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Post Viral Syndrome?
Dear Drs,
16 days ago I woke up with an upset stomach, nausea and had 5 episodes of watery diarrhea within 5 to 6 hours and a low temp of 99.3. I went to work but left early because I still had nausea and started to feel dizzy. The next day I had two more episodes of watery diarrhea, severe nausea and felt lightheaded and dizzy, I went to my GP and was diagnosed with viral gastroenteritis and given a liter of NS.
I started to feel better for 2 days then suddenly had severe nausea and extreme dizziness not vertigo more a lightheaded presyncopal feeling. I rested in bed for a day thinking it would resolve but it only worsened along with loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, feeling tired. Every time I would stand up I would feel lightheaded and could not walk for more than a few minutes without feeling extremely nauseous, lightheaded and fatigued. I even felt this way sitting the only thing that helped would be lying down. I also had a lot of belching, especially when I would stand up.
I went back to a Dr 7 days after initial symptoms, my blood pressure was low 90/50, the Dr gave me prescriptions for reglan, cipro and some type of electrolyte drink and said I was still recovering from the gastroenteritis. I only used the electrolyte drink with no relief, I was on a liquid diet to rest my GI, then I had 2 more episodes of watery diarrhea along with all the other same symptoms. I called the Dr who sent me to the ER, there I was given 500ml NS, blood work was normal, BP was 98/60, pulse 60's, no fever I was sent home. At that point I started taking the cipro 250mg twice a day.
For the next three days I was able to eat yogurt and toast, which did not bother my stomach, but I still had the dizziness, some nausea, fatigue, belching and now some mild headaches. I started to feel a little bit better and was able to eat small meals of regular food for 2 days, then had another episode of severe symptoms along with chills to the point where my entire body was shaking uncontrollably, I could not even stand up, was taken to the ER again, my blood sugar was 71, BP 124/60, pulse 94 yet I had eaten a meal only 2 hours previously, I drank some juice and my blood sugar went up to 150. My normal vitals are 100/60 with a resting pulse generally high 50's low 60's. My blood work came back with a total calcium level of 7.8, which was down from 9.4 in 5 days from the last ER visit, and my albumin was 3, and slightly anemic. I was given 2 liters NS and 2 amps of calcium chloride, was given a CT scan which was negative, discharged and told to see my GP the next day for more testing.
My GP examined me and saw that my left ear was completely impacted with wax, he said ear wax usually doesn't cause the feeling of lightheaded but just in case he irrigated my ear anyway. The wax did not come out; he sent me home with debrox drops and a referral for an ENT to remove the wax. He also told me the total calcium was not a good determinant since my albumin was a little low so he ordered more blood work this time with and ionized calcium, all blood work came back normal.
Now 16 days out from initial symptoms, my nausea is generally resolved and I'm able to eat normal meals but I'm still lightheaded on and off especially when standing up, sitting or walking, fatigued, tired, and weak. Could the impacted earwax cause the lightheaded feeling? My doctor mentioned that I might have post-viral syndrome is this possible? The worst of the symptoms is the nonvertigo dizziness/lightheaded feeling that is hard to describe but is debilitating and it seems to come and go. I also just started having hot sensations in different areas of my body such as my foot, leg, groin and stomach.
Before this I was extremely healthy, I rarely get sick and lead a quite active life. These symptoms are making it hard to function as I'm spending the majority of my time in bed resting.
Searching for answers and just wanting to feel better...
16 days ago I woke up with an upset stomach, nausea and had 5 episodes of watery diarrhea within 5 to 6 hours and a low temp of 99.3. I went to work but left early because I still had nausea and started to feel dizzy. The next day I had two more episodes of watery diarrhea, severe nausea and felt lightheaded and dizzy, I went to my GP and was diagnosed with viral gastroenteritis and given a liter of NS.
I started to feel better for 2 days then suddenly had severe nausea and extreme dizziness not vertigo more a lightheaded presyncopal feeling. I rested in bed for a day thinking it would resolve but it only worsened along with loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, feeling tired. Every time I would stand up I would feel lightheaded and could not walk for more than a few minutes without feeling extremely nauseous, lightheaded and fatigued. I even felt this way sitting the only thing that helped would be lying down. I also had a lot of belching, especially when I would stand up.
I went back to a Dr 7 days after initial symptoms, my blood pressure was low 90/50, the Dr gave me prescriptions for reglan, cipro and some type of electrolyte drink and said I was still recovering from the gastroenteritis. I only used the electrolyte drink with no relief, I was on a liquid diet to rest my GI, then I had 2 more episodes of watery diarrhea along with all the other same symptoms. I called the Dr who sent me to the ER, there I was given 500ml NS, blood work was normal, BP was 98/60, pulse 60's, no fever I was sent home. At that point I started taking the cipro 250mg twice a day.
For the next three days I was able to eat yogurt and toast, which did not bother my stomach, but I still had the dizziness, some nausea, fatigue, belching and now some mild headaches. I started to feel a little bit better and was able to eat small meals of regular food for 2 days, then had another episode of severe symptoms along with chills to the point where my entire body was shaking uncontrollably, I could not even stand up, was taken to the ER again, my blood sugar was 71, BP 124/60, pulse 94 yet I had eaten a meal only 2 hours previously, I drank some juice and my blood sugar went up to 150. My normal vitals are 100/60 with a resting pulse generally high 50's low 60's. My blood work came back with a total calcium level of 7.8, which was down from 9.4 in 5 days from the last ER visit, and my albumin was 3, and slightly anemic. I was given 2 liters NS and 2 amps of calcium chloride, was given a CT scan which was negative, discharged and told to see my GP the next day for more testing.
My GP examined me and saw that my left ear was completely impacted with wax, he said ear wax usually doesn't cause the feeling of lightheaded but just in case he irrigated my ear anyway. The wax did not come out; he sent me home with debrox drops and a referral for an ENT to remove the wax. He also told me the total calcium was not a good determinant since my albumin was a little low so he ordered more blood work this time with and ionized calcium, all blood work came back normal.
Now 16 days out from initial symptoms, my nausea is generally resolved and I'm able to eat normal meals but I'm still lightheaded on and off especially when standing up, sitting or walking, fatigued, tired, and weak. Could the impacted earwax cause the lightheaded feeling? My doctor mentioned that I might have post-viral syndrome is this possible? The worst of the symptoms is the nonvertigo dizziness/lightheaded feeling that is hard to describe but is debilitating and it seems to come and go. I also just started having hot sensations in different areas of my body such as my foot, leg, groin and stomach.
Before this I was extremely healthy, I rarely get sick and lead a quite active life. These symptoms are making it hard to function as I'm spending the majority of my time in bed resting.
Searching for answers and just wanting to feel better...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
You are right in saying that ear wax can cause light headedness.Ear wax deposition causes pessre build up in the inner ear which can cause disturbance in maintaining equilibrium.Hence light headedness.
Post viral myalgias and fatigue are very common.This is called post viral fatigue syndrome.
Take healthy nutritious diet and keep yourself well hydrated.Maybe after cleaning of the ear for ear wax,you will feel better.
Take care and God bless.
You are right in saying that ear wax can cause light headedness.Ear wax deposition causes pessre build up in the inner ear which can cause disturbance in maintaining equilibrium.Hence light headedness.
Post viral myalgias and fatigue are very common.This is called post viral fatigue syndrome.
Take healthy nutritious diet and keep yourself well hydrated.Maybe after cleaning of the ear for ear wax,you will feel better.
Take care and God bless.
Thank you for your response,
I have been drinking lots of fluids, my doctor did not think I was dehydrated due to my normal blood work and UA. I had my electrolytes and mineral levels evaluated and they were normal. Liver enzymes normal, kidney function normal, CBC normal, cardiac enzymes normal. My doctor also does not think I have any endocrine disorders.
I don't have any neck pain but have been experiencing some muscle twitching in my upper arms/triceps.
My doctor doesn't see any infection in my ears and does not think I have Meniere's since I do not experience vertigo.
My CT was negative, ECG and echo normal.
The only thing not discussed was TIA or stroke which I will bring up on the next visit. Also I'm thinking of requesting a glucose tolerance test since I have had symptoms of hypoglycemia for a few years but every time I discuss this with my doctor they dismiss it.
Back to my original questions can the impacted earwax cause a lightheaded feeling or is this unlikely? Also does any of this sound like post-viral syndrome or not possible?
Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
Your light headedness can be attributed to some factors like dehydration because of diarrhea,hypoglycemia(low blood glucose) and low BP. Hypotension and hypoglycemia can also cause hypothermia or low body temperature.Also get your electrolytes and mineral levels evaluated.Drink plenty of water as dehydration can lead to electrolyte imbalance which in turn can lead to low BP and hence hypothermia and dizziness.
Do you have any pain in the neck?Sometimes cervical spodolysis and vertenrobasilar insufficiency can also cause dizziness.
Other possibilities for your symptoms are ear infections and other causes like Meniere’s disease or inner ear diseases,TIA (transient ischemic attacks)or stroke, anemia,infections,endocrine disorders like thyroid, adrenal glands, and pituitary gland disorders,anxiety and panic attacks
Pls discuss these possibilities with your doctor.Get the blood sugar evaluated and an ECG done.CT brain is also useful if any neurological cause is suspected to be the cause of vertigo. The choice of treatment will depend on the diagnosis.
Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing.
Your light headedness can be attributed to some factors like dehydration because of diarrhea,hypoglycemia(low blood glucose) and low BP. Hypotension and hypoglycemia can also cause hypothermia or low body temperature.Also get your electrolytes and mineral levels evaluated.Drink plenty of water as dehydration can lead to electrolyte imbalance which in turn can lead to low BP and hence hypothermia and dizziness.
Do you have any pain in the neck?Sometimes cervical spodolysis and vertenrobasilar insufficiency can also cause dizziness.
Other possibilities for your symptoms are ear infections and other causes like Meniere’s disease or inner ear diseases,TIA (transient ischemic attacks)or stroke, anemia,infections,endocrine disorders like thyroid, adrenal glands, and pituitary gland disorders,anxiety and panic attacks
Pls discuss these possibilities with your doctor.Get the blood sugar evaluated and an ECG done.CT brain is also useful if any neurological cause is suspected to be the cause of vertigo. The choice of treatment will depend on the diagnosis.
Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing.
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