Hello That's my first post.
My very beginning experiments with psychedelics started around 2009.
A few times with seeds containing LSA. Very pleasant experience, zero side effects then.
I would say based on later experiences strength was comparable to 20ug of LSD.
I started microdosing 1P-LSD 12/2017 - 01/2018. Substance was tested with 4 different reagents.
About 1.5h after ingesting 15ug of 1P-LSD, which was a too much to work at computer, I started feeling weird pain at the top of head. It went away after few hours.
After second ingestion of 10ug of 1P-LSD one week later weird, light head pressure stayed with me and I was anxious I did something to my brain. Basically I psychically felt my brain in a different way.
I was stupid enough at this point to continue experimenting with substances.
I ingested 1.5g of dried psilocybe cubensis McKennaii 03/2018.
Trip itself was profoundly beautiful one, no bad trip, anxiety or any unwanted emotions during the experience .. but
I've been having permanent, 24h/7 head pressure since then.
During psylocybin the trip I started feeling sharp pain on the top of head.
I thought it's a stroke, it was very alarming. Apart from that during the trip head pressure went to the roof.
Within next days sharp pain started to come down to the throat and at the end to the right arm. It was painful enough to have problems falling asleep.
Both pain and head pressure stayed with me since then. They've been very, very slowly fading away.
Apart from that zero other symptoms typical for HPPD. No visual distortions, patterns, no snow vision, no anxiety.
I feel my short term memory might be a bit worse and when the pain/pressure gets more intensive makes it difficult to focus.
There are some days when I get bad, painful head pressure out of nothing, then it calms down within 1-2 days.
There are more symptoms than just pressure:
I would describe painful pressure sometimes as a fire fading away to feeling of paralysed/numb area next days/weeks
Sometimes it feels like there is a fluid moving inside brain from side to side
Brain feels poisoned/injured all the time, it intensifies usually in the afternoon. I would compare that to having a hangover, but different
Steps I made to try to get rid of pain/pressure
No effects (in terms of improving pain/pressure):
More excercises
Regular 7-7.5h sleep
Started meditating every day
Better diet
supplementing: lions mane, ginger
CBD a few times
Diazepam two times. Only made me more calm about the symptoms, dit not alter them
Negative effects
THX once, low dose. Head became painful as soon as started giving effects. Painkillers did not help
Drinking alcohol. I'm terrified to drink alcohol as the pain might be worse for long days. Hangover is just a nightmare. Dihydromyricetin (antihangover substance) helps tremendously
Niacin 100mg. Brings pain on top of the head for 1-2 hours
Noopept 35mg with choline. Gives headache until I fall asleep, it's better in the morning
Too much caffeine
Wim Hof breathing. Brings pain and injured-brain like feeling sometimes for more than one day plus tinnitus
Examinations done so far
CT scan. Clear
EEG. Clear
MRI. Clear
I got used to this pain and pressure. I don't even remember what my brain used to feel like. I just know it would be a huge relief to make it normal again.
Pre-experimenting with psychedelics I had zero mood disorders and I don't think there is any now.
Questions for discussion
What else examination might be worth trying?
sleep-deprived EEG?
fMRI?
or maybe just give up searching as it seems pointless? Even if there is something injured it might be at the level not achievable by current medical devices
I read about a lot of cases of head pressure. However these usually came along with HPPD and visual symptoms.
Is it possible head pressure is a side effect other than HPPD, but usually arises with HPPD?