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Post-Covid dizziness/off-balance, as most troubling symptom
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.
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See an ENT that specializes in balance problems.
I have had dizziness from long Covid since May 2022. it has gotten better. I did physical therapy and started to add NAC to my regimen. One day I am good now, but the next day I am a little dizzy. And this goes back and forth. It is the weirdest thing.
I’m curious why you started taking NAC. Is there research indicating it helps with dizziness? My dizziness is also better now, after 5 months, and also changes day to day, but never goes away entirely.
Just adding here that about 2 weeks after having mild covid endnof Dec 2022, I began getting vertigo/light headed spells accompanied by anxiety/depression and random elevated heartrate if I stood still for too long. Got every cardio/neurological/ENT/blood test under the son and it was determined that I have long covid. Was prescribed vestibular physical therapy and was also prescribed supplements containing green tea extract as well as taking meclizine for vertigo as well as clonazepam for the panic attacks that have emerged as this whole thing has progressed. Dizziness has improved, though has been replaced more with extreme fatigue as well as general malaise after exercise. 2 thoughts on what has helped me: 1.) Taking electrolyte powder to ensure I am never dehydrated, and 2.) Have read a bit about how low histamine foods/taking antihistamines have helped a bit, and I agree both fatigue and dizziness seem to respond to the meclizine somewhat. This has definitely been a dark night of the soul for me these past 4 months, but at least I can get out of bed now and even have days where I feel good enough to walk my dogs a mile or so. Its the unpredictability of it all that I find most unsettling. Hang in there, all. We'll hopefully improve soon.
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1 ReactionMeclazine has helped me a bit too. I do think there is something to taking antihistamines and eating low histamine foods.
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1 ReactionI tried Meclazine, but only 2x per day and I wasn't very regular at that. I think I will try it again and be more reliable in the taking of it. Thanks for the update.
I completed and ENT evaluation yesterday. I am not sure whether to be happy or sad. They didn’t find any problems. And I am dizzier today than ever before. Now what??
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1 ReactionI’ve been to a neurologist a couple times. He has another patient with the same problem, but all the testing he has prescribed has shown nothing. I just went to an ENT Friday for an evaluation and they fund nothing. I am giving up on finding the problem and just living with it for now.
Doctors are limited . The tests/ treatments that have been Standard of Care for decades are useless for PostCovidSyndrome symptoms. New research has been slow and unproductive. It isn't that they don't care, but Covid is baffling!
The whole globe is struggling. I pray daily for medicine to have that "AHA" breakthrough!
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2 ReactionsDid testing include a VNG test? Can be done by an audiologist or other disciplines. It can help pinpoint cause of dizziness. It may be able to show if there’s been vestibular nerve damage, which can be caused by a virus, and would lead to vestibular rehab treatment (training your brain to not recognize the vertigo).