Unexplained Dizziness, Contstant Heavy Head, Extreme Fatigue, Nausea - Part 2

So you have an answer - that is good. At least they know what is causing your issues and can address it so you can get well :-)

Karen from Arizona

The epstein barr virus is a good possibility for many of us (the virus that causes mono). However, any bacterial or viral infection that has become systemic (as opposed to localized) can cause the same symptoms. I have made an appointment with my primary to force blood and urine tests of as many known critters as we can. I'm personally going on my 8th month of these symptoms and they seem to be getting more and more severe.... interestingly enough the fatigue and joint pain are what is more exponentially apparent as of late. My first day back for classes was yesterday and I couldn't make it all the way through... back home and in bed by 530pm. 

The most irritating part is that the doctors have no urgency in their diagnosis, and this includes the few who seem to actually care. If this is as simple as a systemic infection there is no reason it should take almost a year to figure it out. Some days I feel (like MrFeelbad) that I am literally about to see a white light.

Again, with these symptoms that many of us are experiencing i'm told they just disappear at some point without any warning or explanation. Is this what happened to the earlier posters... or have they just gone to the white light (half sarcastic)?

After 9 days of steroids, the pressure in my head is back with a vengeance. Head feels like it will explode any minute and I feel like I am walking on water. No pain, just pressure pressure pressure from deep inside. Doc says it could be a side effect of coming down off the steroid. I will give it a couple of days.

Back on Arthrotec now 2x per day. Saw my chiropractor today to start adjustments. My neck is out of whack, whether from the chronic headaches, or maybe the neck is causing the chronic headaches. It's worth a shot.

Also have a comprehensive second opinion coming tomorrow from an outside source who has reviewed my entire case and ALL my medical records. That will be most interesting.

Karen from Arizona

hey clancybenjamin,

first: really am sympathetic to you leaving class... nobody can possibly know how we feel until it (heaven forbid) something of this nature happens to them. This illness we share on  is a b****r ... because we do not resonate illness on the outside. AND we are not a seriouse recognizable symptom, like MS Cancer or a Braintumor (thank God for this)

when I spoke of going to the darkside.... I was last week... manoman... I caught a nasty flu bug ON TOP of our crappy illness. It felt like... horrible. Keep your spirits up dude... we'll get through this.

 

second:  I went to see a holistic type of doctor.... he is one affiliated with Dr. J whom I mentioned in an earlier post (I am trying not to p*****f the moderator by namimng names).

I saw this other guy because his office is in Port Angeles (closer to me on the westcoast) than Dr. J in Massachuesettes (East Coast).  He was able to tell me his thoughts... and give me a treatment regiment consisting of a lot of herbal suppliments. I am extremely positive about this one. I will update you with my progress... it is too soon to give an update now.... as it is only day 2.

keep the faith folks

mrfeelbad

Hey - this is the guy with the neck issue. Figured I would follow up after a couple weeks and let those who may have a similar issue know what is going on.  Well, 2 weeks ago I was progressing slowly with the Chiro and I was mostly focused on my dizzy spells (I had already resolved the fatigue and confusion issues I had in the beginning).  I think I mentioned in my previous post that I have been bending my neck and tucking it in when I sleep.  This just seemed like a big deal to me so I picked up a soft cervical collar and started wearing it when I sleep.  This paid off big time for me.  I went the next 5 days with no dizzy spells at all.

 

All was going good until I pulled a muscle in my lower back last Saturday.  When this happened, everything went to c**p again (at least this supports my neck/back is the problem).  Sunday I basically had uncontrollable headaches, dizzy spells and neck/back pain all day. I iced it most of the day and it started to slow down by bed time.  I saw the Chiro on Monday and he helped some with an adjustment. However, things got better but were still not right.  I continued with the dizzy spells until Friday. Everything hit again, but this time I had fatigue and confusion mixed in (which I had not had in over 2 months).  At this point, I was willing to do anything and went back to my regular doctor to see what he could do.  Keep in mind, this doctor was not able to figure out my problem when I went to him originally. Anyway, I got him up to speed on my issues and what I have been doing.  He gave me a quick exam and said my back was still out even though I had no pain (I had no reflex in my lower left foot when he checked them and this was the same side of my back when it was in pain).  He prescribed some muscle relaxers and some exercises/physical therapy.

 

Saturday, I woke up and felt great after taking the muscle relaxer overnight.  Everything seemed to be about as good as it could be (no dizzy spells/headaches/fatigue/pain).  Today started off much the same as Saturday, however, now I seem to be having a tight feeling in my mid back.  I am starting to think I am just pushing this problem around on my back and it will just pop up somewhere else when I get it straightened out in any location.  I have 3 pulled lower back occurrences in the last 3 months, 1 occurrence of a severe neck related Migraine, along with all my other neck issues and now this. While I am progressing on the overall problems I started off with, it seems that I am just chasing it around.

 

Well, I am going to start working with both my Chiro and Family doctor to help resolve this issue. I do think both have their benefits and could help me resolve this if we can all work together on it. Everyone seems to agree what the issue is, it is now just a matter of getting everything to settle down in my back/neck.

 

I really hope you have found your answer.

Here is my update.

Went to my chiro on Wednesday, who did an adjustment. I felt so much worse on Thursday and Friday. Sore, stuffy ears, dizzy. I have another round of Botox for migraines this week also. The headaches are not all that painful that I get, just a ton of pressure and dizziness.

Saw my PCP doc on Friday. He put me on a low dose of Paxil. He subscribes to the theory that my pain, headaches and dizziness are the result of anxiety and depression. I said what the hell, so I am trying it. Nothing else works.

I will update. The Paxil takes 1-3 weeks to show effect. Old school medicine, and maybe I will get lucky,

Karen from Arizona

Hey guys - check this out. Google 'smartmeter illness' and see what the EMF Safety Network has to say.

My symptoms started in March 2011, when I had my new 'smartmeter' installed on my home. My symptoms get worse as time has gone on. I am going to plan a camping trip for at least a week soon, away from electricity, to see if I start to feel any better. I have 15 of the symptoms listed below and not one doctor can explain to me why.

From the web site:
Utility customers have reported new or worsening health problems since the utility smart meter system has been installed on their home or in their neighborhood. Symptoms include:

Sleep problems (insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, night waking, nightmares)
Stress, agitation, anxiety, irritability
Headaches, sharp pain or pressure in the head
Ringing in the ears, ear pain, high pitched ringing
Concentration, memory or learning problems
Fatigue, muscle or physical weakness
Disorientation, dizziness, or balance problems
Eye problems, including eye pain, pressure in the eyes,
Cardiac symptoms, heart palpitations, heart arrhythmias, chest pain
Leg cramps, or neuropathy
Arthritis, body pain, sharp, stabbing pains
Nausea, flu-like symptoms
Sinus problems, nose bleeds
Respiratory problems, cough, asthma
Skin rashes, facial flushing
Urinary problems
Endocrine disorders, thyroid problems, diabetes
High blood pressure
Changes in menstrual cycle
Hyperactivity or changes in children’s behavior
Seizures
Recurrence of cancer

I know this is a long post, but I have to share my similar experience and how I finally got back to feeling HEALTHY again.

Have you thought about your muscle weakness causing your other neurological/phsyiological symptoms? I had a bad back injury and got so weak that I couldn't get out of bed for more than a couple of hours at a time without getting really tense shoulders and nausea. Turns out, my lack of core was allowing my spine to collapse and fall out of place and I had nerve problems in multiple places (especially my neck vertebrae) that were causing a lot of the same symptoms that you are having, including the dizziness, nausea, weakness of the extremities, and onset of generalized anxiety . I had the same tests done, and the same recommendations more or less before giving up on the MD opinion for cost-prohibitive reasons.

Five months later and through an intense period of nutrient supplementation (PQQ, L-Lysine/Arganine, B-complex, and lots of fruits and veggies) and working out (three days a week + daily PT exercises), I feel better than I have in the last 5 years. I'm convinced that nerve damage in my spine was causing most of my problems- most spinal specialists and chiropractors have agreed with me that my problem was neuropathy from a virtually unsupported spine rather than a number of other biological problems.

Furthermore, even if you do have strange thyroid levels or other health issues that show up on MD screening, I would still give a physical treatment plan a try, because guess what controls your many various bio-functionality? That's right, your nerve problems. The spine is the most important (and one of the most fragile) bones in the body. If we don't take care of it, our body can't heal and repair itself.

That's my two cents from personal experience - LOOK AT YOUR SPINAL AND MUSCULAR HEALTH. I really hope it helps.

This is great news and I am glad you are getting healthy again!

Will seriously look into this because I have the same belief about the muscle strains and nerve damage coordinated from my neck to my spine.

Quick update,

Not sure how the rest of you have been but the last 2-3 weeks was a roller-coaster here. Up and down, quite literally.

I saw an ENT and a rheumatologist in addition to my primary last week.

A battery of tests focusing on autoimmune disorders were done. ANA levels, etc. with all negative results. No lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

I was tested positive for epstien barr but the doctor mentioned it is a common result for people my age. Now to figure out if the virus is at cause for some of these symptoms. My neck issues and lack of ability to focus are literally causing me to put premed studies on hold...

Found this on one of my CT scans and am pursuing:

dehiscence of superior semicircular canals

You can Google it for more information. Funny, it came up on the CT scan I had at the ER when I was in last December for a bad migraine. They scanned my sinuses. No one at Mayo ever talked to me about it. I found the report and read it, and asked my Headache Neuro what "Incidentally noted is the dehiscence of superior semicircular canals which could be the cause of imbalance and vertigo". She said it means it's present and when I asked if we should pursue it, she gave me a resounding yes and set me up with an ENT.

Why do I have to find and ask for this stuff to be pursued?

Karen from Arizona

Tony

You need to get a bottle of Citrat of Magnesium from drug store Have a fresh lemon available now hold your nose and drink the whole bottle before you release your nose suck some juice from the lemon it will make it taste better. Go lay down and let it do the work! HAVE PLENTY OF TISSUE PAPER! Your body if being depleted of MAGNESIUM Do your own research on the net. I recomend you check out the site called Ancient Minerals they sale transdermal mag its is fast acting in your case you still need to injest the mag to get it to where it need to be (Isa) your pain will leave and all of your medical problems Just for the sake of argument you don't feel better (asap) then you should see and Endocrinologist (hope I spelled that right) or Hemotologist you are in trouble. I just went back and re-read your post and it sounds more like Thyroid Disease so don't do the Magnesium first go your Primary CP and ask for a Fasting TSH blood test I believe this should put you on the path to recovery, don't be jercked around by any Physician be your best advocate and do your own research before accepting any solution for this problem! You need that test yesterday! When they find and cure your problem I suggest you still pursue the Mag because of the headache and other pain I wish you the best and pray for a speedy solution MLK

hey folks, UPDATE.

So I had an interesting week. a lot of ups and downs.

After I having a full head and spine mri, I know I do not have MS or some genetic spinal disease. Always good to hear.

but then they lower a bomb. Apparently the mri showed a benign mass on my pituitary gland. YIKES!!

So after a night of sh**ting my pants and letting the news sink in, i saw my neurologist the next day to answer a buttload of scary questions. long and short , i'll be seeing an Endocrinologist as soon as i can... and we can come up with a gameplan for trying to treat this thing. REMEMBER, I already had a head mri, head ultra sound, and head CT with contrast. All those other tests showed nothing of a tumor.

I am not writing this because I want to freak you guys out, but the tumor I have (they say) COULD be knocking all my hormones for a loop... as i've already tested for a certain hormone and my levels are crazy high. After hearing of the tumor, my neuro asked me directly... do you have headaches or any skin crawling or tingling? resounding yes!

So why am telling you guys this?

After reading a few blogs on this site,i think (and have suspected) that our hormones are out of whack for some reason. OR we have issues with our thyroid.

I think what tony posted(to go see an Endocrinologists) for a full work up on your hormones, would be a positive step.

do any of you guys(especially mafixit and clancybenjamin) have eyesight issues? peripheral vision is poor?

I am also still on a series of chellations for differing things. Issued by that holistic guy i saw last month. i am STILL dizzy.. but my headfog has lifted, and my energy is a little better. I see him again next week... although i suspect the tumor is the crux main of my issues, i believe this guy's treatments aren 't hurting me. they're helping.

i'll update as soon as i can. mrfeelbad

Hello, hope everyone is hanging in there. Do any of you feel unreal? It's kind of weird to describe exactly, but its really freaking me out and isn't going away. I was really hoping this wasn't neurological. Thank you for the replies.

Man, its terrible when we get to consider a negative thing good news... but there you have it! I'm actually really glad they found at least something that might explain your symptoms.

Eyesight issues are a definite.... if i move my gaze around too quickly I get more dizzy. Almost like my eyes don't focus or adjust as quickly as they should. It's worse in darker areas. In fact I feel like some of my nausea has been triggered by dimmed lights in a lecture hall or driving home at dusk when the sun has mostly set. Forget peripheral vision... its out the window!
Lately, as previously posted its my back, neck, and knees that are hurting. I was Athletic at 29 when this started... why do i feel like im 70 yrs old 8 months later? Tested for MS, Rhumatiod, and Lupus... all negative.

Keep me posted MrFeelBad, these symptoms can be general for a lot of conditions but ours sounds uncannily similar. I have a neck x ray, general swelling test, and endoscopy scheduled for Wednesday. I will also ask my doc what hormone tests we have done and request an endo appointment. Just curious, which of your hormones was in the high levels that you mentioned?