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Vertigo and tinnitus... been referred for MRI!

Posted , 8 users are following.

nikkijayne28
nikkijayne28

So five/six weeks ago I had an extreme attack of vertigo - nauseous, constant dizziness, feeling of detachment... it wasn't fun. All I could do to stem it was to sit incredibly still and not move my head. Even lying down my head was spinning like I was drunk.

My doctor prescribed a month's course of betahistine which appeared to start working within a week and a half. My tablets then ran out and I was off them for a week feeling fine. However, the last three days the dizziness has been coming back and each day has been progressively worse. (However, it's nowhere near the level it was at in the first attack.) When I'm at work and people are talking to me, I'm having a bit of difficulty in concentrating. I also feel like I have this pressure in my forehead, making this current bout of dizziness feel more like lightheadness than anything else.

I went back to my doctor this evening cos she told me to come back if symptoms persisted after stopping the tablets. She asked me about my ears and tinnitus... I've had tinnitus in my left ear for years and years, but I only experience it maybe twice a month. And for quite a while I have been feeling like I can't hear out of my left ear properly - but I can only tell when using headphones and even then it seems to come and go. It's such a minor difference that I wonder if it's there at all.

Because of all those symptoms my GP has referred me for an MRI which I have to admit I'm a little freaked out about! Weirdly my mom's co-worker has been suffering the exact same symptoms as me and has also been referred for an MRI, and that kind of makes me think we could both be suffering from a virus that's causing labyrinthitis.

I know that the MRI is just to rule things out, but she said she was doing it because it's all so one-sided with my left ear. I think I'd just like some reassurance! I'm not good with doctors and hospitals so I'm freaking out a bit. I know acoustic neuromas are rare but it's still playing on my mind!

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Terry6872737
    Terry6872737 nikkijayne28

    Posted

    More than likely an inner ear issue, labrynthitis or vestibular neuritis. I wouldn't worry too much about the MRI. Not issues present for most people experiencing what you have described. Normal duration of labs/VN is 2 to 3 months. Since the beta siting helped so much it sounds like inner ear and fluid. You'll be fine.
    • nikkijayne28
      nikkijayne28 Terry6872737

      Posted

      Thanks, this is reassuring! I had wondered about the fact that the tablets had helped me, what that meant.
  • paula59
    paula59 nikkijayne28

    Posted

    Dont worry about it, its absolutely nothing.  It doesnt hurt, its not loud, in fact its quite relaxing.  Im sure the outcome will be normal, its just the test we all have to rule anything serious out.  No one has anything serious or life threatening.  You can then move onto the next stage of deciding what it is and what meds you need.  Get better soon. 
  • donna40025
    donna40025 nikkijayne28

    Posted

    MRI's are only to rule out nasties but if you were like me I had to have a Valium - no biggie just rang them before hand and they ask me to come in 1 hour before hand ! I just had treatment for BPPV and I have vestibular migraines - sooooo the BPPV is now treated after 5 months of a total head mess and the mirgraines are lessened since they sorted out the virtigo from the BPPV (Google it)! Your not alone and keep us posted! 
    • marie43202
      marie43202 donna40025

      Posted

      Hi Donna,

      Please remind me, what treatment did u receive for the BPPV? I'm curious whether betahistine actually do work.  As mentioned in my latest post, my ENT dr thinks I am now not suffering from BPPV but silent migraines. I don't know, every dr has their own version of a dx. I tell you what worked for me today, I had to fight a parking ticket-ugh, was Lorazepam. I was actually able to get out of the house and walk with no dizziness. The atripyline, now 20 mg, is, I think, beginning to help me with these brutal migraines. But what concerns me is that I am getting frequent body trembles or like a jerking movement of shoulder or hand when I am resting. So naturally, I am thinking "oh no, this is onset of Parkinsons".  Hoping it is just a reaction to the new meds I am taking, fingers crossed.

    • donna40025
      donna40025 marie43202

      Posted

      Hi Marie , yes I flew to sydney as I live In another state and had the Omniax Chair ( Google it as I can post the photos) the basically they strapped me in and turned me 360 degrees up down / side wards and my BPPV is now gone ! They couldnt deal with the Epley as It wouldn't work for me - now I have the Migraines left to deal with inwhich my doctor refused that this wasn't a problem but only BPPV - my specialist assured me she will write to my darling doctor and treat me accordingly for the migraines opposed to ignoring them - taking nothing at present but the more active I have become of late the headaches are reappearing but the BPPV is gone! One step at a time! I would check and see what side effects your drug could be doing to you????? 
  • lisa08672
    lisa08672 nikkijayne28

    Posted

    Hi,I'm suffering exactly the same problem just my right ear that has tinnitus,I've got a MRI scan next Sunday at my hospital,I'm scared they won't find anything wrong,not that I want there to be anything wrong but I want to be fixed,I'm off work at the moment as so dizzy, I feel doctor thinks I'm making it up as how do I prove I'm dizzy?I have pressure in forehead that's really bad ATM,lisa
    • nikkijayne28
      nikkijayne28 lisa08672

      Posted

      I have the pressure in my forehead too! It's all so odd. Let me know how the MRI goes!
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