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23 with near constant dizziness and lightheadedness.
Hey all,
Let me begin by saying I live a healthy lifestyle (eat mostly good, exercise vigorously 5-6 times a week, etc.) Almost exactly two years ago I started getting random dizzy spells and episodes of lightheadedness. During these episodes I feel as if the floor is not stable and that I may pass out. It gets extreme and debilitates me. I have never passed out. Outside of the episodes, I have near constant disequilibrium. I describe it as dizziness but it feels as if the floor is not stable or that I may fall through it. I feel weightless in my limbs and have head pressure that goes along with this. Not all these symptoms occur together but they all occur. It is effectively ruining my life and mental health. I can no longer enjoy activities I used to once enjoy. Leaving the house is a chore, working out is a chore and leaves me feeling drained, work is hard to be focused, etc. Physical activity greatly exaggerates the condition and sometimes I cannot complete workouts.
I have seen two primary care physicians, three ENT's, two neurologists and a neurosurgeon, two cardiologists, and an allergist. They ran multiple tests and cannot give me a reason for the way I am feeling. They found a pineal gland cyst on a brain MRI but say it has no significance. Wore an event monitor for 2 weeks and there were some PVC's but the cardiologist assured me they were normal. Full vestibular workup done as well. Many have tried to tell me that it is all anxiety but I do not believe that is the case as these episodes arise and even the constant disequilibrium arises with no apparent trigger or when I am jut home doing nothing. I have had anxiety issues in the past but not to a degree that caused physical symptoms. I'm also suspect of this diagnoses as the sensations came out of nowhere and I was perfectly fine prior to them starting while living a much less healthy lifestyle. Also anxiety medication does not alleviate the symptoms only seems to make me not care as much. I still feel drained and weak however. I believe that my condition is causing some anxiety which is in turn making things worse, but I do not believe it is the root cause. I am able to breathe through episodes of anxiety. I have seen therapists and psychiatrists. They don't have answers for me.
I have seen some alternative providers as I am now getting desperate. A chiropractor was helpful but did not relive symptoms, although she was the only provider I've seen who put a lot of effort into my case. I've recently seen a dentist to evaluate if anything went wrong with a wisdom teeth surgery I had a few months before my symptoms started. I only thought of this after coming across some information about "cavitations" on the internet. However there is no concrete evidence these are actually a medical issue. Upon focusing on the extraction sites, using a cone beam ct, I did show what appear to be "cavitations". I am torn now because the dentist is saying yes it is unusual (he said it looked as if I has just had my wisdom teeth removed despite the surgery being over 2 years prior), but he does not think it would cause symptoms. Information online paints a different story. They report cavitations could definitely cause the issues I've been having. I just find it a strange coincidence that I do indeed have pockets in the bone where my teeth were removed and that my symptoms began not too long after my surgery. Because this is not recognized in standard dentistry, I am getting blank stares from both dentists and oral surgeons. I am debating on just asking them to cut into it to see, they are reluctant to do this. It is the only lead I have right now but I don't know who to trust.
I feel I am too young to be feeling like this with no explanation. My vitals are fine and most doctors seem to not take me too seriously unfortunately. I do see it from their point of view but I believe that I am just one of those cases that may take more time. I did request an appointment at Mayo as a last resort but was denied.
If anyone has any insight please let me know. All comments are welcome. Thank you for taking the time to read.
Phillip
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Hi:
I have all the symptoms that you have and I also cannot get an answer. Mind started in 2013. I have been all over, John Hopkins, Mayo Clinic which I found them to be useless, Cleveland Clinic which they diagnosed me with Autonomic Dysfunction which I do not believe I have, and many other Clinics. I did have mercury poisoning 3 times but I was able to detox but who knows maybe some of the Mercury got past the the brain barrier. I am so tired of looking for an answer. I was also very active now I feel like a wet noodle. All I can suggest is: Get a toxin panel test and a food allergy test, I did find that I had a lot of toxins in my small Frame body and I had a lot of food allergies plus I found out that I am Celiac, Lactose and Fructose Intolerance. Who knows maybe all of the Intolerances and toxins change my DNA and some way damage my entire system. I can’t stand going to Doctors anymore plus they treat you like your nuts.
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2 Reactions@redhead63 I know you addressed this to 23 but I'm having sane problems , dizzy and balance Haven't found any Dr either the ENT isn't very helpful One thing I discovered on myself when I look up I'm dizzy so I'm wondering if it's my neck any thoughts
@phillipc421 @lioness @redhead63 Dizziness, nausea, and vertigo can be caused by a neck problem. This happened to me because of muscle spasms that moved my vertebrae out of alignment because of a spine problem. If my C1 or C2 were turned or tilted, and then I look up, it started the vertigo instantly. There are problems like Bow Hunter's Syndrome, where something like this happens from turning the head. When you look up, you can jam the back of the skull back on the spine, and if the spine is not aligned properly, it can cause issues. Some problems like this alter the blood supply to the brain by compressing the vertebral artery.
When this happened to me prior to my spine surgery, I was trying to photograph birds migrating overhead, and even though I put my head back into a normal level position, the dizziness did not stop and I could not stop myself from falling backward. My physical therapist was able to realign my spine and correct this and stopped the dizziness. It doesn't happen anymore since I had surgery for cervical stenosis. My suggestion would be to have an evaluation with a physical therapist who works with spine surgery patients to assess the proper alignment of the way the skull sits on the spine and spinal alignment.
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3 Reactions@jenniferhunter Thanks Jennifer I'm going to my chiropractor tomorrow I also have a sciatic problem I want to talk to him about
I just joined this group and saw your post. I have had BPPV since I was six or seven years old. I am getting ready to turn 63. I was finally diagnosed 23 years ago. My doctor said that I had it longer than any other patient except one man and he was older than me. I had it so bad that I would have to spend five to seven days in bed in the dark. Over the years I had brain scans blood work, they tested me to see if I was diabetic. I went through three hospitals. I would only have really bad spells maybe a couple times a year. Anyway, I was so dizzy for a few months and I couldn't drive. I had to go to my regular doctor and when I told him what was going on he told me about an ENT that specialized in dissiness. He told me he swears he helped his dad. My doctor was incredible, he actually understood the hell I was going through. He ran tons of tests on me and everything came back with me having BPPV. This doctor only dealt with cases of dizziness. The patients in his waiting room were from all over the country and a lot of airline pilots. The crystals in my inner ear were out of alignment and his did his version of the Epley maneuver. Anyway where I'm going with this is, after the maneuver you can't go to the dentist for like six weeks. I waited the time and a couple of more weeks and wouldn't you know, it knocked my crystals back out of alignment. A normal ENT is not going to help you if that's what you have. So much of what you wrote is so much like my problem. If you have any questions let me know.
@ggacker Thanks for your replying. I had the ventibular test at the specialist office then went back to my Ear Dr who gave me the epley exercises that worked but I've noticed when I put my head backwards I have some dizziness so don't do that About a month afterwards I had to repeat the ear exercersis again to put the crystals back in place. Thank goodness for these exercersis
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1 ReactionHi, sorry to hear about your dizziness and head pressure. Have you been able to resolve the issue? It has been 2 years since I had the avm rupture and last repair. I am healthy as well and have the same, head pressure and dizziness. I also have heard about dental work causing a lack of ability for connection. I get no answers from medical staff as well to try to resolve my issue with prior dental surgery before the avm rupture. There is a youtube video regarding a dentist. You may have seen this but here are the links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPDPrXEAe1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=QfA16ff43Kg
Hope this helps. Let me know what you find out for your recovery.
Best of luck.
Hi, I have had severe episodes of vertigo and dizziness for 10 years along with many other chronic medical problems do to elemental mercury toxicity poisoning by inhalation while working at a biotech company in 2010. I even get dizzy when standing by an elevator or a large copier. I have had multiple vestibular therapy sessions with no success. After 10 years of these episodes, I was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Not one time in the 10 years that I Googled things for vertigo did I ever look at symptoms for MS, because I am not in a wheelchair? Request a Visual Evoked Potential test. The reason this test was done is because after my last mini stroke in August 2018 I started getting a silver and white print in the middle of my eyes that I cannot see through. It does not hurt. It is not like a migraine. It is called Central bilateral scotoma. Good luck.
@krissye Have you looked into any doctors who detox heavy metals? The field of functional or environmental medicine has providers who have treatments for toxicity. You can find information at https://www.aaemonline.org/ . Right now, that website isn't working, but check back, they have a menu where you can search for a provider. This link is a provider in Dallas, TX where a lot of the pioneering work was done in this field. https://www.ehcd.com/
I trust you know that migraines - a brain, i.e. neurological condition - can produced dizziness that can last from minutes to days and is often confused with ENT issues. (You might want to look up vertiginous or vestibular migraines). In fact, may neurological problems present with dizziness, balance problems and other symptoms that are frequently misdiagnosed as anxiety, or ENT woes.