Dizziness & Headaches in Temples

Ears, nose and throat
1

Hi everyone,

Im a 29yo male and i had my appendectomy (laparoscopic, non ruptured) on 21st of Sept this year and it was a roller coaster of symptoms since. 

3 weeks ago till today i an experiencing these symptoms:

- Dizziness (feeling of imbalance but never fell) since my appendectomy till now

- Headache (pressure feeling at mostly my right temple) which started approx 2 weeks ago

- Globus/ Cricopharangeal Spasm which is mild and comes and goes (was worse last 2 weeks and completed 2 weeks of Nexium)

I have seen 6 GPs, 1 Gastroenterologist, and a Consultant Physician and they are not sure what is causing my dizziness and headache. I have performed 2 cbc, blood pressure, and a upper endoscopy and it was all clear.

I have been having them daily for weeks now and i am really not sure if i am experiencing a headache or dizziness or both. Body and sudden eye movements actually cause this while i am standing or sitting. 

I am able to jog and do exercises in the evenings with minimal disruption.

I have been scouring the internet and have read articles on BPPV, vertical heterophoria, PPPD, brain tumors (read so much its freaking me out and i think i'll need to have a CT Scan asap). 

Is/Are anyone having the same symptoms as me? I really miss my old self.  Thank you for reading.

2

Hi, it sounds like you have vestibular neuritis. Please don't use the internet to diagnose your symptoms because it can cause panic attacks. Stick with your gp's who are better equipped to diagnose and prescribed the necessary tests. There is a foundation for the illness on Facebook. Look it up to see if it matches your symptoms. Best of luck know.

3

Oops, now not know.

4

Hi Sochima, thank you for replying. 

I am trying not to consult dr google too much but i am at wits end and a little nervous as docs arent able to give me a specific diagnosis.

My primary physician did a check in my ear but he said it was visually fine. However he did not say anything about the inner ear though. I read some of the syymptoms for "vestibular neuritis" and some of them do apply to what im feeling.

5

By the way, i am not experiencing any symptoms of ear pain, tinnitus or hearing loss..

Not sure where to go from here. Do i need to go to an ENT?

6

You need to see a Neuro Otologist rather than an ENT.

7

sochima822 is absolutely right! If you go to ENT  you'll be on a merry-go-round

.This is a neuro otologists area

8

Thank you for the responses.

I seem to have some of the conditions like dizziness and balance difficulties but no sites seem to mention about headaches. I have these mild tension-like headache on my right side temple too..

9

After what you read, does this sound like BPPV to you?  Putting things all together, it may be related to the surgery if your head was in a certain position during surgery for a long period of time, which can allow the otolith crystals in the inner ear to move to a different position.

Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou,

Clinical Neurophysiologist

Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

10

yes max, so do I.  I think it might be because I am so tense and worried all the time as this is such a frustrating experience. Mine is on the right side and it is the inner ear on the right side that is damaged. Your neuro otologist will find that very quickly. Are you in the UK?

 

11

Hi Eleftherios,

When i saw my GP yesterday, i think be suspected i had BPPV and gave me Betaserc. I only took one pill and i think it helped the dizziness a little but i am not keen to be on any medicine before i get a proper(or confirmed) diagnosis.

I tried the Epley Manuevre too but nothing improved. I am not sure which ear to start with because i dont have any issues with my ears/hearing.

thanks.

12

Hi Brenda,

No, im not from the UK. Im from malaysia.

Both my ears seem to be find though. How did your doc found out that your right side is damaged? Did you have any hearing loss/tinnitus/other symptoms in that ear?

13

The neurol otologist  did a head manoeuvre never mentioned here then his specialist physio told me that he was looking for a certain response. I was positive for the left ear but no balance at all for the right. Sorry but I only know of a specialist in the UK. All the best

14

The physician should do the Epley manuevre.  Someone else has to control the movements.  Also, you have to be professionally supervised during the exercise, in case the otoliths move elsewhere.  This is not serious, but this possibility needs to be recognized by an expert.  Betaserc is not the correct therapy for BPPV.

Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou,

Clinical Neurophysiologist

Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

15

I see. He was probably looking for nystagmus (involuntary eye movement) as its a sign for BPPV/vestibular neuritis

16

thanks for your response.

In your experience, is it possible for BPPV to present itself without any ear issues?

17

BPPV is not associated with hearing loss or ear fullness.

Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou,

Clinical Neurophysiologist

Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

18

Thank you for the insight.

Is "nystagmus" a mandatory finding for BPPV to be diagnosed then? I don't seem to have it when i tried the Epley Maneuvr.

19

Nystagmus needs to be present.

Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou,

Clinical Neurophysiologist

Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

20

I see.

Then i do not think my condition is BPPV in this case.