Horrendous dizzy moments.

Ears, nose and throat
1

Hi everyone. I've come here to seek advice of how I can minimalise my symptoms and learn a bit more about what's going on in my head.

About three years ago I had a bout of dizziness that lasted the afternoon but ultimately cleared up and no more was thought or said about it.

Fast forward to June 2016 and this is when my problems have started. I had a dizzy spell which started slow and gradually got worse, to the point I had to lay down. So I managed to get myself to bed and after an hour or so of hot and cold sweats I fell to sleep. By the morning I was still slightly dizzy but it was manageable and eventually it went.

Since then I have a constant roaring and low tone in my left ear which varies, sometimes it's really bad and at other times it's almost gone.

I've had another four spells of dizziness, these have been first thing in the morning and have rendered my day useless for at least six hours until it subsides to become manageable.

In the last three weeks I've had a constant headache which is worse when I wake up in the morning but also goes to ascreciating pain levels for about 30 minutes if I cough and bad pain for about 10 seconds if isniff or blow my nose. This also causes a moment of dizziness too.

So yesterday (February 13th 2017) I had vestibular tests at the hospital and although my results will be sent back to the ENT specialist for discussion, I did ask if the there was anything I could be told today. The tests seemed normal except the last test where they put water in your ears a couple of times using different temperatures. The doctor testing me said he felt my left inner ear has some damage to it. What I don't know and a visit to the ENT will elaborate on that.

So I got home yesterday and at about 6:30pm I started to feel dizzy again and as it was getting worse I knew I was in for a bad night. It was by far the worst for me, I threw up several times and just had to lay down. The room didn't seem to spin one way this time but I just felt completely spaced out and not with it at all.

When I'm at my worst in terms of dizziness the noise in my ear is a high pitched screaming sound and when I'm not dizzy it's a low pitched sound or a roar.

So now as I type this ( February 14th 2017 ) I'm in bed, with a headache and feeling battered.

What are your experiences? What do you find minimalises your headaches/dizziness?

Thank you.

Terry

2

It's hard to say cause the dizziness/vertigo is concidered a symptom not a disease. There are so many things that can cause these symptoms. A simple ear infection can cause it. Dehydration. Bppv, silent migraines, menieres, etc etc. The tests will help narrow it down. A MRI may be ordered to eliminate stroke, clots, etc.

3

Telstar, if at all possible you'd do better getting referred to a vertigo clinic rather than an ENT specialist. A lot of sufferers on these boards - including myself - have found that ENT doctors aren't always best placed to deal with problems like ours. If you can get to a vertigo clinic you'll be seen by a neurologist.

4

Thank you for your reply. I should of added I have had an MRI and nothing suspicious showed. However there was signs of extensive sinusitus.

Hopefully my results with help diagnose and then I can manage it.

Thank you.

5

Hi and thank you for your reply.

I'm just going where they send me. I haven't gone private as I am using the NHS. Perhaps they will direct me in the right direction.

Thank you

6

Well... not always. I worked in the NHS as a nurse for 10 years a long time ago, and I gather things haven't improved since then. See the ENT specialist first, and if you don't get satisfaction google your nearest university hospital and find out whether they have a vertigo clinic. Your GP can't legally refuse to refer you to any speciality where you have a reasonable case for asking to be referred. However, they often try to wriggle out of it these days because of cost cutting. Sometimes you have to be firm and insist on your rights within the NHS.

7

Sinus infections can drain into your ears. Cause the same symptoms.

8

Thank you for your reply.

That is interesting to know as I was unaware this could happen.

9

Few years ago if I felt a sinus infection coming on, I could call my GP and either he would squeeze me in. Or call me in a script to get ahead of it till I could get in to see him. He knew if it drained into my ears I was screwed. New docs don't care. They make more money the sicker you get. Walk in clinics are a joke around here. Worst care around.