Extreme Dizziness

[Suzieb]

Hello all, bit of a long shot but I'm getting quite frustrated so thought I'd post here.
For the past few months I've been getting quite bad dizzy spells on and off throughout the day. It's not something I can ignore really, it feels like the whole room suddenly goes WHOOSH and I often end up clinging to my chair or whatever else is close to me. I've also noticed I'm walking wonky (lol) and always feel like I'm going to fall over. And when I'm in bed at night it almost feels as if it's swaying, like I'm on a boat.
I know ear infections are often a cause of dizziness but I don't have ear ache or anything like that? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

[Pigletion]

NHS web site says http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Vertigo/Pages/Causes.aspx

I'd go to your GP. Maybe make a note of times and occurrences so you have something concrete to show them, particularly as you feel well otherwise.

Good luck

[Suzieb]

Thank you! I think I just feel a bit silly going to my GP saying things like, always feel like a bit of a time waster but it is starting to affect my life quite badly.

[Eastender]

Sounds like a touch of vertigo. I had something similar earlier this year, the doctor couln'nt tell me what was causing it. At the end I bought some travel bands (they go on the wrist) and it seem to go after a few weeks. I know what you mean about walking wonky, I felt drunk without the booze lol.

[Sqad]

Suzie....no enough information.
How old are you?
Are you on any medication e.g BP tablets.
When the attacks come on, any ringing or fullness in he ears?
Any ear discharge?
Do the attacks come on when moving the head or can they come on at rest/
How long do the attacks last?

Thank you.

[pastafreak]

Does it happen when you move your head a particular way? ie-tilting it back for instance ?
It could be benign paroxysmal positional vertigo-BPPV.....whereby crystals in the inner ear become dislodged. I have had attacks of this in the past,and it can be quite upsetting. It is easy to treat. But do see your GP.

[Suzieb]

Ooh lots of answers here, lovely. I'm 22. I've recently been put on tablets for anxiety but the dizziness has been going on since looong before then.
I never notice any ringing in the ears or anything like that, which is why I was worried really - I always thought dizziness was due to ear infections but I haven't noticed ANY problems with my ears at all.
It happens whenever really - when I'm sat watching TV, walking down the street, lay down... doesn't seem to be anything to do with how I move my head but I don't know, maybe it could be? It seems to be worse when I got on escalators or anything like that, or if I see fast-moving screens and when I'm in bright lights.

[Sqad]

suzie, my little love......no diagnosis can be made on that medical history. You need a batch of audio-vestibular tests for which you need an E.N.T appt. See your GP.

P.S It doesn't sound serious.

[lyndylou]

I had exactly this problem - no pain in my ears or head at all - when i lay down to sleep i would literally hang on the edge thinking i would fall off - you probably have an inner ear infection get to the doctor now - he prescribed me anitbiotics and it cleared up in days - I thought I was going nuts (or worse) I thought something bad was going on in my head so didn't go tot he doctors for about a month

[Suzieb]

Thanks guys. it's always reassuring to know I'm not the only one!
Lyndy - did you just go to the doc and tell him your symptoms and he gave you antibiotics?
Sqad - how would I go about seeing an ENT doc? That would certainly put my mind at ease but I always worry my GP will just tell me not to bother.

[Eve]

Definitely pop and see your GP to see if they can find a cause and give you something to help it, I have menieres disease so get it a lot and its horrible though I've adjusted to it a lot now.

Could be an imbalance, like fluid in your ear or you have had an infection or something which set it off and its taking a while to clear.

The tablets can be really good to help it.

Hope you feel better soon :)

[Sqad]

suzi....go to your GP and "tactfully" insist that he refers you. The other alternative is to say to your GP that you want a private referral

jenna may well be right, it could be Menieres Disease,but this would only be conjecture at this stage.

Tests are necessary.

[Suzieb]

Thanks a lot for all the replies guys I really appreciate it :) this all seems to have started when I had what we thought was a throat infection a few weeks ago. I was exhausted all the time and my throat, neck and glands were all really sore and tender. From then on the dizziness etc started. I will go and be brave and insist that my GP refers me to ENT :)

[Eve]

Menieres would be unlikely without any other ear symptoms I'd have though as it's just the tip of the iceberg for me.

May well be related to the sore throat you had, some kind of infection set off your imbalance which can be a difficult thing to get back on track with and the trouble with dizziness is that it makes you feel so vunerable that it can be hard to get back on track.

Have a chat with your GP and see if there is any medication which could help in the meantime and if it persists then press for a referral.