1. Community
  2. Heart Health
  3. Autonomic Dysfunction

Head pressure/ Faint spells/ dizziness/ please help

Posted , 7 users are following.

micaela1996
micaela1996

I feel extremely hopeless and would appreciate any type of help I could get with my current situation.

So I guess I should start by saying I’m a 22 year old Caucasian female and am fairly healthy aside from living with anxiety/panic attacks and GERD.

This started 2 weeks ago on a Saturday when I was hungover I was out for dinner and as I was walking out of the restaurant I had this feeling in my head and felt a faint spell come on and was convinced I was going to the ground (felt like I was being pulled to the floor, lightheaded yet heavy squeezing feeling) but I didn’t faint, I just went home and slept it off .. felt fine the next day until I dinner time again when I was walking around making dinner and the exact same faint attack came on so I went and laid down for the rest of the night. 

Went to the doctors on Monday she said she believed it could be related to my GERD and also did bloodwork and some other basic tests. For the rest of the week I was fine until Friday noon time, I was sitting on the computer at work and it suddenly came on again and caused a panic attack as well. I had to get picked up from work and was super dizzy, short of breath, nauseas and sweaty. Laying down seems to make it better, so I was doing that till I got up and grabbed a shower was getting dressed then had another faint feeling in the same day (same Friday I left work) so I went to the Emergency Room. Doctor said my bloodwork, vitals and ECG was fine so I just got sent to a general internal medicine clinic for the next week. 

But things have only got worse from here sad 

The next morning I woke up with skull crushing head pressure (all over head, base of skull, top of head, temples etc.) that makes my brain feel like it’s floating around in my head and pushing into my skull.. may I add my appetite has been completely off since Friday (31st of August) so I feel weak too. The head pressure was so bad that I felt like my head was being lifted up off of my neck then being pushed from the top/back (really such an uncomfortable feeling). When I stand or sit up right/eat for too long my head starts to have the faint feelings again and I got warm flushes, my hands and feet go cold and I’m legit wet with sweat.. it feels like I’m about to drop to the floor and die (BUT I never actually end up fainting).

I started noticing other symptoms come on that are just disabling.. the pressure started going into my forehead, nose, face and really hard on my jaw and teeth (truly feels like they’re being pushed and squeezed) I just felt so disoriented like my head was going to pop and wasn’t a part of the rest of my body, the dizziness was bad, I truly have been laying down for over a week now. The worst I noticed was sometimes when I’m eating I notice my whole head face and mouth and like down to my neck would go numb and feel like I was floating and then the panick and faint would come back followed by the hot flush and sweating (so so scary).

I don’t have confusion or loss of vision or double/blurry vision.. the dizziness doesn’t necessarily feel like vertigo it feels more internal as opposed to things around me spinning. Not extremely sensitive to light.. only a little bit to noise.

I went back to the ER again and got more done (CT scan, more bloodwork and vitals) all came back perfect. 

I also saw the specialist at the GIM clinic and again didn’t know what was wrong with me but reckoned it was migraine related vertigo. So I tried Advil and the vertigo medication (neither worked) and I actually ended up really sick (dry heaving, closed my eyes and felt like I had the spins from booze) wasn’t sure if this was the medication or added symptoms to what was already going on but either way I went to see my family doctor the next day who said it could be an inner ear infection so she prescribed me a nose spray and amoxicillin (antibiotics) but it’s been like 4 days and nothing has improved which worries me!!!

I have no idea what’s going on I am crying and having anxiety everyday

Does anyone have any idea what this could be I am losing hope and worrying this won’t go away PLEASE help sad 

(Some additional symptoms- tingling in lips and face and ears. Warm sensations, dizziness, ringing in the ears)

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • kenaz
    kenaz micaela1996

    Posted

    I am so sorry for your problems. I have been dealing with this for 18 years and have no clear answers or treatment. Doctors are quick to brush us off but this is a real serious issue. My only thoughts:

    1. Make a chart of everything you eat and drink and if it relates to any symptom. One symptom could trigger more in a series.

    2. Ask doctor to check for TMJ, joints in jaw could be out of alignment.

    3. Ask for Tilt Table Test for autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

    The panic attacks are a normal response when something so traumatic happens with no answers.

    I wish you well Micaela, don't give up keep hounding the doctors.

  • kim1111
    kim1111 micaela1996

    Posted

    Ask for a table tilt test to be done. It sounds like dysautonomia. If you are in America ask to be referred  to the mayo clinic.  What you are having sound like what’s called  a near fainting. 

    I have lived with this for over 30 years now and you do learn to live with it but not like it. 

  • Drenee
    Drenee micaela1996

    Posted

    Sounds just like POTS. My 17 year old daughter had testing at Cleveland Clinic. GI issues and GERD  are very common and related to the POTS. Depending on where you leave the doctor specializing can be a cardiologist or neurologist. Look up autonomic dysfunction or POTS in your area. Double your water intake =to your body weight doubled in ounces. Put salt on everything. Sea salt works best for her and really helps. Increased water helps to keep your blood volume high which helps every thing you’re experiencing. 

    Don’t give up. Search for dr to help you out n your area  

  • ana85762
    ana85762 micaela1996

    Posted

    Im sorry your dealing with this i recognize it all to well  ,were you on any type of medication before your weird neuro sensations happened??? Mine happened after being on meds for my stomach thats why im asking 
  • mattchu84
    mattchu84 micaela1996

    Posted

    you have autonomic dysfunction by the sounds of it, i would say pots or vvs or similar, get serious heart conditions ruled out then push for autonomic dysfunction testing ie TTT 😃

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.