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Light-headed, dizzy & spaced out for 2 years, can anyone help?

Posted , 110 users are following.

DizzyDebs
DizzyDebs

Hi there,

I'm hoping / praying someone can shed some light on my extremely frustrating & somewhat debilitating symtoms. Aprox two years ago I started to feel a little light headed, I was working in retail at the time and the shop was incredibly busy (I have always worked in sales, so this did not phase me, what did cause me concern was how light headed I had been feeling) At the time, I presumed it was just a side effect from citalopram - something I had been prescribed six months earlier for feeling a little low. I did think it was strange that I felt woozy and light headed six months into the course as I had only previously experienced this feeling at the very beginning. I mentioned it to my doc and they agreed if i felt ready i should taper off citalopram - so i did. Slowly but surely i reduced my dose and presumed the light headed, dizzy almost drunk feeling would disappear - much to my surprise, i am still in the same state - blurred vision, wobbly, floaty and very very dizzy.

I have been to see my GP numerous times - my iron & bloody sugar levels, thyroid have been tested. They even sent me for an MRI scan and it all came back clear. My blood pressure is a little low but nothing too alarming and the ENT doctor said they couldn't find any inner ear problems (which I kind of thought would be the case because it's not a spinning sensation that you might expect from say labyrinthitis, it's more of a constant faint feeling) 

It is a nightmare crossing the road or entering a busy supermarket. I am no longer quick on my feet and my memory is very poor too. I feel dazed and confused a lot of the time and extremely tired.

I'm only 31 and have a real love for life - can anyone suggest what could possibly be happening to me? I would be incredibly grateful as this god awful 'whatever it is' is really taking it's toll on my work, my relationship with my partner, friends and family (more so because there is no diagnosis as yet so I feel like people don't really understand what is actually wrong with me) every day I pray that this has just been a nightmare and I will wake up and feel normal again.

Look forward to your feedback...

5 likes, 227 replies

227 Replies

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  • guy90060
    guy90060 DizzyDebs

    Posted

    DizzyDebs:

    I couldn't explained it any better as I'm experincening the exact same sympoms, after several tests,visits to my gp,visit to the ear specialists Iwas told it was my fear of falling after having my knees replaced,I'm 68 yo and this is possible,I've been doing balance exercises and every other kind of exercise hoping it will help to no advail.

    Hopefully someone can shed some light on it. Good luck

    • guy90060
      guy90060

      Posted

      Hi,forgot to mention,my dizziness only occurs when I stand and walk.but the confusion is there steady.
    • johnnynotdizzy
      johnnynotdizzy guy90060

      Posted

      Hi

      Have you googled BPPV?

      I was dizzy and spaced out for 7 years. BPPV was the cause and was easily fixed.

      Let me know your thoughts when you have googled it.

      j.

    • johnnynotdizzy
      johnnynotdizzy Sochima822

      Posted

      Hi

      I went to see a doctor who did a very simple test - which involved rotating the head and tracking my eye movements. Once diagnosed, he performed a simple physio Manouvre- which took about 5 minutes - and fixed it.

      Basically, the crystals in my ears, that regulate balance, were dislodged and stuck in the wrong place and he put them back. Sometimes they fall loose again, but they have taught me how to put them back and manage the condition at home.

      I was dizzy for 7 years - constantly felt spaced out - like I was looking through someone else's eyes - it never went away. I was tested for EVERYTHING and then finally found a specialist who fixed it very quickly.

      Google the symptoms, and if you'd like a call/Skype to discuss I am happy to talk to you abut my experience.

      J

  • Sukey421
    Sukey421 DizzyDebs

    Posted

    Hi I'm 57 and seeing a lot of the same this my second time around last time only lasted a few months that was 2011 now it's been over a month not getting any better cannot work I'm on medical leave without pay. I'm going crazy. I can't walk right without a walker. Noise in ear is driving me crazy and fullness in head my vision is blurred I feel like I'm going to lose it with anxiety!!!

    Thank you all for letting me see I'm not alone.

  • keyle1011
    keyle1011 DizzyDebs

    Posted

    I had the implant for 3 years and had another one put in, and I started too feel dizzy when I was in my boyfriends car, I thought it was my implant disagreeing with me. I couldn't go to the shop and in the street I felt uncomfortable, 2 months later as it was getting worse I went to the doctors because I couldn't figure out if it was the implant that was affecting me. I had blood tests and everything came back clear, I had scan and that was okay it wasn't nothing to do with the implant but I did put a lot off of weight on from it, never get it!!!!! . They said it could be labrethenitis. I got some tablets and didn't go back to doctors. It's been a year and half now and I get it sometimes it just comes out off no where it's horrible but you have to control it yourself.

  • jane18446
    jane18446 DizzyDebs

    Posted

    Hi all,

    I hope some of you are feeling better now. I had many of the similar symptoms talked about here, plus others. I saw 2 ENT specialists, an eye specialist, a neurologist, had all the usual blood tests, an MRI scan etc, nothing found, they thought it was either stress or silent migrane, but I wasn't convinced as it didn't follow that pattern, like most of you I was ill all the time for 2 and a half years.

    I researched everything I could and eventually in desperation asked the doctor for a vitamin D test, it came back as below 15 ( I think it is supposed to be between 80 and 120) the doctor was really surprised at how low it was.

    After taking the tablets for 3 months most of my symptoms had gone. I recently tried to come off them, but have started to get the same problems again so I may be on them forever now.

    There are many reasons for feeling off balance + all the other symptoms so I'm sure this won't be the answer for everyone, but worth a simple blood test as this is not one of the things they normally check. Hope this helps in some way x

    • Sochima822
      Sochima822 jane18446

      Posted

      Good point Jane. It seems that many people don't know the importance of taking vitamin D. It can make your life a living nightmare with all sorts of symptoms when it gets too low. 

      Jane, it will take a while before you can go off of them.

  • eli75162
    eli75162 DizzyDebs

    Posted

    Have had this problem since 2015. Have had many test all coming OK. Upto date I still feel faint like situation and I have never fallen. I turn my head slowly or using the whole body. I don't sleep facing up. It's an awful thing standing with people but constantly fearing that I will collapse in front of them. Have been prescribed betaserc, antihistamines, and nothing seems to work.

    Now it an year with this problem any solution is most welcome.

  • Alysa
    Alysa DizzyDebs

    Posted

    Oh my gosh whatever did happens was there results or are we still looking for what is going on? So many threads here u can relate toogetting so desperate to find answers.
  • Dizzy_Dave
    Dizzy_Dave DizzyDebs

    Posted

    Hi debs. 

    I have the same. Tried to get off antidepressants and it started. Did you ever try and go back on the citalopram?  Did that stop it or change any symptoms. Feel sorry for you because if this continues for me this is not funny!  Only been happening for two weeks for me. I thought it was withdrawals. Can you drive ok?  I'm afraid for my safety though I don't feel as bad when I sit still.  

  • wendy09608
    wendy09608 DizzyDebs

    Posted

    I was googling my symptoms and came across yours, I have figured out its to do with stress being busy and constantly thinking at work and when I eat it gets even worse, I have noticed also when I travel abroad to old fashioned places like china peru, myramar im eating food the way nature intended my symtoms go away,, then I come back to britain and I get spaced out again,,, could it be pollution here as well ????? I have had this about a year now, I have noticed when im busy at work I go onto autopilot

    Haha spaced out autopilot zombie that can talk and pretend to be normal

    • eli75162
      eli75162 wendy09608

      Posted

      I have also had the same issues though doctors said I had bppv. But I notice when am in an environment I like it disappears but when in congregation or at work I start having fears of dropping in front of staff and this increases to a point I go back home.
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