I can't take this anymore I am seriouy getting so depressed. I feel like this everyday and I dont know how to fix it and I don't know how to get better. I get weird pains in my head it's so sharp sometimes it scares me so much. I have a fear of just droopping dead because these pains could be meaning something serious like a stroke or a blood clot in my head. I can't stop myself from thinking this way and being happy. I don't even feel like I'm really living because I just feel like I am in a dream with this constant foggyness in my head. I have seen countless doctors and they can't find what's wrong. I have done a MRI 3 years ago and still I have this problem. I have been dealing with this for 3 years that I am so exhausted and sad all the time. I went to see a neurologist and he says its vertigo migraines. Yet I have these dizzy spells when I don't have a headache though and he says its because people who have migraines can get vertigo without the headaches. I don't believe him at all and I just think he is saying that because he doesn't know what it is so to shut me up that's what he has come up with. I seriously don't know what to do anymore I am so tired in feeling this way.... Please help any advice?
Some people are advising that it must be a neurological otologist that we see. That is what I will do next. Are you a young person? I am 70 so it does not wreck my life so much as it would if I were raising children or wanting to go out and have fun
Please do not let it beat you down so hard. I know that is easier said than done. I use a wheeled walker which gives me confidence and reassures me to move.
Maybe you also need a GP or counsellor to,help,you manage the emotional side of this.
hope this helps a little....
A Neurotologist is who you need to be seeing. If it is related to an inner ear issue they are the only doctor that can help you. There are migranes that do not present with headaches. I would question if it is migranes then why hasn't he been able to tret you for that issue.
I travel 3 1/2 hours tlo see a Otologist but, it was well worth the trip.
What's that condition? Yes early twenties.... That's why I feel so down because I have so much ahead of me and hurt I have this feeling it makes me sad.
Diagnosed as BPPV but I think there could be more than one cause as well. I guessed you were young as it is worse for the young ones whereas elderly already have some disability and this does disable you.
Still try to remain positive even if you need to get some help with that!
Ok, first I should say that I have felt the same way for 3-4 yrs so I know what you are going through.I am still not fixed. I have some good days and some not so good days, but I am learning to deal with it until I can get rid of it. I don't know how much going to the doctor you have done so here is what I would do. Get a blood test and have them check your Iron, Magnessium, Vitamin D, and B12. When these are low or out of wack they can make us feel the way you do. If all of that checks out then go to an ENT and make sure it's not an inner ear issue. Now for the weird stuff. DO a search for SCM muscle. It's in your neck and can mess you up when it is tight. Some people don't even relize it's tight until they look into it. I have bad posture, my head is always leaning forward and this can make the mucles in your neck tight which can keep the blood from flowing the way it should to the brain, so you may want to look into physical therapy. Also consider vertical Heterophoria, this is an eye issue so lok up that term. Try closing one eye when you walk around, does it make you feel a little better? I live in the US and there is a doctor in Michigan that specializes in this. I am going for this test next week since I am lucky there is a doctor here in NY that can do the test. ALso consider your wisdom teeth. I found a forum where people that had their wisdom teeth found that it was their problem. Do a seach for wisdom teeth and dizzy to find that forum. ALso there is a forum called dizzy times which is a bunch of people like us, maybe they could help. I'm not saying any of my suggestions are the answer, but I hope they could be. Don't let it get the best of you. If you give it life, it will rule your life so just ignore it the best you can.
Firstly thank you everyone for all the quick responses I really appreciate that exspecially when I am felling so down right now.
I don't have BBPV cause my neurologist checked all that. He said it is nothing to do with balance. He said he is pretty sure I have migraine vertigo because I do get a lot of headaches and migraines.
What is a otologist? I never heard of one.
Yes I have done every test possible, MRI, XRAY of chest and spine, blood work and they have found nothing. My regular doctor doesn't believe any ofmy symptoms and she thinks it's anxiety. I have seen a chiropractor, osteopath, acupuncture and deep tissue massage therapy. Only one I really find relief is massage therapy. Yes all those options are a possibilty that I can defiantly look into. I have just done so many tests it's getting so frustrating.
A Neurotologist, or Otologist, is an ENT that went 3 additional years to school to specialize in the cranial nerves associated with the inner ear. i.e. the vestibular nerves. If you have an inner ear issue they are who specializes in just that. Vestibular Neuritis causes the symptoms you describe but, so does Basilar migraines. Is your Neurologist not treating you with medication for migraines?
Sounds like an inner ear issue for sure. I also had head pressure and pains. Dizziness 24/7. It was horrible. Driving shopping was horrible too. I am still dizzy but not as intense. It's only been 9 months for me. I couldn't imagine 3/years. Have you taken anything for it?? The ONLY thing that helped me was a low dose of ativan. Be careful cause it can slow down the compensation process. Some ENT's will prescribe ativan to help cope with the vertigo feelings.
You could have had vestibular neuritis which theb famged your vestibular and has not comoensated properly. Have u tried VRT?
Lots of us dizzy people get told its anxiety! I hate that!! I told my doc that yes I'm getting anxiety BUT my symptoms are creating the anxiety and NOT anxiety creating my symptoms!! Big difference!
That was my diagnosis as well 3 years ago and I too found it difficult to understand how it could be happening all he time, but it was the only theory that was never disproved along with postural hypotension. I was given a low dose of amitriptylene as migraine prevention and did improve. Keep seeing the doc if you're not right and good luck
Go into nature as much as possible...find the quiet inside yourself. Surround yourself with gentle people. Eat healthy...vegetarian is the best. Eat lots of fruit. Don't smoke, don't drink alcohol, and definately don't drink coffee. Look for natural homeopathic remedies online. Natural remedy books by James Wong are inspiring. Listen to soothing music like harp or classical. Adhere to a natural rhythm and rest when your body tells you. Go to sleep at 22-. Don't watch too much tv, especially not news. Read a good inspiring book. Burn some soothing scent oils. Try to ban all unnatural chemicals uit of your life. And pray that the Lord will help you. You will get relief. .
I do eat meat. I don't like coffee. I don't drink or smoke but sure an occasional wine would be fine for those who wish to have it!
I watch lots of TV and go to bed when I like and get up when I like as I am retired.
Fruit is great! So is chocolate!
I do like classical music but I like other music as well except bashing type music or inappropriate lyrics.
I don't pray as I do not believe in God.
My favourite genre is thrillers either in books or movies.
Do whatever makes you happy and some things in moderation!
There is no one prescription for happiness or health!
Terry: I am seeing a ENT specialist in August so I will see what they say. Neurologist said it wasn't a inner ear issue at all because he did physical balance test for me should Inot believe him? Yes he did I need to take it every night before bed, problem is it makes me extremely tired and no energy at all.
Tasha: I know what's me too. I have anxiety but it's because the symptoms I am having from this dizziness make me have anxiety. I tried ativan it doesn't seem to help me at all.
2n1954: I am it's just hard because my boyfriend gets mad at me that I keep going to the doctor because I have already been told it's nothing serious so why am I still searching for an answer. It's hard because I just want to find out what's wrong and then deal with it you know?
1jeremiajohn & 4kathleen: thanks you two that is great advice and I will for sure try what you suggested.
I would suggest then, go to Google and type in "vestibular disorders association". Read the information on their site and compare the symptoms that you are experiencing. That should answer your questions in regard to whether or not you feel that it is a vestibular or migrane issue. Also, there is a distinction between vertigo and dizziness. Vertigo involves a spinning sensation, where dizziness is a lightheaded, floating foggy type feeling. Disequilibrium is the balance component.
Someone that has never experienced this cannot relate to how you feel and cannot understand the impact that it has on your well being. Most doctors, as you will see from the posts on this forum, never really understand and at best are guessing as to how to help you. That's why so many get told that it is anxiety. I would agree that it could be migranes or it could be vestibular. There are drugs to treat migranes, several, there are no pills to treat vestibular issues. Vestibular issues have to resolve with time and therapy.
The only other question that I would have for the Neurologist would be, if it is migraneous, why are there no breaks in it? From having lived through it for 16 months the symptoms sound vestibular to me. But, I don't have M.D. behind my name.
There are so many things that can cause dizziness and after suffering from them for a long period anxiety becomes a component. It becomes hard to let go of monitoring every feeling that we have, or at least it is for me.
I greatly sympathize anyone suffering from these symptoms for as long as you have and especially when you are so young. Just my thoughts and hopefully there is something in them that will help. Kathleen made some great statements in her last post. Too many of us try everything that we can just looking for that panacea. When you suffer from a condition such as ours you just want someone to understand and someone that can find the solution. From my experience, most doctors can't.
Hi, Terry, you sound very knowledgeable. My sensation is that I'm going to fall over. The room doesn't spin but my head does sometimes, I feel like my eyes and brain don't work together and focusing is difficult. The symptoms are provoked by movement, standing still (especially after having been walking) and open spaces. If really bad I feel shaky. I get panicky in open spaces and sometimes when crossing the road. A vestibulat problem was ruled out by extensive tests. Cardiology tests were normal except for postural hypotension and brain MRI was OK. Migraine associated vertigo was suggested. Any thoughts? Thanks so much for reading this.
Hey, Kathleen, why shouldn't you go out and have fun age 70?
I would also suggest your looking at the symptoms on the vestibular disorders association's website. Not sure what test you were given but, I believe you will find most, if not all, of your symptoms listed there.
Let me know what you think after your review.
http://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorder/symptoms
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