Dizzyness and other Symptoms

[Mike]

I am a 31 year old male, 6

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Mike:

I am not sure I can help.  Feelings of light headediness, disequilbrium, and ear popping are sort of non-specific.  The most worrisome things would have been detected by MRI, CT, and blood tests.  There are a couple of things that you might look into, such as seeing a nystagmus/inner ear/equilibrium expert.  These individuals are few and far between, there is one in Boston, one here at the Cleveland Clinic and one in Los Angeles that I know of.  There may be a subtle dysfunction in the inner ear that by special testing one can pick up.  

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Rachel]

I am a 32 year old female with exactly those symtoms.  The worse being the floor moving thing like its spongey and wavey.  I have never found anyone else with the same problem!  I have had it for about two years and my doctor is sending me for an MRI scan (suspecting MS)Mine comes in bouts that last about two weeks then subside, but the time in between is becoming less.

[Gina]

Interesting topic, I dont have quite those symptoms, although at times I get dizzy, not spinning sensation though, one thing I find extremely odd, when I get on an Elevator, even if it just goes up a few floors, when I get off, I feel very unstable and like my body is still going up!  It takes about 2 minutes for this to subside, any ideas on this?  Ear problem? had normal MRI with Gadolinuim <-SP?

[lisa]

sorry to interupt this thread with my questions, visiting a neurologist today due to what my GP thought was 2nd attact of viral labyrinthitis in past 9 months. Symtoms are now at about 3 weeks...besides the dizzyness and balance problems that I am getting used to, I have aphasia and head pressure. seems like something is wrong with my head. I went to ENT yesterday and she called a neurologist to make me appt. The neuro told her that I must have MRI and she wouldn't see me without one. I know I'm sick and not thinking right but due to high ins deductable, I would prefer just neuro exam THEN, if they think MRI, well, ok.
This pressure with slight headache and not being able to use the right words..seems to me is a result of being dizzy for 3 weeks and it's making me nuts, like stress.
I am extremely busy business owner and these symtoms are causing me not to be able to work(I don't have time to be sick!)
Again, sorry for butting into the above thread.

[lisa]

also right hand has lost fine motor skills. virus related too?

[noel]

I have had much the same symptoms for almost two years (and a few other symptoms such as tremors)and gone through the usual work up.  I finally went to the Mayo Clinic.  While the neurologist thought the problem was peripheral (despite the negative ENG) and the ENT thought it was central and I have no firm diagnosis, the ENT provided what I thought was some pretty useful information.  He said they see 25-30 people a week like "us", i.e., dizziness and balance problems with no clear cause, and that they don't know what the cause is but they believe it to be a CNS problem.  He said most people improve although most improvement is seen in the first two years but some people continue to improve for up to 4 years.  People in their 30s and 40s are most likely to see improvement.  He said approximately 50% of "us" are helped by vestibular rehab.  (He was also the first doctor to acknowledge that it can be pretty miserable.)  I have been working hard at vestibular rehab and my balance has improved a fair amount and my dizziness is somewhat improved.  Hope this helps.

[JOHN SHAPPARD]

WHAT IS A VASCULAR LOOP AND THE SIMPTOMS, PLUS WHAT IS THE
CURE.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD I HAVE ONE AND IT IS ON THE EIGTH CRANIAL NERVE.
I EXPERIENCE DIZZINESS, TINNITUS ON THAT SIDE OF MY HEAD.

[Mike]

To CCF Neuro MD

Thank you very much for the information.
I am trying to gather as much info as I can before I go to an equilibrium expert.

I still wonder about my other symptoms possibly being that of an overactive sympathetic system and perhaps the dizzyness is attributed to that also?? Any comment on this theory??

thanks
Mike

[Deedee]

I was dx with the ebv and later chronic fatigue syndrome. It has been 12 yrs with symptoms of nausea, dizziness, pain in the back of my neck,no sleep and headaches > The chiropracters say I have chronic occiput something or another. Other Physicians say its due to the chronic fatigue. I had another horrible spell of this and had an MRI done,they found- a 7.0 x 3.5 x 4.0 cm sharply circumscribed mass located along the dorsal surface of the cerebellum which has a signal intensity= to cerebral spinal fluid on all sequences. This is combatible with an arachnoid cyst.  To me this seems to be something that needs to be addressed. My neurologist blew it off. I have not been able to work for 8 yrs,have no social life,am 37 and live with my parents. Im so limited because this seems to flair whenever it wants to. I have always felt this has had something to do with my central nervous system, can you reccommend some test that are very thourough. Im so tired of being drugged out with meds for pain and nausea. Ive gone without for years but its getting to be too much again.

[Elizabeth]

I had the exact same symptoms, extreme dizziness, (sometimes lasting for a week with no breaks), feeling of the floor rolling, etc...  After the usual MRI (MS scare), inner ear checks and so forth, a wonderful ENT diagnosed me with atypical migraines!  With a regular migraine, the blood vessels expand.  In the atypical variety, the blood vessels contract, cutting the flow off to the brain, hence the dizziness.  He prescribed a beta blocker.  It's the same drug doctors give to high blood pressure patients.  It expands the blood vessels, increasing the blood flow.  Haven't had dizziness since.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for the comments.

CCF Neuro MD

[Judy]

i have been dizzy for years and now much worse. most of the dizziness is at night and morning. my problem is i can not lay down or lean my head up. i sleep only 3 hours a night and sit up. sometimes walking is like i have been drinking and i don't drink. when starting to lay back the episode is so awful i have to jump right back up it scares me so bad. i feel like an astonaut spinning in one of those tests they do. i am waiting on a eeg report and baer test. almost at the point og giving up i have not had decent sleep since feb. 3 do not want to bring anyone down but i am so scared some times i do not want to knowdoes anyone else have problems lying back?   thanks

[Sharon]

I recently had a baby 3 months ago and i have had dizziness since i was 17 years old and am now 32,the problem is not so much that the dizziness worries me like it use to but i've been experiencing since the birth of my baby sharp pains in my head all the time and it is worrying,i have not seen a doctor yet.The pains are not in one particular spot but all over my head.Does anyone else have this problem?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Sharon:

Just to be on the safe side I would visit with your family physician.

CCF Neuro MD

[heather]

Mike,

I have had similar symptoms for about 6 months now.  My doctor found that I had a B-12 deficiency and started me on shots of B-12.  That was three months ago and my symptoms have only worsened since then.

My symptoms are burning legs and arms.  Weak legs and arms and heavy chest-difficulty breathing and extreme fatigue with dizziness when I walk.  My shoulders and chest feel as if they are being pushed down all the time-same as your description of a sinking feeling.  I have had a MRI, tested for thyroid problems, etc.  Nothing has come up except the B-12 deficiency.  Otherwise I am a 30 year old female in good shape-I exercise and do not drink or smoke.  Why would my symptoms be getting worse?

I do see my doctor every 1 1/2 weeks to do a follow up.  He started me on Nortriptyline also.  But so far nothing has helped and after 6 months I fear nothing will.  

[comments by olga on 3-30-00]

MY MOTHER HAS BEEN TO MULTIPLE DOCTORS FOR HER DIZZINESS
AND NO ONE CAN HELP HER. SHE HAS SEEN 2 NEUROLOGIST,
A CARDIOLOGIST, AN ENT SPECIALIST, A CHIROPRACTOR, AN
ENDOCRINOLOGY, AN OPTHAMOLOGIST AND HER FAMILY MD. NO ONE
CAN TELL US WHY MY MOTHER IS DIZZY. SHE HAS HAD MULTIPLE
TESTING INCLUDING A CT SCAN AND AN MRI. sHE HAS HAD THE BALANCE
TEST, X-RAYS OF THE SPINE AND MANY LAB STUDIES.  EVEN AS I
WRITE THIS, WE AWAIT THE RESULTS OF A CARBON MONOXIDE LEVEL.
THE DOCTORS INSIST THAT IT IS NOT HER CARDIAC MEDS. IT IS
NOT THE LOPRESSOR.  IT IS NOT THE LIPATUR,  IT IS NOT THE
PLENDIL.  IT IS NOT HER BLOOD SUGAR. IT GOES ON AND ON.
EVERYONE IS VERY GOOD AT SAYING WHAT IT IS NOT AND NO ONE
CAN TELL US WHAT CAUSES THE DIZZINESS.
   I AM SO GLAD THAT I FOUND THIS SITE AND WILL TELL MY MOTHER
THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE PROBLEMS WITH DIZZINESS.
THE LATEST NEUROLOGIST HAS MY MOTHER ON NORTRPTYLINE AND
IT HAS NOT HELPED--ACTUALLY SHE IS EVEN MORE DIZZY NOW.
OH, THE FAMILY DOCTOR IS GIVING THE B-12 SHOTS --NO HELP.
THE STRANGE THING ABOUT MY MOTHER'S DIZZINESS IS THAT IT
USUALLY LEAVES HER ABOUT 6PM OR 7 PM BUT THEY RETURNS THE
NEXT MORNING.  I SPEND HOURS ON THE INTERNET LOOKING FOR
AN ANSWER.  I FEEL SO HELPLESS.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
NEXT.

                               THANKS FOR LISTENING.  

[Cher]

PLEASE go to Carbon Monoxide Headquarters on the Internet.  Dr. David G. Penney from Wayne State University is a carbon monoxide expert.   My husband & I had all your symptoms and more FOR OVER 4 LONG SUFFERING YEARS, misdiagnosed over & over again.  We spent thousands of $ on ER's/Drs/Tests ALL TESTS NEGATIVE!!  Finally, when we were both so sick we couldn't take it anymore, a doctor suspected Chronic CO poisoning.  GUESS WHAT!!!  That's exactly what it was.  Our chimney was 99% blocked and we were slowly being poisoned to death.  Feverish feeling, night sweats, throbbing headaches, stopped exercising too many aches & pains, difficulty speaking, tight muscles, neck hot & burning feeling, nauseaus, frequent urination, diarreah & constipation.  I could go on & on.  We are left with Fibromylagia, arthritis, joint, muscle & nerve problems, fatigue.  This was disgusting, and all it took was a simple $45.00 blood test to find out!!!!

CHECK OUT THE "CHRONIC" SECTION OF CO HEADQUARTERS VERY, VERY CAREFULLY.

[TinaSmith]

DeeDee; I was diagnosed with an arachnoid cyst. It is about 5cm in diameter. I have very similar symtoms. I have no energy, I get dizzy, lightheaded, faint, see floaters (dots in front of my eyes) most of the time, pressure headaches that come and go during the day, equilibrium difficulties, difficulty with my speach (minor), depression, also I am sensetive to light. Earlier this week I woke up to find my face was drawn up on the right side. I have an apt to see a NeuroSurgeon in the morning.

[Comment by Joy E.]

Have you discussed a tilt test with your doctor.  This test can determine if you have sincopy or is often used to diagnose Chronic Fatigue.  I had a major dizziness problem with fainting accompanied by nausea. I saw an cardiac specialist who did this test and put me on a medication that helps called florinef.  Just another avenue to explore.

[Chet Bush]

My Daughter just went through a bought with many of the symptoms mentioned above.  Dizziness, balance problems, vision problems, breathing problems, adrenalin rush, rapid heart rate, chest pains, etc.  She had a cat scan, MRI, test for MS, opthamologist, ENT specialist and Neurologist.  Dx.  Anxiety Disorder/ Panic attacks.  When you can't find a cause for these symptoms, Anxiety disorder can account for all of them.

Hope this helps.

Chet

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for the comments.

CCF Neuro MD

[Charlotte]

My four year son has suddenly developed symptoms that are very scary.  He attends preschool, and while he is coloring or doing crafts he suddenly bends forward over the table, turns very, very pale, sweats so much that his clothes are wet and has very loud gagging and coughing sounds. These usually last about an hour and the symptoms are the same each time. He is fine the rest of the day, though unusally tired.  He has had 5 of these episodes in the last 2 weeks - been to 3 doctors - not sure if he should see a gastronologist or a neurologist - he had a bad episode yesterday and my doctor sent him to a neurologist who has scheduled a brain/ct, eeg & ekg in May - these symptoms occur about 3 days apart and in between he is fine.  Does anyone have any information on abdominal migraines or abdominal eplipesy?  Over the past year and half, he has also had trouble with his right leg suddenly giving way and hurting - lasting from 1-3 days - he is unable to walk when this happens - a specialist suggested that he might have Legg Perthes disease, but now with these new symptoms I am not so sure - Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated - Thank you.

[Laura-19 year old]

It's nice to see that I'm not alone with dizziness. I have gone through tons of tests myself. Blood, balance, cardio tests and an MRI. The neurologist said I have a cyst but that is not something typically operated on and that many people go one to live a happy healthy life and he does not see it as the source of my dizziness. I have since moved and lost touch with the doctor and believe he would have made and effort to keep in touch if it was important, or at least refer to someone. Wouldn't he? So I finally went to an ear nose and throut specialist and he said that is is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Apparenantly a piece of protein or material is in my inner ear and when it touches the senses it disturbs them. I think he said that sometime is even sticks and that's what causes the problem. I too experience a weird floor movement after leaving an elevator and it seems to get worse with fatigue. I have been told to do this special exercises for my head to recondition it to get used to the particle and it seems to help. As well, when I was focusing so much on the dizziness it seems to get worse. So try not to think about it, and instead of maintaining head position, for feel of feeling uncomfortable, move it around and hold it in the position you find most uncomfortable. That's what I haev to do, but I want to know if this is actually a condition, or if this brain cyst is something related or something to worry about. Please help someone!!

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Charlotte:

I do not think that your son's femoral head problem is related to the events you describe.  Your son might have abdominal migraines or cyclic vomiting episodes.  These can be very scary for those watching the event.  Is there a history of migraines in the family?  If the EEG is normal, the MRI normal, then this might be the entity.  This would be especially true if there is a history of migraines in the family.  A trial of periactin might be of benefit if this is the diagnosis.  

CCF Neuro MD