Chronic Subjective Dizziness-CSD

New to this...just came across this term. But I'd like to share my story to possibly get some related feedback. Walking down the street about 5 yrs ago had a vertigo attack. It subsided (the hardcore part) after a week or so. But the dizzy, off balance feeling lasted about 3 months (give or take a week). Saw a doc about 3 days into the hardcore vertigo. Doc ran blood work, never suggested ent. Said to take B12...could be BPPV, but wasn't sure. Month goes by, I get MRI..comes back clean. Two more months, it just kinda disappeared. (Doc was no good, no follow up, insurance hound) Friends found article about vestibular neuritis... sounded close to what I went through..kinda chocked it up to that. Fast forward to Jan 2018...no symptoms at all. Out with a friend walking down street, hardcore vertigo attack that . Went to an ENT two days later..did hearing tests, checked for eye movement... thought it could be BPPV. Sent me home with an anti-inflammatory with steroid (some kind of 6 day cycle thing). After a week I was able to cautiously drive...doc said should realign in a month. 3 months go by and I'm back to the, off balance feeling. Look at bp...way high, put me on Lisinopril, figure that my high BP was making me dizzy. (No insurance now so all out of pocket...found a PC doc that takes monthly payments, so at least I have some care). This feeling of im balance lasts all year. Worse walking Into stores, halls at work...sometimes bad ping pong feeling in my brain when I talk to someone. Bloods, balance specialist, allergy meds....no results. Went thru a real rough patch on personal stuff starting in June..got fairly depressed. Balance issues remain...not really dizzy, not really light head...just way out of whack in my head..gait was never really affected, but felt like my brain was swimming in my skull with head movement and walking....have little mini vertigo effects now and then but never right. Doc suggest another MRI...comes back clean. Suggest that I may be depressed, maybe try an antidepressant. Got a head cold that severely congested me and the feeling was almost nil during that time...Odd. Anytime I had a few drinks..got worse. If I was drunk..the feeling would be much less...very odd.(not a real drinker...just trying to remember odd things with my balance issue) Ias off work from mid December til midnight Jan. Around late December...the feeling began to get less and less. Mind you, sitting at home in my total comfort zone most days...no work ..no stress..no homework (yeah, I'm also a student...again). Still felt fairly "blue". Started on welbutrin mid Jan....I'm really not a fan of the idea of antidepressants, but F**k it. Also because I read it helps with smoking cessation and I'm a dirty, filthy smoker (half pack a day). So ..now I'm back in classes, back to work, feeling good...well, feeling balanced and no sign of swimming brain. Well, a week and a half ago, I felt like my left ear was full and felt a bit off. So, I did the epely maneuver out of fear of bppv and having a vertigo attack(cause that s**t is no joke and scares me to death). No luck and I go right back to that feeling. Head feels out of balance constantly. Not dizzy, though with some extreme head movement, I get hit with an intense dizziness that goes away really quick but out of battery remains. So, I'm back to square one and I start a new job in about two weeks. Very worried of having an attack and losing a new job cause I'm calling in sick on the first day. I've read some mold things on here, some things about zinc and other supplements.. cbt therapy, which my doc is suggesting next...I'm just looking for more suggestions on what it could be or if the zinc and supplements worked and how long before results? Or perhaps I'm on the wrong forum? Living with this for a year now, with a previous case 5 yrs ago and no real answers is truly starting to effect the way I think about life and how to cope. So far I have been able to maintain work(but we'll see with the new job) but it has certainly affected my social life and the way I interact with people. I had that brief moment of clarity and it went away pretty quickly. Any response or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

@the138 Wonder if something is in the air I have the dizziness and almost feel a couple of times my balance is of .Ear Dr sent me for test a2hr testing still waiting for results Another lady here has the same thing I was talking to a neighbor and she has same problem. Your case is allot more then mine but just waiting for appt I've noticed the balance is getting worse and I felt pressure in my head like it wasn't connected to me strange feeling .Hope you find out the cause soon .Let me know how your doing

2 hour testing? What does that do and who does that? Did you have a vestibular issue that start yours off?

@the138 It all started with nevk soreness for a couple of weeks then the dizziness when I laid down ,when getting up I sat on bed before it went away but got up and weaved all over the place then my head felt like a balloon and headaches I also for years have had tinnitus ringing in the ears so ear Dr sent me for testingn2hr test waiting for results the other lady told me today her Dr is sending her for balance check

Tinnitus may be the key in your case. Doesn't sound like our issues are that close. I did not have ringing, no neck issues, and mine isn't affected by laying down and getting up. It comes only with head movement and stress, beyond the hardcore vertigo episodes that would last over a week. Hopefully the tests will show you something. Let us know when you get results. Good luck.

Hey Gavin, I was wondering if you are still free and clear and if you could read my case to see if you recognize any similarities. I was adopted and have absolutely no genetic history so your case intrigued me and my symptoms. Thanks.

@the138 O.k. this was just what's happening to me I hope you find out what is causing yours I'm in PT for my back and was telling her about balance problems so she is starting me on balance training I,ll let you know after 14 the

Hi all, I'm 31 and my dizziness started a year and a half ago when I had an episode/panic attack regarding going back to work and a breakup. My anxiety/panic was through the roof where I couldn't go out in public and my dizziness was at a 10 to where I couldn't drive. My mom drove me to my psychiatrist and he put me on Xanax and it instantly took away my dizziness (I also was on Seroquel/Latuda during this time). Fast forward to a year and a half, we have tried tapering off of the Xanax, with the dizziness symptoms going away for a short period of time, but they are back. Because the Xanax took the dizziness away, we are linking it to stress/anxiety. I have recently moved from Latuda to Prestiq, hoping the Latuda had something to do with it because that drug seemed to also make me panicky. However, the Xanax isn't working as well with the Prestiq and the dizziness is now not going away. I'm also super foggy brained. I'm a teacher and I can't think straight, I can barely work, I can't workout, I'm miserable. Has anyone had luck with CBT? Any advice on where to turn to next? My psychiatrist doesn't seem to have the answer but CBT, and I just don't know what to do, I feel like I'm about to lose everything I've worked for. Trying to stay hopeful and positive.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy may be of some benefit. Problem is finding the right psychologist/provider who knows how to do it properly. I did not have any luck with it. I was just paying someone to talk to. Should have saved my money and just talked with my dogs or cats or chickens for that matter.

I feel lightheaded whenever I stand or walk, not sitting down. I have been through balance therapy to no avail. I will try acupuncture and new doctors. Good luck.