Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
real or not?
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
real or not?
by nicobella, Feb 27, 2006 12:00AM
Hi there. I am a 31 yr old female. My major complaints for about the past year have been vertigo/lightheaded and headaches/sinus pressure. I also have this overwhelming constant feeling or fear that I am going to pass out...go unconscious...or have a seisure or something worse. I have been to an endo, neurologist, internist and ENT. I have had an MRI of the head and neck with contrast. BOTh normal. I am still waiting to go for my balance test. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroid last April but have been off meds since last August and levels have been stable. The vertigo is really bad some days and then others it is bareable. However it is always there to some degree. I am not sure if the dizziness is making me think i am feeling lightheaded, going to pass out or have any of those other fears i mentioned above OR if i really am feeling them and could possible happen. I also was anorexic/bulimic for about 10-12 yrs. Been in remmission from that for about a year. Could the purging have caused a brain or neuro problem?? Is that possible? All the doctors tell me It is just anxiety but i don't see how i can have vertigo ALL the time if that were the case. I forgot to mention that i also have floaters and extreme brain fog (or detatched vision). I am really feeling like I am going crazy....!! Can there be something else neuro going on that the MRI would not show??
thanks.
Melissa
thanks.
Melissa
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Mar 02, 2006 12:00AM
I cannot give you a clinical diagnosis over the internet, as this forum is purely educational
It is encouraging that your brain scan and other tests do not show a serious neurological disease. Dizziness is a common problem and is best evaluated by the dizzy doctors, the oto-neurologist, who specializes in diagnosing patients like you. The Cleveland Clinic has two oto-neurologists for example. They use spohisticated tests such as video-nystagmography to diagnose dizziness. In this test the doctor watches your eye movements with a video camera, while your eyes are in special goggles and with performing certain maneouvres. Other commmon test ordered for these symptoms that can reveal a diagnosis are tilt table tests. In this test, your blood pressure, heart rate and symptoms are monitired carefully as you stand on a tilting table that tilts from 0 to 70 degrees.
Migraines or headaches themselves can also commonly cause dizziness adn vertigo due to the connections between head and neck pain and the vestibular balance system of the brain. Other causes need to be looked into first before attributing this to migraines. An intense feeling of fear can sometimes be related to a seizure, although your story does not support this theory a lot, but an EEG might be a useful test to get, especially if you have this feeling during the EEG.
Ask your doctor about these tests or a referral to a dizzy doctor, you will never look back!
Good luck
It is encouraging that your brain scan and other tests do not show a serious neurological disease. Dizziness is a common problem and is best evaluated by the dizzy doctors, the oto-neurologist, who specializes in diagnosing patients like you. The Cleveland Clinic has two oto-neurologists for example. They use spohisticated tests such as video-nystagmography to diagnose dizziness. In this test the doctor watches your eye movements with a video camera, while your eyes are in special goggles and with performing certain maneouvres. Other commmon test ordered for these symptoms that can reveal a diagnosis are tilt table tests. In this test, your blood pressure, heart rate and symptoms are monitired carefully as you stand on a tilting table that tilts from 0 to 70 degrees.
Migraines or headaches themselves can also commonly cause dizziness adn vertigo due to the connections between head and neck pain and the vestibular balance system of the brain. Other causes need to be looked into first before attributing this to migraines. An intense feeling of fear can sometimes be related to a seizure, although your story does not support this theory a lot, but an EEG might be a useful test to get, especially if you have this feeling during the EEG.
Ask your doctor about these tests or a referral to a dizzy doctor, you will never look back!
Good luck
thanks again.
SORRY TO HEAR ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE GOING THRU, I MYSELF HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS, AS I USED TO HAVE SEVERE PANIC ATTACKS WHICH SOUNDS LIKE WHAT YOU ARE HAVING, YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS YOU ARE HAVING AND IT IS MAKING YOU HAVE ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACKS, I ALSO HAVE THE PROBLEMS YOU ARE HAVING AS WE SPEAK, BUT I ALSO HAVE BUZZING, BURNING, WATER SENSATION IN MY HEAD AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME, ALSO HAVE THE WATER AND BURNING FEELING ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF MY BODY, I TRY NOT TO PANIC, I HAVE WENT TO THE SAME DOCS YOU HAVE AND NO ONE HAS AN EXPLANATION FOR IT, ALL I DO IS PRAY, AS I WILL FOR YOU AND ALL THE OTHERS ON MED HELP
Nicobella, I feel just like you except for that it sounds like you have the virtigo worse than I do and for that I am sorry. I also feel stupid and sometimes I forget completely how to think...that's pretty scary. Is that what brain fog is? And what is a balance test?