Hey guys... So I have a vertigo/dizziness for over 4 months now and it has really been painful.
It all started in September when out of the blue I started feeling dizzy so I went to many doctors, did a lot of checkups and finally visited the ENT where I did an electronystagmograph which showed that I have a very sensible labyrinth which can cause vertigo. The thing is that I work as a security guard and it has made my life a living hell. After a while I started to get seriously anxious which cause me to have panic attacks for the first time in my life. My doctor gave me Cipralex (Escitalopram) which I have been taking for over a month now. They have helped my anxiety but not my vertigo.
The last two days my vertigo has gone worse and I seriously worry for my life... What should I do?
Your situation seems exactly like mine. See my post. I can only suggest that you go back to see doctors, eg, neurologist or someone. I think i'm going to do the same. Hope you feel better soon.
I should add my symptoms:
1) Unbalanced at times,
2) I feel like everything is spinning inside my head but I dont see objects moving,
3) And I feel that I am going to feint all the time.
I have done blood tests and an MRI, all good.
I will check your post.
I have seen a neurologist, she gave me some flonarozine pills which MAY help me but beside that she didn't tell me anything that could be helpful...
Go back t your GP and ask to be referred to a NeuroOtologist., who,specialise in then Vestibular System, which is where your symptoms are all coming from.
P.s MRI's are done just to rule,out tumours or anything like that, they rarely show up,what's actually,going on. And blood tests are pretty useless as this is something that's going on between your middle ear,Eyes and ears.
Hi Mike
I'm on Ciprolex too for the anxiety of it all. I was having panic attacks too but they are gone now. Cipro takes 4 weeks to get into your system.
I have vestibular neuritis.....it is 90% gone now but still have mild dizziness and a plugged ear. On occasion, i still get pain in my ear but it doesnt last.
Other meds dont help thos condition. You have to wait it out and its brutal.
Are you in Canada?
Hi mike,I've also had dizziness for 4 months and due to the severity of it I have not been able to work,I've had two panic attacks where one I was taken in an ambulance as I thought I was having a heart attack and now I'm suffering with some anxiety,I'm only 33 and it feels so bad at times I feel I'm dying,I've had a MRI scan and all OK,ent think I have positional vertigo but their not 100%certain,I know how you feel,it scares me so much I burst out crying and that's not me,if you need to talk I'm here for you,take care lisa
It's horrible isn't it, I have got 24/7 dizziness but they don't know what's causing it, I have seen ent twice, had a ct scan, bloods etc etc I am waiting to go to a balance clinic to see if there is an issue with my balance as I feel as if my brain is swimming in my head and I'm so off balance, I am also waiting to see a neuro but could take months it's been 5 already feeling like this!
You have to keep going to the doctors until the heat you, I've tried all the pills and none of them work and your right unfortunately because you feel so bad you then get anxiety and as soon as you mention this to the doctors they will always put your dizziness down to anxiety when it's the other way round... Keep pestering them x
I just want to know if it is going to get better... Everyone tells me that it's psychosomatic and anxiety worsens the problem. And then they give me a pill and get my hopes up and when that fails I feel devastated again.
I live in Greece by the way.
How do you cope with it? Do you take any meds?
My neurologist kinda put me in a balance test. She told me to stand up, eyes closed, stretch my hands like a zombie and move my legs up and down without walking... Turns out I nearly left the room. She told me I have a tendency to go left...
My anxiety came because of this problem and only because my job requires me to be standing 8 hours a day and every night before I go to sleep I think that I will suffer the next day.
And I always think that some day I will lose balance and fall or even worse feint.
I did the MRI to be sure that there isn't anything major going on. They told me to check my eye sight, I did. Then my heart - I did, then my ears and then was the problem.
Its not in your mind Mike. iT's a physical thing. just say "it's thevestibular system",look it up !! To the non believers. ,usually shuts ,them up,when they realise their own ignorance. sadly pills aren't what cures this for the most part. Ménière's disease can respond to medication,but you need to have a diagnosis. .what kind of specialists do you have over in.greece?
I had it for 2 years the first time and it dod go away. It has come back again after 5 years and so far has lasted 4 months but i am 90% better. Try vestibular rehab. That and time are really the only things that helped me. But everyone is different.
Hi mike,I'm in the uk .im taking a pill called stemital and I take 3 a day which is full dose,it helps me get through a day.sadly I don't cope,I have some good days and then some really bad days where I feel I'm getting so bad Im going to be taken to hospital.my anxiety attacks only come on when I'm having a bad day as I think they come on when I'm scared.Im on a health diet so lots of fruit and vedge and I'm taking iron pills and multivitamins, I'm also drinking hot Manuka honey with fresh lemon and ginger that my friend told me about,you need to build up your immune system as I find it helps.when I feel anxious I watch telly or go for a little walk or do some housework to try get my mind of it,I try to forget about my weird breathing as if I think about it I get worse,it gets better after about 20 mins,I feel for you as I wouldn't wish this on anyone,I have two girls and I think focussing on them is what helps me most,take care lisa
Hi MIke,
Sometimes these symptoms can start as a result of some cause or trigger. You mention these started in September. Was there anything that proceeded it? In some people it can start after some kind of trauma to the jaw or head, or an intervention (i.e. dental work or facial surgery) or an infection (after a common cold, sinusitis, or even after swimming in a pool)... Anything that you can remember? Sometimes knowing what triggered the condition, helps identifying what can help.
Also, you mention you feel dizzy, but not the the typical feeling of spinning/vertigo... The symtoms that you are describing can in some cases also be an indication of some other things. Did you check your blood sugar? What other symptoms accompany this? Do you feel shakiness, fast hearbeat? For example, hypoglycemia can cause this too. From what you are descibing it is highly likely that it is not this, but worth checking, just in case.
Hi Mike, sounds like you may have labyrinthitis. Or possible "crystals" in your labyrinth or semi-circular canls in your inner ear causing BPPV (vertigo). They can be treated with a manuever called the "Epley" maneuvers. If your doctor didn't suggest this, ask them about it. That was part of my problem. Basically it is turning your head in a series of movements which get the loose crystals back into the right place, and the dizziness goes away. They are supposed to be in your inner ears, but not floating around in the canals. They help with balance. Ha! Kinda ironic huh?! Good luck, good people here.
Now that you mention it I remember my wisdom tooth starting hurting in September before the vertigo started. I went to the dentist and he told me I need to take a scan of my teeth so he can look at them. He gave me some ibuprofen for the pain. After a few days the pain disappeared and I never checked the tooth. Then I think the vertigo started. Now my tooth hurts again and the vertigo is worse... I will go to the dentist tomorrow. If this is causing the vertigo I will be in your debt forever!