dizziness

[Mel5056]

Does anyone know why we get dizzy with chiari?  I have been doing so well with little dizziness. I don't know if I exhausted myself this weekwnd and that's why its back full force.  So bummed because I was actually feeling somewhat normal for a while.  I wasn't even moving last night when out of nowhere my head felt weird for about 3 seconds.  Now today having episodic dizziness and funny feeling in head.  Ugh!  Disappointed and frustrated but who isn't with chiari.  My doc appt can't come quick enough.

[kwalker0004]

I have been dxed since January 7 of this year. Been to 7 different nls and ns to get answers. I live in a very small city and our neurosurgeons and neurologist are just beginning to form. I found one that is willing to learn more about this condition but that is not going to help me. I'm willing to continue to be his patient though as he and my PCP are working together to learn so much about this condition so I don't have to travel so many hours away from home. He'sa great nneurosurgeon and he will help get all the test that Dr tew asked for me to get done before I go visit him. My major complaint was migraines for two weeks straight. It was unbearable. I probably would of never known about this if I decided to continue to live with it but I wanted relief. I'm glad I have a very understanding PCP one who is willing to work with me and not against me. Thank you for your prayers! I will add you to my prayer list as well. May things get better for you!!

[Mel5056]

Hi kwalker,
Yes i can be doing nothing at all like i was last night and wham....dizzy, lightheaded or whatever you call it.  I have been dizzy  since november with some breaks here or there.  Had you told me in november that i had this i would have laughed.  I had no clue because the symptoms i am feeling are so random...or so i thought.   I was blaming some things on old age.  But the dizzy thing got me into the doc (my mom just past away and her predominant symptom was dizziness).  But hers was something else but for peace of mind i had to confirm i was ok.  I was so confident this was all from stress.  Disappointed to find out otherwise.  Anyway i dont know what causes this dizzy feeling either.  I have my first nl appt april 22 and a ns on may 1.  I am still in the fact finding stage and will be happy when that is done so i can make decisions.   How long have you been diagnosed?   Keep us posted and i will say prayers for you.

[kwalker0004]

I too just started to get dizzy more often. It seems to happen when I suddenly stand up from sitting or laying down. It also seems to happen when I am either cleaning up the house or taking the dogs for a walk. They are very small dogs and doesn't take much effort to walk them. But I have at least 5 rooms I clean daily and could cause over excertion on my part. It also seems to happen when I do nothing at all. I could just be watching TV or I could be loving on my dogs and out of no where I get very very dizzy. Its not fun at all and I wish I knew where it comes from but I have no clue. My appointment to see my chiari Dr isn't until may when I can go to Ohio and meet him for the first time. But hopefully by then I should have all the test done so he will have them on hand and get down to his opinion of how to help.

[selmaS]

  Oh Goodness that is futher...I thought u were in Mississippi....lol...WOW that is a very long trip and may need to be broken into a couple days like u said ....

It could be a partial blockage....I know with a complete blockage it too only lasts for a short time, but is so fast u do not feel it coming on, u just drop, these are called drop attacks....u may not be at a full drop attack, and could be why u feel it.

I had drop attacks and yeah they are scary...I no longer drive as my Dr never released me .....

Have u DH come on here and read what everyone else is dealing with he will see how u r not the only one dealing with these symptoms.

Take a big pillow with u in the car, and lean ur seat back so with the pillow behind ur head u r still upright and not leaning toward the dash...the fluffier the better as it will help hold ur head still or stiller then without it...I had to do this to visit my DD in NYC.....

[Mel5056]

Hi Selma,

I live in Michigan so the trip will be about 17 hours.  We may split it into two days so i can handle it better.  You know that 'dizzy' feeling i have been referring to?  Well at the moment it happens i am not moving.  Is it at all possible this is head pressure from a blockage?  I couldn't really explain that it was dizzy per se but had no words to really explain how the feeling hits my head and leaves almost as fast.  It's like i feel like i will pass out at that moment but it is gone within 5 seconds.  Some days that feeling will come and go all day.  Then..it will all be gone and i am great for a few weeks.  I never thought of it as pressure before but i guess is some ways maybe it is.  I'm assuming this is all common but is kinda of scaring me a bit.  I know i can't demand to get into the neurologist or surgeon but would hate for something bad to happen during the wait.    Thanks for always be there to bounce stuff off of.  My husband is alwasy trying to blame something else other than chiari.  Love him but of no help in that area :-)

[selmaS]

  Hmmm well it will depend on u driving or a passenger? If u can get someone to drive and u can use a fluffy bed pillow to help hold ur head from bobbling all over it may not be too bad....

If u must drive, make regular stops, and walk around ....we tend to drive holding tight and our muscles will scream  in pain if it is for too long a period of time.....

How long a trip is that from ur location in Mississippi?

I know just how u feel...hang in there <3

[Mel5056]

Kinda what I thought was going to happen.  I hate hate this feeling in my head.   I wish it dismantle long to get into the docs.  I am driving to Florida in a week and dreading what it might do to the symptoms.  I wonder if anything will help.