Chronic Vertigo, dizziness, and lightheadedness

[samjk85]

Hello,

I am a 23 year old female who suffers from chronic vertigo, dizziness and lightheadedness.  This has been going on for the past six years on and off.  Lately, however, for the past six months, it has been constant.  I am extremely off balanced when ever I walk or stand, and occassionally, I get vertigo.  The vertigo may occur when I change positions, however, it has also occured for no apparent reason (as when I am simply sitting up still).  I have been to ENT (3 years ago) who said I have tiny rock crystals in my ear cannals, but has still done nothing for me.  They did, however, give me a hearing test and it was normal.
I take Ginko Bilboa and a multi vitamin every day, as I have researched that Ginko has helped off set vertigo.   My BP is normal - never has been high or too low.  My last physical (one year ago) indicated all of my levels were also normal.  I am 5'9 and weigh 140lbs.  I eat fairly healthy - small meals every day, and try to exercise, although, exercising has become a challenge.  I also noticed vision changes as well.  When I look at a bright computer screen for a long time or am in a movie theater, I also feel more dizzy, lightheaded, and like a "vertigo spell" will soon occur.  Certain lighting also makes it worse as well - such as those in department stores.  I have never fainted, so the lightheadedness feels more like a dizzy-lightheadedness.  I also have additional sensations as if my head is being pushed toward the floor from the top of my head or sometimes, feels as though I am being pushed forward from the back of my head.  All in all - very uncomfortable!  I've been doing excessive research, trying to find an answer as nothing seems to help.  I don't know what could be causing my problems or how to fix it.  I've been generally healthy all of my life until my first vertigo attack when I was 18 years old.  I should also mention that when I first experienced the vertigo (roughly once per month for 6 months), I would vomit immediately after.  Now, I do not vomit anymore after a vertigo attack.  Occassionally I feel sick to my stomach, but that feeling is more supressed than anything else.

I appreciate ANY feedback what so ever!  I feel so lost - and too young to be experiencing any of this!  Thank you in advance!

-Samantha

[kalbre98]

Definately go back to the ent specialist as I had a mastoidectomy done due to a cholesteatoma growing in my middle ear cavity (controls equilibrium, balance, vision issues,although I don't think you have this though it could be worth also investigating) My point is that I had to go back to the ent specialists 8 times and it took for me to practically collapse from nearly overdosing on painkillers (to subdue the intense pain that came with it) and they still misdiagnosed me. It wasn't until they admitted me at that time and the nurses picked up that the sytems I had did not match the sytoms of the diagnoses that they got all of the senior specialists to trouble shoot my problem until they figured it out (must have been a great "House" moment for them all ha ha) so keep plugging away at them all and be very, very persistant as they are all human too and can miss things and also make mistakes. good luck.

[gusluck]

Have you tried to do the "Epley Maneuver". Sometimes they do it at doctor's offices. I did it years ago and believe it helped me as my vertigo episodes got less frequent and severe. They lay you down on a doctor's bed (you can also do it at home) and position your head in ways that can cause vertigo at the time but that basically repositions your little crystals in the inner ear which might be floating around and causing you to receive wrong signals in your brain.

best,

zuzi

[tomsant]

23F with "vertigo, dizziness and lightheadedness", off and on 6 yr
Severity has gone up for the last 6mth
Feel off balance while standing or walking, and get episodes of 'vertigo'
'Vertigo' can occur without any cause or when changing position.
3 yr ago, ENT dxed it as canalolithiasis. (crystals loose in semi-circular canal of inner ear) Hearing test normal.
Feeling light headed and dizzy in front of pc and theater screens. Certain lightings also make you uncomfortable.

Being pushed forward or toward the floor is because of the wrong signals being sent to the 'righting' muscles; the body wrongly 'senses' it is loosing its balance and tries to correct it by reflex. So, the 'balance sensors' of your body is not working properly.

The equilibrium of the body is maintained by a team work of various 'departments' in the body. Primary is the vestibular apparatus sensing the position of head with respect to gravity and movement (situated in the inner ear); second is proper vision (imagine moving about with your eyes closed or wearing 'blurry glasses'). Then, sensations from the skin and deep structures about the texture of ground and the pressure it exerts on the skin (eg., feet on roller skater, buttocks on the seat of a bike), sensations from the various joints and muscles (the position of individual joints, and the level of stretch in each muscle). Also, the innervation of the various muscles of the body.(How does the ballet dancer keep spinning him/herself  on tip of one foot, without falling?)

When you visit a doctor, he runs an algorithm in his mind, to check the various components of the system. It will be modified by the symptom-pattern you have or what the examination and investigations throw up.

You have to visit the ENT again, the 'positional vertigo' is probably canalolithiasis, and may be amenable to various types of management. Your discomfort in movie halls and seeing computer screens and "always feeling unsteady" are something different. Well, it may just be from your fear of 'vertigo', but only examination can bring out what is your problem/s. The ENT may send you to a neuro if necessary.

Best rgds,

Thomas Antony

[lori16652]

Wow! You fit me to a "T". I have had the same symptoms for the past 5 years and was diagnosed with vertigo. Once i got the spells i would end up in the ER for antivert and a shot for nausea. Well this past July i was at work and got a spell unlike any other i had taken before. I got so dizzy and i saw white spots b4 my eyes...ringing in my ears..fluctuating hearing and so sick in my stomach...well i went and had so much testing done such as cat scans..mri..neurologist..audiologist..and then an ENG. So i saw a ENT doctor which diagnosed me with Meneirs Disease. You might want to ask your family doctor to refer you to a Ear Nose Throat doctor to futher evaluate your condidtion. I hope all goes well for you and that my info helped you.

[Nancy T]

Hmmm... vertigo once per month, associated with vomiting... you should definitely check into "migraine-associated vertigo." This is often associated with the monthly cycle.

Many doctors don't know about this condition. Please Google it and see what you think. One of the most authoritative and detailed pages is on the Web site of Dr. Tim Hain, a highly respected neurologist who specializes in dizziness:

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/central/migraine/mav.html

Try to find a neurologist who specializes in dizziness--there aren't many of them. Or a neuro-otologist (ENT with extra training in the inner ear) who is knowledgeable about migraine-associated dizziness. See the lists at the American Neurotology Society Web site or the list of "Otoneurologists in the USA" at www.robbmd.com.

Best of luck,

Nancy T.