24/7 Dizziness after Vertigo attack 6 months ago
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hi all,
I think I'm just looking for some reassurance or advice from anyone who has had something similar. I see a few posts about similar problems, but don't often see anyone saying if they beat the problem or not.
Back in February this year, I had a severe vertigo attack that came out of nowhere. It's never happened before, so it was a bit of a shock. I had no idea which way was up or down, and ended up in the emergency room getting pumped full of drugs. They think it may have been because I recently changed pillows to a much harder memory-foam one. Anyway, after a few days, everything cleared up and I was back to normal. Even went on holiday to the Maldives and went scuba diving for the first time ... where I freaked out a little bit.
Fast forward a couple of months to July, where my girlfriend revealed that she was seeing someone else. Not entirely unexpected, but to be honest it felt like a bit of a relief that it was finally out in the open.
A few days after that, I started to feel very dizzy all day long. Like a constant "dull" feeling in my head coupled with persistent movement like being on a boat. It feels like I am separate from reality sometimes. At first I had some really bad "panic" attacks (I think) where my heart would beat really fast, I would sweat and I would just get a general feeling of dread. That happens less often now, but the dizziness hasn't stopped for about 3 months now. Every now and again, I will have a "surge" where the dizziness gets really strong and I think I am going to fall over. When that happens, the panic feeling comes back and I just need to get out of wherever I am. So far I have done the following:
- Prescribed SERC (Betahistine), Dogmatil (Psicocen), Valium 5mg at the hospital after the initial vertigo attack. (never used the Valium or Dogmatil)
- Seen the ENT the day after the attack, who confirmed Positional Vertigo
- ENT sent me for an MRI to be safe, everything came back ok
- Went to the Doctor after another month of dizziness, told me to take SERC again
- Went to the Doctor after another month of dizziness, did full bloods, all ok (low-ish Vitamin D)
- Back to the ENT again who sent me for X-Rays on my upper-spine. Noticed a very slight deviation, but I think that's always been there.
- Now waiting to go for a full set of Vestibular Tests on Monday
On top of that, I have also been to see a Pschologist (who just seems to tell me what I already know), and I've had an eye test to make sure it's not a vision thing causing the balance/dizziness issues.
The symptoms do seem to be better when I am relaxed, or concentrating on something else (i.e. playing a computer game). This is why I think it might by Anxiety-related, but the fact that this all happens so close to a vertigo attack is also strange. All of the doctors want to rule-out any physical causes before they will even consider something psychological.
I'm sorry for such a long post, but I am so desperate to find some cure/relief (or positive stories of recovery), that I wanted to get as much detail down as possible. I see a lot of advice saying that exercise helps, but whenever I try anything like that, the dizziness get much worse and I feel I am going to pass out. It's frustrating as I play a lot of tennis, squash etc usually. I do walk a lot, but even then I get into situations where it feels like the floor suddenly falls from under my feet and I want to get home as quick as I can! I would LOVE to do exercise, but I just don't feel like I can.
Any advice on diet, vitamin supplements, medication etc would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks very much for listening,
Cheers, Ori.
0 likes, 2 replies
kk381 Orias
Posted
I have been in this situation from Sep 2014
Same problem started during my long stay in Africa ,after alot of travel by air and by road one day coming out of my car and was in night mare ever I had in my life . Could not stand still could not walk , ever since I know what is dizziness and imbalance condition with human body .
I flown to South Africa to a best Hospital done all my test . And doctor out me on bed rest . It was inxiety and found infection in my blood .
No medicine for this problem , I was told by my doctor . Sleep well eat we'll be calm be relax , no worries should come to you .
You have to Forget you have problem then
Long walk then slight running , eat a lot green
Eat chew gum . Make your self busy with out tension or hyper tension involv
Orias kk381
Posted
Thanks for the reply!
Yeah, the vertigo attack was terrifying, I really never want to have to go through that again!
I do my best to stay calm, and I am generally a very calm person. Almost everyone I know says that they have never seen me angry or stressed out. But I think it's because I keep it all inside and control it. Inside, I get stressed and angry all the time!
You're right .. I chew a LOT of gum! I always have some with me as it does help to take my mind off things, and gives me something else to focus on. I also drink a LOT of water during the day at work .. probably about 2.5 litres each day!
I've stopped drinking coffee (which is hard, as I love it), and I drink a lot less alcohol too. Sometimes a beer or two helps the dizziness as it gives me a REASON to feel dizzy. My brain is like "hey, I've had some alcohol, of course I am lightheaded". But it's when I am lightheaded without beer that I get anxious and worried. I drink mostly non-alcoholic beers now during the week, and will only have alcohol when I am relaxed at home, on the sofa or near bed!!
Thanks again!
Cheers