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10 year pain — dizziness
Hi. My name is Michael. I have been dealing with some sort of dizziness for a long time. When I’m in the shower and I can see the curtain move out of the corner of my eye it makes me feel like I am falling and need to grab onto something, I feel off balance whe I walk, I can be walking and hit an uneven spot in the ground and feel spinny, when standing and bend my knees a little I get a falling sensation, I see stationary things move on a constant basis (when I was at the doctors I can literally see the wall move close and back like it’s bobbing back and forth, when I stand up and pee and look down at the toilet I can literally see it twisting clockwise and counter clock wise constant and makes me feel sick and anxious), I go on a treadmill for half an hour and when I get off of it I feel really dizzy like my mind is still thinking treadmill and my body is walking in real life and my body can’t make the distinction so I get motion sick, when I drive I feel ok but then I stop and feel like I’m either moving still or the car next to me is moving still and sometimes I see the road stretch as if it’s getting longer as I’m sitting still, I went to Disneyland 2 years ago on star tours the movement and the screen at the same time make my brain feel like it’s spinning inside my head, I had to shut my eyes and hide my face against a family member to try and regain control. When I close my eyes I can help the dizziness go away. I’m sure there’s something I left out but this is what I have been feeling, I’m so desperate for some answers because my health care providers don’t know what’s going on and my grandmas doctor has told me that the major corporation hospital I’m with “is less that good” and i have had to do my own research to what’s going on. I cry everyday and I’m begging for some kind of help. They seem to think it’s because of some concussions in 2006 and other times I have had in the past and hit the back of my head maybe what’s causing it, they don’t know. I’m just so sick of feeling sick. I cannot live a normal life.
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I wanted to add They found I have a patulous Eustachian tube, central serous.
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1 Reaction@mnash85
Good Afternoon,
I’d want to make sure there were no Structural or Anatomical issues with the brain. This can be accomplished using CT or MRI. I assume you have already had these scans. However I question if some Molecular imaging is necessary in your situation. Although I’m no expert in diagnosis or necessary tests it seems reasonable that further tests would be inevitable since you have gone so long without a diagnosis which in my opinion is inexcusable. Molecular imaging will show detailed pictures of what is happening inside your body at the molecular and cellular level. It allows doctors to see how the body is functioning and to measure chemical and biological processes.
I’d also ask if a referral to a Neurologist, Ophthalmologist or an otorhinolaryngologist (ENT) could be beneficial, if your primary says no tell him you want the referrals anyway. Do you remember what doctors you’ve seen and tests you’ve had over the years.
Do or did you ever have Diabetes, strokes, high blood pressure, Parkinson disease or any other motor disorder or Neurological disorder?
Could your experience be due to medication?
Hope you get the answers you deserve soon.
Good luck,
Jake
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1 Reaction@mnash85
Hi
Did any doctor ever tell you the patulous Eustachian tube could be your main problem?
Jake
Ya I’ve seen neurology, ent. I’ve had a ct scan and an mri scan. They say they can’t see anything wrong.never tried molecular imaging. I’ve had pre diabetes which I made myself healthier, hypertensive when I’m stressed, and They don’t think I have a neurological or motor disorder. I don’t think it’s due to medication.
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1 Reaction@mnash85 Has anyone evaluated the alignment of your spine in your neck? You had mentioned being hit in the back of the head, and that could have caused a misalignment. It sounds like you have some vertigo. There may be many causes of that, and I've heard of crystals in the inner ear being dislodged as a cause, and a physical therapist can do some maneuvers to re-seat them.
From my own experience as a spine surgery patient, I know that when muscle spasms moved my neck around, it moved the vertebral bodies. Sometimes one twisted and turned itself independent of the others, or it tilted. Often that gave me a headache or neck ache. I wouldn't realize that, but then if I looked upward, it started the dizziness. I fell over once when it was bad and saw the world spinning around me. This is a symptom of a spine problem, and it also can be a reason a spine surgeon will pass on helping you. That happened to me 5 times before I came to Mayo which I believe was because of the vertigo. Sometimes my head didn't sit level on the top of my spine. That was before I had corrective spine surgery, and my spine condition (cervical stenosis with cord compression) was provoking the spasms and starting the problem. I also have thoracic outlet syndrome that caused uneven tightness on one side of my neck that contributed. My physical therapist would gently realign my spine and it fixed it until the next episode. This stopped after my spine surgery, but I still can cause a slight rotation if I sleep with my head turned, but with much lesser consequences. My recommendation would be to see a physical therapist who is good with spine patient rehab for an evaluation. The therapist will need to see your imaging and reports of any spine and skull images. If you have instability there, it can be dangerous to manipulate, so that must be ruled out before you begin. If you do have instability at the skull/spine junction, you need to see a spine specialist in that area like someone at Mayo. Most spine specialists don't work there, so it needs to be someone with that area of interest. Here are links that may be of interest. The articles are technical, but you might find something worthwhile.
https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/vestibular-impairment-and-its-association-to-the-neck-and-tmj/
https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/atlas-joint-instability-causes-consequences-solutions/
https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/
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1 ReactionHi, @mnash85 - thinking of you and the dizziness you were talking about. How has that been lately?
It’s still pretty constant. One thing I have done was stopped taking all my prescription medications for at least a month now (singulair, albuterol, qvar, Zyrtec, azelastine, Valium as needed, phenergan as needed for nausea). Seeing things spin in my sight has improved a little bit, but the balance I feel on my feet is a little worse. I feel tingling and buzzing in my nerves of my hands and feet. One thing I’ve noticed is it can be worse sometimes after exercise with dizziness in my sight and feeling.
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1 Reaction@mnash85
Hi
Be careful stopping all your meds at once. I did that and was bedridden for three months
Jake
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2 ReactionsHope you are doing ok. This is an old post. I have been getting dizzy noticeable when I get hot in my home or take a shower. Stops as soon as I cool myself down. ENT said my ears are fine. Can't figure it out either.
Dizziness in a hot shower or when overheated is often due to blood pressure dropping. Heat causes your blood vessels to dilate, your blood pressure drops, and if it gets down to 100 or below, it can cause dizziness. If you have a blood pressure cuff, take your BP before you get in the shower, then if you get dizzy, take it again and see what it is. If it’s dropping, turn the water temperature down and keep a small stool in the shower so if you get dizzy, you can at least sit down and avoid falling. Or take baths so you aren’t upright.