24/7 Dizziness Occipital Stroke and Cerebellar Stroke

It was three years last May for me, so I am going on four and have no relief. Some of it is my meds but dizzy is always there, driving, in bright lights, in stores, in noisy places, etc. at first a scapolamine patch behind an ear helped a lot but I became allergic to the adhesive and could not continue with them. It was murderous at first without it......some how I got through it and now Lorazepam at a small dose every day seems to somehow relax my tight neck muscles......

Hello @leslee1971, welcome to Connect. You may also want to check out the following discussion on chronic dizziness, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hello-_-my-name-is-kim-i-am-33-years-old-and/. @lakelifelady, did Lorazepam give you some relief for your dizziness as well, or just your neck muscles? @leslee1971, have you found anything to help take the edge off of your dizziness? Have you spoke with your medical provider and have they tried anything?

Lorazepam has a positive effect on taking the edge off dizziness. Without it I am very full headed with lots of tinnitus and dizziness. After all this time I am no doubt addicted to it but do not increase my dosage which is only .5 MG Tab, which I halve for am and pm. Thank you for the link.

I have been recently diagnosed with Basilar Artery Stenosis and have been seeing a neurologists. we are using conventional medicine, diet and exercise to work on reducing the blockage. I am dealing with what I call "mild brain fog" occasionally so I am interested in hearing more on this topic.

My spouse has the same thing and had had several incidents where he slurs his speech and cannot function. His
memory is also impaired. He has been hospitalized three times with no help. We have found if he lies down and goes to sleep he comes out of it. Because of his advanced age, we have been told medication is all that can be done. No surgery. Any advice?

After seeing my neurologist for the first 3 years, I was released to my physician for primary care. I have been on Plavix for the last 5 years and am concerned about the day when it no longer works.

Three years after the diagnosis I asked that we do another scan to see what has happened to the blockage, was questioned about symptoms and was never granted that request. I gave up. I rarely think about it and am grateful for each day I have.

I realize this is five years after the posting, but maybe it will mean something to someone.
My husband's cerebellar stroke left him with near constant non-spinning vertigo and head pains. He's disabled to the point of mostly sitting or sleeping. Everything aggravates the symptoms. At 6 mos and 12 mos post-stroke, the vascular/stroke neurologist said the symptoms were beyond what the damage could explain and referred my husband to the psychology dept--without explaining why. I assumed it was for coping strategies and to stave off depression, so I didn't ask, "Why?" Since there is also cognitive/memory damage, we went to a neurologist specializing in memory. She said she couldn't say whether or not it was or could turn into dementia. But, she said she their medical center has a psychologist specializing in FND--functional neurological disorder (what the first dr. didn't explain). When I mentioned the possibility of PPPD (persistent postural perceptual dizziness), she agreed that could be happening. The psychologist said the therapy for FND and PPPD are similar. Treatment includes Rx venlafaxine/Effexor--an SNRI drug typically for anxiety and depression. My husband has no symptoms of those, but the drug helps with FND and PPPD. It's too soon to know how this will play out. The two go rounds with onsite physical therapy in years past (NOT with vertigo specialists) made him so much worse. We're about to try a use-at-home vertigo therapy kit from a specialist, Ashley Contreras/vizstim.com. We found her via VeDA's vertigo summit this year (Vestibular Disorders Assoc--advocacy and education organization). That way we control the pace, to achieve habituation instead of detrimental overstimulation. Weighted blankets do help--get lighter than what is recommended. I learned what ideas to pursue online--over countless hours. The professionals have been of very minimal to no assistance. It's been almost three years. Don't give up! My best wishes to you all.

I watched a documentary on 60 minutes where they are using an Ultrasound procedure to remove a form of plaque in the brain that causes Alshiemers. This procedure helps reverse Alshiemers with some degree of success. I'm curious.

My spouse had a stroke and affected his left side of brain.
He has veritgo, and blacks out when he lays back. His memory is affected but his balance while sitting is off and is a fall risk. He will get PT for his vertigo this week , but I feel that this will be on going.

Just curious -- when was his stroke?

I had an ischemic stroke on the left side on Christmas Eve, 2018.

Initially, I had all kinds of problems, but over time and with therapy I have improved a lot. Five-plus years later, I am still improving, though as quickly.

Your husband may have a similar trajectory. It takes a lot of patience, persistence, and determination.

You may find my YouTube channel helpful. I talk about various aspects of my recovery journey:
https://www.youtube.com/@srlucado/videos
Good luck, and don't give up!