Lightheadedness is ruining my life! What could be wrong with me?

[Ayleen44]

Okay, well this started about 2 months ago, I started getting really lightheaded & thought I was going to faint. I panicked and called the ambulance. 2 days before that incident I had visited my doctor because of pulsatile tinnitus ( this swooshing noise that goes along with my heartbeat) she said it could be an infection.

Ever since I went to the hospital the light headedness is still here. 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Especially when I am out somewhere, I feel unbalanced. And I also feel brain fog...I feel confused and I forget stuff sometimes.  Feels like I am wearing a very tight helmet around my head, there is alot of pressure on top of my head.I have really bad derealization.
I feel so alone, especially when doctors can't figure out what I have.
I have had MRI's and MRA's, CT scans, and Carotid Ultrasounds. Since I thought I had narrowing somewhere because I have high cholesterol but not high blood pressure.

All of this is causing me stress, which is causing me really bad headaches and heart flutters. I'm going to a Cardiologist on Monday and If there's nothing wrong then I am going to my ENT.

Does anyone think this could be a middle ear problem?

No rude answers please.

[bedoubleyou]

Do you take any medications? (even OTC)

Are there any activities that make it better, or any that make it worse?

[Ayleen44]

No, the only thing I am on is Effexor (because this dizzyness and lightheadedness is causing me alot of anxiety) and Crestor (for my high cholesterol) but I just started taking those today. I have been having all of the symptoms above for a little over 2 months now.
Standing up usually makes it worse, makes me feel like I am going to faint, when I am sitting down it feels the same but not as bad. It's bothering me vision too, ugh the brain fog is horrible! I can't concentrate anymore and I am always forgetting things!

By the way, I wanted to add that I used to get alot of sinus infections, which are not present anymore, but is it possible the infection moved to my ears?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Since you are having the problem of light headedness and tinnttus,so first of all inner ear disease like labrynthitis and meniere’s disease have to be ruled out.As CT and MRI brain have come out to be normal so the neurological causes have been rueld out.MRA has ruled out any obstruction causing TIA and stroke.So the only possibility that is left are inner ear problems.

I sincerely advise you to consult an ENT specialist and get yourself evaluated for it.

Hope it helps. Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Kind regards.