1. Community
  2. Ears, nose, throat and mouth
  3. Vertigo and Dizziness

Brain fog, dizziness, vision problems, head pressure, headache PLEASE HELP

Posted , 353 users are following.

Elise93
Elise93

Hi everyone!

I don't know where else to go, and was hoping someone could please help me. I'll start off by saying I'm a 23 year old Caucasian female. Going on 5 months now, I have had absolutely debilitating symptoms which have hindered my daily life. I feel these symptoms every moment of every day.

It started with dizziness and a persistent brain fog. I just thought I had a bug, and tried to go on about my life. However, my symptoms have never gone away. This "brain fog" I am talking about is a feeling of complete mental confusion, I have no memory, I cannot concentrate on anything, it feels like there's a dark blanket on my brain clouding all my thoughts. I have extreme disorientation and haziness. I feel like I'm always in a dream like state.

I am constantly dizzy and feel a pulling sensation, as if I'm ready to fall over at any moment. It feels like there's air inside my head, and I'm always very lightheaded. Whenever I try to drive I feel this pulling sensation pulling me down.

Another problem I have is with my vision. I am having very blurred vision and have double vision. Everytime I look at something up close it is extremely blurry and I cannot see at all. My perception on things has completely changed. I feel like everything looks very odd and strange and I don't have the right depth perception. It's like I'm in a horrible dream like state all the time.

I have been having headaches and head pressure as well, and having horrible pains behind my eyes. The pin starts from the back of my head close to my neck and continues up my head and the sides of my temples. My eyes hurt so bad, and it feels like knives are jabbing my eyes. My head also feels extremely heavy all the time.

All these symptoms have been causing me severe anxiety, and I have been having panic attacks from them and feel like I'm dying. It is causing a strange disrespity sensation, where I feel like I'm not even here anymore and there's a detachment from myself and my body. I have had to drop all my classes at college and quit my job because these symptoms make me lay in bed all day long. I have been unable to drive for months and can barely get up to walk around. If anyone could please help me or know anything as a suggestion to try.

I have been to my general doctor, 2 ENTs, 1 neurologist, have had 2 MRIs, a hearing test, VNG, multiple blood tests, and no one knows what is wrong. I can't live like this anymore. Any help is greatly appreciated.

-Elise

14 likes, 1771 replies

1771 Replies

Prev Next
  • clayton66416
    clayton66416 Elise93

    Posted

    I'm glad to have found this forum, you guys are describing my symptoms exactly.  I gave up trying to find help, I'm 32 and have been dealing with it for 16 years.  My symptoms come and go, can feel bad for months and then feel 80 to 90% normal for a while.  But it ALWAYS comes back.  Has anyone ever been cured from vestibulitis?  I live in North Carolina.  Would like to know if anyone can suggest a doctor.  Thanks in advance for any help.

    • Elise93
      Elise93 clayton66416

      Posted

      Hi Clayton! I'm so sorry you've suffered with this for so long :,( I'm from Illinois, but if you go on the VEDA website you can find better specialists in your area. I truly wish you the best and hope you find answers. This is not easy to live with! 

  • liv416
    liv416 Elise93

    Posted

    Hi Elise - I could have written this myself! My symptoms even started the same as yours.  Brain fog. Dizzy. Lightheaded. Confused. Slower. Blurred vision (not constant) and sometimes double - especially when I am tired. 

    I did see an optometrist who diagnosed me with 'prisms'.  Since the new prescription, it's gotten worse!

    It started mid July. I felt a wee bit dizzy but I had friends visiting and lots of wine so I chalked it up to a hangover. Now, it is constant. Every minute of everyday I am either dizzy, lightheaded or anxious for another reason. Tight head. Unbalanced without any confidence. I am questioning everything I read - did I read that right? I have to rethink decisions - in case I am not right. I am walking slower, even turning my head slower.

    I got my new glasses august 7th and now  I can't take my glasses off without everything being completely blurred and me being unbalanced. 

    I am not sure if it's my eyes or my head or ?? No headaches really. Sometimes maybe a little pressure in the side of my head or front of my eyes. Tightness in back of skull. 

    Somebody on here mentioned an ophthalmologist- that's my next call, make sure this prism garbage is right and then a massage. And some Physio. 

    I have only been to a walk in clinic who basically told me I was fine and to 'wait it out'. That was last week. 

    Thanks for sharing your story and I really hope you're finding some answers! 

    • Elise93
      Elise93 liv416

      Posted

      Hi Liv! Yes definitely see an opthamologist or even a neuro-opthamologist if you can! I really hope you find answers. It's been so hard dealing with this for so long, I've had it every day constant for over a year now. 

      I really hope they figure out your prism lenses. I saw an optometrist who said I had eye convergence disorder, and was going to try prisms, but the glasses made me feel really sick. Idk I really don't know what to do anymore. 

      I wish the best for you! Please keep us updated if you see any improvement! 

  • Lanvyn
    Lanvyn Elise93

    Posted

    Elise Do you know if there is a way to connect and talk over the facetime? Or skype? This website wont allow me to post any info phone or email? 
    • Terry6872737
      Terry6872737 Lanvyn

      Posted

      You can contact her via email by clicking on the envelope icon next to her user name.
    • Elise93
      Elise93 Lanvyn

      Posted

      Hi Lanvyn' I will have to private message you, the website doesn't allow any personal information to be posted on the site 

  • margaret22116
    margaret22116 Elise93

    Posted

    Elise, Dr Patrick Schuette of the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute .x
  • margaret22116
    margaret22116 Elise93

    Posted

    Sorry, I didn't finish posting. He is a rheumatologist and one of my help group in Illinois suggested him. I just would say he's an option. If you are going to the Mayo clinic soon you may want to stick with that idea as they are so multidisciplinary from what I can see. x

  • D4n1
    D4n1 Elise93

    Posted

    Hi there,

    Are you feeling any better?

  • don40402
    don40402 Elise93

    Posted

    I have ALL your symptoms listed in this thread and over the years I have spent alot of time and money visiting every specialist and having every test done - GP's to  Physicians to Neurologists to Homeopaths to Eye specialists.

    I have heard everything from Vestibular Neuronitis to possible MS to migraine disorders. I have had my eyes and ears tested and still nobody can give me any answers.

    My issue started young with the foggy brain which would start an hour or two after waking and gradually subside as the day ended. NOW I have it all the time and I have all the listed symptoms in this thread including having 'attacks' where my vision starts to go crazy (I call it kaleidoscope vision) and I feel like i'm going to black out BUT I never do.

    I have the sore base of the neck, pressure in the back of the head and sensation of walking on a boat. It affects every facet of my life to the point that I am fearful of walking alone some days. This is all accompanied by a heightened sense of anxiety and I have even developed a irrational fear of flying (I love flying)

    I have been on ALL the supplements - CO-Q10, MCT Oil, Flaxseed Oil, B Complex, Magnesium, a slew of homeopathic remedies etc etc and all they seem to do is take the edge off slightly. This and a barrage of blood tests, MRI's, Colonoscopies, CT Scans, physical exams, eye and ear tests and more have yielded no real relief for me.

    Any thoughts, advice or help would be much appreciated.

    • debbie82116
      debbie82116 don40402

      Posted

      Hi Don

      I felt compelled to write you because I was at my wit's end with the exact same symptoms you are having. I'm not a doctor and don't profess to be but I can offer advice based on having "been there." There is no magic pill to relieve your symptoms but there is a therapy that I tried and it worked for me.

      The sooner you try, the better off you'll be because anxiety in itself is a silent killer.

      Find yourself a vestibular therapist. I don't know where you live but they are out there. Tell them all of your symptoms...they will give you exercises to "retrain your brain." If you are like I was, you have suffered some kind of damage to your balance nerve in your inner ear. Mine was a virus that came out of nowhere. Your brain is getting mixed signals because one ear is damaged and one is not.

      Vestibular rehab will take a 1/2 hour each day and it will take 3 months. You can do the exercises at home once you know how. It won't be easy but if you stick with it, your symptoms will disappear.

      Good luck. You have nothing to lose.

      Debbie

    • Elise93
      Elise93 don40402

      Posted

      Hi don! I'm truly so sorry you're going through this too rolleyes I have all these symptoms constantly as well, and have not found anything to help. The only thing that helps me a bit is if I take Xanax (it helps stop the swirling sensation in my head a bit and calms my eyes from feeling like they're pulling out of my head). Adderall also is the only thing that helps at all. (I have a prescription previously tohelp with studies and such). 

      I'm getting to a point where my whole life is revolving around this and it's slowly starting to become my identity and who I am. Like "I'm that 24 year old with that weird medical problem". 

      I don't want to live like this anymore and I've become so obsessed with finding doctor's and finding answers and finding help. I just can't do it anymore. I'm going to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in November. If they can't help me, I'm just done searching and seeing doctor after doctor after doctor. My whole life is revolving around this. I honestly don't know what to do anymore because my symptoms are so unbelievably debilitating, but at the same time I feel like this illness has consumed every aspect of my life and I've let it take total control over me. I obsess all the time about finding a diagnosis. After having this every second of every day for more than a year, I'm ready to just give up on finding a diagnosis because it's becoming so exhausting and depressing and I'm so sad and anxious all the time. Just so frustrated and don't know what to do anymore :,( 

    • bonnie31305
      bonnie31305 debbie82116

      Posted

      How did they diagnose you with this? And what specific exercises did you do? Stuff with moving your eyes and head?  I've seen a PT who specializes in vestibular therapy.  He had me do many exercises (not just eyes and head) and then the ones for retraining your eyes, called a vestibular program. I really didn't try much with it at home... it got me feeling even more weird so I kind of gave up.  Maybe I shouldn't have! 

    • debbie82116
      debbie82116 bonnie31305

      Posted

      Hi Bonnie

      You were on the right track! Please don't give up! The exercises are the only thing that will help you! And YES YOU WILL FEEL WORSE FOR THE FIRST LITTLE WHILE...THATS NORMAL!!!!

      Debbie

    • bonnie31305
      bonnie31305 debbie82116

      Posted

      Thanks Debbie! I can only hope it helps, although I have many other symptoms including gut issues, so I guess we'll see! Were your exercises saccades, visual tracking and target? 

    • D4n1
      D4n1 bonnie31305

      Posted

      Hi Bonnie,

      What other symptoms are you having?

      Danielle.

    • bonnie31305
      bonnie31305 D4n1

      Posted

      Hi Danielle,

      I have gut issues (SIBO, ibs), rashy itchy fingers for many months, neck/back pain, feeling like I'm in a haze/foggy headed/disconnected, no concentration/focus, sometimes dizzy or lightheaded/unsteady, & like I can't feel calm/relaxed ever. This mainly all started after I took the antibiotic Flagyl in February. I may have had previous short occurances of the "out of it" feeling in the past, & have had gut issues for many years though. 

    • Terry6872737
      Terry6872737 debbie82116

      Posted

      Hi Debbie,

      Glad to see that things are still going well with you. Are you currently still on the Cipralex? How is the knee doing?

      Terry

    • debbie82116
      debbie82116 Terry6872737

      Posted

      Hi Terry!

      Nice to hear from you! I am no longer on Ciprolex....and no other drugs! I do get the occasional dizzy bout that lasts one day at most which usually arises from something stressful. I do feel occasional plugging in that ear but it's nothing I can't handle. How are you doing???

      I am fully recovered from my knee op and have resumed bowling and working out at the gym.

      Regards

      Debbie

    • Terry6872737
      Terry6872737 debbie82116

      Posted

      I'm doing about the same.  Still have the off days that I have to deal with.  Around 90% to 95% as I have been for the last couple of years.  Barometric pressure changes still cause issues for me and the occasional virus/bug that are out there.

    • don40402
      don40402 Elise93

      Posted

      Hi Elise,

      Thank you for your response - it is comforting to know i'm not alone in all this (as selfish as that may sound)

      I live in South Africa so the Mayo Clinic is a little out of the way for me lol - please let me know how your visit to the MC goes, i would really love to hear their insights.

      Stay in touch.

      Don

       

    • don40402
      don40402 debbie82116

      Posted

      Thank you Debbie,

      I will most definitely go that route!

      PS: I'm from Cape Town, South Africa

       

    • debbie82116
      debbie82116 don40402

      Posted

      Excellent Don! I wish you much luck! I had never felt so poorly in my life and seriously thought I had a horrible disease! It was so debilitating! But with patience, determination and trust in this therapist, I got through it. How long have you been suffering? It is very important to get doing those exercises asap....the longer you hold off, the longer the rehab process will take. Let me know how it goes.
    • Lanvyn
      Lanvyn debbie82116

      Posted

      Dear Debbie, i was trying to scroll up and down to  be able to find what symptoms u had to begin with? And i got lost  in this forum. Would you please write what was ur main symptoms? And how long u had suffered it? 🙏🏻

    • Lanvyn
      Lanvyn

      Posted

      Never mind! I realised u had a vestibular neurities? I wonder if i had a derealization feeling as well? And an obvious pulling sensation on one part of ur head? 
    • debbie82116
      debbie82116 Lanvyn

      Posted

      Hi Lanvyn!

      My symptoms were:

      -pressure on top and back of my head

      -pulling and pushing sensation at back of my head

      -brain fog; couldn't concentrate

      -never spinning but wonky feeling 24/7 like I was on a trampoline

      -unsteadiness

      -neck pain

      -headaches

      -severe anxiety (saw therapist)

      -blurry eyesight

      -plugged ears

      -sometimes severe pain in ears

      My first bout lasted almost 2 years and it was only when I finally heard about vestibular therapy near the end, that it went away after 3 months. My second bout returned after 5 years but only lasted 4 months because I started vestibular t

      herapy right away.

    • Lanvyn
      Lanvyn debbie82116

      Posted

      Thank you so much for the information and taking ur time to write that, i appreciate it!!! 

        

    • CTh
      CTh don40402

      Posted

      Hi, so sorry you are going through this. I have had all these symptoms as well. I am still trying to figure out a few of them, but most of my symptoms have faded with changing my diet. I cut out everything that could harm my nerves - caffeine, alcohol, dairy, gluten, sugar. That helped me tremendously. I'm right now on the track to boost my kidneys with drinking ginger water. I take a probiotic 3 x a day and also 1000 mcgr Vitamin B12 and otherwise just a regular multivitamin.

      Make sure to have a regular sleeping schedule and also drink enough water. And try to exercise.

      Also avoid any processed food. Your body needs to heal and everything that could harm it will throw you back.

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.