Chronic Dizziness Vs. Vertigo

I also had chronic dizziness for the first few years.. it took a while but it finally went away.. getting myself healthy really helped.
Also one doctor told me that Menieres can cause chronic dizzziness, just from the stress of having the vertigo attacks and from the stress of Menieres... which causes anxiety which causes dizziness. I also had EXTREME brain fog for about 2 to 3 years.. Now that is gone too.
I believe the constant dizziness is a side effect from the Menieres as many people wtih diagnosed Menieres have dizziness and brain fog...
Carlson

 

I've had chronic dizziness for 16 months. Since Dec. 2005 when I got out of a car. So I have several diagnoses. The main one is Mal De Debarquement (MdDS).

E-dizzy, on 3rd MdDS episode since Dec. 28, 2005 On HCTZ and low sodium diet because of my 3rd diagnosis. Was on valium for my second diagnosis, not on it anymore.
(1st diagnosis-labrynthitis; 2nd-MdDS; 3rd-Hydrops; 4th-High riding Jugular vein per contrast MRI-CT on the way; 5th-?? who knows?? at my last ENT visit, he said, " I don't know what the hell you have. ")

 

What do you mean by dizzyness: lightheaded? weird balance? dysequilibrium? feel like you're going to faint? Or do you mean vertigo - sense of spinning room, or spinning person? It makes a difference figuring out what you've got.

 

Hi Kitty, I started about 2 years ago haveing these attacks where I would get off balance and sick to my stomach, I would laid down for an hour or so and it would go away. This only happened once in awhile. I went to a ENT, he did tests but did nothing, About 6months ago I started haveing these attacks more and more often just about every day. I had to quit my job that's how bad it has gotten. I would go into work and about 30 mins. later I would have to go home. I would have to leave work in a wheelchair. I don't know what I'am going to do.

 

Please check into MAV. You need to try and identify what is wrong, then adopt a treatment plan.

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/central/migraine/mav.html

Maybe you should see a neuroTologist who specializes in vestibular disorders.

 

Just thought that I would post an update. I went to a Neurologist who asked me many questions I was there for over an hour. I went because I was concerned with all the brain confusion and lack of concentration, I thought that something was wrong with my brain. My MRI came back ok but I wanted some answers. He said that the dizziness that I am explaining to him is VERTIGO. He said that I do not have to be down on the ground for it to be considered Vertigo. I have been suffering with headaches and migraines and this was all related to my diagnosis. MAV with MM.

I feel at ease now that I am not going into early alzheimers and that all my symptoms are caused from being dizzy.

I am going to try MAXALT and see if this helps with the symptoms.

I will post later and let you know if if helps.

Kitty

 

I am sorry kitty but I cannot agree with what the neurologist told you. There is a definite difference between dizziness (which can be extreme) and vertigo.

Vertigo includes a sensation of spinning or rotating. It can be fast or slow. However, the sensation of your surroundings spinning or, for some people, their insides spinning, is undeniable. Without this sensation, the word vertigo cannot be used and it is dizziness.

Dizziness is a vague term but that does not mean that dizziness cannot be bad.

 

dizziness is not vertigo. Vertigo is disabling during its episodes. I am dizzy every day for hours. There is a huge difference. I can bull my way through dizziness, often with the help of meclizine, but vertigo knocks me down for hours and hours. There is no comparison. A good physician would surely know the difference.

 

Nassman and Gardenfish

I agree with both of you regarding the difference between dizziness and vertigo. I have had both and know the difference. The symptoms that I described to the Neurologist suggested "vertigo in my head." I do not know if I agree with him either. I just wanted to tell everyone what he said and see what others thought.

The feeling I was having in my head did feel like vertigo. I could not concentrate or focus on a simple task. My head was constantly spinning and the brain fog was tremendous. I know there are differernt forms of dizziness and it is very hard to diagnose. I did explain to the doctor that the room was not spinning that my head was spinning. The medication seems to be helping. I now can form a simple sentence without thinking about the words before they come out of my mouth.

Thanks for the replies looking forward to read more on this subject.
Dizzy Kitty

 

Maxalt works for migraine. Migraine can sometimes cause "dizzyness", or vertigo, but usually with other symptoms. Be careful with how much, and how often you take the Maxalt; it can have cardiovascular (heart related) side effects, if overdone. There are tests that can be done, e.g. electronystagmogram, to confirm true vertigo, if there are questions. Unpleasant test.

 

I read most of the info on the site mentioned above - then decided to check the date on it - it was written 8 years ago! When I saw the ENT he told me NOT to go by what I have read on the internet as most of it was very outdated. Most sites don't mention anything about atypical meniere's - and that's what I was diagnosed with.

 

I also agree that there is a huge difference between dizziness and vertigo. I have had both. I assumed that the chronic dizziness that I have felt came from the MD. I will gratefully take the dizziness over the vertigo any day! My ENT did many tests but he never mentioned Migraine, just MD (I also have the ear fullness, tinnitis, hearing loss, sensetivity to sounds, vertigo along with the chronic dizziness. Since I have the chronic dizziness should I mention MAV to my ENT at my next visit?

 

DizzyKat

I would mention it to your doctor at your next visit. I never mentioned that I was getting headaches and they are related to my MAV. By the way the meds that I am taking are helping tremendously. My Menieres has calmed down and it is a blessing.

Good luck let me know how you make out at the doctor.

Hugs
Dizzy Kitty

 

Thank you Dizzy Kitty. I will discuss it with him. I do occasionally get Migrane HA. I had them more frequently when I was younger, not very often these days. But I don't remember getting vertigo with them, just the PAIN, light and sound sensitivity. I have learned so much on this board! You all are great!

 

Nassman and others, I am certainly interested in the documentation that chronic dizziness is not part of a Meniere's diagnosis. I had a severe episode in September and was first diagnosed with labyrinthitis. Then since the dozziness, brain fog, and instability have persisted my doctor switched the diagnosis to "atypical" meniere'ss, since I do not have hearing loss. I am seeing a new doctor tomorrow, and would be grateful for any perspectives I might gain prior to talking with him tomorrow.

Thanks

rwpit

 

I live a "dizzy" life. I wake up dizzy and have to be careful walking to the kitchen to make breakfast. I started with severe vertigo attacks...crawling to the bathroom...bedridden...vomiting, etc. This was over 5 years ago and the only relief I have had is after 2 gent injections! I, firmly, believe that mine is an inner ear infection. I start having regular "spin" sessions and when put on an antibiotic, I get better for a little while and then after being off the antibiotic for a few days, I am back to vertigo every minute of every day!
I was diagnosed with menieres after many doctors and many many tests, but I have no hearing loss yet. The gent injections gave me almost two years of relief and I would try them again, but my otolaryngologist says it might destroy what balance I have left, so he won't do them again. He and another specialist tell me that my inner ear problem is degenerative. At the senior center, almost half of those I have talked with have balance problems, so there may be something to that theory. If anyone has stats confirming why an antibiotic seems to give me relief, I would love to hear them. Blessings, twinkle

 

I am always dizzy with the brain fog. It took about 8 years to figure out what I had. They kept saying it was just migranes. I have lost a lot of my hearing and I can not stand the pressue I feel in my ears.

 

Yes I have the same, I don't know how to find how to IM you in private, but I really need to talk to someone going through the same thing, I'm really having a hard time, this disease is so frustraiting and scary and i really need to learn how to cope and calm down because there is no treatment to stop the symtoms, I'm going crazy here.

 

I had 2 years of constant dizziness before my first major vertigo attack which was 3 and a half years ago. The dizziness has always fluctuated and at times was so mild I felt quite normal. But it was always there and didn't take much of an increase to be disruptive and uncomfortable. At times it could be vicious.
Here's a comment from the book I recommend for everyone with chronic dizziness and is suspicious they have migraines/MAV:

"Neurological symptoms of migraine, including visual disturbances, dizziness, and many more, form a broad spectrum...symptoms vary extensively in degree and duration. Minutes-long is typical, but they may last split seconds, hours, or even longer - or even be constant for months or years...As with all other neurological symptoms of migraine, vestibular symptoms can be transient or persistant and can occur with or without headache or other accompanying discomfort...The site of migraine-related blood vessel constriction causing dizziness can be either in the inner ear or in the vestibular pathways and centers of the brain."

(Heal Your Headache, David Buchholz, M.D.)

The book also explains how migraines can be affected by foods that constrict or inflame blood vessels, and environmental factors (chemicals, fragrances, cleaners, tobacco smoke, etc), among other things like visual overstimuli. At times when, overall, our bodies are doing fairly well and we aren't maxxed out by the offenders, we tolerate them better, so we may not even be aware we are having reactions in our heads, or we blame our symptoms on other ailments (I must be coming down with something, I'm having sinus problems, It's that time of the month, etc).

But at times when our health is already compromised, by, let's say, stress, other illnesses, allergies, hormones, medications, sleep deprivation, barometric pressure, etc. along with regular items in our diet that are a problem which we aren't aware of yet, and then we breath something in or eat something that feeds the migraine mechanism or add another migraine causing factor to the mix, we push our tolerance over the threshold, and then the symptoms become obvious.

To me that explains why dizziness and the other symptoms can fluctuate so much, and why they can be so persistant.  No medication or surgery or injections or other external treatments of symptoms can have sure success if the problem isn't addressed from where it all starts.

 

Sent you a PM