Does this sound like Vestibular Neuritis?

Marie, please do let us know how it goes! And I hope you are feeling well enough to drive that day. I am definitely aware of how this can 'sabotage' our priorities!  

Yeah, let us know how it goes.  If they do a test, they could find something and be able to diagnose and treat.  But if they find nothing, then your left out in the cold like me.

I also have been feeling 'floaty' lately, and also have had a sorethroat as well. Odd. Weather-induced?? We'll never know really..., it's nerve wrecking to hear that so many of us have these physicians that basically tell us that there isn't much more that can be done for us. We all must seem like hypochondriacs. I sure do. When it rains it pours for us I guess. 

Yup, sore throat and very dizzy today here too. Could only tolerate 10 minutes in car

Drab day, cooler weather.

Hope your MRI isn't as bad as u think. Let us know.

Check out the symptoms of the Sternocleidomastoid Muscles, or SCM, strain.  They seem to mirror most of what you list here.

Thanks Terry, I'll check it out.

Hmm, it did get much cooler here in Ohio.  I'm still okay in the car most of the time, but stopping is problematic right now.  I have learned to creep up to red lights, and take roads that have fewer stops.  I think for some, that the feeling of movement you get when you are moving in a car overides the false sense of movement you get from your inner ear.  When I do stop, I try to focus on one thing, like the steering wheel. 

Another thing that you may want to look into is Basilar Migrane.  I had a friend that had the same sensation when coming to a stop in a vehicle and he was diagnosed with Basilar Migrane. Doctor prescribed Topomax or Imitrex, not sure now which it was,  for it and it helped him. 

Hi Kevin, i know i have the same sensation whilst stationary .  It 's the same as if you were on a train and the train on the opposite track is moving but the train you are in isn't.  I think it's all part of the illusiion of movement associated with this condtion,  We are trying to rebalance all the time and sometimes our balance system goes into over drive and picks up the wrong signals, maybe, who knows.  Hope you feel better soon and your MRI helps with a diagnosis.

Hi Kevin, Terry got there first but I was going to say, check out SCM injury, one of the symptoms is a sore throat, I have one too.  Plus Anne, another of the symptoms is bloodshot eyes.  Im finding my symptoms are least when I get up, then kick in during the day, as long as I dont go near shops or fluorescent lights, and are the worst at tea time and bed time.  If I go for a lie down and then I get up, I am really really badly dizzy.  And the process repeats the next day, just the same. I notice when I get stressed my ears start to feel full.  Must be something to do with your blood pressure.  My neck feels like its joined to my eyelids and my eyes are being pulled out.  Went to a craft fair today and although the lighting was OK, I was really dizzy, I think it was so much stuff everywhere, my eyes couldnt take it all in and keep me upright.  Had to go and sit outside. When Im at work, copy typing, inputting data, makes me really bad, but then Im moving my head and neck backwards and forwards looking at the PC screen then application forms. Sinuses quite stuffy today.  If I lie on the bed with my neck supported, I can stop the dizziness.  If I totally turn on my side and support my neck, I can even watch TV OK as long as I dont move my head.  Had trouble with everything seems too loud today also.  Joy ! But its comforting to know we are all exactly the same.  I wonder whats actually going on physically and why no one can get to the bottom of it.  Especially as it seems so common.  When I lie in bed at night, the bottom of my left foot goes numb if I sit up. Bizarre. 

Hi Paula I am sensitive to some sounds which the consultant said is part of silent migraines.  Hospital phoned me today to say my sept appt has been cancelled and they will get back in touch with another date.  I think if there is too much sensory input it just worsens things.  Because i have trouble with my neck when i am trying to reverse my husband put another rear view mirror to one side for me, too many mirrors made it worse so i just make do with what i've got. 

this is great news, glad to hear you're feeling better.  I do believe my neck is a big part of my balance problems but am also reluctant to let anyone do anything with my neck in case it worsens the problem as i have a bulging disc in my neck.  I don't think they can do anything for this apart from surgery and my problems began a week after having physio for my neck, so you can see my reluctance to allow anyone to do anything further.  I understand about the weak bones thing and it might be part of age related osteoporosis.  Hope you continue to see improvement.  What has your chiropractor been doing to your neck?  Stay well.  Best wishes Anne.

Hi Anne - I have a prolapsed disc at C3 so before anyone touches my neck, I wanted to see a consultant which I am in October.  I dont think I will be able to stand anyone manipulating it, because its so tender and has always been like that.  The first neurologist I saw who said it was silent migraine, said it was age related.  But all the docs seem to say everything is age related.  Im quite often very hot.  It cant be hot flushes still as Im 61. Anyway going down to 2 days a week, which isnt really enough money might have to find a new job on 3 days a week.  Def couldnt work full time any more.

Hi Paula  hope you can get some answers about your neck, can you update me when you see the consultant, because likewise i think most of my problems are related to my neck.  I saw a consultant a few years ago who saw an x ray of my neck whilst seeing me for arthritis and she said 'that's going to cause you a problem', i should have asked her to elaborate but as i was there on another problem i didn't.  It could still be hot flushes though as i knew a woman in her 80's who told me they never went away and our hormones are fluctuating all the time even following menopause.  Our ovaries can still help us up to 20 years following menopause i read on a piece of research.  I am 58 next month and my neck has always been stiff and occasionally sore but last 2 years i have also had a trapped nerve.  I don't know what can be done for these disc problems but hope you get some answers.  Best wishes. Anne. 

thank you, Anne...a bulging disc...so sorry...I think youre wise not to let

anyone touch it without more analysis and options for the best treatment.....Altho i have a nurse friend who has 2 bulging discs in her back..She does acupuncture (for several years now) and says it works well..I have had huge success with acupuncture for other issues, too....so perhaps that might help you?      ex-husband injured me years ago, and now i have degenerative arthritis in the neck...two of the vertebrae are nearly closed, and the neck itself was straight (no curve) from the injury. Chiro adjusts the neck/back with me face down on a table--no yanking the head sideways!  You have to have a reputable Dr., tho...Many chiro's don't seem effective...This man has rid me of 15 years sciatic pain...and having a clear head is such a God send..Keep us posted on your situation. I hope you can avoid surgery. God's keeping.

Hi Paula...I'm sorry this has inhibited your ability to work. Hope you find some treatment to alleviate the disc problem. May be the key to stopping dizziness? Well, i'm 62 and if i don't take bio-identical (natural) hormones, i would be still having hot flashes still..just sayin.   Prayers.

Thanks fathorse, what are the natural bio identical hormones you take, i am on small dose HRT so don't have hot flushes either, also have arthiritis in lower back.

God bless you too

Anne, They are tablets made by a compound pharmacy-- Tri-Est and progesterone.  Also low dose...I had a hyst in 2001, (big mistake) tried the patch and dot, but the bio-identicals have been the best for me...the tablets are supposed to by-pass the liver...Sista takes similar, but she does creams only. And I just heard that is the most effective application of hrt.  Also have testosterone cream and est. cream..both used sparingly. Helpful to the bladder.

For what it's worth, I took pure tumeric for a month, and the arthritis pain in my hands virtually vanished!! Perhaps that could aid your back?  i had sold my guitar, and now wish i hadn't..take care!

Hi Fasthorse, sorry about giving up your guitar, i also have a strum on mine now and again.  Thankfully although i have arthritis, it has never affected my fingers, it's all in my back and neck.  Good tip with the tumeric, i had heard this and bought some and put it away somewhere never having used it, so will try to find where it is and start on that.  Sorry you regret having the hyst, i was going to have one for back pain and irregular bleeding and numerous fibroids but think i'll hold out, as i'm sure back pain is due to my arthritic spine.  I had surgery 2 weeks ago for further investigation to rule out anything sinister and am clear so will try to hang on if i can and wait and see. I try to stay off as much pain relief as i can because i use to use a lot of Ibuprofen for many years and think it has affected my kidney function.  It's hard to know sometimes what to do for the best but i was put on naproxen for the trapped nerve in my shoulder which also can cause kidney damage.  Anyway feeling a lot better most days.  I went to the optician yesterday and asked to be tested for the vertical heterophoria, as i think kevin mentioned on this post,  and was tested and clear for that also.   The optician was very good.  Anyway take care.  God Bless.  Love anne. 

sorry fasthorse, noticed in my previous post i typed fathorse

Hi Fasthorse, I would love to take those but my mum died of breast cancer when I was 12 and Im not allowed HRT or synthetic hormones.  My chances of breast cancer are quite high as it is.  Being hot all the time is awful.  When I get anxious with the dizzies, I then get boiling hot too. I spend all my life in front of some fan or other.  Had a hyst in 2006 and been the same since then. I regret having the hyst too but had no choice due to an ovarian tumour.

Understand, Paula..I'm sorry you have to endure the heat..That's so difficult..An assistant principal told me nothing worked for her hot flashes until she used soy..before that she was "drenched"...I don't know if she meant eating or over the counter  or what. Just fyi.

  I've never felt as well after the hyst as before...I think the spinal/meds had as much to do with that as the hyst itself...That's when the lightheadedness began to plague constantlyi. Wet bandanas on the neck is all i can suggest, and you likely do that already..Hope things get better and soon, dear.

Wow, you've endured a lot!! It's so difficult to make a healthy choice when relief comes with repercussions...like the ibuprofen..And a blessing the surgery didn't reveal any egregious threats...and your visit with the optician had a good result, too..Thank God..I think it's wise to wait on the hyst..There is a hystersisters site that offers a lot of pre and post hyst info..I really believe it accentuated my neck/spinal injuries...I only had a 3.5 by 5.5 cm fibroid, but it gave me lower back pain. I've heard several times that progesterone will shrink the fibroids...and that they are caused by too much estrogen, and not enough progesterone.Some women do really well after a hyst..some like myself have life long regret... Could a chiro help with the trapped nerve? I have a friend who was having horrible head pain and double vision..his doctor wanted to do an mri for brain tumor.Fortunately he went the chiro first..Turns out he only had a pinched nerve....and got immediate relief with adjustments..His work was the problem-- leaning over a large magnifier all day..I know this sounds crazy, but Dr. Bob Marshall says russet potato juice (yep!) can rejuvenate even the worst kidneys...if you have a juicer. wait five min. after juicing, skim the top, and don't drink sediment at the bottom of the glass...for what it's worth. lol..love and prayers. Leigh

Hi Leigh, thanks didn't like calling you fathorse by mistake.  Do you have any horses?  Yes likewise i have a womb full of similar sized fibroids apparently which can cause low back pain or is that my arthritis or my kidneys.  You really have to be your own doctor if possible, because all these symptoms can get mixed up and you end up seeing different specialists and like the meet in a sandwhich, layered between all of them telling you it's something else.   i wouldn't like to a have hyst and still find i have low back pain. Did it get rid of your low back pain,  I hope you don't mind me asking but why do you regret having a hyst.  I know this is the dizzy site but now we've mentioned it.  I've been on the hyster sisters website and that's what put me off.   It sounded like everything was going to drop into the space left behind and end up round my ankles

Thanks for the tip on russet potato juice, is a russet potato some special kind or will any potato do?

I'm back to work tomorrow and looking forward to seeing my colleagues but not so keen on having to get up early as i've been having long lie ins whilst i've been off.

Take care, stay well.  God Bless.  Anne. 

 

Hi Anne / Leigh, I regret my hyst because of the constant hot flushes and the weight gain and the fact that after the op they found out my tumour was benign so it was all a bit unnecessary.  I am a hyster sister and I found the site helped.  Unfortunately though something went wrong and I didnt get back to work for six months.  I had to have another exploratory as I just couldnt walk.  There is another side effect but this isnt the site for it.  Ive just tried the epley manoevre and Im not dizzy at all when I lie down and I vaguely remember having that test done and it was negative so I know I dont have BPPV.  Have you seen that wizzy chair on utube to test for vertigo, OMG I think I would be sick.

Hi Paula, i haven't seen the whizzy chair but will have a look.  I have bppv and also silent migraines and the consultant told me not to get the 2 confused.  He is right.  I have the diagnosis of BPPV confirmed as when they did the eply manouvre i had rolling eyes (nystagmus) but apparently it is the visual vertigo caused by silent migraines that is causing the exhaustion.  Thanks for your reply regarding hyst, sorry to hear they couldn't do a biopsy first and then if needed a hyst.

I am due to go back for exercises for the balance problems next month as my appointment for this week was cancelled.  I'm feeling reasonably good at the moment so hope they trigger off any further problems as i have to drive at work.

Best wishes - Anne.

Hi Anne, I'm sorry to be late..missed notice in email...You are right about being your own doctor!!! Yes, having the hyst got rid of the lower back pain..strange, i never had back pain when pregnant..I was having intermittent blood in the urine..When I was checked for kidney problems, they found the golf ball sized fibroid...I read that the only damage a uterine fibroid could do was cause kidney damage if it lay on the ureter.

Hindsight, i would have tried progesterone therapy, or a myomectomy.. Post op problems?Many--but i believe some were from the spinal..I only weighed 95 lbs, and and the meds were just too much for me. swelled with interstitial fluid. (could have been the sodium drip) . That lasted for months.-Pre-op, i had great 20/15  vision--that deteriorated quickly, loss of muscle mass, ageing skin, trouble breathing (spinals can actually paralyze the diaphram. The hyst also allowed Hereditary Hematomachrosis to manifest...Many women get this after menopause or after a hyst..Affects joints, skin and internal organs...Basically went from a lean, muscled woman to a lean jellied older woman..I never wear shorts now, and my arms are crepy. Argh!!!..The bio-identicals helped recoup a feeling of normalcy. and,of course stopped the hot flashes.

The occasional light headedness i felt, greatly intensified.!!!...When i first got out of surgery, my ribcage looked to be sitting on my  hips!!! Thank the good Lord, He changed that.--I know another gal who sadly stayed that way after a hyst.  and until i went to chiro, i was lightheaded most of the time..but not this dizziness/vertigo thing.... It was like being poisoned...My female organs were all healthy..i have the post op report..just the fibroid causing problems..I should have sought a 2nd/3rd opinion before surgery. Hope this helps..No just russet potatoes.

  Hope you're clear headed at work and have none of the BPPV symptoms. Take care. God's keeping.

Leigh.

Hi Leigh, sorry you went through all that with your hyst.  I have read similar accounts on hystersisters which really concerned me.  One of my colleagues told me after hers she said to the attendant nurse 'what happens to the space left behind' and the nurse said 'no-ones ever asked that', well i think the answer can be found on hystersisters. 

I haven't had a bout of BPPV since May but still have balance and visual problems which the consultant said are silent migraines and not to get the 2 different things mixed up.  Today my neck has been sore and my vision really wonky, so i am thinking i need to see someone else about neck problems.  My husband has said i should see someone privately, like a chiropractor,  rather than wait on the nhs to get this properly diagnosed.  I'm considering it as it takes so long to get appointments on the nhs and this has been ongoing for 2 years now, coming and going, having good and bad days.  If it is my neck they may not be able to do anything but at least i will have a proper diagnosis as i think it is my neck following physio to it all this started.  Keep well.  Stay strong. God Bless.  Anne.

Waiting so long for appointments seems counterproductive to good health!!!!!!Dang! I think your husband is right in finding someone outside nhs protocols..Your physio person must have been unskilled. I hope you find a reputable chiro, They can take an x-ray, and tho it's old school, a lot can be seen without the trauma of an mri or cat scan An acupuncturist might also be an option..i didn't know balance was a problem associated with migraines...--I hope you get relief soon!! Take care, talk later. God keep you.  Leigh

Anne,  you asked about horses. Used to have them. I showed appaloosas for some  years...miss them, but have a dazzling motorcycle now.

Good for you Leigh, how do you manage the dizzies with a motorcycle  I've been back at work this week and it has gone quite well.  I think the nortriptyline is helping with the silent migraines.

haha, I don't ride if dizzy! Wonderful that you've had a good week, Anne! Obviously you had the right diagnosis re: silent migraines.

An answer to prayer! Thanks, Lord!  TC

thank you Leigh for your kind thoughts.  God Bless you too.   

Hi Fasthorse and Anne, I felt better on nortriptylene, I think its an antidepressant and muscle relaxant, so works for neck issues and silent migraine, but it never got rid of mine.  In the end I gave up with it.  Still no nearer knowing is the silent migraine diagnosis is right or not.  Have had quite a good week apart from inputting data when I was instantly very dizzy moving my head from side to side under fluorescent lights.  Which makes me think its neck issues.  Nortriptylene is good for making you sleep.

 

Hi Paula, glad you had quite a good week.  Flourescent lights are awful.  Can you wear some tinted glasses to help take the glare off.  Some of our office staff in another room have the lights turned off.

  Unfortunately, with me, nortriptyline appears to have worsened my sleep, as i wake up intermitently throughout the night, but then i'm a bit odd, in that a recent general anaesthetic made me high as kite for the week after, so i do have opposite reactions to certain meds.  Nortrptyline at low doses is used as a neuropathic pain relief.  I know i definitely have neck issues, with a bulging neck disc. 

Have you had your neck problem investigated and is there any help on offer?   Hope so. I think my neck problems, lack of blood supply or something similar is causing the silent migraines, but since starting on it i notice the dull ache at the base of my head has gone.

Hope you have a better week next week. Best wishes.  Anne. 

 

Glad you had a good week, Paula. Thanks for the info on Nortiptylene...I've worked a side job grading tests on computer. Some of the women wore caps to work because the flourescent lights bothered their vision.. I hope you and Anne both can get treatment for the neck. It could make all the difference. God bless.