Dizziness

[atalost]

Hi, I’ve been feeling very light headed/whoozy on/off during the day whether I’m sitting still, driving or walking. Even lying in bed I get very strong waves of feeling very dizzy that I suddenly clutch my partner. I lay on my left hard side and that side seems more affected. If I bend down I feel a bit light headed as if I’ve drunk too much alcohol. Moving my head seems to cause this feeling too.

When getting up out of bed in the morning I feel very unsteady on my feet and my vision feels a bit impaired during these episodes.

I have been to the GP who checked my blood pressure and ears and doesn’t think it’s related to those. I’ve been prescribed drugs for labrynthitis just in case, but it’s getting more frequent - 10-15 times a day at least. Had an ECG at the GP surgery which didn’t highlight anything. It’s been going on nearly 3 weeks now.

Other than that, I’m in good health, 52yr female. On no other medication (other than the stuff for labrynthitis) and had routine blood tests 4 months ago as my 50yr old health check showed slightly elevated levels of cholesterol, but that blood test confirmed I’m not pre-diabetic.

Just before this all started I was getting stabbing pains in my head, right hand side between my ear and eye but in my hair. The pain would make me touch my head with an “ouch” type movement but go instantly. This happened on/off over a week and the last time it happened, it felt like I was stabbed in the head and the pain travelled a bit as if someone was dragging a knife down my head and went within seconds. I haven’t experienced it since so not sure if it’s related.

I will visit the GP again, but anyone else experienced this? Any ideas please? I’m chilled but wondering if I should start to worry?

Did they check any other bloods? I was like this at various times, first with thyroid issues, then low B12, then low vitamin D and I can also get this if my ferritin drops below 30, even though classed as ‘normal’ at 20.
Normal and optimal are not the same.

It could be BPPV if worse when on one side. Hope you recover soon as dizziness is truly awful!

By any chance did you have Covid or another virus shortly before this started? I had about eight weeks of recurring dizziness at the end of last year and the doctors were unable to find a cause. The only thing I can link it to (based on anecdotal info from friends plus some googling) was that it was a post-Covid/viral thing. My head would spin suddenly when I was sitting down or worse, driving, and it really made me panic. It eventually lessened and it seems to have gone away now but I don’t think the anxiety and panic it caused helped either.

I had this at the beginning of the last month, so bad I was lying on my back for 2 days, had to take meds to sort it out, brought on by an inner ear infection probably viral. I had the odd whoosh before and since but those days were terrible. Vertigo brought on by infection is common I’m told, also you mustn’t drive if you have any symptoms, I was stuck 4 miles of country lanes away, I did get home safely but it wasn’t right to be driving (i deteriorated half way home with no mobile signal even, rubbish there, luckily only saw a couple of other cars)

@atalost I had exactly these symptoms starting in October. Feeling dizzy as if drunk, stabbing pain in the back of the head and ear (but mine was on the left hand side). The stabbing pains only lasted for about a week although I did get odd stabbing pains again later, but the dizziness lasted for about 3 months, although it did start to improve after about 2 months. I'm 64, fit and healthy (I run and cycle) but with slightly raised cholesterol level. I'm very rarely ill so was slightly concerned and went to the doctor. Blood tests were otherwise all fine, blood pressure and ECG normal, and I was referred to ENT for further tests. Ears and hearing were fine, and I was given an MRI and CT scan. Nothing sinister was found and I am now - finally - feeling much better. The very lovely ENT consultant thought it was probably viral.

I am sorry to hear that you are going through something similar and you have all my sympathy. It feels interminable when you are going through it and I began to think it would never resolve. I hope you feel better soon.

Could be vestibular migraines. You don’t always get any pain with them and can just feel off balance, dizzy etc. can sometimes cause random stabbing pains in the head though.

Thanks all and @boiledeggandtoast,it sounds like a similar scenario so, fingers crossed, this will result in nothing major.