Constant Vertigo for 2.5 years

[Elorianda]

To anyone who might be willing to offer advice and insight...

I figured I've done everything else, trying something like this can't hurt.

For over two and a half years now, I've been suffering from constant vertigo, and about all I have to show for it is that it is called vertigo. I remember the onset very clearly, it was labor day weekend of 2006, my first semester away at college, and I was climbing into bed when I felt a wave of dizziness hit me. Thinking, as sometimes has happened in the past, that I simply moved too quickly, I expected it to dissipate. However, even as I laid down, it didn't get any better. I was constantly dizzy the whole weekend before finally going to seek help from the campus medical center.

I was prescribed meclazine, but it did absolutely nothing except make me sleepy which really didn't help since I had studying and classes and such. I was also prescribed Z-pack antibiotics to try and knock out any potential infections that might cause it, again no help. I saw a doctor who decided to chalk it up to anxiety. Not much for the idea of being on medication anymore on a trial-and-error basis, I agreed to see a campus counselor to calm anxiety, though I was highly skeptical as I'd been having the time of my life so far at college. The counselor honestly tried convincing me to drop out of college because of my vertigo. So I opted for anti-anxiety meds for some time that did nothing either. I've also used herbal remedies to no avail.

This vertigo has been constant since its onset, and though I can tolerate it better, I honestly don't think it's gotten better simply that I've gotten used to it. I have poor balance (I frequently fall over trying to get dressed in the morning). It is 24/7 and doesn't change with movement. I've had difficulty concentrating because staring at graphs (which happens a lot in my science major) or any fixed images is physically difficult as it makes me ill and gives me a headache. Otherwise, though, I don't have nausea accompanying my vertigo. It is also very energy-draining and I get fatigued quickly.

Since I'd had a minor fall and hit my head, we'd thought I might have been unaware of a concussion, but both a CT scan and an MRI (with and without contrast) were done showing no evidence of a concussion or any other problems. I've had a hearing test done with no problems, got a very mild prescription for glasses that help me focus my vision but don't stop the vertigo. I've had bloodwork done for lipids, sugars, thyroid, and I can't remember what else. I've had an EKG with doppler that showed I have a very, very mild heart murmur that shouldn't be causing the symptoms. Most of these were over a year ago as most doctors have simply washed their hands of me and told me I might just have to live with this forever.

I did not drink at all when I had my vertigo onset, and only drink socially with no noticable effect on my condition. I don't smoke and don't do any drugs whatsoever.

As for my medical history, I'm a 20 year old female with no other major diseases or accidents, only a few stitches in childhood and no broken bones. I've had IBS for about 4 years now, definitely triggered by stress. In my family, hypothyrodism is common, but my tests so far show no problems with mine. My paternal grandmother died of breast cancer and had a couple heart attacks in her life in spite of eating insanely healthy, my paternal grandfather has had some joint and back problems, and a heart surgery but is 70+ years old and still golfing on a regular basis. My maternal grandparents were both obese, and my grandfather died of complications involving pneumonia, thyroid cancer and diabetes. My maternal grandmother is still alive, with little problem other than a broken arm a few years back. My father is on thyroid medication and watches his blood pressure, my mother also has IBS and very poor eyesight. Both my parents are overweight but actively working and exercising, and I'm average build at 165lbs and 5'9", though I've gained weight since this vertigo onset from my lack of ability to exercise without losing balance and risking personal harm.

Recently, I've been hospitalized for a mental breakdown in which I took an overdose (intentionally NON-lethal) of several over the counter medications as well as self-injury (again nonlethal), and have gone through psych eval and am very content on my current medications as well as seeing a better counselor, but again the antidepressants haven't helped with my vertigo at all. However, the medications have helped combat my IBS greatly.

I've also recently experienced strange difficulty swallowing, though I don't know that it's at all related I thought it worth mentioning just in case. I've been treated for GERD (heartburn) with no help, not to my surprise as I have no other signs of heartburn. My difficulty swallowing has been characterized by choking on my medication, where I could not swallow anything else down but was able to speak and breath with no difficulty. The medication remained stuck in my throat well over an hour. This happened two days in a row, and since then I've been crushing medication and only taking dissolvable and powder-capsule medications.

I'm currently on Cymbalta for my depression, and Zydis for sleep help as I frequently suffer from insomnia.

So, symptom overview:

Vertigo- constant, contributing to balance problems, which lead to frequent falls and bruising.

IBS

Difficulty Swallowing

Depression

Fatigue

Insomnia (my body is tired, but my mind is still racing)


Additionally, though not of immediate concern unless it happens to help, I have had heavy and irregular periods my whole life. As such, I frequently have low iron but take supplements so its high enough to donate blood, so that's likely not contributing to my vertigo either.

Any advice at all is greatly appreciated. I'm tired of getting passed around to doctors with only more questions and medications and no real answers. I'm also especially tired of people acting like its insane for a 20 year old to present with this problem. I'm aware I'm not 50, thank you very much, and I truly am suffering from this condition.

Thank you for your time and assistance, I am very grateful.

[gusluck]

Sorry about all that you are going through. I have had vertigo off and on for years (started 20 years ago when I was 43, very bad episodes for a couple of weeks at a time, then recurring every two or three months) but the good news is that although it took a long time it has gotten a lot better, and I only get mild and manageable mild dizziness and crabbiness now, occasionally.

I have found some help in using a mild diuretic when I get a bout of vertigo and controlling what I eat: no coffee or caffeinated products, low on sugar, fats. Eat very healthy, drink water.  Also at some point I did what is called an Epley Maneuver, where they position you on a bed or doctor's table and tilt your head around to provoke vertigo (yikes, i know) but it is done to reposition some little crystals in the inner ear. I did it at home and I think it made a difference.

There are many causes for vertigo (Meniere's disease, this thing with the crystals that are floating around in the wrong places, or one or more of the tiny chambers in your inner ear that have fluids in them loosing their separateness and having their fluid levels affected by the fluid levels in your body).  Sorry about the wordiness, I am not a medical professional.  But I think checking with a neurologist is a good idea and then - depending on your insurance and where you live - sometimes there are clinics or practitioners specializing in vertigo that might be of further help.

I wish you good recovery and the best. Vertigo can be very debilitating, I know. So good tidings to you. Best,

Susana

[diane59]

Have you seen an EMT.  I had test done where you wore a Helmet? and you watced lines and another where they blew air in your ears and a computer calculated your eye movements.  Horrible tests.  LOL And the last ones were series of noises and lights.

My vertigo is caused by a virus and will take months ? to stop.  I also have nausea...

I have Bi-polar disorder so as to discuss your difficulty swallowing..It COULD BE and I stress that it could be.. some of the meds that they put me on it the beginning cause me to have problems swallowing.  I also felt like I wanted to swallow all the time.  Some meds list that as a side affect.

You can go to a web site drugs.com and they have a interreaction checker that is wonderful I think. I use it always.  You can store all your meds and add anything you take to the ones you have on file.  When you are on the meds you and I are on always check what you can and cannot take.  Pharmacists are too busy to warn us anymore, and so are our Drs.

[Cherie762]

depression is a disorder of the flow of seritonin to the neurons in the brain....its all connected  t would take 45 minutes....hope you get to felling better soon !!

[Elorianda]

No, I haven't seen a neurologist yet, frankly because it's been impossible to fit into my schedule. I will try it if I don't get any other ideas, but since I go to school practically year round in a town that, while it has a DO school probably doesn't have a neurologist or much in the way of testing equipment, it is a long drive to anywhere I can get tested, and with other health problems (working out my depression being considered by most to be a more immediate threat to my health) I just haven't gotten around to it, but I will definitely keep it in mind, thank you!

[Cherie762]

have you been evaluated by a neurologist/?? an eeg may be a good test for you.