Chronic subjective dizziness

I;m not certain what you mean by shadows, but I do have a real problem with heavy fatigue in the afternoons. I had to stop selling at my favorite farmer's market because I was too tired to even go there to sell. The worst thing for me, though, is pulsatile tinnitus (hearing my pulse in my ear and feeling throbbing in my head, back of neck, chest, or stomach). That gets worse every time I wake up, eat, or move around/exercise. So I don't go for walks like I used to, although it would be good for me otherwise. I can't stand the loud pounding and throbbing sensation when I exercise harder. Sigh...

So if I'm getting the sun in my eyes but walk on a shadow, or visa versa, it throws me off. If it's a sunny day and I'm walking under trees, it feels like a strobe light. Noises, especially bass, will start the pulsating in my ears and back of my neck, if it's not there already. Walking at night under lamp posts or directional light will also set me off balance. Perhaps the pulsating in your chest is the anxiety that is caused by the other. I was told that my fatigue is because my brain is always compensating or retraining itself from the original symptoms of the virus and now the residual effects of the Labrynthitis that I contracted back in October 2015. I have found that forcing myself to do things outside my comfort zone has helped to retrain my brain, but still having bad days, where my balance is way off or find myself in situations where the symptoms are exacerbated, like sometimes in a store where my senses are acutely stimulated and go into overload. I am currently trying to work out on an elliptical machine that we have trying to regain some strength and prepare mentally and physically for walking this summer. I just have to work through it I think. Good luck, I really hope you can find a balance that will work for you, again, perhaps challenging your brain might help right itself to some degree and gradually you might find that you will have less fatigue and more good days with a better quality of life. Sending you out some positive energy. 🙂

Hello @lavivi, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! It's nice to see that you commented on not feeling alone after reading others experiences. It's the beauty of Mayo Clinic Connect.
I'm sorry to hear you have been struggling with constant dizziness. I wanted to offer up contact information to Mayo Clinics Vestibular and Balance Testing Laboratory. You will find the link attached helpful http://mayocl.in/2eqfcUX along with contact numbers to the appointment desk found under the "overview" tab. The Ear Nose and Throat appointment line answers calls from many patients, like yourself looking for guidance on where to start for entry into the Vestibular program. It's a program like no other with extensive testing.

There's also helpful information in the posts above on VEDA- https://vestibular.ong/# ((Vestibular Disorders Association) that you may find helpful.

Have you consulted with your Doctor to see if there is any type of therapy offered that may help you with your floating and spinning sensations?

I found some posts about Chronic Subjective Dizziness on this discussion board (there may be some on the Brain and Nerve Disease, and Ear Nose and Throat Conditions boards too) and want to learn more about this diagnosis. I received the diagnosis from a specialist at Duke Hospital in last December 2014 after experiencing this strange set of symptoms since April, 2014. Call me Roman. It's a pseudonym, but if you like I'll explain why I chose it.

Cervicogenic dizziness is another diagnosis you may want to look into.

Welcome to Connect, @krissmith12. May I ask if you could share more about yourself? Have you been diagnosed with cervicogenic or chronic subjective dizziness? Insights about managing this condition?

I had a neurologist mention CSD, don't remember any official diagnosis. An ENT put Meniere's disease on my records, but explained "it's not a disease, it's a syndrome and you have to put something down for the insurance company." Another neurologist Dr. Bigley in Reno NV said "you probably have meneire's disease." I trust Dr. Bigley; and there are some mysteries no one can figure out.

For CSD I tried Sertraline, I have gone back to imipramine for depression, I quit it because I thought maybe it was the cause for the dizziness. I think the only thing we can do is try to adjust our life to make life doable; with the dizziness, depression, etc. For the past year I have doubled my drinking to cope. Now I know I need to stop drinking. It only offers temporary relief and it has its own consequences.

I worked with chainsaws for twenty years, so have ear damage. I also believe I have a problem with anxiety; could be many causes for that. Came from the dysfunctional family thing (alcoholism). Did Alanon for 7 years and County Mental Health. My father killed himself prior to letting Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diminish him further, shortly afterward my depression became an issue. (at 30 years of age started imipramine, on it now at 63) I wish I had answers; I want to proceed as if there was none, and do it successfully. What ever it is, I don't want to do any harm. Motto: do no harm. And the winter season makes everything worse SAD seasonal affective disorder. Had one Doctor suggest bi-polar but mild. I won't argue with that. Perhaps this year I will try the light for SAD. Plan on hanging tough til spring. I don't like driving. So, keep it simple, find mysteries that are entertaining.