Chronic Sudden Onset Vertigo

[Kwalk014]

Hi, I have been having issues for awhile with this. The first two 'bad' experiences happened almost a year ago. First, I was sitting in class and I got this sudden rush that the room was spinning upward and I tried to automatically correct this and almost slammed my head into the desk. It lasted, literally, about a second. Then I was walking down the hallway of my apt and the hallway started spinning to the left. Again, I tried to correct it and almost fell into the wall.

I went to a Neurologist's and said she didn't really know but thought it might be some type of seizure. I was set up for an EEG and a MRI but I had some issues with the healthcare office and ended up canceling both and not rescheduling.

Anyway, they have been more prevalent the past few months and they come in different degrees of severity. There is nothing situational that relates them to each other which I feel is pretty strange. Also, I will have a week or two where it happens often then a period of time where I don't experience it at all.

I am a 21 year old student with consistently low blood pressure (110/60). Also, I am a competitive weightlifter. I have wondered if the excessive heavy lifting is a contributing factor, however I have NEVER experienced vertigo while during practice.

They vertigo started right after I started a cycle of creatine, so I wondered if I was over hydrated and that was the cause but I still experienced it after quiting a cycle. I also eat a lot of tuna (1-2 cans a day) so I fear that heavy metal posioning may be associated (although I have no other symptoms associated with heavy metal posioning).

I would really appreciate some help/direction on this.

[Kwalk014]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the quick response.

JMc - I checked out that site but it didn't seem to fit me well. I have never had one last more than 1 or 2 seconds. Also, I have had many inner ear infections as a child and a few upper respirtory infections which it said may be associated so I am not ruling it out.

Ud - That is interesting. Both my parents have been diagnosed with migraines and they have always wondered why I don't get them.

Again I appreciate it. I just had a great aunt who almost died of an anurysem (sp?) and although I have never had anyone in my family diagnosed with brain tumors, that is one of my biggest fears. I will definitely get the EEG and MRI reschedules.

[Udkas]

Hi there,
I also suffered bouts of vertigo without any ear problems etc. Exactly how you have described your episodes. My neurologist believes that my vertigo episodes are migraine headache related (but even without getting the symptoms of the headache) so like a type of aura without the headache.  I would go and get investigated properly re your vertigo etc. as it could be a number of things...and is worth getting it fully checked out.

I found that the motion of tilting my head down and then bringing it back up would bring on a small sensation of vertigo, like the ground was coming up to meet me, and I had the same feeling when i got out of the car after i had done a long journey etc. but the bad episodes do make you smack into walls and can be frightening.

Goodluck,
Cheers,
Udkas

[JMcCormack]

Get the EEG and a MRI done for sure.  A proper regimen of tests and a physician's diagnosis are paramount.  So book that appointment with your neurologist and try to rule out the possibility of seizures.

That being said, benign positional paroxysmal vertigo BPPV comes to mind here.  
For further reading http://neurology.health-cares.net/vertigo-bppv.php

Cheers