light headness and heavy pressure in your head

Do you have any diagnoses?  Meningitis? BPPV? I haven't seen many on here who have done Cawthorne-Cooksey (sp?) exercises, as most do the Epley maneuver. A main difference is that Epley is to manage the sediment in the inner ear that provokes attacks of vertigo, while C-C is to re-train the brain to balance...much like starting over as infant/toddler learns. How is your training going?

I have some of your symptoms, but mine seem more middle-ear related with pressure...or sinus related. Clearly, my inner ear is affected since I have vertigo (BPPV), but I can now manage with a decongestant when there's fluid build-up. I don't have any hearing loss (not sure you do, either). My doctors were fairly hands-off, too, which is disappointing when you're not well!!  But, in your case, you should have guidance with Cooksey. Was it carefully explained?  It will make you feel somewhat ill while you're working through it...

Also, have you seen an eye doc? It could all be related to inner ear, veestibular stuff, but it's good to be sure that your vision is otherwise fine. 

It sounds simple, but if it's over-the-counter for you as it is here, you could just try decongestant medication to see if it helps you...  In my case, I'm dizzier at first, but if I take it for a few days, I feel much better!  (I start with one 12 hour pill for the first day and then go up to 2)

I hope you feel better soon!!

 

I had the same thing last year and do the C-C exercises. My diagnosis was vestibukar neuritis. It can take some time to retrain the brain and you may get some decompensation happening if you get sick with another virus or are tired, stressed, drink too much alcohol etc. It does help eventually but you have to be consistent with the exercises. I stillfeel a little unbalanced and lightheaded at times but mostly okay. Being in darkness or flickering light situations can be disorienting, so I take it slowly if I find myself in those situations,

My specialist tells me that one day I will forget I have this debilitating condition, and every now and then I find myself doing just that, but she also says that everyone is different so no specific time prognosis.

i manage it on a daily basis and try to keep my life simple on those days I feel really unbalanced/lightheaded. In other words,you need to be kind to yourself. This is not something you can expect a magical cure for. It is not life threatening, merely life limiting for a time.

christine

I have been doing the exercises to help try to retrain my brain to balance without relying on my inner ear so much. I had to relearn how to walk after surgery for a cholesteotoma. The tip that has helped me the most is finding my focal point wherever I am. Being able to focus on one item during a dizzy moment helps me regain my equilibrium faster. It is really hard living like this. Hang in there. You're among friends. 

You have to do the exercises every day x 3 no matter how you feel. They will make you dizzied sometimes but you have to get through it to help your brain build new neurological pathways. 

Christine

It does help eventually. Everyone is different with different time frames.  Min has been just over 14 months before I noticed the difference. Be aware though, that once you have this "thing", it can come back, although perhaps not as badly, in what my Neurotologist calls "major life events" - for instance, you get another virus (the main one for me), being stressed, very tired, getting drunk (truly she said that).  I've had a couple of viruses over the winter here and my balance issues did return, but never as badly.  The main think is not to let it get you down. Hard, I know. Anxiety is real with this.  Have you tried having some counselling or psychotherapy. I know this helps some people.and let's face it, it's way better than taking medication.  Also relaxation exercises, or meditation, whatever you want to call it.

i have just been on an 8 day trip with plane flights involved, first time away for anything more than a long weekend, and also travelling by myself, since this thing happened?  It was great. Never felt better

So, keep up the exercises and don't let the bugger get you down!

Christine

christine

Christine is right. You do really have to keep up on your therapy and so it consistently. You will feel worse in the beginning but will slowly notice changes. I am surprised that you aren't seeing a physical therapist weekly to check on your progress. When an exercise stoops making me dizzy we adjust it or replace it,. That way we are always pushing me forward. My physical therapist is amazing. She is so caring and supportive. My specialist didn't even give me exercises but instead told me to see my regular doc because it must be something non-vestibular. All the tests that have since been run by my physical therapist and my new audiologist have confirmed that it is. Validation for me has been the most important part. I really do hope you do well. Don't give up and don't hesitate to continue to get more/other help/opinions if this doesn't seem right. Had I stayed with my first ENT, I would probably still be staggering around like a drunk and running into things.