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Sudden dizziness and headache.

Posted , 9 users are following.

carl_27341
carl_27341

I'm a 42 yr old male, while driving 3 weeks ago I suddenly got a feeling I was going to pass out and instantly pulled onto the hard shoulder and let a colleague drive. Since then all was fine until 3 days ago when 3 hours into a drive the same thing happened, I pulled over again and the colleague finished the drive. I was fine the rest of the day and drove back to the hotel later. The following day the same thing happened again on the way back around the same time into the drive. Since then I've been dizzy constantly, when I say dizzy it's more the feeling I'm going to faint and now there is an accompanying headache. I'm very very concerned as a big part of my job is driving and I don't feel confident getting in a car at the moment. Furthermore my company doesn't have a sick pay scheme. 

Has anyone any ideas?

Thanks

0 likes, 20 replies

20 Replies

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  • lisa215
    lisa215 carl_27341

    Posted

    Hello Carl

    Feeling faint has lots of causes, you may have been a little dehydrated causing your blood pressure to drop or your blood sugar may have dipped briefly. Its interesting that its happened again in the same situation which could suggest a bit of anxiety. I have suffered from panic attacks in the past and I've found that being in the same situation can create a bit of stress and cause a little hyperventilation which will certainly make you feel faint. Dizziness with a headache could be something called MAV which is migraine associated vertigo which is also quite common and again will be exacerbated by stress and also any inner ear condition would create the symptoms you describe. Maybe get yourself to your gp so they can check you over. Take care

  • jodie77731
    jodie77731 carl_27341

    Posted

    This happened to my husband about 15 years ago... Always when driving... Turned out his vision has drastically changed and he needed corrective lenses. All was fine then until five years ago it started again! He went back to the eye doctor and was told the corrective lenses worked! And that he no longer needed to wear the glasses... Put them in a drawer has not worn them and has not had another dizzy/faint headache since! Maybe it could be something as simple as getting your eyes checked? I sure hope that it is A simple fix such as this for you!
  • michelle45491
    michelle45491 carl_27341

    Posted

    Hiya

    Read my post I get what your mentioning

    I went to see a specialist! Go see your DR ASAP! Iv had this since October. Ruining my life! And sometimes I can't drive eaither.

    It's horrible feeling and comes from nowhere.

    Go see your DR and explain to them.

    Good luck.

    Sounds like you have what I have migrain veryigo but I'm no DR so deffo go see one

    All the best

  • Terry6872737
    Terry6872737 carl_27341

    Posted

    Definitely need to see a doctor.  As Lisa states there are thousands of reasons for dizzy, lightheaded feelings.  The headache associated would cause some concern.  You definitely need an MRI just to check and make sure that there are no serious issues and go from there.  May be as simple as fluid on the inner ear or migraines if you have suffered from those in the past.  I have a friend that was recently diagnosed with silent migraines with similar symptoms.
  • carl_27341
    carl_27341

    Posted

    Thanks for all the replies.

    I can't get in to see my GP but I'm going to the walk in centre in the morning. I have a real stiffness in my lower neck just above the shoulder blades that has come on today, I don't know if that's related.

    I only had an eye test last month so I can rule that out I think.

    • marlene21102
      marlene21102 carl_27341

      Posted

      Neck aches are a lot to do with this balance we all seem to get ,I've had eye test. Plus the eye pressure nothing out of place or warrants a look at ,so eyes no ,but Darren on Dizzysite has gone into varifocals and lot better. Well he was last week ,he was having this driving vacant feeling to his balance ,also the shops lighting.another problem for him ,hope he looks at your post this weekend ,or look up the past thread with his name .
  • carl_27341
    carl_27341

    Posted

    I've been to the Dr today and he hasn't shed any light on it as I wasn't giving him enough information regarding the exact nature of the dizziness. He can't send me for tests as he's not my GP so I will try and make a an appt for this week. My symptoms seem to have changed over the last 48 hours and now seem to be a constant headache with odd dizzy spells and constant neck ache. sad 
  • paula59
    paula59 carl_27341

    Posted

    Hi Carl

    I have silent migraine, and it involves being dizzy, eye pain, weird eye stuff, cheek pain,  The dizziness is the worst bit but the symptoms change on a minute by minute basis.  It took over a year to get a diagnosis.  I had to see GP then different ENTs then neuro surgeon for the neck pain part, then finally a neurologist.  I now have two neurologists.  One who is specialist in headaches.  Ive had a couple of panic attacks before I got the diagnosis.  Stress makes it much much worse.  I had a scan so I knew it wasnt anything serious. Having said that its very debilitating as its there every single day.  Im on about my 6th or 7th medication,  Not found anything that works except anti depressants which helped a lot in dealing with it. You need to start with your own GP and get a scan.  Then take it from there.  The headache part sounds like its more likely to be silent migraine, that what causes the dizziness and stuff.  I get loads of headaches with it, I went to the migraine clinic in harley street and they explained its the corrugator muscle which is all over the head that gets strained from stress etc., then in turn irritates the trigeminal nerve underneath,  This goes thru the head behind the eyes etc., down the back of the head and into the brain stem.  Depending on which bit is irritated, it affects that part of the brain causing the weird symptoms which change.  Hope this helps. 

    • michelle45491
      michelle45491 paula59

      Posted

      Hi Paula sounds like I'm going through same thing as you ATM. What pills you on? I see a ENT specialist ATM he told me it sounds like migrain vertigo. Did you keep a food diary? As that's what I have to do ATM. I'm 23 and since Oct this happened so it has kinda ruined my life ATM. Hope all is well with u x
    • paula59
      paula59 michelle45491

      Posted

      Hi Michelle

      I keep a migraine diary but not with food. I know mine is nothing to do with food. Its triggered by different lighting, PCs and with regards to the dizziness I just have that most of the time. Ive always had problems with sinuses and have allergic rhinitis. I thought I had massive sinus headaches but turns out its been migraine. It does ruin your life. Ive been on loads of different tablets but nothing has worked for me. The last lot were zonisamide, before that topiramate. All epilepsy drugs. I know Im going on a beta blocker this time. The only thing that did work was botox which you can have on the NHS. So Im waiting for that now. Having said that, it gets rid of the headaches but not the dizziness. The neurologist is best for migraine.

    • michelle45491
      michelle45491 paula59

      Posted

      When I see the ENT specialist again I will see what he says. He knows I suffer from migraines and dizziness and he told me keep a food diary as he said sometimes it can be food that triggers it. Iv only seen him once so maybe his trying to tick of one thing at a time. But in your case it's not food. I know he did say sometimes the food diary doesn't even come back with anything and can come back with other things. Yea iv heard Botox is very good for migraines.

      He mentioned beta blockers to me aswell. I hope it all works out for you. It's bloody horrible and ruins your life sad a lot of people dong understand me and take the mick out of me ' dizzy ' and that can be really upsetting. Nice to c people on here that help eachother X

    • paula59
      paula59 michelle45491

      Posted

      Hi Michelle - yeh I think they are just trying to narrow it down and find your triggers. Ive been like this now 2 1/2 years and it never changes and I eat all different things. Its no worse with chocolate or cheese than anything else. If I dont drink enough water, the headaches are worse or if I start dieting they are worse. I lost my best friend over this because I could no longer go to rock and roll (can you imagine !) and she didnt think there was anything wrong with me. My social life stopped and has stayed stopped. I am managing to go to work though. We are all struggling. I think being dizziness and lightheaded is like some form of torture. Id sooner have a broken leg ! They have stopped me drinking normal tea, and Ive changed to decaffeinated.
    • michelle45491
      michelle45491 paula59

      Posted

      Paula I'm so sorry you have lost your best friend!

      But then again she wouldn't like it if she had what we had. I always say that to people I say how about you have dizziness 24/7 and see how you like it!! Annoys me when people think it's an excuse I should be working and going out parting. I can't even find a boyfriend haha. Love life down the drain. Iv had many break downs ect. I hope things work out for you! I really do. We should keep each other in the loop smile and hopefully we can help each other and in courage each other. I find this group great! X

    • paula59
      paula59 michelle45491

      Posted

      Hi Michelle

      Yep definitely as theres only a few on here with migraine/vertigo. Everyone else seems to have BPPV which I've had the test for and it was negative. I tell my hubby its like being on a roundabout that you cant get off. My GP was a nightmare so I would like him to have a taste of it. He actually made it worse saying there was nothing wrong with me. I wanted to get him struck off.

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