ENT says not BPPV.. now what?
Posted , 6 users are following.
I've been fighting lightheadedness and dizziness for months now. Back in January, I started to feel horrible; zero energy, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, constant headaches, lightheadedness, dizziness, and nausea from the lightheadedness and dizziness.
It was incapacitating for a couple of weeks and then I began to feel better. But then my lightheadedness and dizziness returned and haven't gone away for 5 months now. It is the worst when I get out of bed, bend over to pick something up, or when I look straight down at something, like a paper in front of my on a desk. The nausea that associates with it is really having a negative effect on my life.
I've been to many doctors, had a CT scan of my head and abdomen (both perfectly normal, I'm told), had a full panel blood work done (slightly high cholesterol and vitamin D deficiency). My primary told me BPPV and gave me some head exercises to do that make me feel worse when I do, and I just had a second opinion from an ENT and she basically told me she couldn't help me and that I needed to see someone else. She said my audiology tests came back negative for vertigo related issues, because I don't describe the room spinning.
I'm depressed from the lack of progress from all of this and don't know where to turn to next. The ENT did suggest a cardiologist or neurologist, but what I just be throwing more money away seeing other specialists?
Very Frustrated
0 likes, 4 replies
anne05147 FrustratedDizzy
Posted
Hi, sorry you're feeling so bad. It took me 2 years to get a diagnosis, I had both BPPV and silent migraines causing MAV, migraine associated vertigo. At one point was so dizzy I couldn't walk in a straight line. I was eventually referred to an otoneurologist who prescribed Nortriptyline for the migraines. It took another year to regain some balance but by which time I think my brain had also compensated from the damage.
All best wishes. Anne.
emmy30 FrustratedDizzy
Posted
Hi,
I was going to say sounds like vestibular migraines....sounds like how mine started 3 years ago. I can see the person who previously replayed said MAV it is the same a vestibular migraine. Have a Google.
Believe me when I say I know how depressing it can be, even now three years I have may down days because of it. But it was all so.much worse with out a diagnosis.
Could be worth looking on line from a balance clinic if u are not in UK and have to pay. I am under ENT for my vestibular migraine but the consultant is also a neurologist.....I think she is getting sick if me as I seem to be one off the percentage of people where the meds keep not working.
Also don't let the word migraine but you off what we have said, it took me a long time to accept that as it really doesn't seem like what I thought a migraine was.
Waffalobill FrustratedDizzy
Posted
Dizziness and vertigo are symptoms not a disease. They must eliminate all the things that cause these symptoms. It can be a long and costly process. The problem is the specialists you may need to see you have to be referred to. Even if insurance doesn't require it, the specialists office does. Neurologist can rule out brain issues. A neurotologist may be more help. He deals with vestibular issues and the symptoms you have.
alan94308 FrustratedDizzy
Posted
Could it be PERSISTENT POSTURAL-PERCEPTUAL DIZZINESS
Read this up
Alan
Singapore