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Vertigo every 2 months. Lasts 4 weeks. 2 months healthy, then cycle starts again. Help!

Posted , 7 users are following.

natasha08733
natasha08733

I am a mom to 3 kids, 35 years old, and have been struggling with vertigo for 5 years now. My worst attack was when I was 6 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child. Literally bedridden for 8 weeks. In and out of hospital during that time. Got Cat scan and MRI and nothing showed up. 2 diff ENT's told me I had vistibular neuritis that probably affected both nerves. Literally took me 10 weeks to feel ol again. Since then, I get vertigo in 2 month spates which lasts about 4 weeks. In the 4 weeks I have some good days and then some really bad days. I.don't often get the room spinning feeling, but mostly the constant motion sickness feeling, foggy, heavy brain feeling, anxiety and depression that comes with being sick for such long stretches. It affects my memory big time, which can be quite embarrasing, seeing that I work with people a lot. A Scio therapist tested me and said my anterior petuitary gland is.not working properly, suggesting this is hormone related. Should I.go see an endochronologist? I can't live like this for the rest of my life. Really tired of living in dread of the next attack. When I'm healthy, I.

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • chris1303
    chris1303 natasha08733

    Posted

    Hi Natasha, I guess you are in the States? Over here in the UK it seems to work the other way round - we see primary care (GP) who then pass us to the ENT, Endo etc and finally we might get an MRI. I had mine yesterday 6 months down the line of suffering what I don't need to describe to you!

    My sympathies for your continuing problems, mine are currently in control but every day I fully expect it to return with a vengeance. 

    I didnt find the endo guy that useful - well what I mean is he did 3 hours of tests and concluded my system wasn't damaged which was some relief. But as to a cure - no they don't have one. Just time. I was given Vestibular Rehab exercises which actually were useful in that they complimented what I was already doing - long walks and anything to detract me from the fog, anxiety etc. Each return of this is slightly less bad so I'm just keeping plodding on.

    I also take some herbal calming pills, very mild but they take the edge off the anxiety without any tiredness.

    Best wishes, I really hope you get some improvement and help.   

    • natasha08733
      natasha08733 chris1303

      Posted

      Thanks Chris. Very helpful. I'm from South Africa (Cape Town). I started off in the emergency room and from there got assigned a GP who assigned the diff specialists. But we are able to make appointments with specialists here ourselves (private healthcare). Just have to wait quite long sometimes.

      I'll look up the "vestibular rehad excercises" you mentioned. Haven't heard about those yet. Just the Epley manoeuvres which didn't help one bit.

      All the best to you too.

  • kathleen65757
    kathleen65757 natasha08733

    Posted

    So sorry, Natasha! I think it would be dreadful to be pregnant with this. You have to cope with three little ones which would be so hard!

    Yes, maybe try the endocrinologist for a start. People on here also advise neurology otologist.

    Keep trying til you get some help.

    All the best to you.

    • natasha08733
      natasha08733 kathleen65757

      Posted

      Thanks Kathleen, will def keep trying so I at least know I've done everything I can to get to the bottom of this illness.

      All the best

  • chris1303
    chris1303 natasha08733

    Posted

    Hi Natasha, Epley I think are just for BPPV, the crystals in the ear problem! The VRT exercises for me involve :

    1) one foot in front of the other, close eyes, balance for two minutes, repeat with feet the other way around.

    2) look at a point on the wall and move head side to side for two minutes, then repeat with head up and down all the time focusing on the point

    3) walk for two minutes shaking head side to side, then again, up and down, repeat

    4) walk in a figure of 8 for two minutes, rest, repeat...... 

    All pretty straightforward stuff but I couldnt do it al initially! 

    Hope that helps you a bit.

    Chris

    • natasha08733
      natasha08733 chris1303

      Posted

      Thanks. Thats awesome! Will give those a try.

      Ja, they though I had BPPV at first hence the Epley manoeuvres.

      Thanks for the help! Much appreciated.

      Natasha

  • chris1303
    chris1303 natasha08733

    Posted

    ps Natasha, not a quick fix! It could take weeks and I have to do mine twice a day...good luck!
  • Terry6872737
    Terry6872737 natasha08733

    Posted

    If you have access to one where you are, the best specialist to see is a Neurotologist/Otologist.  They specialize in inner ear issues.  Your symptoms seem to indicate that as a potential issue.  Also, look up Menieres on Google and its symptoms.  If you have recurring vertigo with these spells it seems to be more related to Menieres versus Vestibular Neuritis.  Vestibular Neuritis is usually a one time occurence, at least in 95% to 98% of cases, from what I have read.  If both nerves are impacted there is hearing loss, even if temporary. (Assuming that the indication was both nerves in 1 inner ear versus them indicating that the Vestibular nerve in both ears was impacted.  Neuritis in both ears, bilateral, is very uncommon as well)  An Neurotologist/Otologist should be able to help you identify the issue and a possible course of treatment. 
    • natasha08733
      natasha08733 Terry6872737

      Posted

      Thanks for the advice. They tested for Menierres disease and said it def was not that. Tested my hearing and found absolutely no hearing loss whatsoever. I also don't have the ringing in the ear which is common in Menierres. I do however agree that it can't be vestibular neuritis every time I get vertigo. It also comes in def cycles so that is why I want to give an endocrinologist a go. There are some months that I am 100% healthy with no problems at all, but then when the vertigo hits I struggle for 4 weeks at a time. I will def also see an Otologist if the endocrinologist comes up with nothing.

      Really appreciate you taking the time to give advice!

    • chris1303
      chris1303 natasha08733

      Posted

      Hi Natasha, that is very interesting - my results from all the testing were within "normal" parameters so I'm not convinced mine is (or was ever) vestibular neuritis. I have however plodded on with the exercises and repeated GP and consultant visits. I'm just waiting on the MRI results for a bit more clarity...or not!

      My next step was an endocrinologist as my bloods came back showing a "clinically unimportant" underactive thyroid. When you read forums I see so many people suffering with similar things to us with lower levels than me and it being resolved after many months or years with hormone treatment. I also get tingly fingers and a few other hypo symptoms.

      Ifind it hard to believe VN can come and go as it does when my inner ears are fine.   

    • chris1303
      chris1303 natasha08733

      Posted

      Oops, In my first post to you I think I said I'd seen an endo....I confused my 'ologists, sorry! 
    • natasha08733
      natasha08733 chris1303

      Posted

      Heh heh. Totally understandable since there are so many -ologists out there!

      I've got an app with endocrinologist (who is also a qualified physician) on Monday. Will let you know if anything positive comes of it.

  • kel2015
    kel2015 natasha08733

    Posted

    This is extremely similar to what I have been going thru for 8 weeks now! GP said it was an ear infection/sinus infection that then caused my vertigo, cloudy feeling in the head, and 24/7 dizziness that varies in strength from day to day. But then I begin to feel 90% back to my normal self and then it just hits me out of nowhere with pressure in my ears, vertigo, nausea, forgetfulness, cracking noises in the ears, very irritable, sensitivity to any sound, and cold-like congestion. About every two weeks I get hit with this and its like starting a cycle all I've try again and it lasts about a week. I'm still in testing phases with ENT but he is doing nothing for me as far as temp relief. Only pushes meclizine on me like candy.
    • natasha08733
      natasha08733 kel2015

      Posted

      So sorry to hear you are also struggling with vertigo and all the other nasty symptoms that accompany it!! If only they could find the cause, but judging by the feedback from loads of other sufferers, it seems like a lot of the professionals are still in the shallow water of accurately understanding vertigo related illnesses. I've been to 2 different ENT's and they were both very unhelpful. I am guessing its because my condtincondition could have very little, if anything at all, to do with the ear, nose and throat ( you said you do get congested so they might prove to be more useful in your case- though it doesn't sound like it at the mo). Think mine might be hormone related. Been reading up on all the nasty symptoms an imbalanced hormone system can cause and I can tick many of the "list of symptoms" boxes!

      Having said all this, I still am not giving up hope. I've had months of 100% health. There must be something I can do to prolong those times of good health. Seeing a physician/endocrinologist today. Will post if he finds anything that could be helpful to you and other's out there.

      All the best. Really hope the specialists manage to get to the bottom of what's causing your vertigo!

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