Stepdaughter's dizzy spells

[SootyCat20]

At my wits end - almost two years ago my DSD started to complain of feeling dizzy "like the room was spinning" and was unable to stand during the episode which seem to last anywhere between 1-2 minutes each. She either collapses to the floor if standing when the attack hits or if sitting, tilts to the right side and keeps tilting right even if she tries to sit up. When it's over she says she feels "iffy" for the rest of the day or until she's had a sleep. She had two of these episodes within a week of each other and then nothing. We thought it was a one off and didn't think anymore of it.

Four months later they were back, same symptoms again except this time DSD was in work on the 1st occasion rather than at home. Went to the GP who sent her off for tests. Hospital examined her, gave her an MRI scan, various tests including hearing but found nothing. Suggested it could be migrane related but unable to give a definitive diagnosis. DSD has contined to have attacks at roughly the same rate (every 3-4 months) ever since and is not coping well. She gets no warning before they strike and doesn't feel safe to drive (she's 20 and was having lessons before the attacks started) which has knocked her confidence.

Has anyone known anyone to experience similar symptoms? DSD's doctors are baffled and can't offer anything more than advice currently (she's never had an attack on the day of a hospital visit so they've never seen her like that which doesn't help)

Thanks for reading - Sorry this was longer than intended

My son had 'funny turns' as an adolescent years ago. Mostly at school, often associated with meal times but not always. Collapsed once and his friends thought he was messing about. But he had symptoms swimming and other situations which were potentially rather dangerous. He definitely lost time but it wasn't always apparent to others and he found it disturbing and upsetting. He was aware just as they started but not enough to react. The only one I saw he threw a fork but it looked as if he was messing around. He had no knowledge of or memory of throwing the fork and the significance only became apparent with hindsight. The paediatrician considered epilepsy and migraine as possible diagnoses but eventually decided it was a vague nerve problem associated with acid reflux. Really couldn't find anything on the internet about it but a long course of proton pump inhibitors seemed to sort it out. Paediatrician originally thought he'd be on them long term but after 6 months he came off and has been completely fine since.

I also suffer from a type of migraine and I have the same symptoms (although the periods are getting longer in duration) - mine is vertigo though, I'm pretty sure. I take an over-the-counter cetirizine-based antihistamine when an attack starts and within 15 minutes, the world stops spinning.

Worth a try?

Sounds like Meniere’s disease to me, I have it and used to get the drop attacks and the spinning episodes. It’s usually the thing the doctors diagnose once everything else has been ruled out.

Cardiac long Q-T syndrome

Dogshaming - Our Doctors also suspected Meniere's Disease originally but apparently one of the key symptoms is hearing loss. DSD was given a hearing test and her hearing is perfect - hence was ruled out

SheGottBette - thank you, will try an antihistamine and see if that helps

Do the episodes come on when she's been sitting a long time or stands up? I've come across a condition called PoTs related to posture changes and an elevated heart rate. Dizziness is a symptom.

Might be worth considering.