Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 16 Location: sydney, australia
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Constant Dizziness For 12 Years - Help! Posted: 08-07-05 06:09am
Hey guys,
i have been fighting constant dizziness
for over 12 years now, and noone seems to
know what's wrong with me so I thought
i’d post and see if anyone had some
clever ideas.
My symptoms began during study for the hsc
in 1993 and have been continuously with me
ever since. The ‘dizziness’ itself
is an intense groggy heavyheadedness like
being hungover or having a head cold 24/7,
and all the constant fatigue and headaches
that goes with it. I don’t experience
vertigo or any other motion type
dizziness.
Other major symptoms (as well as low
energy and frequent headaches) include:
dry, sore, itchy eyes; poor memory and
concentration; and neck tension and pain
(and inflexibility).
I also experience anxiety, particularly
when I have to speak formally in front of
others or am stressed, and I have been
diagnosed as having an anxiety disorder or
social phobia. Although I have been
told that anxiety could be a cause for the
constant heavyheadedness, I reckon that
the anxiety is a symptom of the primary
issue, whatever that is. The main
reasons i’m not convinced it’s anxiety
is that I rarely feel anxious (although
i’m dizzy all the time), when I do get
anxious I feel a different type of
dizziness like a lightheaded buzzing
feeling, and the grogginess never lets up
and rarely fluctuates once i’m up for
the day, no matter where I am or what I am
doing … I could be wrong tho.
I have given up litres of blood for tests
with no result. Liver and thyroid are
working just fine. Blood pressure is
dandy. I have had two eegs, two mris on
my head (10 years apart) and one on my
cervical spine, plus one ct scan on my
head, with no results (thankfully I
guess). I went to a hearing and balance
clinic years ago (does anyone know if they
check out your inner ear at these places?)
and that came back clear. I also saw a
sleep doctor to rule out sleep apnoea and
other sleeping disorders i’ve tried
acupuncture, massage, physio and chiro
with no results. I’ve popped my body
weight in pills (anti-deps,
anti-psychotics and many many others) with
no effect.
I recently started seeing a psychologist
because I was just so miserable and kinda
depressed and not dealing well with the
prospect of feeling so constantly horrid
for the rest of my life. He’s trying
to treat anxiety with a range of drugs,
none of which have had any effect.
One last thing is that sleep seems to be
the main thing that makes me have either a
day where I can get up and function and
get to work etc, or when I don’t sleep
well, i’m a complete mess and barely
able to think through the grogginess.
So, i’m at a loss what to try next.
Any suggestions would be so appreciated.
Thanks
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dusty1699
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 1
Same Thing Posted: 08-29-05 01:55am
Hi,
your symptoms sound just like mine. I
have had them for 2 years now. Always
groggy and a bit dizzy. Feel slightly
better when I sleep well and far worse
after a rough night's sleep. Also have
facial tenderness and pain. I have seen
chiro, ent and neurologists, homeopaths
and gp's with no success. It's very
frustrating. There used to be days where
I felt ok, but not pretty much every day
is the same. It's not so bad that I can't
work, but it does stop me from enjoying my
life as I did before. I also have had
nocturia symptoms (frequent night time
urination) in conjunction with this
dizziness, so that disturbs my sleep and
makes the headaches worse. I'll let you
know if I make any great discoveries!
|
catmcgrath
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 1 Location: London, UK
Dizzy Spells Posted: 09-12-05 15:09pm
Hi
it might be worth getting checked out for
pots, postural orthostatic tachycardia
syndrome or other autonomic nervous system
dysfunction.
The main diagnostic of this syndrome is an
increased heart rate of over 40 beats per
minute upon standing after lying.
Needing to urinate at night, dizzyness,
excessive fatigue, migraines, poor memory
and neck pain, dry eyes are all part of
this syndrome.
Pots is not a well known condition amongst
the medical profession and your gp may
never have heard of it and will need to
refer you to a specialist or at least
research it themselves.
Given your symptoms I think you should
check this out, I have pots and know how
disabling it is. Check out these
websites as well for lots more info and
really good forum
www.Potsplace.Com www.Dinet.Org
good luck and I hope this helps
catherine
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7ducks
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 16 Location: sydney, australia
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Now 12 And a Half Years .. Posted: 03-19-06 19:38pm
Hi guys, it’s crap that there are other
people out there that have the same
ongoing symptoms, but it gives me hope
because it’s not just me.
It’s been 6 months since my original
post and a number of people asked to be
kept up to date on how things were going.
I only have a little to report but it’s
worth a post.
Quick recap - I suffer from constant
(meaning every minute of every single day)
grogginess similar to being badly
hung-over or having a head cold/ flu.
I’m coming up to year 13. I was 18 when
it started. Other symptoms are fatigue,
headaches, brainfog, terrible
concentration and memory, sore tired eyes,
and tense neck and shoulders. Sleep, more
than any other thing, seems to change the
intensity of the grogginess, but not even
close to the point where it goes away.
Since my initial post I finished up a year
of being on a variety of anti-anxiety
medication. Nothing even made a dent on
the grogginess, so my p doc concluded that
the anxiety is being caused by the
grogginess and not the other way round.
He also now admits that he has never
treated someone who has had constant
grogginess /dizziness before (and he must
be pushing 60) and that with typical
anxiety disorders, the dizziness comes and
goes.
Anyway, I also tried out an
ophthalmologist (negative), tested for
lupus which apparently mirrors anxiety
orders and is therefore often missed
(negative), went to another neurologist
(negative), saw another sleep doctor
(negative), and had my sinuses x-rayed
(yep .. Negative).
Useless!! …… except …... I had an
interesting chat with the sleep doctor,
who suggested a theory that it might be a
neurotransmitter problem in some part of
the brain (hippocampus for example) that
might currently be beyond medical
science’s ability to diagnose and treat.
Although this was disappointing to hear,
it was also very refreshing for a medical
doctor to admit that the medical world
doesn’t know everything and that these
symptoms could stem from some other yet
‘unknown’ problem or disorder. Hmmmmm
...
One last thing. I’ve recently been
looking into breathing pattern disorders,
seeing as this constant grogginess feels
like my brain’s being suffocated by not
getting enough of something (??).
Unfortunately there’s not much strong
medical stuff behind breathing pattern
disorders, and it’s all a bit
touchy-feely, but what have I got to lose.
Anyway, this website provides you with a
start, and an evaluation quiz for anyone
that might be interested. Www.Oxygenesis.Org
thankyou so much to those who posted (and
left messages), and please please continue
to do so. As we all are I guess, I am so
desperate to not feel like this anymore,
and hope is rapidly dwindling. Anyway, I
promise to post here if I figure anything
out.
7ducks
|
7ducks
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 16 Location: sydney, australia
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Constant Dizziness And Headaches Posted: 11-14-06 21:53pm
Hi guys, anyone suffering from constant
headaches and/or dizziness should see the
main thread here:
Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Richmond VA
Constant Dizziness Posted: 12-02-06 11:00am
After 6 weeks of constant dizziness,
nausea and a hospital stay, i'm no closer
to an answer on my constant dizzness
either. I've had mris, mras, cts, blood
tests, been to my gp, ent and my eye
doctor with no answer.
Just knowing that i'm not the only other
one out there with these symptoms, is
wonderful (though I wish there were no
one, including me). So many of you have
described my symptoms to a tee. Mine
started gradually and then got worse. I
feel the same hungover/flu-like feelings
in my head as many of you. I can't watch
tv, read my emails or scroll on a
computer, read, go to a store and isle
shop without the dizziness and nausea.
If it is any help to you out there, my
stress level started going up about the
same time my symptoms appeared. Because
of my personal living situation, i'm
constantly stressed and truly believe this
has an impact on what's happening. Can
you relate your symptoms to stress also?
Just knowing that one can be dizzy for 12
years stresses me out more.
I wish each one of you health and happy
thoughts and through this site, perhaps we
will find an answer.
|
JKirt15
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Indiana
Dizziness Posted: 07-18-07 13:26pm
Hi, my name is Jackson and I just turned
16. I know your probably like what is this
kid talking in this forum for. You just
seem like you may know whats wrong with
me. About 6 weeks ago I started to feel
slightly dizzy. It wasnt major but
annoying. A week after that, I was so
miserable, crying and doing nothing but
sitting in bed for three days. I had a
Blood test, CT Scan, MRI and it was all
fine. I started to feel better about a
week later almost to the point of feeling
normal. But then it came back. The doctors
thought I had Vestibular Neuritis, so for
the last few weeks Ive been going to
Rehabilitation exercises. I feel a little
better but not close to normal. I dont
have much energy, I dont feel like doing
the things I usually love to do, Its hard
to focus, I dont have vision or hearing
change, no headaches, and if I dont eat I
feel worse, and my eyes sometimes itch.
Anyway of course its scarin me, im 16 and
by the looks of it it doesnt sound to good
if I have the same thing as some of you.
If anyone knows anything else I can do or
how long this will last please let me
know.
thanks, Jackson
|
JKirt15
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Indiana
Also Posted: 07-18-07 13:34pm
I also just wanted to say I feel like im
in a dream all day, not sure whether Im
completly there. and I seem to stare alot
at things and hardly realize it and I
blackout alot more often when I get up
from sitting down then I used too.
thanks, Jackson
|
sodizzy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Aug 2007 Posts: 9
Dont Feel Alone Posted: 09-23-07 18:06pm
I've been dizzy with a general sick
feeling for 2 months now. I feel hung over
all the time, though my balance is fine.
It seems like neurological afflictions
like this are not uncommon and people
experience 'dizzyness' for months.
I've had EVERY major test done, and thus
far nobody can tell me anything with
certainty. The nueorologist im seeing
thinks its related to migraines and has
given me medication that makes me feel
even more stoned...
I don't think he's on the right track at
all.
My advice is to hang in there.
|
cdella02
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 1
Posted: 09-24-07 17:26pm
hi guys, my name is Tina, I would like to
underline that for 5 years I have suffered
from constant grogginess, i often feel
de-energized, and feel heavy legged. I
often feel unstable with a need to sit
down to feel more better. My sleep
patterns vary, some mornings I will wake
up feeling good, other mornings I will
feel light-headed, and gradually during
the day my head feels like a tonne. I
have had periods where I feel nausea,
although I do suffer from severe migraine
attacks, where I will experience halos,
and vertigo, but this occurs twice in a
year, other times I will just get
headaches. I have seen a GP constantly, I
had blood tests, thyroid tests, MRI, and I
also visited a neurologist who claims It's
an anxiety related stroke depression
poblem. I do have problems with anxiety,
but even when all is well, these problems
persist making me feel constantly tired,
and fed up, and it has changed my social
behaviour, making me feel more isolated,
and it scares me to think no one can
help.
I have recently visited a Chinede Herbal
In whom have confermed I am unbalanced,
and my energy channels are blocked, I was
advised to have acuppunture, I've only had
one session, accompanied by herbal
medication, but to what extent will this
help I really dont know. If there is
someone out there please help us its so
difficult to live well, and we are
desperate for a solution, please help we
only need one person whom can really be a
sustain to us, and guys lets help
eachother.
|
unbalanced
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 1
Posted: 11-18-07 21:29pm
Hey guys I feel the same way and am having
the same symptoms as all of you! I have
vertigo when I lay down, heart
palpatations, feeling of being unbalanced,
upper back pain, heavy headed, lump in my
throat on occasion...just to name some. I
have been to many doctors including;
neurologist, ENT specialist, chiro, chiro
neurologist, massage therapist and have
had many tests done (MRI-head and spine,
blood work, BEAR tests, hearing tests,
EKG). Everything came back fine. Nobody
has an answer for me. Doctors have given
me prescriptions (nose spray, paxil-for
anxiety, muscle relaxers, iodine-for
thyroid, but I am very sensitive to them
and have had horrible reactions. Besides
I would rather have a diagnosis rather
than just a medicine to basically "shut me
up and send me on my way."
I hope there is someone out there who can
guide us in the correct direction. I am
constantly doing research and came across
an article today that said I (we) may be
deficient in magnesium. I am HOPING this
is the case and am willing to give it a
try.
I will check back and let you know if this
works!
|
manuftw82
Supporter
Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 364 Location: Vestal/LI, NY USA
Thanks: 7
Thanked:3
Posted: 12-04-07 01:09am
All your symptoms sounded like mine. I
went to the Dr. and she said I had fluid
in my ears due to severe allergies. I
didn't even know that I had allergies but
could that be your problem? Since taking
medicine I've gotten a little better.
|
lognum
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 9 Location: ,
Dizziness 7ducks Posted: 12-05-07 19:33pm
Hello 7ducks,
I have tried to post this on all of your
posts, hoping to somehow contact you. I
tried to send you a private message, so I
don't know if you got it. Send me a
private one if you do. Here is your help
www.VSofB.com. There
are only three specialists in North
America who deal with this syndrome, so
you must talk to one of them. I had all
the same symptoms and have found the cure,
after exhaustive research. The anxiety you
get is caused by the fight or flight
reflex, caused by your eyes. It is called
"vertical heterophoria syndrome" and once
diagnosed, is easily fixed. Only a
specialist knows what to look for. The
medical community, as a whole, is quite
dysfunctional. That is why they have not
realized what is actually going on and
connected the obvious dots.
|
Lennable
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Dec 2007 Posts: 1 Location: ,
Pots Posted: 12-09-07 11:07am
For anyone with symptoms of feeling dizzy,
fatigued, nauseous, etc. , especially
where the dizziness gets worse when you
stand up, please check out this short
video made by the Mayo Clinic. (it
doesn't work with MACS) It describes a
condition called Postural Orthostatic
Tachycardia Syndrome - POTS.
http://www.medicaledg
e.org/2006june-3.html
|
rmac230
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Dec 2007 Posts: 2
Posted: 12-14-07 21:51pm
I have dizziness, fatigue, headaches,heavy
feeling in eyes, brain fog, slurred
speech, day sewats, sensitive to loud
nosise, irritable, etc,etc,etc,.It is very
frustrating because I am a health nut. I
eat perfectly including the elimination of
gluten, casien, and sugar (except fruit),
from diet. I work out regularly. I live a
clean lifestyle meaning no alcohol, do not
smoke, and no other illegal drugs. I have
had everything checked including thyroid,
adrenal hormones, testosterone, vitamin a,
b12, folate. All in range and in fact all
optimal. I have had a sleep study which
ruled out sleep apnea. MRI showed nothing.
Working is painful not physcially but
mentally. I know how many of you all feel,
and I wish you all the best of luck in
feeling better. Its just the way life is,
way too many flaws that can go wrong in
the human body.
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Tranquillity
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 2
Posted: 01-02-08 13:55pm
Have you lot tried migraine meds? Most
people think "migraine = headache" which
is WRONG, very wrong. You can in fact have
CONSTANT dizziness (no spells or attacks
whatsoever), without ever having a
headache, and it could still be migraines.
On the other side, you can have pretty
much any kind of vertigo or dizziness,
including (BADLY in my case) visual
vertigo, i.e. feeling motion sick from
watching ANY motion. I do mean ANY, I
can't even WALK without feeling ill.
Now, there are misconceptions about MAV,
too. Here are a few quick facts:
* You can have spells/attacks, with true
vertigo, and/or *constant* dizziness for
months or YEARS. Some pages only talk
about shorter attacks (hours to at most
days), and only true spinning vertigo,
which is not the case.
* You do NOT need to have headaches to
qualify (migraine is a neurological
disease; blood vessel problems cause the
symptoms, and headache is only ONE
symptom). In other words, if you're having
undiagnosed dizziness, PLEASE check out
migraines. I was very sceptical at first
but now, after taking to diagnosed people
and an expert on the subject, I'm 99% sure
MAV is what I have.
If you've ruled out most other things,
please look into MAV - it's becoming
increasingly more "popular" as a diagnosis
as doctors are learning about it.
Best docs to see would (in order) be a
neuro-otologist, or a neurologist followed
by ENTs, I'd think. Neuro-otologists are
the best in this area, for sure.
Regular migraine medicines are used (it's
after all a regular migraine, despite what
people think about migraines).
Pizotifen, verapamil, topamax, depakote
are a few examples of prophylactic drugs
(= preventive meds).
In any case, good luck! I've had this crap
for 8 months and I can't imagine having
anything like this for 12 years!
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DizzyJaclyn
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 1
Me too! Posted: 03-11-08 22:17pm
Hi everyone. This is my story. I have had
constant dizziness for 14 years now. It
started when I was only 15 and now at 29,
I have not had a dizziness-free SECOND, in
all these years. You now that feeling that
one feels after leaving a boat? I feel
like that all the time. My head in the
inside swaying back and forth, or side to
side. I am always tired, my eyes feel
heavy and rough in the inside, like achy.
Lights bother me a lot. Some times the
same light may seem whiter and some times
more yellowish. My head feels like if
there was not enough blood going in.
Suddenly I suffer from skipped heartbeats
called premature heartbeats. My
cardiologists say that its from the
stress. And the thing is that from being
dizzy all the time, I am always stressed
and anxious. My concentration is horrible,
I sometimes feel life I am loosing my
mind. I feel very frustrated. I have been
to the best hospitals, have done trillions
of tests. But I think that the most
frustrating thing of all, is that my
family, friends etc. dont really believe
me as all tests came back negative. My
whole life changed. I used to dance
ballet, but who can do piruets dizzy. I
feel that i have had this my whole life. I
went through college like this, even
became pregnant and had a child, like
this. I pretty much have accepted that I
will be like this for the rest of my life,
but then there are days where I cant take
it anymore.
|
Tranquillity
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 2
Re: Me too! Posted: 03-12-08 11:55am
DizzyJaclyn
wrote:
Hi everyone. This is my
story. I have had constant dizziness for
14 years now. It started when I was only
15 and now at 29, I have not had a
dizziness-free SECOND, in all these years.
You now that feeling that one feels after
leaving a boat? I feel like that all the
time. My head in the inside swaying back
and forth, or side to side. I am always
tired, my eyes feel heavy and rough in the
inside, like achy. Lights bother me a lot.
Some times the same light may seem whiter
and some times more yellowish. My head
feels like if there was not enough blood
going in. Suddenly I suffer from skipped
heartbeats called premature heartbeats. My
cardiologists say that its from the
stress. And the thing is that from being
dizzy all the time, I am always stressed
and anxious. My concentration is horrible,
I sometimes feel life I am loosing my
mind. I feel very frustrated. I have been
to the best hospitals, have done trillions
of tests. But I think that the most
frustrating thing of all, is that my
family, friends etc. dont really believe
me as all tests came back negative. My
whole life changed. I used to dance
ballet, but who can do piruets dizzy. I
feel that i have had this my whole life. I
went through college like this, even
became pregnant and had a child, like
this. I pretty much have accepted that I
will be like this for the rest of my life,
but then there are days where I cant take
it anymore.
That sounds a LOT like MAV to me (see my
post above, although MAV has MANY faces),
and if it is, there certainly is both hope
and treatments! In fact, if you find the
right doc, there'll probably be a
treatment no matter what's wrong with
you.
Have you seen a neuro-otologist? If not,
that must be your next step. Any
other doctor, including ENTs and
neurologists, are NOT enough specialized
in dizziness to help you out properly!
If you HAVE seen one, and still don't have
a diagnosis... See another. They should be
able to figure it out without too much
problem, so don't give up!
Still, if you want more active support (on
this topic) than you'll find here, try
dizzytimes (google it). Not sure if saying
that is allowed here, but it's such a
small niche that I think it should be
fine.
|
lognum
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 9 Location: ,
MAV Posted: 03-12-08 12:46pm
And has MAV worked for you? What was the
process you went through? Actually, this
site is quite helpful and a number of
people are getting real help, not just the
positive reinforcement. I have had
everything Jaclyn is describing and no one
could help, just as she had mentioned. The
only one's that did, are at the site I had
posted on my previous replies. That may
help you also. Oh yeah, it stopped the
headaches/migranes immediately.
|
2Dizzy2Drive
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 1
VHS Posted: 04-09-08 13:42pm
Lognum... can you please tell me where the
doctors that treat VHS are located? I have
only been able to find the one in
Michigan. Do you know if there is one at
Mayo? I have been dizzy for almost two
years and have been to regular docs.,
internal medicine, optometrist,
ophthalmologist, dizziness therapist, ENT,
allergist, neurologist and neurosurgeon. I
have all the symptoms and have had motion
sickness since birth. I would really like
to know how to go about seeing one of the
Doctors that treat VHS. Thanks for any
help you can offer! 2Dizzy2Drive.
