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.

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@lynndanielle

lp3star - Will you please return and update what the ENT said? Our daughter, age 19 is also having ongoing lightheadedness, dizzy spells, and blood pressure spikes and this all started exactly 3 months from when she first got COVID omicron. None of these symptoms were present prior to the 3 month start from initial COVID infection...
Thank you all for sharing so we can all contribute to helping each other!!!
Lynn M

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So sorry to hear about your daughter. Has she seen a doctor and if so what was the prognosis? Same, had no symptoms this severe, maybe ears got plugged for a few days and headaches and that was pretty much it. Agreed, sharing and contributing a good step toward understanding and helping each other. Will see what ENT says. Hope your daughter feels better soon!

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@lynndanielle

lp3star - Will you please return and update what the ENT said? Our daughter, age 19 is also having ongoing lightheadedness, dizzy spells, and blood pressure spikes and this all started exactly 3 months from when she first got COVID omicron. None of these symptoms were present prior to the 3 month start from initial COVID infection...
Thank you all for sharing so we can all contribute to helping each other!!!
Lynn M

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Lynn, is there a certain situation or common activity that causes your daughter's symptoms? Such as standing after sitting or lying down, etc.? Keeping a log might help her explain to doctors if there's a trend in when/ what causes her to feel that way. I hope she can find some helpful answers.

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DIZZINESS NOW RESOLVED!!!! RECAP - To let you know what happened with our daughter Stephanie, age 19 had months of dizzyness and lightheadedness that started exactly 3 months after having covid19. Went to MD, besides dizziness and fatigue, she also had mild sinus pressure on one side of face. Tried Meclizine which helped for a week or so then stopped, went back to urgent care and MD noticed that her right ear was a tiny bit red at the top, tried 24 hr allergy pill allegra along with a nasal spray, helped a little but then still felt lightheaded again consistently, then did 1 round of Prednisone and it went away completely!!!
Probably was a swollen Eustachian tube in her one ear and they said prednisone is really the only way to rectify this if allergy pills, nasal spray and meclizine did not help. Hang in there everyone and ask about prednisone in case there is swelling in inner ear(s) that cannot be seen!!!

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@lynndanielle

DIZZINESS NOW RESOLVED!!!! RECAP - To let you know what happened with our daughter Stephanie, age 19 had months of dizzyness and lightheadedness that started exactly 3 months after having covid19. Went to MD, besides dizziness and fatigue, she also had mild sinus pressure on one side of face. Tried Meclizine which helped for a week or so then stopped, went back to urgent care and MD noticed that her right ear was a tiny bit red at the top, tried 24 hr allergy pill allegra along with a nasal spray, helped a little but then still felt lightheaded again consistently, then did 1 round of Prednisone and it went away completely!!!
Probably was a swollen Eustachian tube in her one ear and they said prednisone is really the only way to rectify this if allergy pills, nasal spray and meclizine did not help. Hang in there everyone and ask about prednisone in case there is swelling in inner ear(s) that cannot be seen!!!

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That is great news. I'm glad she is feeling better!

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@kirstenk2003

That is great news. I'm glad she is feeling better!

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Please let me know if this info ends up helping you with your struggle...

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@lynndanielle

Please let me know if this info ends up helping you with your struggle...

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I've been taking Zyrtec and using Flonase fairly regularly since Spring. I just saw a second ENT for another opinion and he prescribed me an additional nasal spray to use. I also have some ear/ face pressure feelings and he said he thinks it's allergies. I guess I'll try this and see if it helps at all, but will ask about prednisone if it doesn't work!

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Your symptoms sound much like those I had in 2019. I suspect I had Covid in March 2019 (there were no tests at that time). About 3 months later, I was having a lot of buzzing in ears, pressure in ears and sinuses, vertigo and balance issues. You described it really well. I felt like I was being pulled or listing to one side. So weird! I started with a couple rounds of antibiotics that didn't really help. Also had unexplained tachycardia and CT, x-rays, echo and stress test were all fine. It took more than a year to start feeling myself. Things that helped were chiropractor, massage, targeted stretching, and supplements. Alpha Lipoic Acid and a good pre-biotic/pro-biotic for gut health plus B and D vitamins all helped. A whole food diet limiting sugar or sweeteners and getting a good night's sleep also makes a world of difference. I still have little issues now and then, but they are minor compared to how it all started! I wish you the very best and hope you have a quick recovery!

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@dm85

Your symptoms sound much like those I had in 2019. I suspect I had Covid in March 2019 (there were no tests at that time). About 3 months later, I was having a lot of buzzing in ears, pressure in ears and sinuses, vertigo and balance issues. You described it really well. I felt like I was being pulled or listing to one side. So weird! I started with a couple rounds of antibiotics that didn't really help. Also had unexplained tachycardia and CT, x-rays, echo and stress test were all fine. It took more than a year to start feeling myself. Things that helped were chiropractor, massage, targeted stretching, and supplements. Alpha Lipoic Acid and a good pre-biotic/pro-biotic for gut health plus B and D vitamins all helped. A whole food diet limiting sugar or sweeteners and getting a good night's sleep also makes a world of difference. I still have little issues now and then, but they are minor compared to how it all started! I wish you the very best and hope you have a quick recovery!

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Thanks so much for the reply. The dizziness has improved some, and I believe a medication I recently stopped may have been making it worse. I still have the same ringing, ear pain, ear pressure, and feeling like my ears pop all day long. Is there something in particular the chiropractor did to help? I've gone a few times but haven't noticed any difference from that. I am also trying to treat stress and anxiety, and hoping that might help alleviate some of these symptoms more. It's refreshing to hear from someone who is on the other side of this stuff. I'm trying to be thankful for improvement, and stay hopeful that I'll feel normal again one day.

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I had Covid in May and finally felt like myself again the end of July. After hosting my five grandsons and enjoying lots of activity for five days (08/11 on, I suddenly lost balance and got dizzy when I turned my head in any direction. I’ve had inner ear and poor balance stuff before, this is different.
I’m using a cane now, which I used intermittently after I broke my neck several years ago.
I’m hoping my Vestibular system calms down when I’m fully rested. I think Covid damaged my system.

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@wbblanche

I had Covid in May and finally felt like myself again the end of July. After hosting my five grandsons and enjoying lots of activity for five days (08/11 on, I suddenly lost balance and got dizzy when I turned my head in any direction. I’ve had inner ear and poor balance stuff before, this is different.
I’m using a cane now, which I used intermittently after I broke my neck several years ago.
I’m hoping my Vestibular system calms down when I’m fully rested. I think Covid damaged my system.

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Try physical therapy for vestibular issues. It really worked for me after Covid.

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