Head pressure, facial tension, ear fullness!
Posted , 4 users are following.
hi long story long.
I had flu-like symptoms in early January. I got over it. Or so I thought. Fast forward a couple weeks later. I developed slight vertigo.
Week 1 - slight vertigo, on and off
Week 2 - dull ear fullness, slight facial tension
Week 3 - extreme heavy swollen head, lightheaded, painful ear fullness, heavy facial tension
I go to urgent care in week 3. Doctor says I have a migraine...a migraine. Prescribes me ibropufen and zofran. Doesnt help
Week 4 - same symptoms as week 3 + throbbing fingers + burning sensations in hands and feet
I go to physician in week 4. He says its an inner ear infection. Prescribes Meclizine, Ibropufen and Ear drops...They dont seem to help
Week 5 - same symptoms as both week 3 and 4! New symptoms appear however. I can hear my heart beat louder (not necessarily faster). Extremely fatigued. Cant stand without feeling wobbly. My heart can be heard through my swollen head.
I go back to the doctor for blood test review. Normal except Low on Vitamin D and a little high cholesterol. Doctor says Im not diabetic.
He says that my anxiety is probably through the roof and creating all these symptoms. I dont necessarily believe him.
I never suffered from major panic attacks or anxiety. Is it possible this "ear infection" made me feel this way? Is this even from an ear infection? Anxiety can make someone feel this way 24/7?
I was a somewhat heathy guy leading up to the new year, now I cant even stand without feeling nauseous. What happened?
29 years old
male
5'7
175 lbs
Any advice would be awesome.
0 likes, 6 replies
stef42306 eliseo71130
Posted
Your story is very similar to mine. Mine started with a heavy head, ears ringing, feeling weird and disassociation, lightheaded/dizziness and a migraine in early December. A few days later, I developed a respiratory infection and the doc told me I had an ear infection as well as anxiety. It was scary because I had never felt this before so of course I had anxiety! Finally, my ears were ruled out as the cause of the dizziness through testing and I had a MRI as well. I had low vitamin D levels as well.
Many docs later, the neurologist diagnosed me with vestibular migraines. The dizziness developed into persistent lightheaded/dizziness and I have so many strange symptoms. I'm trying a preventative med for migraines now hoping to get relief. If you are on Facebook, there is a great group called Migraine Strong where you can learn more about migraines.
eliseo71130 stef42306
Posted
That is very interesting. I have yet to have an MRI though. The doctors Ive seen are insistent that its an infection that stuck around since January.
And youre right, since Ive never had symptoms last this long it has left me with tons of anxiety and panic attacks.
The problem is I dont know how much of my physical symptoms are due to anxiety and how much are associated to me fighting a supposed "ear infection"?
Also, I have suffered with migraines growing up but they sort of subsided as a became an adult.
These symptoms however have left me with a swollen head feeling. Almost like a vacuum is sucking the top of my head, applying pressure to both my face and my head. Very hard to explain. Thats not the way I remember migraines feeling growing up.
But im assuming theres many different type of migraines?
Maybe it triggered something in my brain where Im in constant fight or flight mode.
All I know is right now they prescribed me vitamin d, flonase decongestant, claritin antihistmaine, and Ibropufen.
Im not sure what other measures I can take?
Anti-depressants??
I just want the drowsy, drunk low blood sugar feeling to go away. Its beyond frustrating.
jonese98459 eliseo71130
Posted
vertigo can cause extreme anxiety. i get lots of vertigo with Meanieres disease and it sucks. sorry you are going through this . if you can go see an inner ear specialist asap it could be Meanieres. also take the vitamin D3 every day. I was liow and had some major issues because of it. I take 4000units a day feeling much better. 🙏for you
eliseo71130 jonese98459
Posted
Thanks for your support.
Whats crazy is I had slight vertigo right when I was getting over flu-like symptoms in January.
Then the vertigo sort of subsided.
Then a week or so later, and it came back even stronger with new symptoms as well.
Finally, to be honest, the vertigo from my eyes have gone away. I still feel "dizzy" though because Im lightheaded sonce there is so much tension in my head and face/ears.
I could possibly have Menieres but I dont have hearing loss or ringing. Just pressure and ear crackling?
How did your vertigo start?
I know it sounds cynical but if I had a choice I much prefer the vertigo symptoms from before instead of this swollen head, excessive fatigue feeling I have now.
Hearing my heart beat every second is disturbing and maybe anxiety??
Its just all so confusing. It used to leave me frightened but now Im just angry and annoyed.
stef42306 eliseo71130
Posted
Mine is more of a lightheaded/ dizzy feeling. It actually started before all of the other symptoms and it was slight. I would have a lightheaded feeling out of the blue and it would pass. Also, if I go in a grocery store or some place with florescent lights, it sets off this feeling. It was terrible when I was sick and then it would come and go after the respiratory infection cleared and then at the end of December is when things went crazy. The dizziness was pretty much 24/7 and I had major anxiety. Also i had this numb burning sensation behind my ears before everything started.
eliseo71130 stef42306
Posted
I have all the symptoms you describe except the burning in the ear. If anything, my head feels like a little bit of shock or electricity randomly but not a major symptom.
One thing Id like to add is on some days I have mid-center to upper-center back pain. Yet I havent worked out since developing these symptoms 2 months ago.
So random yet so interconnected. Maybe its the anxiety? Maybe its an underlying issue?