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vestibular and cognitive dysfunction

Hello.
I am 23 years old and I have serious problems with balance and cognitive performance.
     In September 2003 I was diagnosed with vestibular neuronitis and treated in hospital for 8 days because of serious dizziness , vomiting and uncontolable head movement to the right. The attack of strong dizziness reoccured about a month later, and lasted about two weeks. After that it went away and I only had problems with murmur in my left ear during some head positions.
   The dizziness came back in August 2006 and I was admitted to hospital for 7 days with diagnosis of vertigo syndrom. Later tests showed weakness in left vestibularis, some problems with my spine, the Transcranial Doppler Sonography showed accelerated bloodflow through the veins, and the ENG test showed signs of central ischemia.
   Immediately after that episode I started to have big problems with thinking and concentrating, and started to feel constantly confused. I complained to my neurologist about these problems but she didn't have anything to say about them.
   I have trouble with communicating my thoughts, especially remembering certain words and names of objects, my short-term memory has gotten worse, I easily get lost. My thinking has certainly gotten slower and I easily get tired and confused during mental work such as reading and writing.
   The physical problems I have are poor balance, leaning to the left, clumsiness, tinnitus, dizziness, a tugging feeling on the left side of my neck and face and sometimes strong headaches in the back of the head. In the last few weeks the left side of my face is starting to feel numb, it is harder to control than the right side, and I hear and see a little worse on that side.
   For treatment my neurologist prescribed Betahistine, and I am also taking vitamin B. That seems to be all available therapy that I can find.

I would be very grateful for any advice from you on seeking treatment.
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Avatar universal
Hi tinche:
im 61 years old ive had pretty much the same problems you have ever since i was in the military.  I went to all kinds of doctors for 15-20 years no luck getting any relief from the ringing and dizziness or  lack of concentration like you i have trouble understanding people when they talk if i dont understand a word im out of the box. I would be happy just to take a pill and be normal. I took and early retirement from my job which i struggle to get thru all the time, if you look at me you wouldnt know something i wrong with me, i try to hide it most of the time i avoid people and conversations because if it someone i really dont know i end up feeling stupid when i talk to them, im more confident with friends and family. I just recently got military benefits this started when i was in the army but i sign a paper stating i wouldnt file for any compensation when i got out so never persued it untill recently. I have gone to a lot of docs as i said i feel like none takes me serious. Being 61 one now im starting to say whats the use. I like to drink beer i think sometimes its my way of getting relief for my symptoms or at least not thinking about them. I try to stay away from processed foods all the preservatives and additives bother me i think. I have experimented with food i was on a no salt not sugar diet that is the only thing that seem to help but it is hard to stick too. Well good luck if i ever get any info for you that might help i will let you know take care.
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Avatar universal
I had the MR (I'm not sure if it's the same as MRI) and it was ok. But the scans are pretty dark and blurry from what I've seen, some pictures are completely black. I made it in a public hospital and the public health system has a pretty low budget in Croatia, so the machine is rather old.
Thanks for the reply. I'd like to hear from a doctor too, if there is one ;)
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280418 tn?1306325910
I am not a doctor but:

Have you had an MRI?  An ENG is electronystagmomgraphy and cannot diagnose ischemia.  I can locate whether your dizziness is due central (brain) or peripheral (inner) issues.  It sounds as though you have shown a weakness in the left ear (which would explain leaning to the left - b/c you lean toward the lesion) and possibly showed some central signs as well?  Vertigo/dizziness is miserable!  You have either make your neuro listen - or find another one - preferably a neurotologist and a hearing and balance center would be important along with an otolaryngologist consult (ENT).  Weakness on the left side of the face sounds like Bell's Palsy, but don't quote me there.  The vestibular nerve and facial nerve run side by side.  The cognitive issues are something that should be addressed and not shrugged off.  You may even consider a neuropsychology evaluation to measure the extent of your cognitive difficulty.  Take care and good luck.
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