Monkey5150, I feel for you. I'm 43 and I have been getting these "brain zaps" for quite a few years now. As a matter of fact, I have gotten them all over my body, but the ones in my ear are the worst. I was diagnosed as hypothyroid years ago and put on medication. Never did feel better and I was getting these "zaps" even long after all of my bloodwork showed normal results. I remember once I was sitting on my couch watching TV when all of a sudden I got this "zap" in my gut area which I even HEARD!. It sounded just like the crackling sound that arc welding makes, so maybe you can relate.
My GP had been treating my Hypo and I had been telling her that something wasn't right. Just ignored me and kept telling me to take my medication. I finally made an appointment with an Endocrinologist, explained my symptoms to him, and he knew right away. He told me that I was having a reaction to the dye in the pills I had been taking and he had seen it before with others. He switched me over to the "pure white" pills with no dye and had me cut them up to make the required dose I needed. Well, after a short time, the zapping shocks subsided.
Then my ear starting hurting in occasion. Pretty bad pain. Sometimes now, when I'm going to sleep, just on the verge of sleep, I get these "shocks" in my ear. My right ear only (at least so far). I do not get them when I am awake. I only get them after I close my eyes and start going to sleep. It seems, at least to me, that certain foods I eat trigger the episodes. I stay away from foods with dyes in them, especially the red dyes. It's hard to do. I mess up once in a while. I don't know how I developed this "condition", just sort of came on. And it's worse in the Spring and Fall which suggests to me it has some kind of an allergy basis as well. And what is also remarkable is that my right ear is where I had a severe infection some years back. I never had ear problems as a kid. I picked up an infection after going swimming in a friend's pool. So, I imagine, there is some damage in the form of scar tissue in the ear canal. I don't know the connection with that.
Anther thing that you mention is the computer and video games. All of these things did occur after I learned computer and got one and started spending a lot of time in front of one. Related? Who knows?
These are things that have made a difference for me when I stick with them. Don't eat meals late in the evening and then lay down and go to sleep. Eat early and allow plenty of time for digestion.
Read the labels on the foods. Stay away from ones with multiple artificial ingredients. MSG really sets it off for me so I completely avoid any foods with that in it. Look up MSG on the Net and find out the other names for it so you can recognize it on labels. There are derivatives for it and they are just as bad.
I think there is some kind of inflammation going on inside of us. Do a search for "natural anti-inflammatory foods" on the Net and incorporate those in your diet.
Fluorquines (not sure about spelling) may have played a role. They call it being "floxed". Think back a few years about the medications you have taken. Cipro is one. Avelox is another. There are many others. I was on Avelox before all this crap started. There are a few good sites about this where you can read up on this and compare the symptoms you are having. Maybe you're having other symptoms that you don't realize or just haven't connected.
I had all kind of testing done and none showed anything to indicate my symptoms. Post back if you find out anything. Good luck.
Tony
