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Have no clue what's going on

Posted , 9 users are following.

pamela2016
pamela2016

I usually post in the anxiety forum but thought I'd try here to see if anyone can relate. I've been having off balance woozy head since oct my Dr says its anxiety but seems different then the anxiety I'm use too.I'll describe what I'm feeling out of the blue no warning in Oct I was smoking a cigarette like I did every morning all of a sudden I got this feeling that came over me and I got very very dizzy had to hang on to the porch and walls til I could get to the couch it lasted about 10 min. It kept continuing very bad better sit down dizzy spells like I'm going to go out. Fast forward til now I'm still dizzy woozy headed just not as intense but I get this feeling comes over me like adrenaline fear and at the same time I feel like I'm on a boat or in an elevator how it makes your stomach and head feel when its coming to a stop. I'm feeling this and doing this all day everyday. What is this???? Is it an ear thing or is it anxiety I'm losing my mind also if I smoke which is only two cigs a day now I've just about kicked the habit cause of this. The smoking makes it intense. And my Dr isn't much help all that comes out her mouth is anxiety but I'm not convinced of this cause I've never felt this stuff. I swear its just like being on an elevator all day long non stop also at times i feel like I'm being pulled not to the sides but backwards.

1 like, 48 replies

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  • jonAustralia
    jonAustralia pamela2016

    Posted

    Sadly Pamela, you have been following the wrong support group as your symptoms match those with the majority of this group.

    I had the onset of your symptoms two years ago last June and worse, I was severly ill with vomitting through the dizziness and having called an ambulance (I live alone) struggled along the floor to let them in and they took me to hospital. The hospital emergency staff pronounced that I was suffering with Vestibular Neuritis (the wonderful doctors at Geelong Hospital in Victoria), but this after 3 days of testing. I recovered as they suggested I would after two months and all was well in my world again; that is until last June when it came back wih a vengeance. More vomitting for 6 hours and of course the accompanying dizziness and stress and panic when in direct sunshine or in large (or small) hallways such as habitate our shopping malls. More sadly, your doctor appears unwilling to put in the necessary work to perform investigative work that could earn her a Nobel Peace prize, as I and many hundreds of thousands of victims of this illness would certainly vote for her; sadly she is not alone in the medical field in just prescribing medications that are associated with peripheral symptoms such as sea sickness or panic easing medications. I am now resigned to carrying this with me for ever. I have boosted my personal exercise regime to 3 hours daily hill and flat running (bear in mind that I live in Tropical Queensland) and must appear to have imbibed a little early in the morning session as it is sometimes 6 steps forward and one to the right (my bad ear side). Otherwise, due to my losing 9 kilos over the past 3 months as a result of my attempt at recreating my youthful self, the symptoms persist only in the above form with no other side affects. Please get back to me if you want more encouragement regarding that you will feel a little better eventually, as I believe that you will. Fond regards, Jonathon

    • mary178
      mary178 jonAustralia

      Posted

      Hi Jon,

      Nice to read an positive post !!

      I also live alone with this awful problem..

      It's not easy... first started in August last year and lasted about 10/12 weeks ... and although still not 100% got back to work etc..

      Then like with you it all came back!!!

      In the middle of December ... off sick again and starting on the long road to recovery. ..

      Hopefully you're having a good day. .

  • tasha25575
    tasha25575 pamela2016

    Posted

    You sound like me! It's not anxiety however these symptoms create anxiety! I think it's an inner ear issue for sure. I was diagnosed with Vestibular Neuritis. It can take along time to go away. You must be patient. The passing out feeling can be scarey....I had that feeling too but never passed out at all. You should go to an ENT for further diagnosis. Doctors are waaaaay to quick to jump to anxiety disorders with this when in fact it's an inner ear issue that creates anxiety.
    • pamela2016
      pamela2016 tasha25575

      Posted

      Thank you ladies so much I'm so convinced its got to be inner ear that's causing me all this. If it is vestibular neuritis what do you do for it?
    • tasha25575
      tasha25575 pamela2016

      Posted

      I was told there isn't much that can be done. The healing can take a long time. Although I'm much better than I was I've been dealing with daily dizziness for 15 months now. I don't get the faint feelings anymore which is nice but the dizziness fluctuates. My ENT also told me that medicstion s can slow down the healing/compensation process so be careful with what you take. I started to question if this was VN cuz it was taking so long to go away. When u read about VN it says it goes away in 3-4 months or something. My neurologist told me that the virus can stay up to 3-4 months but that the healing from the virus can take months and months. All I can suggest is eat healthy.... Drink lots of water!!!!! See if advil will reduce some of your symptoms since VN is inner ear immflamation. It might help a little bit. You can also start trying different things such as the epley maneuver in case it's just lose crystals in the ear. This has to be done daily for a couple weeks. You can also start trying vestibular rehab therapy. You can you tube these. Unfortunately for me these didn't help but they have for many other people. It's normal to have increased dizziness when you do these exercises. After months of this crap I take a low dose of ativan since I didtb want to take anything daily. I take it as needed for days when the dizziness is too intense. It really helps but is highly addictive if you take advantage of it. It's the only thing that's helps me get through my days. Ativan is a vestibular suppressant which is why it helps calm the dizziness created from the inner ear. And at the same time it helps with the anxiety that naturally comes with this illness. Be very patient. It's very difficult to get a correct diagnosis! Very frustrating. Your ENT and doctor should rule things out and send you for an MRI or ct scan to rule out anything major. I even had heart tests and blood pressure tests as well. All was normal. I also went for an ENG (caloric testing) of the inner ear. They found a mild vestibular dysfunction however this test was one a year after my symptoms started so I'm sure it wouldve been much worse in the beginning. Shopping malls... Stores...movie theatres....concerts all trigger my dizziness to increase. I even get head pressure and an unbalanced feeling. I was told this will go away do I'm waiting for that day to come. For now I'm done beig wonder woman and I take an ativan when I feel it's necessary. I just refuse to take it daily because ativan can also slow down or possibly stop the healing process.
    • pamela2016
      pamela2016 tasha25575

      Posted

      Thank you for replying all of what your saying makes more sense to me of it being my inner ear then just anxiety but this has brought on anxiety for sure and it's frustrating to not have control of your body functions. But I will some how get to an eat Dr if I have to find a new MD to get there
    • mary178
      mary178 pamela2016

      Posted

      Go back to your doctor, it definitely sounds like Labyrinthitis / BPPV ....

      But like someone has also posted, it is a long road back to recovery. .. good luck..

    • pamela2016
      pamela2016 mary178

      Posted

      I'm going back to the Dr and not giving up on this til I get answers
    • tasha25575
      tasha25575 pamela2016

      Posted

      Yes never give up!! But just know you'll get different answers from different specialists unfortunately!!! This is totally frustrating!! I would strongly recommend you get 2 different ENT opinions. Also a regular doc will want to put you on an antidepressant. I refused to take it cuz I knew this was something different and I was right. Had I listened to my doc it would have prevented further recovery. Be prepared to go through several different tests including blood work...blood pressure tests....heart tests...mri...ct scan and probably all will come back normal!! Which is good but also frustrating cuz you don't find the answer to start the cure! Alot of times to be diagnosed its a process of elimination with inner ear illnesses. Stress will also elevate symptoms so try to stay as calm as possible! Also very importantly....keep moving!!!!! Stay as active as you can.....it speeds up recovery!!!! If stores bother you......don't stop going!!! Consider each visit to the store therapy! You might only last 5 minutes in there but thats ok!! Each time you go it'll get better! Don't avoid your triggers or you delay the healing! Slowly increase your exposure!
    • pamela2016
      pamela2016 tasha25575

      Posted

      Thanks Tasha I've had lots of bloodwork and last Fri ekg all normal no ct scans or ear test,and Dr yesterday did add another anxiety pill I take vistaril 25mg three times a day and she just added buspirone 5mg and I do have high bp but this isn't from bp this is so different from the bp and normal anxiety. I take quinopril for bp
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 pamela2016

      Posted

      If you are on insurance in the US?, back, say you want,to be referred,t a Neuro,Otologist, they are more experienced than an ENT, and the latter will waste a lot,of,your time.  they can't,refuse if you are insured I think? And it may help for you to Google Nuero,otologists in your area on line first so if your GP shows  ignorance on that, then you have a name and hospital,to,show him or her!
    • Bestie711
      Bestie711 tasha25575

      Posted

      Excellent response to pamela. You're absolutely spot on. Pamela, keep this post and re-read it from time to time. It's the best advice I've seen and I second it.
  • tasha25575
    tasha25575 pamela2016

    Posted

    Forgot to mention that smoking will increase your symptoms because smoking contricts the blood vessels which then reduces blood flow to the inner ear resulting in nausea and increased dizziness. This happened to me as well
    • pamela2016
      pamela2016 tasha25575

      Posted

      Omg thank you I'm convinced this is my problem for sure and thank you for explaining the smoking increases the symptoms all this fit me to the T. How do you deal with the smoking and increased symptoms?
    • tasha25575
      tasha25575 pamela2016

      Posted

      Thankfully I was just an occasional smoker so it was easy for me to quit because the symptoms were not worth it!! Also be aware that about a week before you menstruate and about 2-3 days I to your period you may experience increased symptoms. Unfortunately our hormones play a roll in our symptoms. I believe it's because during menstruation the blood in the body thickens which makes blood flow more difficult to reach the inner ear and because the inner ear is immflamed blood flow is even more restricted.
    • pamela2016
      pamela2016 tasha25575

      Posted

      Omg I was just telling my friend today that the head dizzies has been bad the past 5 days and i just started yesterday
    • tasha25575
      tasha25575 pamela2016

      Posted

      Ya its the worst time! It sucks! Also this illness doesn't get better overnight as you already know ....you can measure your healing progress month to month ...NOT day to day. Also try to decrease sugar and salt. Don't go crazy but just try to decrease. Sugar can increase anxiety and salt creates fluid retention which effects inner ear flow. I've been where you are.....I did soooo much research I could be an ear specialist now! Docs really don't know much at all about inner ear disorders! Hopefully you find a good ENT!! And make darn sure your doc rules out anything else that's serious by getting mri or ct scan.
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