Vertigo(?) for over 4 months...
Posted , 36 users are following.
Hey guys... So I have a vertigo/dizziness for over 4 months now and it has really been painful.
It all started in September when out of the blue I started feeling dizzy so I went to many doctors, did a lot of checkups and finally visited the ENT where I did an electronystagmograph which showed that I have a very sensible labyrinth which can cause vertigo. The thing is that I work as a security guard and it has made my life a living hell. After a while I started to get seriously anxious which cause me to have panic attacks for the first time in my life. My doctor gave me Cipralex (Escitalopram) which I have been taking for over a month now. They have helped my anxiety but not my vertigo.
The last two days my vertigo has gone worse and I seriously worry for my life... What should I do?
0 likes, 61 replies
SJWHEA mike33466
Posted
Just wanted to do a quick chat. I have had this dizziness for about 3 months now and have been seeing my GP for it. He sent me to a PT who specializes in Dizziness and balance, along with a medication called Meclizine. My first visit to PT was today and I can say I am thankful I decided to go head and try it. She went through a series of questions and did some simple eye and walking tests. Then she laid me on a table on performed Epley treatments. I was dizzy durning the first part, but after it was completed I wasn't dizzy and the pressure in my left ear was drastically reduced. If your doctor hasn't suggested this type of therapy, please don't be afraid to ask for it. Hope you get to feeling better soon.
mike33466
Posted
My dentist told me again that my wisdom tooth isn't ready to be removed and this can't be causing the vertigo. Also he wanted to fix another tooth but he didn't want to numb it because again of my vertigo...
gillian76726 mike33466
Posted
mike33466
Posted
So a year later and things are strange.
I started taking escitalopram (cipralex) 10mg/day and although the first week was like hell, things improved as far as anxiety goes... The vertigo and nausea were reduced but still there but at least it was tolerable.
Things were like this until last month or so... Anxiety has returned. Not like the beginning but it's enough to ruin my day. It comes out of the blue, I can't find a pattern which could help me find what triggers it and I'm going to lose my mind..
Right now i am at work and even though is cold outside (8 degrees Celsius/46.5F) i am burning up like crazy. i have a thermometer with me, it's 36,6 as it should be and my head is spinning.
Anyway, happy new year guys...
gillian76726 mike33466
Posted
Well sorry to hear this Mike. Is Ciprlex an anti depressant? I started on an AD earlier last year,2016, and it has helped with the anxiety. Cant say my dizziness etc is any better, but have started going every 6-8 weeks for a Bowen treatment. I know what you mean about the 'heat' thing. I get that when i'm pushing things! It's not that we have a temp as in sickness, but i notice it when i am tired and trying to do something slightly physical (Doesnt have to be much, just doing the dishes for eg). So,i think as you say you are at work i presume you are having to concentrate on what you are doing? Havenyou. Oticed when you getnthis 'heat' feeling.? Is it more when you are below par,the dizzy stuff is worse etc?
mike33466 gillian76726
Posted
Yes i do have to concentrate as I my work requires a lot of Microsot excel etc, and it does make my dizziness worse.
I opened every window in my office and know I am heating up above the neck and cold in the other body... How do i tell that to people without thinking im crazy or something?
gillian76726 mike33466
Posted
Ahh well, computer screens are our enemy i'm,sorry to say. I am retired so dont need a computer anymore, and actually changed from laptop to,iPad as I couldnt hack it anymore. What I've learned is that due to our hearing, sight, Vestibular system not working correctly, eg out,of sync and unable,to send the correct messages to,our brain, it means we are over using our eyes for input. There's nothing wrong with our vision per se, but it's like an engine (Or computer!), a few small parts are blocked or not working correctly eg the vestibular system, so it cant 'receive' the right messages. Some people,have fluid, others crystals, some have damage, the,latter can come from a virus which i believe mine is/was,,originally. trouble,is, trying to readjust to all this. VEstibular exercises are one of the drs fave things. They didnt work for me. Drugs that supress, also didnt help, just made me feel,worse. I think we all have to find, in the end, what works best for us. When my head is hot and feels,pressured, i use a cold,back on the back,of my upper neck. Dont ask. Me why, but it seems to calm things down. other times i use heat pads,on my shoulder/side of neck due to neck strain.
Other people,dont get it i'm sorry to say.
debbie82116 mike33466
Posted
Hi Mike
I take Ciprolex too. It helps me a lot with my anxiety and my dizzies. I'm hoping it will prevent me from getting VN in the future.
Debbie
ray90319 mike33466
Posted
mike33466
Posted
Two years later and nothing has changed, its even worse now...
As soon as I walk into a store, a cafeteria, a market, my head starts spinning on the inside... I feel like im on a boat...
Nothing is spinning on the outside, everything stays in place.
Also the nausea is sometimes unbearable...
Nothing can find what it's going on and I just live my life in fear that Im gonna pass out eventually...
My anxiety meds have really helped me with the stress part but the dizziness/vertigo/whatever is still going strong...
debbie82116 mike33466
Posted
Hey Mike
You appear to have the same symptoms i had 5 years ago. I had labyrinthitis that lasted 2 years. The ONLY way to get on top of this is to do vestibular rehab! You probably have damage to a balance nerve in one ear due to a virus. Your brain has failed to compensate and its getting mixed messages causing you to feel wonky...like you're on a boat. Places like stores overstimulate your senses and you feel dizzy and spaced out. It causes extreme anxiety. I get that! It's horrible. Go to a place that offers physiotherapy and ask if they do vestibular rehab. This involves eye exercises to retrain your brain. It takes a few months of doing these exercises 3 times a day...it is not fun but it is the only way out.
Good Luck.
Debbie
Pcabezu mike33466
Posted
Hey Mike....
I live in the U.S. and have the same exact issues you described....... Especially when walking into stores it makes me so dizzy I can't stand it.
Mine has been going on for 6 months and I'm desperate.....I was doing Vestibular rehab with eye exercises and after about 2 months I was getting better until massive setback when I tilted my head back looking up at the roof and I'm back to square one. So now I am seeing a Neurology Vestibular therapist who thinks it's my neck and she can cure me....
Any news on your dizziness? Any luck?
mike33466 Pcabezu
Posted
Well, its about 2 years after I started this topic and unfortunately Im still having issues...
After a lot.. and I mean A LOT of tests, I still don't know what it's causing it.
Most doctors eventually told me that it's psychosomatic,,, Because of my anxiety...
The only thing that is better is that I have accepted that it happens and thank god I havent fallen or fainted yet...
The most frustrating thing is that I cant find a pattern which is causing the dizziness...
I can go one week without it, then boom its back with no reason.
I can go a month with it and boom it disappears with no reason for a day or two.
I want to believe that Im gonna wake up one day and it will be gone.
danielle556 mike33466
Edited
Hi All, I have had similar symptoms for 7 months now I was at work a normal day and all of a sudden the room was violently spinning my heart was pounding sweating being sick.. we all know how that goes! After a few days I went to the doctors who said I had vertigo after 3 weeks I went back work after taking 2 different medication as the first lot I had a reaction too, since then I had good days and bad days then I went on holiday and the flight and the lifts sent my verigo off but but not horrific then I tried my first sip of alcohol and wow that was it my verigo was back with full force soon as I landed back I went to A & E and they said I had labrythinitus after a few days of some new tablets it did quiet down still 7 months on I have bad days I can't go into busy places iv can't drink I can't wear high heels look at flashing lights the list goes on! I get back anxiety with questioning what I can do ' can I walk today' ' can I drive today' etc, I went to ENT who did a hearing test only and said it will pass and signed me off?! So 6 months in at my wits end I went to see a Chinese doctor who said my lower vertibra in my back is tilted and my kneck is not straight so with this information I paid privately to see an osteopath who confirmed this and said this could be causing the verito and the dizziness as my head is not sat in my neck properly and could be sending mixed signals to my brain so I did my research online and I have seen cervical vertigo which is caused my posture issues reading this could be the problem I felt all my Christmas's have come at once so I went back to my GP who said this is not a thing and could not be causing this and sent me on my way with anti depressants ?! The only reason I am so down is living with this condition with no answers! I am still seeing my osteopath and paying through the roof for it hoping that this could be it and he can fix me but I am just at the end of my teather with it all I am 25 healthy and have my wedding and future to look forward to and all I can think about is will I ever get better will I ever be able to dance or drink with my friends or have fun again?! Or am I going to have to live my life with this! Any help would me amazing thank you for reading x
debbie82116 danielle556
Posted
Hi Danielle
So sorry you are suffering with these symptoms! Please know you are not alone nor are you going crazy! Labyrinthitis (which I had 2 bouts of) does eventually go away...but not usually on its own!
You have been down the exact same path as me and it is pure hell. The anxiety it causes is relentless!
If you want to beat this thing, you can try doing what I did. I know you are in the UK by the way you have described your symptoms. Not sure if you have Vestibular Therapists over there? Labyrinthitis is caused by a virus which attacks your inner ear. You have suffered damage to your balance nerve in one of your ears. Your brain is getting mixed signals as a result. Do you feel like you're walking on a trampoline? Do you feel pressure in your head like you're being pulled back or to one side? Are you overwhelmed when you go into stores (shops as you call them) because looking up and down shelves makes you dizzy and unbalanced??
danielle556 debbie82116
Posted
Hi Debbie thank you for your response it is a living night mare im scared i will never be 'normal' again I am not sure about Vestibular Therapist I will do some reasearch yes I feel like I am walking on a floating LILO all the time... this is my full history with it which I have posted an other forum was at work a normal day and all of a sudden the room was violently spinning my heart was pounding sweating being sick.. we all know how that goes! After a few days I went to the doctors who said I had vertigo after 3 weeks I went back work after taking 2 different medication as the first lot I had a reaction too, since then I had good days and bad days then I went on holiday and the flight and the lifts sent my verigo off but but not horrific then I tried my first sip of alcohol and wow that was it my verigo was back with full force soon as I landed back I went to A & E and they said I had labrythinitus after a few days of some new tablets it did quiet down still 7 months on I have bad days I can't go into busy places iv can't drink I can't wear high heels look at flashing lights the list goes on! I get back anxiety with questioning what I can do ' can I walk today' ' can I drive today' etc, I went to ENT who did a hearing test only and said it will pass and signed me off?! So 6 months in at my wits end I went to see a Chinese doctor who said my lower vertibra in my back is tilted and my kneck is not straight so with this information I paid privately to see an osteopath who confirmed this and said this could be causing the verito and the dizziness as my head is not sat in my neck properly and could be sending mixed signals to my brain so I did my research online and I have seen cervical vertigo which is caused my posture issues reading this could be the problem I felt all my Christmas's have come at once so I went back to my GP who said this is not a thing and could not be causing this and sent me on my way with anti depressants ?! The only reason I am so down is living with this condition with no answers! I am still seeing my osteopath and paying through the roof for it hoping that this could be it and he can fix me but I am just at the end of my teather with it all I am 25 healthy and have my wedding and future to look forward to and all I can think about is will I ever get better will I ever be able to dance or drink with my friends or have fun again?! Or am I going to have to live my life with this! Any help would me amazing thank you
debbie82116 danielle556
Posted
You must find a vestibular therapist who is specialized in treating this disorder. You will be given eye and head exercises to "retrain" your brain. I did them 3x a day for 3 months. You will feel worse at the start but after 2 weeks you will see significant improvement. Trust me on this. It's the only thing that helped me.
Debbie
janet59223 danielle556
Posted
I have suffered from 24/7 vertigo for 11 months, and have seen several doctors and had lots of tests. My neurologist and ENT have suggested that it is the severe degeneration in my cervical spine causing the vertigo. When I saw a spinal surgeon yesterday, he acted as if I were nuts. He was my last hope! Did you ever receive treatment for your cervical vertigo? I’m very curious as to how you are doing now.
Janet