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Please help, at my wits end

Posted , 8 users are following.

rachelmarie24
rachelmarie24

Hello, I just want some help with something that's been bugging me the last 6 months... I feel like I'm being pulled down to one side when I walk And I get light headed quite a lot.. this sparked off some serious anxiety problems (which I thought was causing the dizziness) but I've beaten the anxiety for the most part but the dizziness has remained .. I got a migraine yesterday and have been even dizzier and jolt awake quite a lot in the night .. I have no idea what could be causing this.. I can't stand for longer than 5 mins without feeling like I'm about to fall to the side .. can anyone help?

3 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • gillian76726
    gillian76726 rachelmarie24

    Posted

    I'd say you have probably got crystals or something affected the ear on the side that u are falling towards.  hAve you seen an or Neuro Otologist?  Have you had migraines before?  There's a condition MIgraine .associated Vertigo some people have, but you really need to,see a specialist. 
    • rachelmarie24
      rachelmarie24 gillian76726

      Posted

      It can be both sides but dominantly my right side the vast majority of the time .. =/ it's quite distressing not knowing if I'm gonna fall or not.. I'm going back to mg doctor for an anxiety check up at the end of the month.. currently not on anything but have some stemitil and wondering should I take it... =/
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 rachelmarie24

      Posted

      My Problem ,s are right sided,too.  I don't get the worry of falling anymore, bu,I've probably adjusted myself after the 5 years.   I really think,you need more than just a Anxiety check up, to be honest.  it is perfectly understandable,to be feeling anxious with this problem. So he or she won't be telling you anything you don't already. Know.  "yEs you are anxious"!  right, next move please!  You need t gets to ,the root,cause, and  this GP,needs to refer you to a specialist.  iDeally a Neuro,Otologist who,are much better informed than a regular ENT. So just ask,for that referral.
    • SJWHEA
      SJWHEA rachelmarie24

      Posted

      Hi rachelmarie24,

      I hope you are feeling better.  May I suggest that you don't take the stemitil unless you are really having uncontrolable anxiety, nausea that you cannot get under control or vomiting issues.  If this dizziness (feeling you are leaning to one side or the feeling you my fall) is all you have, I would have to agree with gillian76726, you probably have some lose crystals is you inner ear that need to be put back by seeing a PT that specializes in dizziness and balance issues.  A great over the counter pill for dizziness issues is Meclizine.  

      These types of health issues are not easy to diagnose, so be patient but not afraid to speak up to your doctor in getting what you think may help you.  Whatever you are doing to get your anxiety under control, keep doing it, as it is healthier for you to try natural ways (meditation, yoga, etc...).

      I have been working with my GP in trying to find the under laying cause and have had CT's, PT, and getting ready to get an MRI.  Most of their testing is to rule out other serious causes (blockage of blood flow to the brain, clogged arteries, etc...) that do not involve the inner ear.  The PT I seen the other day did a treatment called Epley; and it helped to relieve some of the dizziness I was experience, but it also took away the pressure I had in my left ear.  She has said that it does sound like I have some lose crystals and this treatment is the best way to get them back where the belong.

      Hope you get some answers soon and start feeling better.  Keep strong and hopeful, but most importantly be safe in all you do.

  • linda95289
    linda95289 rachelmarie24

    Posted

    Hi, so sorry to hear of your experiences, I felt it important to tell you that you are not alone love, I experience the "pulling to one side" often. It's really awful isn't it you just feel like you need to straighten up but of course you are but you don't feel like it. It's like visiting one of those fun houses at a funfair where the walls and floors aren't straight.....not much fun though eh?? 

    You may have read a couple of my contributions and learned that I have had this for around 24 years....I really hope you don't have to endure what I have. There isn't a magic cure although some people find relief from the epley manoeuvre applied to them a few times.

    I am attending a hospital appointment next week as I have had some new symptoms and it freaked me out I have to say. Will post if anything comes from it.

    Good luck my friend 

    • alicia1201
      alicia1201 linda95289

      Posted

      Hi Linda,

      sorry to hear you have had this for that long.  horrible.  I thought 3 and a half years was bad.  how have you coped?

      I just researched something called Upper Cervical Care which is a gentle chiropractic treatment...works on vertigo, etc...  I have tried everything out there and my next step is this.  hopefully I will get good results.   at the end of my rope.

      hoping you will find the solution,

      Alicia

  • rachelmarie24
    rachelmarie24

    Posted

    Thank u allegory your kind replies I actually feel so much better knowing there are others who are experiencing the same things as I have described!! It's terrifying and I know my anxiety stems from this! I've been to an optometrist who said there's nothing going on in my eyes (because I've been seeing spots and my vision has been shaky) so I have to put it down to the fact that's it's all in my ears .. my hearing is still spot on though is that ok?
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 rachelmarie24

      Posted

      It's,your Vestibular system .,If you google that term. It will explain what it does and how it,all works, in conjunction with your eyes and ears., your hearing can be fine, your vision can be fine, but if the other component , ie Vestibular, isn't working in connection with those,,then You will have problems.  It's like a car, if one part breaks,down it can cause the car to,breakdown, even if there's nothing wrong with other parts, it can case problems for he other parts, like your eyes getting spots and shakey etc.  it's all,do do,with synchronisation.
    • alicia1201
      alicia1201 rachelmarie24

      Posted

      Hi Rachel

      I have seen an Optometrist about my dizziness too and she said that the Vestibular thing definately causes your eyes to go off balance making your whole body go off.  eyes along with inner ears and brain all work together to keep us balanced.

      When I'm watching the screen and something moves on the screen, it throws my balance off.  eg.

      scarey stuff

  • emma93780
    emma93780 rachelmarie24

    Posted

    Reading this i thought omg this is me, I have been suffering with dizziness for the last 5 months and the last month I feel like I am being pulled to the right all the time, I feel like I have to lean left to try to keep myself upright it's a horrible feeling, I have seen and ent doctor twice had a ct scan, bloods, camera up nose and down throat, waiting to see a neurologist have a scan on my neck and a balance test but nothing is working to fix it at the mo it's horrible i completely sympathise with you 100% xx
  • laurence76206
    laurence76206 rachelmarie24

    Posted

    Hi Rachelmarie,

    I have exactly what you describe, with veering/pulling over to the left, lightheaded, migraine, jolting awake when sleeping.  Like you I have overcome the anxiety but did suffer for the first 6 months with this whilst various tests were carried out to rule out more sinister stuff.  I am now 13 months into the illness  which was diagnosed as Vestibular Neuritis (VN). I feel there has been some small imrpovement and am carrying out the VRT prescribed by my Physio, recently though I have suffered with a head cold which has set me back.  I too also struggle to stand for long preiods of time and get severe neck ache which I hope can be sorted bny an Osteopath.

    I do think the VRT exercises are very slowly helping me to regain my balance but it is a long slow process.  Have you seen a Consultant and physio eyt?

    I am not sure if you are in the UK but I have been seeing one of the top UK consultants for this type of condition (MR Rea) who is based in Leicester.

    Anyway, I wish you all the best in your recovery.

    Laurence 

  • dee50000
    dee50000 rachelmarie24

    Posted

    Yep, pulled to one side and the past couple of days I find myself trying to walk straight ahead and my feet are actually stepping to the side instead of the front. I told the ENT that it feels like my head is pulling me to the left, and my feet are going along with it so I don't fall! He shook his head yes, and told me to see a PT specializing in balance. (This is after 2 MRIs and many audio tests.) I think many of us hear have the same symptoms, and I  too, get migraines. Maybe that's the culprit. They say the worst thing you can do is stay in bed and not do the things you do... VRT exercises, walking, and just "life" will help your brain adapt. It is a long process though, and be careful! My hearing is 100% too, it's an inner ear problem (vestibular), not the hearing portion. There is a nerve that splits into 2 sections - one the audio, and one the vestibular. We've got problems with the vestibular one... many possible causes, same exercises basically. Cyrstals are differerent (google the trm "ear crystals") but they can also contribute, and usually cause room-spinning, which it doesn't seem like you said you have. Good luck!

     

  • alicia1201
    alicia1201 rachelmarie24

    Posted

    Hi Rachel

    I have had problems with that feeling of gravity pulling me to one side for quite some time now.  Are you getting so dizzy that you can't stand up or if you move your head the room will start to turn?

    I have had many tests and they are not sure about Menieres, but I do have damage in my right ear.  but no diagnosis.  this drives me nuts.

    my doc. thought it was positional vertigo but said it would go away after 2 weeks.  it's been 3 and half years now.  I make sure I am very hydrated. and hardly eat salt.  it matters.  everything I have read from the Cleveland Clinic or prestigious Hosp. says to take salt out and caffeine out of your diet.  because it affects the fluid inside your inner ear.

    I am a migraine sufferer too.  over the last two years, noticed that I get very dizzy before and after my migraines now.  weird.  they say its vertigo migraine??  and I do jolt too.  supposedly that's muscle contraction.

    hope this helps.  if you find out anything, please let me know

    I'm going nuts too.

    Alicia

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