HomeAnswersNeurologysuicideAfter attempting suicide, I have vision issues. Why?

What to do when due to strangulation, vision problems, weak limbs, and cognitive disability are experienced by a person?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Answered by

Dr. Hitesh Kumar

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At September 4, 2022
Reviewed AtOctober 9, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I recently attempted suicide via strangulation around 15 days ago. I have vision problems, reduced cognition, memory problem, considerably reduced problem solving, cannot drive safely, have weak limbs, wobbly legs, and poking pain in my limbs while sleeping. Do you have any input on this? Additionally, my CT scan was unremarkable. All basic neurological testing was normal.

Answered by Dr. Hitesh Kumar

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I would like to know some details about your symptoms:

1) In what manner you tried strangulation? Please elaborate.

2) Were you hanged for some time? If yes, how long?

3) Did you lose consciousness during attempted suicide? If yes, for how long?

4) The mentioned symptoms, such as vision problems, reduced cognition, memory problem, decreased problem-solving, and weak limbs- did these all start after the suicide attempt, or were they present from before? If present before, since when were they present?

5) What neurological testing did you undergo? Please share those reports in the attachment.

6) What is your age?

7) I would like to know your reasons for attempted suicide.

8) Do you consume alcohol or some kind of addictive drug? If yes, please tell me in detail.

7) Are you able to do your daily activities yourself, such as bathing, dressing, going to the toilet, your professional work, money handling, etc., or do you need personal support for doing all those?

8) Do you have any other underlying medical co-morbidity, or are you taking some medications regularly?

9) How is your sleep routine? Do you get sleepy soon after laying in bed? or does it take a long time? Once you get sleepy, do you have frequent awakenings during sleep? Do you feel fresh on awakening from sleep in the morning?

10) How is your usual mood in day-to-day activities? Is it towards the happy or toward the sad side (thinking about past events) or toward the worried side (thinking about future things, irritability, Something else)?

11) How is your appetite?

I suggest you take the following test:

1) MRI Brain.

2) MRI cervical spine with screening whole spine.

3) Nerve conduction velocity test for all four limbs.

4) Serum vitamin B12.

5) T3, T4, and TSH.

6) Electrocardiography.

7) 2D Echocardiography.

8) Doppler ultrasound of bilateral carotid and vertebral arteries.

There may be a possibility that there is some underlying psychiatric disturbance component that led to attempted suicide, and the current symptoms may also be related to that. I would suggest you consult a psychiatrist for a detailed psychological assessment and further management. Please revert to the above-mentioned information and also send the neurological assessment sheets with investigations done as attachments for better understanding and further decision-making.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

1. I used a shoe string and tightened it around the neck until I felt like passing out. I did this two times.

2. The symptoms started 12 hours after the attempt.

3. I just did the rudimentary evaluation of limb movements, head movements, eye light check, tongue out, and following the finger with the eye.

4. I am 37 years old.

5. I am in a crisis with a legal problem.

6. No, I do not consume drugs or alcohol.

7. I can do most things except organization, professional work, and money management.

8. My sleep routine is good. I do not fall asleep quickly, and it takes a while. I wake up many times in the night. I also have sleep apnea, but it is under control with a CPAP machine. I am not overweight. My BMI is 23. I am refreshed upon awakening.

9. I am thinking about the past at the event. I am sad 100 % of the time and crying.

10. My appetite is great. Maybe I am eating too much.

Answered by Dr. Hitesh Kumar

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

As per your description, I feel you might be suffering from depression or mixed psychiatric illness (the reason may be that legal issue or it may be a secondary trigger factor). And the way of self-strangulation you described usually does not lead to much harm because as a person is going to pass out, the strangulation force also becomes loose. If you are able to do your routine activities and also able to reply relevantly to asked questions and do typing on a keyboard or cellphone keypad for that, I assume cognition and thinking are preserved. Possibly the symptoms are related to underlying psychiatric or psychological issues. Still, to rule out and relieve your anxieties associated with these symptoms, you can undergo a few investigations, which I had mentioned before. I strongly suggest you consult a psychiatrist for a detailed assessment.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Hitesh Kumar
Dr. Hitesh Kumar

Neurology

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