Exactly five weeks ago I was a passenger in a car and I had a case of vertigo/dizziness, felt sick to my stomach. I thought it was due to it being hot, dehydrated and hadn't eaten yet. I felt off after that incident. Three days later I was the driver at a major intersection to get onto the highway, head was turned and when I looked forward to merge vertigo struck. It was a brief episode. Lasted seconds.
I noticed after that happened I was having a hard time at stores and driving, felt wobbly, unbalanced and felt like my body was being pulled to the right and just felt sick to my stomach. It felt like I had a virus.
Everytime vertigo hit it was from either a head movement (looking sideways, up and down) and eye movement. Driving has become extremely difficult. I have to wear sunglasses when driving to get some relief from move into cars, etc... Going to a store isn't so difficult anymore but I still get a little weird. I can't even describe the feeling.
I bought a bp machine and have been taking my bp. I noticed my bp is always under 100 and sometimes under 80. Now I am not sure if these symptoms aren't bc of my bp. I saw the dr yesterday. Told her about the vertigo and symptoms. They took my bp and it was 122. I asked why when I take it is it so low. They say your bp is fine your just finding something else to worry about. Said maybe it's the machine and it doesn't work right. When my bp gets low sometimes my heart rate increases to 90. I'm a very active person and my resting hr is 62.
She had the nurse take it again after I had been there for awhile and it was 96. She told me not to worry about it.
I was referred to physical therapy for vertigo. If that doesn't help than a neurologist. They also did some blood work.
What should I do about the bp when it dips under 80 or under 90? They acted like they didn't believe me. What if they are treating the wrong thing?
From your description, two possibilities immediately came to mind:
1) Compression of the vertebral artery at the cervical spinal cord from head turning.
2) Vestibular paroxysmia, or compression of the eighth cranial nerve.
I suspect that the physical therapy will not work, but seeing the neurologist would eventually be a good step. If you do see one, you can mention my name to him/her and my thoughts.
Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN
Clinical Neurophysiologist
Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology
Is this in the neck? I do hear a cracking sound in my neck when I turn my head left and right. I did tell the nurse practitioner this. Would this cause the bp to get so low?
Hi, have you thought of taking your BP machine to the doctors and both of you measure it on your own machines to compare results? That way you can work out if the problem is your machine or your BP.
Hi it's sound like your blood fluctuating. Take you blood pressure sitting then stand up and take your blood pressure x
I did take it to the Drs office and tested it after they took it. It was 116 on my machine.
(1) is in the neck. This would stop blood flowing to the back part of the brain, which can cause vertigo.
Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN
Clinical Neurophysiologist
Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology
Get another opinion! Or two! I would!
Often your bp will be higher at the drs. Duto 'white coat syndrome' as they call it. Your gp should be aware of that. Maybe see if you can see a different dr and get a second opinion on your bp.
Hi it's Victoria again keep a read of your blood pressure take it in the morning and afternoon and again a night show it to your doctor if it's fluctuating ask for a tilt table test to be done because my blood pressure was fluctuating. I'm losing my balance too the left I feel weird when I turn to the left I feel like I'm walking on sponge. My left eye is constantly flickering I have had all the test done they still do not now what's wrong with me x
Kona, this happens to me when my bp goes below 100 as well. I have passed out when my bp went to 80/45. The best thing to do when your bp gets that low is to drink water add some salt to it and your bp will come back up. This is what was recommended to me as a solution when I I feel dizzy. However, your vertigo also sounds like some sort of vertibular problem as well. Go to a neurologist to get some answers. Hope this helps.
I have to agree that your symptoms sound very much like an impingement in your neck. As for the BP issue, I too had very low BP for awhile. This was after my neurologist recommended that I take CoQ10 and Krill oil for vestibular migraines. I began developing bruises on my arms, and my BP fell to 85/55. Reading up on those 2 supplements, I found that they both can lower your BP and cause your blood to thin, resulting in easy bruising. If you are taking any supplements, read up on them. Another cause could be postural hypotension, something to discuss with your GP or internist.