mafixit wrote:
mafixit wrote:
Found this board. Let me post my experience:
May 2011, turned to look at my husband to the left of me on the couch and got head spinning dizzy. Thought it was sinuses. Took some sinus medication and blew it off. Everything has gotten progressively worse since then, including bad headaches, CONSTANT dizziness. It's been over a year. I have seen everyone. Most of my doctors are with the Mayo Clinic. I have had an MRI, CT scan of the sinuses, seen a neurologist, went to a pain clinic and their chiropractor (included acupuncture) saw one ENT and have been scoped by a second ENT, had extensive vestibular testing, been through physical therapy (one PT said it was hormonal, one said vertigo, one said NO vertigo), saw my OBGYN (who adjusted my BC pills to lower my estrogen intake), saw an allergist for environmental and food allergies, had bloodwork done numerous times, including checking my thyroid, potassium, magnesium, etc., now exercise at least 3 days per week, have removed grains from my diet, etc, etc. I am been researching every day to find a cause. I am relentless.
Background: I have been treated for anxiety in the past, but only with Lexapro - the last round was because my job of 12 years was killing me. I quit and the anxiety melted away for a long time, until this 'illness' started last year. Had a detached retina in 2007 (fixed with schleral buckle surgery) and a vitrectomy to remove scar tissue on my macula in 2008. I have genetically high cholesterol. My job now is one people would kill for. I work from home doing software support and testing, 10 hours day, 5 days a week. No boss looking over my shoulder. No commute. Good pay. I am a subcontractor so I set my own hours. If I want a day off I take it.
After all these tests, doc says "its anxiety" and wants to put me back on anti-anxiety meds and/or Pamelor or Nortrptyline (sp) for headaches. Neurologist said it's an inner ear imbalance my body never adjusted to and kicked me to the curb and ENT kicked me to the curb saying my sinuses were fine except for my deviated septum, which I have had forever. I don't want to take drugs to 'try' to see if they help. I want to know what is causing this. Dad passed last year after a long illness and I had to file bankruptcy due to some poor real estate investments. That caused some anxiety. But we are over the hump.
Now I feel like c**p every day. Visually disoriented (someone described it well - like if you cross your eyes, the vision you have as they adjust back, or if you put on took strong of a prescription and then take them off), forehead pressure/headache, temple headaches, dizziness, neck and body aches, some fatigue. It's funny, some days I can hit the health club and stay forever and some days I walk in and want to collapse just looking at the machines. I sleep about 7-8 hours a night usually waking up at least once to use the bathroom. Early in the morning before I get out of bed I feel shakey. Could be anxiety there - I have been sick for a year - who wouldn't have anxiety, right? I get anxious because I don't feel good and I don't feel good because I am anxious. We all know the circle.
Anyway, I found this board and read something I really think might pertain to me. Vertical Heterophoria. This is when the eyes are misaligned. I did the Wayne's World test - camera 1, camera 2, focusing on an object and then closing and opening each eye alternatively. Your image should move left to right and right to left (camera one, camera two). We have binocular vision. My image moves left to right and up and down - this is an indication that my eyes are misaligned, which could cause many if not all of the symptoms I have. I called Dr. Debby of***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed
Took their on-line test for this condition. She called me and told me my score was 48. 15 is high. The visual test I did is a good indicator. I made an appt with a Mayo Clinic Ophthalmologist. This condition is easily rectified and could be a side effect of my eye surgery 5 years ago. I am seeing Dr. Janice Jones, a chiropractor here in AZ that specializes in neuro-cranial integration. Apparently I am completely out of whack (she showed me and now it's obvious) and she adjusts the cranium and soft tissue. No snap crackle or pop. I am on my third visit. The eye misalignment can cause this because my body is subconsciously adjusting to my visual issues.
I am fairly sure this is the root of my problem. It's hard to believe that this issue can cause all that, but the eyes can do funny things and then the anxiety takes its toll.
I have subscribed to this topic and will post what happens.
Karen
After 1 month of my chiropractor, trying the new reading glasses with prism to adjust my eyes, taking Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, removing gluten from my diet, removing all artificial sweeteners from my diet, etc., getting of my birth control pills, nothing has helped.
As a matter of fact, my dizziness has gotten worse. Now its all day, every day. My forehead always feels like I am scowling.
My second trip to the ENT it was suggested this is chronic migraine. I see a headache neurologist tomorrow, then the next day it's off to the OBGYN to discuss hormones and menopause.
I am so sick of this. It's really affecting my quality of life now. I can only take so much.
Saw the Mayo Clinic headache neurologist today. He is sending me for an MRA to check the arteries and veins in my head. Looking for an aneurysm or narrowing somewhere that could be restricting blood flow and causing my dizziness, just to rule it out. He feels I am suffering from Migraine aggravated by perimenopause and that most likely the tests will come back normal, but we need to be sure.
I have the test on Monday. I will post results. I am just a little scared and nervous.
MRI and MRV tests are normal, thank heavens. On my way to make an appt with a hormone specialist out here, who I believe is also a naturopath. If he is not, that is also something I am going to consider heavily. Also thinking about some vestibular rehab.
Just wanted to let you all know.
I just want to share with you that I thought it was caused by my sinus infection and a small tiny polyp it (9mm). Doctors told me this shouldnt cause that kind of symptoms but I insisted to remove it. Therfore I had 2 weeks ago cleared all my sinus durin operation called FESS however...
this constant dizzyness did not go away even for a while.
Now I will try to focus on my neck; joints and spine cause as I remember it all started since I was sleeping on a crappy sofa bed with my neck bended.
This disease or whatever it is is so frustrating! Before I found this forum I went to doctors and specialists and physical therapists and nobody seems to know anything. I decided to do my own extensive research and there are so many deficiencies to diseases with similar symptoms. I don't want to give up but when people say they live with this for 13 or plus years that makes my 3 years seem like nothing and just makes me want to end it all! I don't want to live like this forever, and you can't give up either, and it's this horrible state of mind and body, how do any of you find the will to go on!?? I'm in the constant fog and I don't know what the hell I'm doing I know this is more of a rant than anything helpful, but I'm just overwhelmed with how much this has affected my life and I can't do anything about it. Any positive words, PLEASE.
I have started a medication called Verapamil, which is used off label for migraine prevention. It is a blood pressure medication. I started last week and am told it takes two weeks or more to start to take effect. I will keep you all posted as to when and if it works. I have high hopes.
GENDER: male
HEIGHT: 5'6"
WEIGHT: 220 lbs
LIFESTYLE: sedentary
OCCUPATION: Computer Industry
PERSONAL INFO: Overweight by 70 lbs, bulging disc, IBS, smell ammonia all the time, quit smoking 1yr ago, high stress job, light sleeper, occasional digestive gas( which usually leads to an anxiety attack for fear of having a massive heart attack), tenitis, prescription eye glasswearer, hayfever
SUFFERING SYMTOMS: rear right skull pressure, un-balanced while walking (fine in seated or prone position), I explain it like trying to walk a straight line after four pints of beer
TEST: MRI, HeadCT, balance tests, ear tests
hey anonymous... how are you feeling now? Still good?
Earlier I read a person who posted her food allergies. I've recently been diagnosed with food quite a few allergies(2 weeks ago). I'll try your antibiotic and the food detox. I'll repost with my findings.
I have done many tests and all came back normal; MRIs, CTs, cleared my sinus.Recently I met my neurologist and he said it might be neurosis. And it could be true as symptoms seems to be experienced more when I am in a stressfull situation. I think he is very right as I had for 4 years highly stresfull job. Then it blow up one day after moving out from my familly to a new city. I quit my job now and i'll take a gap for few months when I would like to find my ballance again.However I tent to accept this disease as part of me - i think its easier than to reject it on every step.
My dentist also cleared me of any teeth problems, but I have so many root canals, perhaps something is there he did not see?
So i did not have mri but did have a ct scan of the sinuses. I asked if it would show any dental probs and was told no. Three dentists took xrays of this tooth and did not see any problems (2 here, one in europe). The endodontist did a cold test where he put something cold against several teeth one at a time. The bad tooth did not feel it, he said indicative of a dead nerve. He said he woulD not know about abscess for sure until he got in there and then he found 2.5 of the three roots in the molar were infected. Can you get your dOc to give you a week or so of augmentin and see if you get better?? I was better within a couple days of starting it. But it diDnt last. I am sure the tooth was the underlying problem, although it must have.b Een subclinical in a lot of ways as i also just had blood tests and white cell count was ok!!! So frustrating! I will post again if anything changes/ comes back.
Interesting. I called an oral surgeon recommended to me by my dentist. She listened intently to my story and suggested I wait to see what all the lab work I have in process shows. So he did not know you had an infection but dug into your tooth anyway? How did he know which tooth to check? I have 5 or 6 teeth that had root canals. Karen