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Dizzy like motion sickness for 1 year and 5 months 😞

Posted , 9 users are following.

tnicole
tnicole

Hello, my dizziness started over a year ago and it has been nothing but hell. It all started when I through my lower back out. The night I through my back out I started feeling dizzing and sick. I figured it was something that would go away within a matter of weeks but that was not the case.

I noticed that weeks had went by with no relief. The dizziness i felt was NOT a spinning sensation but more like motion sickness. I felt off balance and at time like I could pass out. I felt as if I had just stepped off of a roller coaster or the awful feeling of trying to read a book in the car.

Sometimes it gets so bad I would feel super nauseous.

Now after a couple of weeks passed I started getting ringing in my right ear, ear fullness, slight ear pain, tingling in my hands and I was extremely tired. After about 7 months all those symptoms went away but the dizziness did not :.( I still feel like I'll pass out when I work out or even walk in a flipping store. It is so depressing.

I have seen a neurologist and she ordered a MRI with and without contrast, vestibular therapy but MRI results were normal and therapy did not do a damn thing. I have seen an ENT who did a eng/vng and it showed nothing. I been to E.R and they did a spinal tap and a CAT scan and all were normal. I don't have anxiety so I know that's not the issue. This dizziness just showed up out of the blue and it won't go away. I'm pregnant now and scared BC this dizziness is ruining my life. Can anybody give me any advice ??? Has anyone experienced this???

0 likes, 19 replies

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  • tasha25575
    tasha25575 tnicole

    Posted

    Sounds like what I have....vestibular neuritis (inner ear issue). Most tests all come back normal. I had ct scan, ecg's, blood pressure monitoring, blood work, seen cardiologist, 24 hour heart test and all showed normal. Inner ear issues rarely show up on tests. I would suggest getting a caloric test done. Ask your ENG for a referral. Since alot of your symptoms have gone away at least your getting better. With VN it can take 12 months sometimes for the dizziness to stop. I'm 8 months right now and although I'm still lightheaded daily alot of my symptoms similar to yours have gone away. Stores are still tough for me as is driving. My vision gets weird sometimes and my head feels heavy. At times i get ringing in my ears but not too often. In the first 6 months I would get so lightheaded that I felt I would faint but never did. Unfortunately there's not much you can do about it but to stay as active as possible.
    • tnicole
      tnicole tasha25575

      Posted

      Thanks for the response .It feels so good to know that I am not the only one feeling this way and that I'm NOT crazy! I might have to ask my ENG about that. I was glad that my symptoms went away but this constant dizziness is so debilitating 😒walking in stores is awful for me! I feel like I'll pass out but never do . some days are really good though! Sometimes my dizziness is like a 1 and not a 10 ..and your right staying active may help but it sooooo difficult..I have gained 38 lbs from this dizzy problem which is even more depressing ! did your DR tell you that you have a inner ear issue even though everything came back normal? I see a dizzy specialist at OSU medical on July 10th fingers crossed he will find out what's wrong with me!
    • Terry6872737
      Terry6872737 tnicole

      Posted

      I have the same issues and I am in month 15.  Tasha is correct in that it gets better with thime and absent trying to diagnose from your symptoms there is nothing that can be seen to diagnose inner ear issues.  I see an Otologist and one of the first things that he recommended is a low sodium diet.  I try to maintain 2000mg per day.

      The feelings that I had in stores is getting better but, at 15 months I still have days when my head feels off and a pressure feeling behind my eyes.  Today in fact has been a bad day to some degree.  The feelings lessen with time and I am close to 100% of where I was before this all began.

      Try the low sodium and give it 30 days to see if it helps.

    • tnicole
      tnicole Terry6872737

      Posted

      I might have to try that. I do remember my physical therapist told me to stay away from the sodium. I dont have the best diet so im sure that is contributing to my dizziness as well. Thanks for the advice.Hopefully that will help.
    • Terry6872737
      Terry6872737 tnicole

      Posted

      Part of the issue with the dizziness, in most cases, is the retention of excess fluid around the inner ear.  Anything that you can do to reduce that will help.  95% of us that suffer from VN make a full recovery.  The journey is just a roller coaster of events.  I wish that it went away as quickly as it appeared.
    • tasha25575
      tasha25575 tnicole

      Posted

      Yes my ENT said that testing usually comes back normal. You are certainly not going crazy!! It's horrible. For me the dizziness is a spinning but more like a motion sickness. I feel like my body sways. My ears ring at times. Head heavy...ugh so frustrating. I felt faint several times but never fainted. It's a scarey feeling though. There were times when it felt line my brain would vibrate...almost like a tremor. Scarey feelings caused me anxiety. I've had almost every test and all came back normal. I'm being sent to do caloric testing but its a long waiting period....almost a year...free also being sent to audiologist place that's extensively tests for vestibular disorders....again a long wait. I'm glad my symptoms are getting much better though. In the beginning my balance was affected too....and felt pain in my ears. Currently have wooziness daily that is getting better. Even though the dizziness is still there it fluctuates in intensity especially if I'm tired. I also still get anxiety that I never had before. My ENT said anxiety is a common side effect of an in er ear issue.
    • tasha25575
      tasha25575 tnicole

      Posted

      I was told low sodium as well.....drink lots of water and try to keep moving.
    • Terry6872737
      Terry6872737 tasha25575

      Posted

      The biggest changes that I saw were in the 8 to 10 month period.  At 15 months I feel that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Being in stores has finally began to improve, even though some still make me feel that I am in one of those snow globes at times.  I think that time is the major factor in getting better.  Until the vestibular nerve settles down and the body repairs itself, I believe that we still have symptoms.  The anxiety that it creates just heightens the feelings.

      My symptoms were just like you have described.

    • andrea75485
      andrea75485 tnicole

      Posted

      Nicole,

      I have VN for over a year now. I am in the Seattle area. How did you get into OSU dizzy specialist?

    • caroline43344
      caroline43344 tasha25575

      Posted

      Hi! I've been dealing with all this dizziness and all you have described for 3 months but mine has also been accompanied by migraines. Have you also experienced migraines with it? I've had all kind of testing, seen a Neurologist who I think has no idea what to do for me. I know this is an old post but I'm out of options. Thank you for your time?

    • mark122672
      mark122672 tasha25575

      Posted

      Hi Tasha 

      I was reading this post from a few years ago. Can I ask you a question or 2 about these symptoms? Let me know and thank you.

      Mark W.

  • tnicole
    tnicole

    Posted

    I'm in Columbus Ohio and my Neurologist had to send in a referral.

    She literally said in don't know what is wrong with you. neurologically there seems to be nothing wrong which is a blessing but still something is wrong. It took 4 months to get in with him but I didn't care. I hope he will figure out what's going on! His name is Dr.John g Oas.

    • andrea75485
      andrea75485 tnicole

      Posted

      Thank you for letting me know. There is a Oregon State University, I thought that was the one. I hope you get some answers. Please post and let us know what they said. Any info is helpful.
  • 1weegie
    1weegie tnicole

    Posted

    I have very similar situation. I'm 5 months in And still no real answers. I'm dizzy daily. The degree of the dizziness fluctuates from day to day. Nothing really makes that. I had a surgery, and a week 1/2 later I had a TIA. SINCE Then I can't lose the dizziness. I've had MRI with and without contrast. Catscan, 3 Nuerologists. A Rhuematoid Dr and even seen at Penn Med . I was told its Benign Paroxomsl Positional Vertigo. But would vertigo last 5 months and counting!? With no let up. It effects everything in my life. I don't feel safe or comfortable enough to walk, outside or treadmill. Just doing dishes is hard, laundry seems to really set my dizziness off. I can't play outside with my children or grandchildren. Driving is a challenge. I try not to as much as possible. My work has been effected and at this time , I'm questioning if I can continue doing my job. I thought I was the only one living with this. Doctors haven't helped me, I don't know where to go for help , next. Thank you for posting your situation, at least I know there's at least 1 person going thru the same.
    • caroline43344
      caroline43344 1weegie

      Posted

      Hi! I've been dealing with all this dizziness and all you have described for 3 months but mine has also been accompanied by migraines. Have you also experienced migraines with it? I've had all kind of testing, seen a Neurologist who I think has no idea what to do for me. I know this is an old post but I'm out of options. Thank you for your time?

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