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Neurology  (Expert Forum)
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ear pain, headache, chronic dizziness
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MedHelp Member's Question

ear pain, headache, chronic dizziness

by LynnSB, Jun 14, 2002 12:00AM
about 2 1/2 months ago,I had pain in both ears rather suddenly felt dizzy -not vertigo but weird, lightheaded. Saw my GP, said no fluid in ears but retracted eardrums. CBC:leukopenia,slightly high lymphs, looked like a virus. I continued to have dizzy spells, seemed to me to be related to slight head movements.Started having headaches and nausea, too ( comes and goes). back to doc, said ears looked fine,only left (still hurts) slightly retracted. basically blown off. on May24, began running fever, chills, felt disoriented, horrible, friend who is a doc gave me a Z pack.After one day, had posterior nose bleed and then large amount of sort of hardened yellow junk came out of my sinuses. felt GREAT, not dizzy. this lasted one day. no more fever but back to dizzy. now it is chronic.i get a headache every day, 800mg. ibuprofen helps a little.also for 3 days in a row had blind spots( first day negative scotoma, then positive areas of light) in right eye only. i have had(rarely)migraine auras without headache before but using the sparkly lights. these only lasted about 20 minutes so GP says migraine. I wonder if related to dizzy, headaches. even went to psychiatrist -said this is not anxiety..a nd she gave me another round of antibiotics. did nothing. I'm now so dizzy.hard to drive. the only way to describe it is like i'm in an altered state or on bad drugs.. does that make any sense.. just feel awful. and told it can't be my ears. sinuses clear. also sore on the bone behind my right ear(mastoid, i think). really sore.that got better and now sore behindLEFT ear.THANKS FOR YOUR HEL
Doctor's Answer

by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Jun 17, 2002 12:00AM
Dizziness is a very real and very common complaint that we see in the office. Many patients are quite disabled by the symptoms and unfortunately, the cause is never found in about half of the patients. In your case, it does sound migrainous in nature with the visual changes and accompanying headache. But consider getting a referral to a neurologist for a formal exam and possibly MRI just to make sure everything is ok in the brain. I was going to recommend an ENT consult as there does appear to be some sinus symptoms, but apparently that did not go too well. You could always go for a second opinion, but think about going to a neuro first. In the meantime, there is a medication that helps some people with vertigo called meclizine which is an antihistamine (like Benadryl). Also, if it is a migraine, there are several migraine medications out there that could help like zomig, imitrex, or maxalt. Talk to your GP about some routine labs, especially a repeat CBC to check your wbc count. GOod luck.
Member Comments (12)

by LynnSB, Jun 14, 2002 12:00AM
I forgot to ask the question and ran out of space on my post above. the question:  what should I do? Could this be neurological? i'm starting to worry about a tumor or MS!!!



Thanks so much for any direction or comments.

by LynnSB, Jun 14, 2002 12:00AM
I forgot to ask the question and ran out of space on my post above. the question:  what should I do? Could this be neurological? i'm starting to worry about a tumor or MS!!!



Thanks so much for any direction or comments.

by LynnSB, Jun 14, 2002 12:00AM
addendum: JUST got back from seeing an ent guy. He didn't even take a history.. wasn't interested in talking to me at all. No vertigo and no nystagmus so i must be crazy, I guess.. sorry, but I am NOT making this up and I am so tired of being blown off. My ear hurts. I'm dizzy even if it isn't frank vertigo. All this followed some kind of infection -- he didn't even ask. I told him, or tried to tel lhim, that it really hurts behind my ear .. he didn't look, or touch my head and said, " oh, that's musculoskeletal.."  



i am so upset. I didn't get to ask one question. I am not making up feeling like this. there seems to be no help available if you don't fit the exact criteria someone wants to hear.

by Stockman1420, Jun 14, 2002 12:00AM
I have been in brazil for 5 months and had to come home, because I have had head heachaches and my eyes hurt when I move them. I also have a sore throat. My nose is clear and my ears are also. Them doctor has no clue. They ran a blood test and a M.R.I for a tumor nothing. I feel sick when I eat and dizzy. Pain meds don't work I can barely stand it. The Doctor said it was stress but I'am at home sitting on my couch. Has anyone herd of a sore throat caused by stress???

by acesover, Jun 14, 2002 12:00AM
Hey Lynn, I have been in the same predicament for about a year now.  Started with severe nauseating vertigo about a year ago, severity subsided then been having this lightheaded, imbalance feeling that you have described constantly for a year.  I know what you're going through.  The docs give me the same ****.  But you should definitely get an MRI, and complete bloodworkup done for lupus and other things.  Keep persistent at your docs, its their job to help you.

Let me know if you figure out anything that works for you.  I have learned that moderate aerobic exercise, low-sodium diet, and putting heat/ice on head helps.  Also acupuncture and chiropractic helps a little as well.

Good Luck

by LynnSB, Jun 16, 2002 12:00AM
Again, I thank everyone for comments and thank the doc in advance. I remain dizzy and stopped up on my left side of my nose; comes and goes. one thing I forgot to mention: I have an area on my left cheek that burns, and itches off and on. it is NOT on the outside of the skin there but feels deep inside. when I took the antibiotics, weirdly, on the second day, my face was swollen and puffy right at the spot where I have this burning and itching, off and on. then it went away on the third day. It was noticeable to other people so i'm not making it up ( i'm so tired of being treated like this is all in my head). WEIRDLY, when i took the second round of antibiotics,on the second day again, i had this swelling in the same place, but much less. went away mostly.. it feels as if this burning,itching, pulling sensatin is under my eye, beside my nose and deep inside. yet with all this, i am apparently just nuts.. a true " dizzy dame" I guess according to the medical opinions so far. i'm sorry. i shouldn't say that but i want to feel better. i'm very tired of feeling so awful and not knowing where to turn or what to do any more.

by Nickmbb, Jun 18, 2002 12:00AM
I want to add something....have you had your neck checked out. And the medications, antibiotics and ibuprofen can, by themselfs cause you  to feel dizzy (Why a  psychiatrist gave you antibiotics is beyond reason).



Also...you have to slam you fist down and get your doctors attention and have all your questions answered. Remember, you are paying him, he isn't there on his behalf....so get answers when ever you go see one.



I suffered a great deal from a whiplash injury, but non of my MDs or my PT could explain why I was always dizzy cept tell me its cervicalgenic vertigo....when it turn out to be bone spurs that no one ever though of looking for...until I insisted that something be done and my MD got a new set of x-rays and had him really look at them....not just a report from the radiologist.

by fabergre, Jun 20, 2002 12:00AM
Hello,

Just wondering if you have tried seeing a Chiropractor.  They see many