diane 35 ever since. - I received a lupus diagnosis (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE) at 18. For a decade, I was treated with plaquenil, but due to the inactivity of my lupus, I was taken off the medication, and I haven’t experienced any major issues since. - My mother had a sizeable fibroid, weighing 5 kg, that was only discovered during unrelated surgery. - There’s a family history of endometriosis. - I have a history of a noticeably enlarged spleen tracked over several years. Currently, I’m dealing with a sense of fullness and discomfort specifically in my left upper quadrant (LUP). It feels tender to the touch and causes pain when I cough or bear down, with some of the discomfort radiating to my left shoulder. Lying on my right side makes my abdomen feel particularly tight, whereas I sense tenderness when on my left. I'm quite active, especially in leg presses, which reveal a peculiar sensation – a firm object on the left side of my abdomen that isn’t mirrored on the right when I add weight. This sensation has recurred multiple times, often intensifying to the point of needing emergency care. Alongside this, I frequently experience nausea and bouts of severe vomiting. I've had regular blood tests, and generally, my levels remain stable; however, my C-reactive protein (CRP) is consistently elevated between 14 mg/L and 25 mg/L. My antinuclear antibody (ANA) tests have shown positivity in the past, but my current readings are negative. Over the years, I’ve undergone various abdominal ultrasounds in search of answers. My spleen was measured at 110 ml six years ago and 114 ml this week, showing no signs of enlargement. No abnormalities were detected in these ultrasounds, and there were no indications of any hernias. I have yet to undergo an MRI focused on my abdomen, and it has been a while since I’ve had imaging of my reproductive organs. Frustration is setting in as I seek a proper diagnosis so I can explore treatment options. Whenever my symptoms flare, it impacts my ability to stay active, hampers my athletic aspirations, and even disrupts my sleep. Yet my primary care physician seems uncertain of how to proceed. I’m seeking advice on potential next steps or suggestions for specialists to consult. I’ve noticed that whenever my blood tests and ultrasounds yield normal results, I hit a dead end with my healthcare providers, receiving either general referrals that are costly and lengthy or an unclear sense of being abandoned in pursuing my health concerns.
Capsule Endoscopy Surprise: 8 Years Later
A 25-year-old woman underwent a capsule endoscopy back in 2018. To her astonishment, the imaging results showed that the capsule still appeared on X-rays conducted in 2019 and 2021, and it remains visible in 2026. She had previously presumed that the device had naturally passed through her system since 2021. However, she recently discovered its lingering presence while preparing for an MRI that necessitated an X-ray. Due to this situation, a CT scan has now been scheduled instead of the MRI she originally intended to have. After gathering information, she learned that medical professionals are hesitant to remove the capsule, citing that it has not caused any complications. Still, she is determined to have it extracted. Has anyone else experienced a similar situation?
Understanding DVT and Apixaban Treatment
I'm a 40-year-old male, weighing 120kg and standing at 127cm. I'm Caucasian, do not smoke, and consume alcohol infrequently. I don't have any known family history of health issues. Hello doctors, Yesterday afternoon, I started experiencing significant soreness in my calf. About three weeks ago, I sustained a sprain in my midfoot along with an avulsion fracture of the cuboid bone, for which I was advised to use a cam boot. Initially, I followed the RICER method for two weeks, elevating my foot most of the time and only wearing the boot while walking. However, over the past two to three days, I've had to keep the boot on for the majority of the day because I was unable to elevate it. Today, I visited a small, understaffed local hospital to have my calf examined. It was discovered that I have a 10cm blood clot in my calf region, but thankfully the area above my knee is unaffected. The first doctor I saw had to leave for an emergency before he could prescribe my medication. Another physician stepped in, but their English wasn’t very clear, and I felt quite hurried during the consultation. I've received proper dosage instructions from the pharmacy, but I would like to know if there are any important considerations I should keep in mind. Specifically, what are the risks of serious bleeding while taking apixaban? I've been prescribed apixaban for three months at a dosage of two 5mg tablets twice daily for the first week, followed by one tablet daily thereafter. Are there any additional steps I can take to assist in managing the clot?
What’s Going On With My Hand?
Hey there! I’m a 28-year-old trans man and I’ve been experiencing some unusual changes in my right hand over the past few months. It appears to be a bit swollen and puffy, and the color of my knuckles and fingers seems off. The swelling intensifies when I engage in activities like cleaning, but I’ve been noticing this persistently for quite some time. My left hand does exhibit similar symptoms occasionally, but they are much milder and less frequent. I’ve tried using fingertip-less compression gloves for relief, but they tend to cause more swelling in my fingers instead. I’m eager to hear any thoughts or theories about what might be happening to my hand. I appreciate your insights! For context, I have been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and prediabetes, and I suspect I might have fibromyalgia. Additionally, I have ADHD. My current medication regimen includes Creons, Trikafta, duloxetine, atomoxetine, and testosterone injections.