Post-Covid dizziness/off-balance, as most troubling symptom

Posted by kirstenk2003 @kirstenk2003, Mar 30, 2022

I contracted Covid in December 2021 and am currently dealing with persistent dizziness (off balance, sometimes feels like swaying, rocking, spinning, or a pull to one side). My other most bothersome symptoms are ear ringing, headaches (pressure in the head), feelings of pressure change in my ears, trouble multitasking or thinking, along with developing anxiety/ depression and some elevated heart rate and blood pressure.

Dizziness was not a symptom of my initial infection. I developed dizziness (not BPPV) around January 15th. I saw a physical therapist who determined I had Vestibular Hypofunction and I began vestibular therapy. It seemed to be working and I even returned to my office job for about 3 weeks, restricted hours. Two weeks ago I began feeling worse again. My physical therapist believes my initial issue has improved - so he doesn't know what's causing my current onset of symptoms. I started an antihistamine to combat any allergy related ear fluid, along with an anxiety medication to try and improve my blood pressure and heart rate.

I'm going to see an ENT next, and hope that I haven't waited too long to try other remedies (if there are any). Has anyone else experienced this overwhelming dizziness and had positive results with treatment or answers as to the cause? I'm scared that this is going to be how I feel forever.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

@crm1947

June 2022/ think had Ba5/ had night sweats 3X/fever 99s/ tired, congestion/ rested/ Paxlovid gave me serious runs/ day 15 test (-). now get light headed then dizzy with activity/especially w/up & down & bending over. Have had: brain MRI, Sinus CT, balance tests, hearing test, All ear functions OK. Up coming: heart & brain doc appointments. Now at 6 months & nothing found wrong, Would take 1-2 hours of activity to get dizzy enough to stop & lay down. Now get to dizziness within an hour. Hope that something turns up in next appointments.

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You need PT exercises for balance issues and my Dr. Prescribed me low dose Naltroxine for pain, brain fog. It takes a few weeks for the medication to start to work. All has helped about 75%. Getting better one day at a time

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I have the periodic dizziness also. I have to grab a wall sometimes. I do not drink but I do not think I could pass a field sobriety test either! I also have low blood pressure with no other cause known. At the doctor's office, they disregard this. Lucky for me, I have had perfect blood pressure all of my life, and I am 58. So I am a person who wants to know 'why' the sudden and permanent change in blood pressure. This began at my monthly doctors visit, when I was able to go again, after Covid shut down the clinic to in-person visits. So it was in March 2021. My dizziness came on suddenly, as the first symptom when I had Covid in December 2020. I had Covid again in May 2021, with completely different symptoms so I believe it was a different strain. I also feel feverish but with no temperature. This has been going on so long, I feel discouraged.

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The dizziness is the most debilitating symptom I have had next to exhaustion
I walk my dogs every day. While I’m walking I don’t feel dizzy
I have seen a neurologist who has decided that I have “complex migraines “
Because I had migraines as a child
They say the vestibular pt won’t help if it’s truly a migraine

I’ve posted earlier about the new symptom of the vibrations
And now I have extremely high blood pressure
I’ve always had low blood pressure
It’s scary !
The neurologist
Has tried several different medications
Most caused worsening or new symptoms

I’ve don’t anti inflammatory supplements
But am getting ready to do Prp in my elbows
So have stopped them for the procedure (the physicians recommendations, so that the PRP has the best chance of being successful)
My back hurts constantly
Feel like a huge mess
Look like I’ve aged years in the last year and the hair loss is depressing
BUT
I am taking trazadone
To help stay asleep and
Have found that nortrptoline
Seems to be helping with the dizzy

I keep checking back to see if anyone has any answers about the
Vibrations and high blood pressure
??

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Yes. Am still recovering and awaiting a visit to ENT and and have an appt in New Year with a neurologist.

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How are you doing? Any noticeable or consistent improvement?

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For those dealing with dizziness I recommend a website called Veda. Years ago I had dizziness and doctor put me on a sugar free diet (low blood sugar diet) which cured the dizziness. It took about eight weeks to stop the dizziness. Salt can also have a big effect on our ears. COVID started my dizziness up again so I'm trying to get back on a low sugar and salt diet. Hope this helps.

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@welchllb

I have had the same symptoms on and off. It's very disturbing and I feel unsure of myself often. I had covid in August 2020 and post covid symptoms are still part of my everyday life. I do have a low resting HR and low BP so that can't help. Even though I have not been officially diagnosed with POTS, I just started a POTS (Post Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) exercise program. U of MI's Post Covid Clinic is treating symptoms like ours with this regime, even thought we don't fit the exact diagnosis of POTS. I'm only three weeks in. We'll see. Here's the website: https://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/pdf/CHOP_Modified_Dallas_POTS_Exercise_Program.pdf

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I have gone through the U of M Post Covid Recovery Group Clinic. I loved it and it renewed my feelings of hope. I got through 6 weeks of the POTS program, also, prescribed for me through U of M. I began to feel better until I couldn't continue due to a small fracture in my knee cap and rotator cuff, arthritis and bone spur removal surgery. When I am fully recovered, I will go back to the POTS program. I continue to walk as far a I can and do abdominal and breathing exercises. Good luck with the POTS program - our journeys sound very similar. I, also, have a low resting HR and BP.

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Hi,
I was infected in June 2022. Had terrible fatigue and dizziness as part of my long covid symptoms. Fatigue has completely resolved (thankfully) but I continue to experience dizziness. It is intermittent in that I can go days (sometimes a week or almost two) without symptoms and then it returns. Once it returns, it will then be present but not for the full day. I have found crying completely resolves the dizziness for a few hours. Anyone have anything similar? What helps? Thanks!

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All I can say is that you are not alone. My husband has been experiencing dizziness, fatigue, muscle aches on and off since August. Primary care physician is helping him treat the symptoms.

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@welchllb

I have gone through the U of M Post Covid Recovery Group Clinic. I loved it and it renewed my feelings of hope. I got through 6 weeks of the POTS program, also, prescribed for me through U of M. I began to feel better until I couldn't continue due to a small fracture in my knee cap and rotator cuff, arthritis and bone spur removal surgery. When I am fully recovered, I will go back to the POTS program. I continue to walk as far a I can and do abdominal and breathing exercises. Good luck with the POTS program - our journeys sound very similar. I, also, have a low resting HR and BP.

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What is POTS program?

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