Hello I have been struggling with dizziness, fatigue and intermittent severe left-sided headaches for approx 10 months. I have a left side lymph node just behind jaw/under ear that is almost always swollen and persistent inflammation (improves and worsens on different days) in left ear, left tonsil and left sinus.
I struggle to walk more than 1.5 miles due to dizziness and have had to stop driving even though it's an essential part of my job. ENT says no major ear issue. I have an impacted wisdom tooth on left side and saw on this forum that could cause dizziness? Or any other ideas? I've bounced between specialists all year and no one knows.
Hi Rosie, how old are you please?
Maybe you should checkout the menopause website. Women entering perimenopause will have your symptoms. Your symptoms sound hormonal to me, as I have experience in this field. Have a look.
Thanks for the suggestion but when I looked it up it doesn't sound much like my symptoms. I still have regular periods etc and no hot flushes etc.
I did have my thyroid removed 3.5 yrs ago and there has been trouble getting my dose correct so it could be hormonal factors from that point of view but I think there is more going on than that. I had tests for addisons which were negative. Doctors 'best guess' so far is that I've got post viral fatigue but it seems weird that most symptoms would be focussed on/around back of left jaw/ear?!
I was told once there's a tiny bone in there someplace? And it can get infection in it and cause some of those symptoms? I had a wierd pain like that once. Already having my wisdom teeth removed, they suspected that. Sometimes it hurt real bad. Muscle relaxers did nothing. Antibiotics stopped it.
Thanks - did it stay away after the antibiotics? I've requested to have tooth removed just in case that is the cause as I'm desperate to feel better, but I've no idea how long the waiting list is...
You mention "persistent inflammation...in left ear..". How did you determine this?
Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN
Clinical Neurophysiologist
Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology
Thankyou for message. Actually it's just a feeling of inflammation around that area that I have (also below ear, sinus, threat). not inflammation that doctors can see.
It came back a few times. Pain was bad. Went to dentist a bunch of times cause GP kept saying it was probably a tooth. Dentist would do x-rays and such, tell me I had no cavities. Go to my GP tell him all teeth are fine. Then he tryed the muscle relaxers. They didn't help. My vestibular rehab therapist told me about that tiny bone thing. Told my GP, he gave me antibiotics.
Hm interesting thanks. Yeah the dentist x-rayed it but couldn't see any major infection, though gave me antibiotics just in case cos I was so unwell, that was in August. I've now been referred for a 360 degree scan as there's a nerve next to the tooth but the waiting list is six months apparently 😬
Would you describe these left sided headaches as migraines?
Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN
Clinical Neurophysiologist
Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology
Yes I think so, it's severe pain and nausea that's incapacitating, though I still often get dizziness and fatigue at times that I don't have the migraines (although less severe).
Episodes of vertigo, occassionally accompanied by migraine, is compatible with what is known as vestibular migraine, a type of migraine where vertigo is the main symptom, and likely what you have. You may wish to discuss this possibility with your doctor.
Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN
Clinical Neurophysiologist
Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology
Many thanks, I will definitely do that.
Thanks for your help
Regards
Rosie
Good morning have you had your wisdom teeth removed yet? I only grew one wisdom tooth. Impacted for about 8 years and last 6 years suffered with ear pain on that same side to point where I cannot sleep one it. I lost hearing on that same side and have suffered from dizziness and even failed the dizzy test they do. Gratefully heading came back 💯 which is odd because it normally doesn’t restore 💯 especially without treatment in which I couldn’t have because I’m allergic to medication for it. Anyhow I just had my tooth out and already feel less pressure I ended up with dry socket and I noticed a little dizziness but not bad. I’m hoping that this is problem solved to all the weird issues I been occurring. I also in my late 30’s and though I menopause but tests all came back fine. I will keep you posted on any changes I’m very hopeful it was the issue all along.
Hi Jennifer,
All 4 of my wisdom teeth came through. I have now had 1 tooth removed from the main area of concern and I think it has helped a bit but I also get pain in the jaw joint area sometimes maybe it is tmj. I also got diagnosed CFS so think that was main cause of my dizziness and exhaustion. Hope you continue feeling better.
I experienced chronic fatigue syndrome at one point during perimenopause. Since I didn't know what to do I started taking a vegetarian multivitamin and that took it away actually and it was really good because I regained my strengthback, I was told to also take large dosed of vitamin d3, this also helped. This is why I recommend it to a lot of the women here to buy a vegetarian multivitamin and to take what is referred to as the Sunshine pill, vitamin d3.
Thankyou, I appreciate your effort to help but I do not have the symptoms listed on medical sites for perimenopause and I’m in my early 30s too with regular periods, no hot flushes, no trouble sleeping, no bladder issues etc. I do take a multivitamin and d3 so I think I have a different issue to you.