Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Starting to worry this is neurological

78 replies

Anonymousxo · 10/09/2021 21:07

I've posted a good few times about this now but I feel alone in this matter, I keep having episodes of dizzy spells and I don't mean spinning, more like swaying/on a boat sensation and my eyes have started to go a bit funny when it happens, it's almost like I'm about to faint. Blood pressure is fine and heart is also fine.
I'm also suffering from headaches on and off and my ears feel blocked however ear has been checked and looks normal - I'm booked in for an MRI on inner ear and audiology appointment with ENT.
Had an appointment with community ENT and all balance tests were normal.
Can someone tell me if they have experienced what I am experiencing, it's consistent and so debilitating, I get worried to leave the house because of the episodes, although I do....
I'm so scared, I keep thinking it's to do with my brain instead of my ears :/

OP posts:
TiddleTaddleTat · 12/09/2021 09:06

Heart monitor and ecgs are normal in pots

Best way to learn more is the potsuk website

TiddleTaddleTat · 12/09/2021 09:07

www.potsuk.org/diagnosis

TiddleTaddleTat · 12/09/2021 09:07

And this www.potsuk.org/symptoms

Bluearsedfly36 · 12/09/2021 09:17

I had all these symptoms in October last year as well as head pressure, I couldn't stand for long periods of time or the dizziness and head pressure would start. Had an X-ray of my cervical spine which showed wear and tear where my neck meets my shoulder. Saw a neurologist in December who sent me for an mri on the head and cervical spine in January. Saw the wear and tear and I was referred to orthopaedics who phoned me a couple of weeks later and referred me to physio because I have 3 bulging discs. The NHS physio weren't seeing routine appointments so I paid private and had my first appointment in April, she massaged, did traction and some slight manipulation and what a difference. She said that the dizziness and head pressure would be caused by my muscles all tensing up. I've been seeing her regularly since and the past couple of sessions have had dry needling done. I'm almost back to how I was, do stretches everyday and no headaches. It's amazing how much the neck can affect your whole body.

manywildhorses · 12/09/2021 09:25

It sounds like vestibular migraine which is usually diagnosed based on everything else being excluded and a history of course.

You could try staying hydrated (aim for 2-3 litres of water a day), cutting right down on chocolate, citrus, Chinese food etc (look up the migraine diet). You could also add a supplement such as feverfew or just magnesium to start.

Where are you located? There is a good neurologist in the south-east who deals primarily with vestibular issues, Dr Surenthiran. He should be able to tell you what is causing the dizziness.

Original poster
Anonymousxo · 12/09/2021 09:27

@manywildhorses

It sounds like vestibular migraine which is usually diagnosed based on everything else being excluded and a history of course.

You could try staying hydrated (aim for 2-3 litres of water a day), cutting right down on chocolate, citrus, Chinese food etc (look up the migraine diet). You could also add a supplement such as feverfew or just magnesium to start.

Where are you located? There is a good neurologist in the south-east who deals primarily with vestibular issues, Dr Surenthiran. He should be able to tell you what is causing the dizziness.

South london
OP posts:
Original poster
Anonymousxo · 15/09/2021 09:24

So I've been told my audiology appointment won't be until the end of the year at the earliest :( I called them up because I had a letter to say if I hadn't got an appointment letter by today I should call up and that was what they said :/ I'm so scared I just want to get to the bottom of it

OP posts:
AcceptYourself · 15/09/2021 09:29

Have you had an eye test?
Not likely to be glasses related but they can help spot or rule out other things x

Original poster
Anonymousxo · 15/09/2021 09:31

@AcceptYourself

Have you had an eye test? Not likely to be glasses related but they can help spot or rule out other things x
I had a routine eye test last year and it was fine but I haven't had one this year
OP posts:
AcceptYourself · 15/09/2021 09:38

If your symptoms are new since then I think it's worth having one. May I ask if you're overweight?

Original poster
Anonymousxo · 15/09/2021 09:41

@AcceptYourself

If your symptoms are new since then I think it's worth having one. May I ask if you're overweight?
They are & by bmi standards I'm a bit over the recommended weight for my height but I'm not big and I'm very tall
OP posts:
ASEAskeptic · 15/09/2021 09:44

Did your Dr rule out BPPV? I had that a few years ago and just had to do some home exercises and it settled

www.webmd.com/brain/home-remedies-vertigo

Whatwillbetheendofus · 15/09/2021 09:54

Hi OP. Sorry you're having this. I had something very similar which seems to have gone away on it's own. I can't say for certain what it was. My bet would be migraine. I had all number of tests done including MRI. Are you on the pill? Do you find it worse at different times of the month? Mine was definitely worse with hormonal fluctuations and I think it started with the pill. The feeling like you're on a boat description is spot on. I felt worse shortly after eating or drinking certain foods too, orange juice was a bad one, and too much chocolate.
What helped was avoiding food triggers, and something called mefanamic acid, its a NSAID like ibuprofen but ibuprofen didn't help in itself. It's not prescribed for that at all, it's for painful periods but I don't know if it has some sort of hormonal effect. Anyway it helped.
I do also have sinus problems and I don't know if that was involved too.
I also suffer with anxiety and that made it worse.
Any questions please free free to ask xx

Original poster
Anonymousxo · 15/09/2021 09:57

[quote ASEAskeptic]Did your Dr rule out BPPV? I had that a few years ago and just had to do some home exercises and it settled

www.webmd.com/brain/home-remedies-vertigo[/quote]
Doctor didn't do any investigations just sent me to an ENT who referred me for an MRI and audiology, nothing has been ruled necessarily been ruled out but the doctor didn't know what was wrong so I assume if he thought I had vertigo he would say

OP posts:
Original poster
Anonymousxo · 15/09/2021 09:59

@Whatwillbetheendofus

Hi OP. Sorry you're having this. I had something very similar which seems to have gone away on it's own. I can't say for certain what it was. My bet would be migraine. I had all number of tests done including MRI. Are you on the pill? Do you find it worse at different times of the month? Mine was definitely worse with hormonal fluctuations and I think it started with the pill. The feeling like you're on a boat description is spot on. I felt worse shortly after eating or drinking certain foods too, orange juice was a bad one, and too much chocolate. What helped was avoiding food triggers, and something called mefanamic acid, its a NSAID like ibuprofen but ibuprofen didn't help in itself. It's not prescribed for that at all, it's for painful periods but I don't know if it has some sort of hormonal effect. Anyway it helped. I do also have sinus problems and I don't know if that was involved too. I also suffer with anxiety and that made it worse. Any questions please free free to ask xx
Hey, I'm not on the pill or any hormonal contraception, it started with my ears feeling full and dizziness but now I get pressure in my eyes and head feels like a balloon, it's an awful feeling and I don't know what is going on, I just wish I would be seen earlier, google doesn't help either
OP posts:
Whatwillbetheendofus · 15/09/2021 10:04

It could still be hormones causing migraines, mine started with the pill I think but continued for many years after I stopped taking it. Can you save up and get seen privately? X

Original poster
Anonymousxo · 15/09/2021 10:25

@Whatwillbetheendofus

It could still be hormones causing migraines, mine started with the pill I think but continued for many years after I stopped taking it. Can you save up and get seen privately? X
My MRI is next month so by the time I save enough it will be due for my MRI but regarding the audiology it has crossed my mind
OP posts:
dizzydizzydizzy · 15/09/2021 11:13

[quote Wbeezer]Read up on this
www.lifemark.ca/blog-post/dizziness-can-have-psychological-consequences[/quote]
That's a good article @Wbeezer. I have PPPD. I have replied to one of OP's previous threads saying it could be that.

What I have learned is that PPPD is relatively common but it is little known about in the medical community. Not even my fantastic GP knows anything about it. It is also extremely easy to treat.

vivainsomnia · 15/09/2021 13:48

I've had all these symptoms. I now know it's all down to anxiety. Of course, the worse the symptoms, the worse the anxiety and it's then a spiralling vicious circle.

mistermagpie · 15/09/2021 13:50

I have something similar to this and was diagnosed with Migraines. They started when I was pregnant but I've had them since then too. I've also had vertigo and whilst I did have a 'swaying' sort of drunk feeling, I didn't have a headache.

RockTheHammock · 15/09/2021 14:18

Have name changed as this is outing, but if you don't get any answered, might it be worth asking if it could be to do with your intracranial pressure? One of my DC had low pressure caused by a tear in the dura (the membrane which covers the brain and spinal cord) so the fluid surrounding these organs was leaking. She then had what's called a blood patch to seal the tear, and that pushed her into high pressure for a while. She's much better now.

With the low pressure, she was dizzy, felt faint, swayed, had popping ears and an intermittent headache. Her vision was also affected. Lying down made things better, as did caffeine.

When she had high pressure, she would wake with a headache, her ears felt full, she was still dizzy, and she felt like someone was blowing up a balloon in her head. She also had pressure in the roof of her mouth and intermittently it was as if someone was drawing curtains across her eyes Exercise made her symptoms worse as did alcohol.

Not sure if either of those scenarios ring any bells, and low or high pressure is pretty rare, but thought it might be worth mentioning.

Original poster
Anonymousxo · 15/09/2021 15:28

@RockTheHammock

Have name changed as this is outing, but if you don't get any answered, might it be worth asking if it could be to do with your intracranial pressure? One of my DC had low pressure caused by a tear in the dura (the membrane which covers the brain and spinal cord) so the fluid surrounding these organs was leaking. She then had what's called a blood patch to seal the tear, and that pushed her into high pressure for a while. She's much better now.

With the low pressure, she was dizzy, felt faint, swayed, had popping ears and an intermittent headache. Her vision was also affected. Lying down made things better, as did caffeine.

When she had high pressure, she would wake with a headache, her ears felt full, she was still dizzy, and she felt like someone was blowing up a balloon in her head. She also had pressure in the roof of her mouth and intermittently it was as if someone was drawing curtains across her eyes Exercise made her symptoms worse as did alcohol.

Not sure if either of those scenarios ring any bells, and low or high pressure is pretty rare, but thought it might be worth mentioning.

This was what was concerning me, however I went to out of hours a few weeks ago with pressure and full ears and they told me my blood pressure was fine (I believe a sign of that condition is high blood pressure) and they also said ears were ok so I'm not really sure what else I can do
OP posts:
RockTheHammock · 15/09/2021 22:01

To the best of my knowledge, they can't tell much from your BP. My DC's blood pressure was always in the low side and didn't change throughout any of this, whether in low or high csf pressure.

Original poster
Anonymousxo · 15/09/2021 22:32

@RockTheHammock

To the best of my knowledge, they can't tell much from your BP. My DC's blood pressure was always in the low side and didn't change throughout any of this, whether in low or high csf pressure.
Oh okay, I think il book an eye test then just to make sure, that way if there's something concerning il know about it
OP posts:
ThanksIGotItInMorrisons · 16/09/2021 15:29

I have this. I’ve just had a brain mri. All clear. I go deaf in one ear and get bad tinnitus. My head feels fuzzy and ears fuzzy all day. Gp gave me propranolol to help Wade the migraines I was getting. Maybe 6 per day. I’m waiting on response from
Neurologist. Had an ecg as my heart was racing and thumping and wouldn’t slow down. Came back normal Confused still waiting. I’ll be dead before they find out what’s wrong anyway.