I saw your post and I definitely understand how you feel. I was diagnosed with idiopathic mal de debarquement (wasn't on a cruise or anything) about a year ago after being dizzy since July 2014. I still have dizziness (rocking on a boat feeling 24/7) but it's better. I think exercise is very helpful. Walking, running. I take amitriptyline which also helps. I take the lowest dose of Effexor. When I'm really feeling bad or if I need to travel I take a low dose of Klonopin. The illness is supposed to be self limiting meaning it will eventually go away but in some people that doesn't happen. I blame hormones. Some seem to feel better when they go into menopause. I would encourage you to exercise and try some of these hints. Remain active as it will help your brain sort things out. You will prbly feel worse at first but it will get better. Stay positive. Anxiety only makes it worse. I pray you feel better soon. As a mom of two kids myself I can empathize.
Are you taking amitriptyline for the dizziness or for the anxiety this horrible illness causes , do you take it morning or night , I have been prescribe it just for night ,
Hi Emma, This is an very hard condition to deal with and I sympathize...it will get better. Some things that you can do right away that will definately help. Implement a low-sodium diet that incorporates a lot of anti-inflammatory foods. Dr Axe (online) was a good source for me and finding a GP that looks at the whole body health. Drink LOTS of clean/filtered water (or) bottled from a reliable source. For me, changing to a really healthy diet and adding supplements really helps. When you feel lousy you're likely to reach for "comfort foods" that may be working against you getting better. As you start to feel better, incorporate as much exercise you can muster and definately do the VRT therapies as much as you can. These will likely feel worse in the short run but are necessary for recovery. When possible, get off the meds as soon as you can wean yourself from them. A lot of these meds will impede the progress of VRT therapy.
Hope this helps and good luck moving forward.
Awwwww Emma it's ok things will get better keep on being your avakit look into everything from physico therapist to chiropractor inner ear is probably the issue keep digging you will find some answers it may take a while but it will happen
It seems to help my dizziness. I originally got it for headaches but read that it can help w rocking dizziness and it does. Effexor has helped anxiety. Exercise has definitely helped as well.
Do you just take it at night ,
hi , thank you for replying , do you take it just at night , I'm trying to keep as active as I can , and hope the exsersises will help , but such a slow job , when I move around it's like everything around me is going to fast , my eyes feel so bad with this , strange feeling , I have had them checked , nothing sinister going on , X
Hi Emma. It has been 10 months for me. In order to cope better with this neverending nightmare, my GP has recently suggested sessions with a phychologist specializing in CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). I plan to make an appointment soon, and I will post back to let you know if it helps. has recently suggested sessions with a phychologist specializing in CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). I plan to make an appointment soon, and I will post back to let you know if it helps.
Thank you for all your lovely comments & words of encouragement, I went to the doctor yesterday to see if he could refer me to a person that specialises in the inner ear and he said he didn't know who that would be he said ent obviously deal with the ears & neurologist with the brain so not sure which one it would be? I said to him ent were useless the both times I've been and I'm still waiting and probably will be for some months yet for a neuro app! My thing is I just don't know if it's my ears or brain that's the issue and I keep stressing myself out thinking it's my brain for some reason.
I have counselling in Feb but it's one on one not cbt so not sure if this will help?!
I appreciate what people say about wisdom teeth but it's not them I've had 2 removed the last 2 years and all is well with my teeth no issues at all.
I never know if the tablets are making things worse or better, if it's them causing or not helping my symptoms etc.
The last 2 days I've had a cracking headache and a pressure feeling in my head and yes it could be a normal stress headache but because of the dizziness I fear the worse all the time.
I really sympathise with everyone on this site that is going through the same, I have already met one lovely lady who I talk to who is going through similar which helps as we understand how each other feels when the rest of our family doesn't it's a very difficult time right now xxx
I know how u feel, my ent didn't order an mri but wish he did so now I gotta wait to see neuro then still no guarantee he will do one either. X
Did you tell him NEURO OTOlOGIST? I cannot belive he doesnt know. You Are wasting time waiting for the neurologist Emma. can you. It make a ohine appointment on Monday and cancel the referral for the neuologist and tell him the correct specialist?? He probably hasnt even done the referral,yet aanyway!!
Meanwhile,,this weekend why dont you halve the dose of pills you are taking, and if you feel,slightly better you will know if they are making it worse, whilst not doing any harm. When i told the specialist(Via email,i felt worse he told me to,stop,taking them!).
with regard to,the headache, what I do for relief either when imget that,mr a,pressure feeling as if my brain wants to,come out of mynhead, imhave a blue gel,cold pack (I recommend everyone should,have one!), but for now a pack,f,frozen peas, wrapped in a scarf and around your neck,side of head,wherever. You can order them online, not expensive. Oblong shape (not the ones shaped,like an eye mask), works really well. Try It, you'll,see and get that specialist changed!!
Thanks Debbie it's good to hear from someone who has recovered be it temporary and to shed some light on things, I just feel like I'm at a loose end and I've just been told it could be this it could be that etc with no definitive answer, I can't eat I feel sick with worry, I've got a banging headache and pressure in my head (I know it's probably stress) I've been told it's not this its not that etc so what is it?!? I've just got it into my head that it's the worse for some reason and I don't know why, I've had ct scans but then goggle stuff and ta dah all sorts comes up saying ct scans don't pick up brain tumours or only large ones which has freaked me out, I'm so p*ssed off (excuse the language) with feeling this way, if they told me for sure your heads ok it's your ear I think I would cope better but because they don't know what it is I'm stressing and googling trying to find out and in the meantime diagnosing myself with every incurable illness possible 😞 Xx
Thank you xx
I popped into the health food shop and they recommended a vitamin called Gingko Biloba which is supposed to help with blood flow through the vessels in the brain and neck and balance issues I was wondering if that would help x
He said to try and find out some more details and call him next week to let him know, looking online I see that it's an ent doctor with a lot more training, I'm gonna print some stuff out and take it into the doctors to give to him so he can see, it might be that they are only at specific hospitals but he said he didn't know what one was lol!!!
The referral for Neuro was put in a few weeks ago, I have seen when I went to ent on the door of another doctor it said head and neck doctor so I am guessing that might be the person who I need to see. Just don't understand why I have to find these details out when he's the doctor x
Sadlyna lot,f,gps are,ignorant of this stuff. If its not included in their training they dont lnow!! What area do you,live,in?
P.s no,its not head a neck,doctor you need, not for now anyway.
I live in Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales I have found on the nhs site a list of doctors but not sure which one it would be one says 'Otology, Vertigo' etc would it be this one it says that's his speciality x
I've had a long look amd cannot find a neuro,one easilynon s.wales . you kight want to also use the term, Otolaryngology but Otology and vertigo may be okay. I just know that the neiro,part is important as its all,connected messages to,the brain from the ears and eyes too that are important. youmay have to,go outside of S.Wales, but i know that is,possible.
Hi Emma, I am so sorry you got no where with your GP yesterday, its rediculous and so frustrating for you.
I agree neuro is a waste of time, my GP refered me, I did go to the oppointment, but the Dr looked at me as if to say what are you doing here!
I had a private consultation with Dr Surenthrian at the Spire Hospital in RoyalTonbridge Wells Kent and then went on to see him and his team in Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham Kent x