Headache, dizziness x 4 mo

[cleve]

I'm: 32y/o wm, optometrist, no signif PMH, no prev HA/migr., no PHx surgery, trauma, etc., very athletic, hiker, sports.

June 11,06: returned from 2 wk trip to Dom. Repub.; that night exper. sudden onset vertigo, resolved upon awake next a.m. No fever/flu sx.
(3 weeks, no sxs)
July 4: mild pressure HA began insid in left temp area, grew to a global pressure HA with mild but signif. imbalance/disequilibrium (not like vertigo of june 11).

July 15: Docs not sure.  HA worsens, cycling mild-severe q5-15 days. "bad" periods: severe HA imbalance/diseq, loss of appetite / nausea, fullness ears, sinus, throbbing c pulse.no other neuro sxs.

July 15-Aug 25: cyling of sxs over 1-2 weeks of "bad".  Sxs seem worse when upright, walking/exercise, but not with strain / valsalva.

Test results: Head MRI c contrast: "normal", cbc wnl, west blot lyme neg, yellow fev neg. no other tests done. ENT workup norm, auiology: wnl (notch in left hearing).

Aug 25 - Oct 15: imbal/disequil resolved completely; Only sx is pressure HA, present at all times, but very mild in a.m., worse (mod to sev) at night. taking amitryp 25qhs, ET Tyl, vicodin 5mg qhs/prn for pain, dramamine 25 mg for dizzy prn. psycholgcly, good spirits, trying to be more active.  

Oct 15-present: HA worsened, imbalance/diseq returned to its max. HA and imbal, mild in am, worse when upright and activity. no other sxs noted. Fullness and ringing ears, worse c HA.

recent tests: LP,EEG, 2nd MRIc contrast tomorr.  s/p 2 neur,1ID, 1ENT, 2GP, no Dx. What is this/what to do? go to UCLA neuro? Thank you

[KIENOW]

Wow....everything you are saying are the same symptoms I have had for six months..active 32 year old health workout ect.  Have been to two Neuros one said Brain Virus the other gave me diag. of a Pseudotumor because my two spinal taps were elevated all blood work fine/Mris fine ect.  Questions:

Do you're hands tremor a bit?
Can you still work out?
Concentration issues?
I am better in am and at night..
Dull headaches/plugged ears
dizziness/light head
Did they tell you how to detect a fistula?

thinking of going to Mayo Clinic or Barrows Inst.  I am a young active person whose career/life is in jeopardy over my sudden symptoms.  Have not had success at getting a reponse from a doctor either...

[cleve]

To add to my first post: Lumbar puncture pressure was 140, "normal", per Neurologist.

Regarding lyme, I researched internet and went to Canlyme.  Went to Infectious Disease specialist, with whom I discussed lyme at length, and about the many "undiagnosed" cases. She agreed and tested my blood for lyme using western blot, as well as west nile. Both resulted negative.  This was 1 month after initial symptoms began.

I do realize that this could be due to a virus, which has no treatment.  However, I have been examined by 7 physicians, and only other ideas are: chiari malformation, or a perilymph fistula, though nothing was noted on my first MRI.  

Does anyone know any tricks to get posted on the neurology forum for the doctor's response?   I have never been able to post there.  

Thank you.