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

Dizziness and off balance for three months? Is it anxiety or bppv?

Posted , 12 users are following.

vanessamg
vanessamg

On July 8, I woke up with vertigo. I didn't make a big deal of it because I thought, "Maybe I just woke up dizzy because I went to sleep feeling hungry." I went on with my day. My brithday was on July 9. I was very stressed because I wanted things to be perfect. That night, I woke up with vertigo again, but this time it was worse and I panicked. I started sweating and throwing up. I visited the ER where they told me that I was just having anxiety attacks. Another doctor told me it was BPPV and that I should try the Epley maneuver and other exercises. I tried them and they didn't work.

After about a week, the vertigo went away. However, my cat suddenly died around that time and I started feeling dizzy and off balance. It was like a swaying sensation. After this, I started having anxiety attacks every day. These feelings went on through the rest of July, August, and the beginning of September. Then, just when I thought I was getting better, I woke up with vertigo again. Now the dizziness is back. I went to another doctor last week who, once again, told me it was BPPV. They also did blood tests, which will be ready tomorrow. I told the doctor about my anxiety and all she said was, "Relax. You're too young to have anxiety and I don't want to give you medication."

I feel exhausted. Sometimes I completely lose my appetite and food makes me feel sick. My neck feels tense all the time and I get tension headaches. I even had to stop going to school because I'm afraid of having another attack there. I'm only 21, but I feel so cut off from everyone my age. I think it's making me depressed. How do I keep a positive attitude through all of this? Is this really anxiety? Or does this have something to do with my ears? 

0 likes, 57 replies

57 Replies

Prev Next
  • marie43202
    marie43202 vanessamg

    Posted

    Hello Vanessa,

    sorry to read you are experiencing this. You know your body better than anyone else.  There is a reason u r experiencing dizziness and vertigo. Sure anxiety can heighten symptoms as this can seriously affect your quality of life but to say that is the sole cause, I personally don't buy that. Try alternative natural ways of combatting your anxiety (meditation, deep breathing, music or whatever else relaxes you) and keep searching for answers as to what is the root cause of your dizziness. Take it one day at a time. Take care smile  

  • donna40025
    donna40025 vanessamg

    Posted

    Hey Vanessa your in luck as there are a few in California area - I just googled vertigo vestibular as my keywords in California. I'd  them and see if you can find a fb forum in your area for a local trusted community in your state or country for that matter! Best of luck sweets! 
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 donna40025

      Posted

      yes you,re right Donna, in Fact I am pretty sure VEDA,have some great support sites, and groups where you can meet up,even,  in Calif.  If you are on Fbook it may be worth looking them up, you need to put the full name, not initials, ie Vestibular Disorders Association in the FB search.  It,s an US thing anway, wish they were here in the UK as they are great resource.
  • donna40025
    donna40025 vanessamg

    Posted

    Hey Vanessa your in luck as there are a few in California area - I just googled vertigo vestibular as my keywords in California. I'd  them and see if you can find a fb forum in your area for a local trusted community in your state or country for that matter! Best of luck sweets! 
  • Loveforlife
    Loveforlife vanessamg

    Posted

    Same exact story for me. Started on my husbands birthday (July 6th) I'm 25. Started with a week of awful, then slowly got better week by week. I had vision sensitivity, problems with slopes and things being more "sloped" this disappeared around 2 months in. I had a three day break between my acute phase and the other symptoms. I seem to steadily be getting better with now more good than bad. I had two weeks where I was barely effected, got a hair up my a** and decided to go to Disneyland (I live in California) and three hours into the 6 hour drive I got the spins. Final diagnosis is past vestibular neuritis with a tail end of BPPV. I see neurology Friday to figure out how we are going to treat the BPPV. Hope this helps!
    • marie43202
      marie43202 Loveforlife

      Posted

      Hi there,

      Sorry to read about your trip ruined by this. Let me know how it goes (or went) with your neurologist. I am meeting mine for first time on Monday. Take care.

  • Loveforlife
    Loveforlife vanessamg

    Posted

    I just read you are in Empire! I'm from modesto currently living in the bay, small world! I have a fantastic neurologist in Berkeley if you are interested. This man is a genius with vertigo. I know it's hella far from empire but it's worth the trip. I went to UCSF and this man did better at diagnosing me than them.
  • sue19793
    sue19793 vanessamg

    Posted

    Hello vanessamg, this was same story for me four years ago. I have tried all kind of medicine, but they all didn't help completely. Finally, I picked up dandelion from own garden which helped vertigo. In Chinese herbal medicine, you will find out dandelion isn't only weeds, but also very useful medicine. The flowers, leaves, stem and roots after boiled in the water, you can eat them all and you can drink water as well. Try them, they will help you. By the way, you can buy dandelion tea from Holland & Barrett. Wish you get rid of the illness.l
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 sue19793

      Posted

      Well,I,ve got hundred in my back garden, ha ha.  so I think I,will be picking some today!   as children in UK we were always toLd not to pick them as they make you pee, so maybe they're a diuretic?  
  • lisa08672
    lisa08672 vanessamg

    Posted

    Hi,I hope your feeling better now?I'm dizzy all the time,I'm only 32 with two kids,when I'm stressed I get anxiety attacks and my dizziness get worse but even when I'm not stressed or anxious I'm still very dizzy,I'm due a MRI scan and I know I have ear problems as pain,blocked ears and tired all the time and get sickness due to been dizzy,if in any doubt ask to see a ent doctor,kind regards lisa
    • donna40025
      donna40025 lisa08672

      Posted

      Lisa make sure it's a specialist that specialises in Balance (vertigo) waste of time unless they specialise in this area ! ENT doctors are only good for the area they specialise in and consensus on these health sites many are missed diagnosed with GP'S , ENT's , neurologist unless they have a specialist area in Vertigo vestibular area! Be willing to travel and get it right the first - tenth time (lol)! My fourth time was a distance of approx 400 kms and my next appointinment is close to 2000 km! (5 months now and I was diagnosed with BPPV !  The person I'm seeing is the best in this area - something I've learnt is doctors know jack unless they specialise in this area! 
    • lisa08672
      lisa08672 donna40025

      Posted

      Hi Donna,I had balance problems years ago and saw a doctor in London one of the leading ones but I wasn't as bad as I was now,all symptoms I swear are from my ears but the ent gave me beta blockers and migraine pills which I know its not that as pills dont make a difference,tonight my left ear is blocked and is 3 rd day now ,feels like I'm going deaf and wants to pop,I'm light headed and keep getting dizzy spells especially if I lay on left side to long,lisa
    • marie43202
      marie43202 lisa08672

      Posted

      Hi Lisa,

      interesting as I get dizzy spells and pain when I lay on left side too. And now left side of nose feels plugged but isn't. Keep me posted on what you find out. Take care.

    • lisa08672
      lisa08672 marie43202

      Posted

      Hi,I just saw doctor who told me to use optivine nasal spray,its a decongestant you buy for £3 odd in any chemist,used it before and it helped with blocked nose, doubt it will help dizziness lol ,lisa
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 lisa08672

      Posted

      Just a word of advice , be  careful with decongestants, they dry out the membrane lining  in the whole area and can makes things worse.  It won.t help,as such with your dizziness.  YOu would be better with a saline spray which doesn't,t have chemicals  in it.   cAlpol do a good one for kids in Chemist which is a bit cheaper than a larger one for adults.  personally I just use  sea salt diluted in warm water to irrigate my nose etc. iT won,  I find that when I am congested it makes me feel worse too. 
    • lisa08672
      lisa08672 gillian76726

      Posted

      I will stop using it,thank you.I will get some calpol one as my kids have had it in past,thank you,hope you are well today ,lisa
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 lisa08672

      Posted

      yEa good,for you.  also as a quick fix I use something I get in the poun d shop that is really for headaches head soothe, stick thing, sniff that up also when I,m on a bus if I,m feeling a bit travel sick!
    • lisa08672
      lisa08672 gillian76726

      Posted

      Thank you gillian, its very helpful as I don't like taking pills unless I'm desperate as they always come with side affects,Lisa xx
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 lisa08672

      Posted

      Yes me too!  I think.my   Drs feel I am eccentric but I will only take something drug wise if I know it actually will help, which is rare! 
    • lisa08672
      lisa08672 gillian76726

      Posted

      Got my saline spray but can't get to town to get the head soothe stick today,I'm very dizzy again x
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 lisa08672

      Posted

      Sorry to hear you,r v. Dizzy again. ,If you can,t,get soothe stick today,,have you got any Vicks vapour rub around? that,s ok,in an emergency, a thing with camphor in it.  secondly as I am doing right now, cold,pack on neck, but close to lower skull area helps me when my head feels swollen or pressured, bordering on a headache.  the oblong shaped blue gel pack,,I couldn't,t live,without out, wrapped in a scarf and tied around neck.  yOu can betrothed,online, not expensive. Or a pack of frozen peas etc that you can refreeZe  (Not,for eating later obviously!) for now?
    • lisa08672
      lisa08672 gillian76726

      Posted

      I'm trying peas right now as so dizzy I'm spinning around,I feel sick.I have got vapour rub I will use,thank you for your help x
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 lisa08672

      Posted

      Just stay offline  and reduce any irritating Input ,lights etc if you can. sIt down with plenty of pillows behind your head and the frozen peas, and if you have to. I've,,do it slowly but I stay still if I can.  Another time get a meditation tap/video  going  and listen to that. 
    • lisa08672
      lisa08672 gillian76726

      Posted

      Thank you,phone going away now,thank you for all the help and support its very kind of you,kind regards Lisa x
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 lisa08672

      Posted

      That,a okay, I know what it,s,like, these little things are only to,take,the edge  off, but it,s better than nothing eh?  
    • lisa08672
      lisa08672 gillian76726

      Posted

      I've had dizziness on and off for 5 months now but last few weeks been so bad I been in bed lots, think its ears but not sure,left ear feels blocked, noises and I have had a cold 7 weeks now x
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 lisa08672

      Posted

      Yes you probably have   congestion affecting that area.  sTay off all dairy, milk etc as that creates mucous, also sauces or Mayo, etc too.  iF you can eat things link fresh pineApple as that breaks down mucous, kiwi fruit, citrus etc.  yOur cold itself won,t,last 7 weeks, but  your congestion will go on if you eat foods that make mucous.  hope,you,re not moving Round too much now, just me he cold packs going. And tomorrow make a change to,what you are eRing.  dRink,lots of water if you can, hard I know but hydration is important, stay off,too much salt too. 
    • lisa08672
      lisa08672 gillian76726

      Posted

      Thank you,I will be drinking more water and I love fresh fruit so will definitely buy pineapple,kiwi and citrus fruits,you have been so helpful to me thank you x
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 lisa08672

      Posted

      YOu,re welcome. I,be only found out these bits and bobs through trial and error and research.  what you need though is a proper  diagnosis of you can get one.!
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 marie43202

      Posted

      iT,s a head soothe stick that I buy in a pound store. bAsically it is for headaches and you rub it to your head or anywhere you need around neck 
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726

      Posted

      ... Sorry the screen on here is freezing again...it,s a mentholated  stick for headaches etc. 
    • marie43202
      marie43202 gillian76726

      Posted

      Oh, okay. And u say it also helps you with nausea? We have something here  called Voltaren that u rub onto skin for muscle aches, do you have that in England? Similar product I suppose?
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 marie43202

      Posted

      nO Voltarel,is an anti inflammatory.  hEad Soothe has a different ingredient.   I just googled it and there are other similar products , so if you google in your country you,ll,get the alternatives. Voltarel,,which we get here  too.,.is also much more expensive. I think it,s the mentholated ingredient, that goes cold on your skin that gives relief from headaches and can help f your neck is stiff etc.  Voltarel,is better for muscles of course.  but because I get travel,sick,on buses sometimes I find sniffing it relieves that. 
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.