Vertigo?

[tad316]

About one month ago I was sitting on my couch and out of nowhere I felt incredibly dizzy (like my brain was swimming in my head) I think this sent me into a panic because I started shaking and went to the ER because I had no idea what was going on with me. The ER folks said it was BPPV o Benign Positional Vertigo. Since then I have had headaches, nausea and this constant sense that I can describe as dizziness but not the kind that makes me lose balance or like I'm going to fall over. It feels more like I am wearing somebody elses glasses and things are distorted and most recently it has gotten worse. It is really hard to focus on things, i feel like my eyes are jumping around and my head and neck ache. My dr. basically thinks I'm crazy and I have an anxiety disorder so she prescribed me medicine for that which is great because I am incredibly scared that this is something serious and therefore do have some pretty high anxiety. So, my question basically is if anyone out there has experienced something similair? if so, what was it and more importantly how do we fix it?! I don't want to sound over dramatic here but this is beginning to take a huge toll on my personal and professional life.

The dr. also ran a few motor skill tests when I asked her for a CT or MRI of my head and she said that she didn't find any reason to give my insruance company to authorize that type of test. She did an x-ray of my sinuses-unremarkable and also bloodwork that found everything to be ok.

Any help I can get would be great, thanks!

[tad316]

Thank you for the info. I think the worse part about all of this is realizing the "dr"you have doesn't believe you and it really dismissive. I am disappointed with the way that this has been handled so far, frustrated. I'm sure you understand as it took 12 months for them to figure out what was causing your symptoms. I've demanded a referral to an ENT so we will see where this all leads. Thanks again!

[Cath278]

Hi tad316.
I would first advise an eye test to see if all is well with your eye sight and the back of your eye is ok.
After that, I would ask for a referral to a neuro.
There are many things that can cause your symptoms, your eyes, your ears. Have the drs checked these basics first? It could also be migraine.
Vertigo is a terrible thing to suffer. Did you get any meds to help with it? Cerc and Stemitil are a great help.

I have IIH /PTC. One of the first symptoms I suffered from was vertigo and pain in my eyes and blurry vision. It is a very rare illness and difficult to diagnose.It took over 12 months to fianally get my diagnoses.
I am not saying you have IIH but something is going on.

A neuro will know what to look for and will be able to put things right for you.
If you feel its not anxiety, keep pushing until some one listens.
Some times, drs tend to label patients with a label of anxiety, depression and look no further for another cause.
I hope things get better for you.Cath278.

[tad316]

Well, I would think it was just anxiety except i don't have any right now and the way that i feel all the time is like when you wake up and you are hungover but still kind of drunk and your brain feels like it is sloshing back and forth in your head making you dizzy and sick. That makes me think not so much the anxiety. But, hey my Dr. thinks the same thing which would all make sense to me (beings I have a background in treating dually diagnosed clients and all) except that this started before the anxiety and as I type if I move my eyes to one place it makes me want to vomit. Or the immence amount of tightness and pressure I have al throughout my head, eyes, neck and ears. Or the odd pressure and tingling I feel on the inner part of my ear lobe (not my inner ear). All the same, thanks for the suggestion.

[MMahon]

Your symptoms are quite common in anxiety disorder.
Make an appointment with a psychiatrist and discus your symptoms and how it's effecting your life.  There is good treatment for this disorder and the psych will direct you on the appropriate treatment methods.
Check out the anxiety forum for more info.