What provokes my constant constant lightheadedness?

Guest · Guest

Just like most of you, I thought I was the only one out there with this issue of lightheadedness. I'm 42 and, about 5 years ago, I started having panic attack type symptoms such as rapid heartbeat and feeling lightheaded. I use to worry all the time (just could never totally relax and clear my mind of all worry). My doctor put me on Paxil and it was a difference of night and day. No more worry or rapid heartbeat. But, for the past year, I have had issues with feeling dizzy and lightheaded. It started with a dizzy feeling when I laid on my left side or I tried to get up in the morning and it seemed like it was an inner ear problem. I have had all kinds of tests, including an MRI, and have been to several doctors and ENT's with no resolution. They thought it was benign positional vertigo and performed a 6 step procedure to try to correct it, but it didn't work. Within the past 2 weeks, things have gotten worse. I am no longer dizzy; now I am lightheaded 24/7. It seems like it may have something to do with my eyes and blood pressure. Whenever I move my eyes (without moving my head), I get this overwhelming feeling throughout my whole body that feels like I am free falling or something. They always tell me that my blood pressure is fine, but I know I have poor circulation and this just feels like that is related. I am going to be persistent and find out what is wrong and I hope you all do the same. This is an awful way to live each day but, I know that God will work things out. Take care!

Guest · Guest

I just recently started suffering from this also im 32 yr old female and it is not terrible but I do feel lightheaded a lot I have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder and am on lexapro. I found that a side effect of lexapro in some cases was a feeling of lightheadeness but I think I was lightheaded before I went on that medication. I am taking the lexapro and I still feel a little anxious so I think I might need somthing else I am going to check up on this paxil that someone mentioned and I have high blood pressure managed with meds but I was not lightheaded before and I don't believe it's a high blood pressure issue at all with me. I am glad to know that a lot of other people are experiencing this! It is so confusing! Thankfully I feel mine is not as bad as I have been reading on here, my prayers are with you all.

WJRT · Newbie Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 14

I am an otherwise healthy 19 year old student, it is fast approaching exam leave, I have a bunch of coursework to hand in but I am struggling to get myself through.

I was at a party last Saturday night, I was drinking heavily and like an irresponsible teen would, I smoked some 'weed'. It's not something I would normally do but you know how peer pressure is. Anyways, after successfully intoxicating myself and knocking my head on a door I left the party. The next day, I felt fine , however, as the week progressed I started to get this overwhelming faint feeling and it mostly occurs when I am doing limited activity although I will say, it is pretty much constant.

I have been to the doctor who thinks it was alcohol and drug related, so he gave me some pills. I must admit though, while at the doctor I took a massive panic attack, heart rate was soaring, I felt like I was going to pass out, I was so scared.

I have been very anxious yes, but it's over worry of what my problem is, I'm a fairly positive guy - I just don't understand this.

I am going to the doctors tomorrow and I am going to request, rather, demand, a scan of some description - for peace of mind and so I can focus on my exams.

It's uplifting to see people with similar problems and I hope this board stays active.

Thank you all for sharing.

I'll report back ASAP.

Guest · Guest

I've experienced both this 'lightheaded' sensation many of you are describing, as well as vertigo. They are very, very different. If you have vertigo you will probably also experience nausea, while with the lightheadedness it's more of an annoyance. For me is was Aspartame poisoning caused by drinking diet pop. I was 20 when I was suffering from this, and my doctors also had no idea what it was.

My symptoms included:
-lightheadedness (constant)
- weakness in my arm/hand (right side)
-weakness in my leg (right side)
- feelings of confusion
- feeling like my speech was slowed/slurred
- exhaustion. this was a big one because i am a university student, and sleeping all day just isn't a option.

If you drink diet pop or anything else that contains artificial sugars (sucralose, aspartame, saccharin), and you are experiencing similar symptoms- you should stop ingesting it! If your doctor can't figure out what the problem is, then you should at least give this a try. My symptoms went away after 10 days. It might not be this, but for me it was. I went through the blood work and CT Scan and all that.

I hope you are all feeling better soon!

Kraven · Newbie Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

I have been having constant lightheadedness for a year and chest pains. The chest pains are now mostly gone. The medical system is unbelievably slow if you started off an uninsured college student. It took a full year to finish seeing a cardiologist and someone for my esophagus. They did find a tumor near my heart (with luck it wasn't cancerous) and a stomach infection - the cheat pains seem to be caused by that infection and acid reflux. I have not been having the chest pains anymore since taking the antibiotics, however I still am constantly lightheaded.

Finally I am seeing a neurologist, lets hope it doesn't take 6 months or more to do his job.

Kraven · Newbie Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

Mark Thomas · Newbie Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 1

Hi guys,
I'v been following this particular forum for a while. I too have the lightheadedness that so many here seem to be experiencing. I'm 38 and seem otherwise healthy. My cholesterol is high but my CT, ECGs, and ENT doctor have found no signs of anything. I thought it might be an inner ear infection or something but they say that can't be it because I'm not feeling the room spin. I don't feel nauseous, no real other symptoms. Just feel like I could sleep all day sometimes and this constant lightheadedness (about 6 months now),that's really difficult to explain. It does seem to make it harder to think as clearly as I used to. Going for an MRI soon. I don't feel deprssed at all but I do have a lot on my mind so maybe it's stress related? Sometimes you can get viruses that affect your brain, eventually they just fade away. Touch wood.
Keep you posted. Hang in there guys, we're not crazy.

WJRT · Newbie Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 14

Well 11 days on and I feel a little stronger but now I have pressure in my head and my ears seem to be acting up, like popping when I swallow.

Sometimes when I swallow it feels like there is a lump in my throat.

I have another appointment tomorrow, my blood work came back OK and I have yet to get a CAT scan . . . I will be more insistent tomorrow.

I still get faint and sometimes get hot flashes, fever like.

I get incredibly anxious and believe sometimes I am suffering from an anxiety condition.

http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml

Symptoms are listed.

I often worry I have something life threatening, I have had this for 19 days now and I am worried sick . . . I wake up around 4am every morning and find it difficult getting back to sleep.

My eyes seem to be acting up too. I've always experienced floaters but now they are like constantly there . . . dunno if this is stress related or what.

I'll report back in another 10 days and let you know of any progress that is made.

Good luck people.

God bless.

jenholic · Newbie Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 4

jenholic · Newbie Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 4

btw i was feeling one of those extreme lightheadedness earlier and i took a shot of sugar. felt better after that, could be a placebo effect im not sure but i hope the shrink knows the answer.

What provokes my constant constant lightheadedness?

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