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Dizziness, Headaches, Pressure & sharp pains in head - as well as anxiety

Posted , 6 users are following.

salsagirl20
salsagirl20

So here is my story:

I have been dealing with these syptoms for 3 years and I feel like it is literally taking over my life. I have anxiety which I know probably doesn't help with any of this pain that I have. It just gets so much worse because when I get these pains I think the worse thing and my anxiety kicks in and I get achy chest, heart flutters, trouble breathing, etc. I have seen my doctor about this problem and she keeps telling me it's my anxiety but I know it's not because these symptoms come when I am not anxious.

I got blood work done numerous times, MRI of head, Xray of chest and neck and MCG of heart. I don't know how many more test I can do and still can't find out what the problem is. I am running out of patientience.....

I have also done chiropractor, acupuncture, physio and deep tissue massage. Nothing really helps besides the massage therapy which helps with my very stiff neck which always is lingering 24/7. It all started 3 years ago when I fainted at work and hit my head on some clothing racks. I hit the left side of my face it was all bruised and so painful. Doctor said I got wiplash and that I need to take things easy. So ever since then I have not been the same person. I feel like I can never get happy because I am in such pain all the time and I am so young.

Please does anyone on have any advice on how to deal with this? Or maybe any tips that have helped them with these symptoms. Is there another therapy I can do that you think will help? Please share.

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • arwen1972
    arwen1972 salsagirl20

    Posted

    Are you taking any medications for anxiety at all? The symptoms that you are describing, to me really do sound like anxiety.

    You say that you know that it isn't anxiety? The physical symptoms can crop up at weird times when you feel reasonably OK. I know it is hard to believe your doctor when you feel so cruddy, but you have had scans and X-rays done. If there was something there, then it would have been picked up. If you are still unhappy, then you are perfectly entitled to request a second opinion from another doctor. Have you tried deep breathing and visualisation exercises?

    i really hope you feel better soon.

    • salsagirl20
      salsagirl20 arwen1972

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. I do know I have anxiety but I am not convicned that my dizziness has anything to do with my anxiety. I will be totally calm then this wave of dizziness hits me some days are worse then others. My doctor told me to go on meditation and I didn't want the extra symptoms that go along with it so I said no. Yes I do mindfull breathing tehcniques that seem to help me with my other symptoms but not the dizziness, sharp pains in head and pressure that I always feel in my head. Scares me so much everyday I just dont understand it.
  • lyn88241
    lyn88241 salsagirl20

    Posted

    Your symptoms sound very similar to mine. I have recently been diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia (pots) after 2 years of being ill (off work since Jan) I thought I was going mad and was even being treated for panic attacks because I was feeling faint and couldnt go out anywhere. I ve been treated for 3 weeks (salt rehydration mainly) and I feel better than I have done in 2 years. Weny for a 2 mile walk yesterday and hopefully back a work very soon. Just a thought. Wish my gp had checked for it sooner. Wouldnt have had to try all those migraine meds/therapies etc etc! xx
    • salsagirl20
      salsagirl20 lyn88241

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply what tests did your doctor do to find out that you have this?
    • lyn88241
      lyn88241 salsagirl20

      Posted

      Pots is related to blood pressure and/or heart rate. So they did a laying/standing test monitoring changing in my BP and heart rate. The difference between my laying heart rate and standing heart rate is too high (and stays like that) hence the headaches, lightheadedness, tiredness, blurred vision etc etc. Some people with pots faint alot but not all. I luckily dont but was feeling pretty awful most of the time until a few weeks ago. I think the problem with dizziness and headaches is that they can be caused by so many thing inc stress and ofcourse feeling so damn awful for so long makes us stressed in itself. Really hope you get to the root cause of it too. Thinking of you. Hugs xx
  • pauline59158
    pauline59158 salsagirl20

    Posted

    Hello

    I had something called VasoVagal Syncope (VVS) 2 years ago. I blacked out several times following a rapid drop in my BP. Like Lynn PoTS is another name for Syncope. If you put it in the search engine, you will find a Forum that may help with your issues. I had to tell my Dr what I had read before he would really listen to me. The next time I went he had obviously read it, because his attitude was completely different. 

    He reduced the strength of some of my meds and it helped.

    I wish you well in finding a solution. Please let us know how you get on.

    Pauline

     

    • lyn88241
      lyn88241 pauline59158

      Posted

      Hi Pauline .. isn't it a shame we have to seemingly educate gps sometimes!? Glad you got the help you needed in the end too xx
  • paula59
    paula59 salsagirl20

    Posted

    Hi

    I have the head pressure problems and ears, plus the constant dizziness and I have been diagnosed with silent migraine.  It did cause me a lot of anxiety before the diagnosis and I had two panic attacks.  I am now OK with dealing with it, I wish I didnt have it but Im not scared any more like I was.  I dont know if it will ever go, but Ive noticed the less I stress, the better it is.  I am trying to live round it apart from evenings.  I just hope it will gradually disappear over time.  Being dizzy is so scarey so its no wonder youre very anxious.  I think not being able to see properly makes you so vulnerable and unsure.  I gradually started going to the shops for longer and longer and trying to stay until I was about to be sick.  It seems over the last year, it has helped as I can now shopping all day friday as long as the lights are not too bad for me.  I believe if you have sensitivity to lights and sounds, its more like migraine.

    • salsagirl20
      salsagirl20 paula59

      Posted

      It's so hard to tell what it really is and I am not sure if my fall has anything to do with it but somehow I do. Or it might be a combination of the fall, having a tight neck already, sitting at a desk all day which is poor circulation and stress? I don't know today I felt super off too, I try to eat healthy and excercise to help with the symptoms that I have. I went for a run today and boy did I ever have a headache after and dizziness bad. Headache is still lingering now and woke up with a headache this morning too. I am going to see my doctor again. I am going to ask her to either see a neruologist or ear, eyes and throat specialist. I hope I can find some answers there. I might have what you have with the migraines though your symptoms do sounds similar to mine. What has your doctor given you for pain? Does it help with your dizziness?
  • suzanne65381
    suzanne65381 salsagirl20

    Posted

    Hi

    I have exactly what you are describing! I know this post is 3 years old but wondered if you ever got to the bottom of it?

    Its so frustrating going to the doctor to me told its anxiety. I am an anxious person yes but I get anxious after the dizziness/head pressure etc.. I have been taking proparanol for 2 weeks, for the last 4 days i have lowered by does to get myself off them. Dont know why i started to begin with i just felt the doctor was getting annoyed with me so felt the pressure to take something.

    Any advise you have on what your latest is would be really helpful biggrin

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