Head swimming and feeling giddy - any ideas?

[JuliaAndJohn]

For the last couple of weeks I have been getting frequent bouts of feeling strange. It's like I am standing on a boat - I feel like I am swaying. It's not really giddiness as such, and I don't feel as if I am going to fall over. It seems to get worse if I move my head.
I have three kids under three and am breastfeeding my 3 month old. No time to go to the doctors, which would be hell anyway with the kids.... Anyone experienced this before? Any ideas?

Sounds like you've got vertigo - a virus or infection affecting the inner ear. You need to find time to visit the GP - I think you can get medication to deal with it.

Sympathies - not had it myself but know it's very unpleasant!

Poor you. It sounds like viral labyrinthitis. Definitely get it checked out by the doctor though. It's a horrible illness. I had it 3 yrs ago.

I had very low blood pressure while breastfeeding and passed out a lot. Check it out with the Doc.

Make sure you eat a LOT and regularly too.

low blood sugar maybe ? Are you eating sensibly - lots of complex carbohydrates (eg bread, wheatabix)?

Sounds like Labyrinthitus - virus affecting your inner ear. DH and I have both had it. DH got prescribed strong antishistamines, I got zilch for some reason (at different times), not sure if you could take them when BF or not. I had it a few times and it took a few weeks to go, but got better gradually during that time. Probably worth a visit to GP (if you can manage it with your lo's) to see if he can give you anything to ease the symptoms.

Sounds like Labrynthitus to me too - is it worse when you are laying down or turn over in bed?

I was prescribed Stementil the couple of times I had it - it's an anti-sickness medication and you can take it when your pregnant (It's what they prescribe for severe morning sickness) so I would imagine you can take it whilst bf'ing.

I read the heading and thought - Labyrinthitis! It sounds like it. I had it too. Have you recently had a viral infection?
I was prescribed Stemetil and I was still bf at the time. I didn't take it though because I started to get better at that point (it took a long time to get a diagnosis - I just thought I was tired) and also I have read some unpleasant things about Stemetil.
get to a doctor....

I get like this when my blood pressure drops. I have had low blood pressure through pregnancy and since. My midwife suggested licorice which seems to help me.

These symptoms also fit vertigo which I have suffered from for the past ten years, best thing is to go to the gp.

Another vote for labyrinthitis. The boat feeling describes it perfectly - bizarrely I got it after having been on a boat for several hours and thought it was just a result of the rocking.

I was pg when I got it and the doctor didn't prescribe anything, just said wait a few weeks for it to pass and don't climb up any ladders!

love?

Wow thanx. I have made a gp appt for monday.
Horrible feeling. All rather unnerving. Was starting to worry. Is there a blood test 2 confirm if I have the virus? Will it go on its own, if that's what I have?

oooo yes, it could of course be love!

I was told it would go away on its own (which it did, pretty quickly after I was diagnosed) but that it might recur (which it hasn't so far).

I keep getting the same feelings - feel like am doing a double take all the time. have put it down to coming off prozac cos am 32 weeks now and took it upon self to "go it alone" without the chemicals to harm the baby....that's really interesting - maybe it is this labyrinth thing. has anyone else come off prozac with this sort of side effect - have come off it before with no problem at all...bizarre!

Hattiecat - the double take thing is definately a Labyrinthitus symptom. One of the tests my gp did was to move his finger slowly in front of my eyes and ask me to follow finger with my eyes. With Labyrinthitus your eye kind of flick to the side before catching up with the finger - he got very excited when they did this!

I have no hearing loss- could it still be labyrinthitis??

It doesn't affect the hearing. It's an inflammation in the inner ear and affects your balance. If it's viral labyrinthitis, I doubt he will take a blood sample. He'll probably prescribe stemetil and let it run it's course. It can take a few weeks to go.

Or could you be a bit anaemic do you think?