Please Help Me. Balance disorder or a mini stroke?

[scotslasszoe]

Hi there.. I am a 29 year old female. I Gave birth to my 3rd child 8 weeks ago. I developed severe high blood pressure 2 days before giving birth and was put on labetalol after giving birth, my BP continued to rise average reading was 200/115 I was also given Nifedipine for 5 days ( was stopped due to breast feeding). Continued on labetalol 300mg 3times a day until baby was 4 weeks old as BP stabilized.

So 4 weeks of no problems...

Until Monday. Woke in morning felt fine, come early afternoon while hanging out washing my Right ear became muffled and i started to feel like i was going to fall over i also had a tingling feeling down the right side of my face and my speech seemed a little funny. I went to my GP straight away who took my BP which was raised again 160/96 he seemed very concerended as i was very unsteady and sent me to the hospital. The neurologists done a CTscan and MRI scan both came back clear. They also said my right ear is clear and blood tests all normal also. I got home tuesday tea time. and recieved a call from hospital as the proffesor wanted me to go back so he could examine me. I said i was unable to due to having baby and 2 other kids and i would come as a out patient. He advised if i got any worse to go back to GP.

things have stayed the same balance and ear wise until today when i was in the car (hubby driving) I kept having somersault feeling in my stomach like when u go fast over a dip in the road. When we got home i decided to hoover the house on doing so my ear got really bad again and my balance really bad again also. I have also developed the tingling in my face again. I did noticed yest i had a few sharp pains in the right side and left side of my head above my eyes in my forehead.

I am feeling terrible again. i feel so confused and spaced out like u get when you are on morphine ( only way i can explain it)....

i really think there something not quite right deep inside my right ear but the doctors had a look inside and said its clear. i go back to see Neurologist in 2 weeks time

Only other medical problems i have. Is a Thyroid Nodule which i am due to have surgery next week to removed as had 2 inconclusive biopsys.. All thyroid bloods are fine..

Can anyone help me figure out what might be wrong with me. I am feeling really down in the dumps at the moment i cant hold my baby without being seated incase i fall while holding him... I hope all this post makes sense i have read over it a few times. If there anything else you would like to know or i have missed please let me know.

Thanks for taking the time to read my problem

[Londres70]

Zoe, I think that is a good plan; take the medications as ordered and see how you feel monday.  

I looked on a website that discusses Perilymphatic Fistula; www.dizziness-and-balance.com; type in perilymph fistula.  It involves extensive testing and is not frequently diagnosed.  The symptoms of this and Meniere's are similar.  Interestingly, this can develop during the delivery of a child.      

[scotslasszoe]

they done a hearing test and i was having issues hearing low tones in right ear.. she looked in my ear with a microscope and said my ear drum thinner than normal. mostly diagnosed on symptoms... My blood pressure seems to have came down.. they done a 24 hour BP recording tho i to go back to Neurologist on the 15thjul for results..

Yes on the betahisine 16mg 3xday and  10mg stemitil 3xday...

I was looking on Net and a condition called Perilymphatic Fistula symptoms very similar to what i have.. Before all this happened i went for a cycle which i have never done for 20 years and lifted babys pram with baby in it the day before all this happened.. as i finding doing a lot seems to make symptoms worse...

Just feeling so stressed as struggling to look after baby. Hubbys mum came to help out from tuesday as hubby has to work but she needs to go home 2moro,,, will be ok over weekend but back to usual just me and kids on monday...

Wil maybe take pills as instructed and see how things are by monday and if no better go back to GP?

Zoe

[Nancy T]

I agree with Londres, this does not sound like Meniere's. Something else is going on. And whatever it is, it's not something that you can just take some antibiotics and will be all better. Follow up with neurology and get a second opinion if they cannot figure things out. Sometimes it takes a long time to get to the bottom of neurological problems. You need to stay closely under a doctor's care and report any new symptoms, no matter how odd or unrelated they seem. Good luck to you--it really stinks having to deal with this when you have a new baby.

[Londres70]

Yes, I was surprised the diagnosis was Meniere's because it goes in episodes not a 24/7 deal; the episodes can last up to 24 hours though.  Were you given vestibular testing and hearing tests while at the hospital? Or, was the diagnosis just based on symptoms?  

Are you taking Betahistine 3x/day?  Is your BP better/under control?  The elevated blood pressure readings you were having are concerning.  

If this is Meniere's, stay away from lots of salt and the caffeine.  

I would get a second opinion if none of this starts to sort out.    

Yes, by all means do another post in this forum and do one in the Neurology Forum.

Keep us posted.  All the best Zoe.  

[scotslasszoe]

Hi.. Yeah i have read up about it... They said episode last normally a couple of hours.. But i am like this 24/7 and have been for 11 days now.. Tho i have developed a constant humming sound in my ear worse when in a quiet room... never had that at the begining

I have took my meds last night this morning and now this afternoon and have had no relief either... Grrr trying not to stress now. Went to shop earlier and was getting funny looks from everyone they must have thought i was drunk was a horrible feeling...

Should i ask for a second opinion? I may start a new post in here and ask?

Zoe

[Londres70]

Hmmm, not all the symptoms you were describing fit Meniere's to me, but I am not a physician either.  :)

Glad you got some answers.  

All the best Zoe!