Allergies, sinus infection and dizziness

[stacia123]

In May I began to have dizzy spells which coincided with a sore throat and earache, which cleared up on their own. However, dizziness and fatigue continued for several weeks. The dizziness resembled being carsick, with lightheadedness and occasional moments of nausea and feeling faint (but I never passed out).  I had a CAT scan and blood work twice, and so far no diagnosis for the dizziness/fatigue.  It got better for a few weeks but last week I began to have dizzy spells again, this time accompanied by maxillary sinus pressure.  I had just switched allergy medications, from Nasonex to generic Flonase, right at the time my symptoms returned.  Could allergies have led to a sinus infection?  Can the sinus infection cause dizziness and fatigue?

Due to the holiday weekend I haven't been able to call my doctor, but after 3 prior visits he's never suggested sinuses to be a cause.

[mariatee]

I've been dizzy since August. So far I've been to my PCP twice.  The first time she told me to take and OTC allergy medicine and gave me Meclazine.  The Meclazine seemed to make my dizziness and fuzzy headedness worse.  At the time I was using Stevia to sweeten my coffee and had been for a year.  I looked to see if there were any side effect with Stevia and found out that dizziness was a side effect.  I stopped using the stevia and now use no sweetener at all.  I'm still experiencing dizziness but the "fuzziness" in my head seemed to get better.  On the 2nd trip to my PCP she thought maybe it was a sinus infection and gave me antibiotics to take for 14 days.  I just finish taking them but I"m still dizzy.  Some days are better then others. Then there are the days where my head just feel like it's full of water and the water is "swishing" around, like if you were walking with a bowl of soup.  My PCP said the next step would be to send me to a neurologist for a cat scan but my friends said I should go to an ENT.  Since my ears still feel clogged and ENT would probably be a better choice, but I want to make sure there's nothing wrong with my brain.  I'm just so tired of being dizzy.

[dolpicker]

I had a deviated septum since I was 21 and suffered terribly into my thirties a mother of two working full time with debilitating migranes. I knew the cause but like you I was stopped by the fear of surgery. I could not get past the thought of someone taking a hammer and breaking my nose. Then I got a better paying job in housekeeping at our local hospital in housekeeping still having intermittant migraines that I had to work and suffer through for the pay. I beg to notice the patients that had surgery on their nose and none of them were in pain and were immediately ambulatory with no complaints. It was then that I knew that I was having more bad days than good and the only thing stopping me from making my life better was me and my fear and that was by Gods grace proven unhealthy for me and my loved ones. I went and signed up. I asked the ENT in the operating room if I could see the hammer he would use and he showed me a golden hammer---then one of his smart aleck assistants told me that he wasn't really going to use that hammer he would just use his wallet. That was 35 years ago and I have been freed from migraines since that day. I hope you find your answer and felt this was a good time to share my story of septorhinoplasty and how it changed my life. My prayers go with you in your search for healing. End of Story.

[nycsinus]

I've had pretty much the same experiences many of you have had . . . Briefly, started with a wicked sinus infection that floored me before it was diagnosed. Since then (about 5 years ago) I've had recurring dizziness, foggy-headness, concentration problems, massive sinus/head pressure etc. Sometimes a bit better, sometimes a bit worse. Since I live in New York City, even going to work was difficult, what with the subway commute, the crowds, etc. I was starting to get pretty anxious about it, to point of the anxiety being a bad as the symptoms. My family doc even suggested that it was all anxiety and recommended that I see a psychiatrist for it (which I was willing to do, but didn't think that was the root of the problem).

But recently I saw an allergist on the off chance that some random allergy was causing this and he suggested pretty strongly that it might be a MIGRAINE. I argued with him a bit, but looked into it further. . . Now I think he was correct. Not a "classic" migraine, but migraine nonetheless. On a recommendation I bought a book, "Heal You Headache, The 1-2-3 Program" by Dr. David Buchholz. Cheesy title, even cheesier cover art. Look it up on Amazon (and read the reviews). Shockingly, every symptom I had was covered in the book, what's more, with a reasonable explanation.

Basically, the idea is this (for those who care):
Most headaches are caused by the same mechanism (migraines, sinus, tension, hangovers, etc) which is swelling and constriction of the blood vessels around your head. This can affect your sinuses just as readily (that swollen, pulsing feeling).
What's confusing is that it's caused by a whole bunch of factors: your natural level of tolerance, the weather, hormones, medicines, food and stress/anxiety. Since most of these are fluctuating around all the time, it's nearly impossible to pin down any one factor that "causes" migraines. So his program, in short, is the following:
1. get rid of any "rebound" meds like decongestants, etc.
2. get on a diet that limits or eliminates the most common migraine triggers (things like caffeine, MSG, red wine, onions, fresh baked goods, etc). Hopefully you'll feel better in a couple months and can start adding back stuff carefully.
3. get migraine medication if that doesn't work after a few months

I've only started this a few weeks ago, but here's what I've found.
1.  had about a week of actual headaches when I stopped coffee. Ouch.
2. was taking about 4 anvil cold/sinus per day. Stopping those didn't affect anything at all, which was surprising, as those were the only things I thought helped.
3. I actually feel much more clear headed and less sinus issues. I do feel pulsing feelings at my temples by the end of the day, but that's minor compared to feeling someone was squeezing a band around my head, which is where I was before.
4. I'm a food guy, so the diet *****, but it's not crazy or too difficult if the sinus/head discomfort was bad enough to try it in the first place;)

I just talked to my doc and he was pretty cool about it (considering he thinks it may be all in my head, so to speak.) He admitted to not much experience with migraines and recommended a neurologist. I'll see him next week and let you know the results, but thought it was worth throwing it out there since so many of you seem to be at wits end (which I understand completely).

And, btw, lest you think I'm shilling this book, I'm not. I think it's definitely worth the $15 buck or whatever it costs (it's already saved me that in Advil costs), but if you don't buy it, no skin off my back. At the least it's something you can mention to your own doc. Thanks to everyone for posting up your stories and letting me know I'm not nuts! Hope this helps someone!
(I've noticed a few forum threads that were similar, I'll post this a couple times, sorry for seeming like I'm spamming if you see it elsewhere)

[sherilyn306]

Have asthma/allergies/chronic sinus infection.  Vertigo started about 6 yrs ago, accompanying sinus infection with sweats/chills/facial and headache pain.  There is no cure.  It doesn't get better, you get used to it.  Have had sinus surgeries.  Mother had this, older sibling had this and had surgeries, for nasal and ear (myringotomies) successful but weren't out of recovery before they had problems.  Have had sinus surgery, worked for the first week; then, back with an infection.  You can spend a lot of money helping your doc and ENT, etc., improve their financial standing, you won't be any better.  Tylenol or anti-inflammatory for the pain, sometimes antibiotics but sparingly.  Watch for dairy it's a big problem for sinus sufferers (and meat sometimes, too - all the antibiotics and hormones in it).  Other than that, it just doesn't go away.  Allergies can get worse over time, your environment is loaded with potential allergens.  I just try to focus on my life and accept this as part of it.  I do feel much better that I am not turning over hard-earned money to people who cannot help.  Each time I think of going to the doctor, I put my co-pay in the bank, and think about it.  Then, I buy myself something yummy - a book, some yarn, etc.  

[boggiecruz]

its true no one seems to care ive tried it all eye doctor allergist ear and throat doc  sinus doc you name it ct scan all for the past two years no one knows what's  causing my dizziness my test all come back normal and my docs think im nuts im 28 and i cant enjoy life because of the dizziness i walk around and then it hits me like a train i could be in a store and i am still in control but battling to stay in charge of me so i can make it back home safely this is scary this happened to me out of the blue i turned 27 then bam dizziness came with it what is causing this i have no answers help.

[chrisandlexismom]

this is amy again i feel great i now know what is wrong with me!!!!  my heart rate still is a little funny at times but that is due to the stress!!!!! i have a mold allergery. the doc. put me on a stroid to take once a day for a week it helps no more dizziness , head pain eye pain nothing i hope it helps some one here!!! there is hope just keep up the faith!!!