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Getting scared now, any advice?

Posted , 5 users are following.

jen85
jen85

I'm a 29 year old female in good general health. Around 3 weeks ago I noticed I felt slightly off balance, didn't think much of it. Long story short, I went on holiday and had a couple of episodes of dizziness (2 or 3 seconds), and a couple of episodes of feeling faint (I could feel the blood draining from my face but composed myself). After the second time this happened I went to a clinic while I was away and they diagnosed me with a urinary tract infection and said this could be why I was feeling dizzy and off balance. I started antibiotics straight away. My blood pressure, blood sugar etc was fine. Upon returning home I went to my own doctor and he told me to finish the antibiotics for the infection and prescribed me Stemetil 5mg 3 times a day. That was 9 days ago, I have since finished the antibiotics for the urinary infection but I'm still feeling off balance, although I have not had the faint feeling as bad. The best way I can describe it is that feeling you get just after blowing your nose, like everything shakes for a second, kind of "floaty". It's like a mild version of that constantly (except when lying down), and an intense version every so often. I have noticed it's worse after walking for a few minutes, when I stop I feel like I have to keep moving or swaying from side to side so that my head doesn't go "funny". I should say that I have no pain, no nausea, no ringing in my ears, no hearing loss or visual disturbances. I really am hoping that it's just fluid in my inner ear or something but I'm getting worried, can anyone help shed any light? 

0 likes, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • pauline59158
    pauline59158 jen85

    Posted

    Hello Jen,

    I would suggest you go back to see your GP. Maybe show him your posting on the board. Did he check your ears at the time, it might help to see an ENT specialist.

    Hope you get it sorted out, please let us know.

    Pauline

     

    • jen85
      jen85 pauline59158

      Posted

      Hi Pauline, no he didn't check my ears.

      I finsihed the Stemetil course yesterday and the doctor said to see how I get on without them over the weekend. According to my urine sample, the infection is gone but the doctor would like another sample next week along with another blood test. I really don't think the Stemetil were any help and I told the doctor that, he said sometimes these things can take a while to clear up and next week if I'm still the same, depending on the urine and bloods, he will see if there is an alternative. I will ask him to check my ears and about going to see an ENT after the test results.

      Thanks for your reply,

      Jen

  • jen85
    jen85

    Posted

    Just a quick update. I went back to my doc today to get my blood and urine results, both were clear except there's red blood cells in my urine so he's sending me for a renal ultrasound. He gave me Vertigon tablets (betahistine dihydrochloride) for my off balance feeling, and a nasal spray because he said I sounded a bit congested. He said i can take decongestants for that aswell if I want to. Hopefully the tablets will work and I can return to work next week. He gave me a month's prescription and already I'm worried about what happens when I stop taking them, but i'm trying not to think about that, just take it a day at a time. Thankfully I haven't had any major attacks of my head going "funny" or panicky while out and about in the last few days, though the off balance feeling is constantly there. 
    • jen85
      jen85

      Posted

      I forgot to mention he looked in my ears and said they're fine!
    • Terry6872737
      Terry6872737 jen85

      Posted

      Sounds like you are headed in the right direction.  I hope everything comes out ok with your ultrasound as well.  The residual symptoms may take a few weeks to begin to finally resolve themselves.  Any issues with the inner ear are VERY slow to correct.
  • pauline59158
    pauline59158 jen85

    Posted

    Hello Jen,

    I am on Betahistine, they are certainly helping. Thank you for keeping in touch. Hope everything goes well at the hospital. Look forward to hearing when you get the results.

    Pauline

  • jen85
    jen85

    Posted

    I'm happy to report that the Vertigon seem to be helping and I was able to go back to work this week. Just taking it slowly. More importantly, I was able to attend a huge outdoor concert last night (90,000 people) and I was fine! If I feel disorientated at all I've started to make myself focus on something directly in front of me to settle myself. The off balance feeling is still there in the background constantly. Does anyone know if there's a chance of going back to square one when I stop taking the Vertigon? I can't imagine anything worse than feeling like this has finally settled and then it comes back. Ps I'm still waiting on my kidney ultrasound results, I will update you all when I get them.
    • Terry6872737
      Terry6872737 jen85

      Posted

      Sounds like you had Vestibular Neuritis.  VN usually resolves in 6 to 8 weeks, some of us suffer longer.  The chances of recurrence if it was VN that you had, is around 5%.  So the odds are in your favor for a full recovery and little likelihood of it happening again.  Hopefully, that will be the case for you.  It has taken me 15 months to recover as you really never know how much damage there is to the vestibular nerve when VN strikes.  If you have no ongoing episodes of spinning vertigo it sounds that you are going to have a quick recovery.
  • jen85
    jen85

    Posted

    Hi guys, had a bad week this week. I've been taking the Vertigon for 3 weeks now. This is my 3rd week back in work ( I work on my feet all day and don't really notice the feeling when I'm busy). This week I've felt like my balance was getting worse, when I stand still I can notice myself swaying slightly. I went into a shopping centre today and had to leave after 5 minutes, I felt extremely uncomfortable, like my brain was floating in my head and I was going to fall over or pass out. I went back to the car and cried. It's like my vision is "buzzing" constantly, nothing is settled. It's very hard to describe but I feel like I've taken a huge step backwards today sad it's going on nearly 2 months now and my life isn't my own anymore.
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