DIZZY, LIGHTHEADED, FOGGY-HEADED, OFF-BALANCE, TIRED, ANXIETY,
Finally, I have found other people who share my frustration and fears, and who are complaining about the exact same dizzy/lightheaded/foggy-headed feeling symptoms that I have. I started having an off-balance, dizzy feeling (which started as "on again & off again") feeling around 3 months ago. Then the week after Christmas, while I was shopping in a clothing store, I bent down and I got this dizzy/lightheaded feeling, like I was going to pass out. I didn't pass out, but I had the worst panic attack because the dizzy feeling scared me. Right after that, I started having panic attacks while driving - some so severe that I would have to pull my car over to the slow lane because I really thought I was going to pass out because they were so severe. Now, 8 weeks later, I have a dizzy, lightheaded, foggy-headed, off-balance feeling on a daily basis, which lasts all day and all night long. Some days I feel dizzier and more off-balance, and some days I feel just a little off-balance and foggy headed. I also have a foggy feeling in my eyes and my head feels like I have "air" in it, like it's full of something, and my right ear feels full all the time, and to make matters worse, I am tired all the time and no matter how much sleep or rest I get I still wake up with that tired, exhausted, foggy-headed feeling. I work full-time at a law office and I have to do alot of typing and proof-reading, which I have had alot of trouble doing these past few weeks. In any event, I went to my PC in the beginning of January because I thought I had another sinus infection. I had one (or so I thought) in October and my pc gave me an anti-biotic which seemed to clear up my symptoms. But then I started getting the same symptoms again at the end of December (which was a very stressful month for me because we lost our electricity for 10 days due to an ice storm and we were without power, heat, food, water, etc., until 5 days before Christmas. Needless to say, my anxiety level was extremely high during the month of December. I should mention that in 1998 I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Anxiety Disorder and I do not take any prescription medications. Anyway, back to my story... so in January I went to see my PC and because he had just treated me for a so-called sinus infection, he didn't want to give me another anti-biotic so he ordered lab tests which included a CBC, Thyroid, Hormonal, etc. and chest x-rays, which (thank goodness) were all good and so he suggested I start taking an anti-depressant (Celexa) to help with my anxiety and to help with peri-menopausal symtpoms he thinks I may be experiencing even though my hormonal testing was normal. Simultaneously, while awaiting my lab results from my PC, I went to see an ENT who gave me in-office ear testing, which he concluded was normal. I also had a sinus CT (the new 64 slice one that shows everything and then some), which was also normal/negative. Needless to say, I am still having that dizzy, lightheaded, foggy-headed feeling, and I am having a feeling of tiredness in my eyes and my right ear and across my forehead to the top of my head feels full. I have been having acute anxiety because I worry constantly about my symptoms. I think about it from the minute I wake up in the morning until I fall asleep at night. I also have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Thank goodness my husband has been a rock of support for me because I have been so distraught as the days go by and I am not feeling better. I have had bouts of crying a few times a week and I am really getting depressed about it. I am normally an active person and I "go" from the minute I get up until sunset. This "disorder" or whatever it is has put the brakes on my life to the point where I fear going anywhere and even more so I fear I won't get better. It is a little comforting to read the posts on here about other people experiencing the same symptoms as me and so I don't feel all alone. Today, I am wondering if my symptoms are inner-ear (even though the ENT said I didn't have any inner-ear issues) or if they are simply peri-menopausal (I'm 49). In any case, your feedback and support will be appreciated.