Help vertigo and anxiety

[AmandaB]

I have suffered from anxiety for many many years, with all different symptoms throughout the years. Just over a year ago I had a really bad vertigo attack when I woke up, I gradually recovered with some residual dizziness, plus my anxiety soared.

Then a few months ago I had my second severe vertigo attack on waking, but this time even though a few months have passed I don't feel I have recovered as well. I constantly feel off balance and as though I am on the verge of another vertigo attack. Every morning I wake up terrified that it has come back and I feel constantly on edge. My doctors first said I had BPV then Menieres Disease (as I have tinnitus too). But I don't know what to do next.

I do work but have to struggle through each day - sometimes holding on to the desk and feeling like I am going to pass out. I am now getting real anxieties that this is something much more serious - I have recently read that vertigo is a symptom of a stroke or MS and that is worrying me too. I am on medication - Serc and I know I need to have more investigations but I am so scared of getting to the hospital. It is a nightmare and there isn't a day that goes by where I don't feel like I'm about to die.

[dk74]

I am feeling like this. My doctor said it might be because I have a lot of earwax in my left ear. Today I am going to have it syringed to see if it cures it.

Are you still around, Amanda? I would love to hear any updates you have.

[milkcarton]

Oh myyy.

This is exactly what I'm going through at the moment. It is a constant struggle with going to work, slight vertigo, dizziness and I get the shakes too. What makes matters worse is I'm constantly getting ill at the moment.

do you think it is just anxiety for us all?

Milk x

[dk74]

Well I've just had my ears done. Nurse said it could take a few hours to get back to normal if the wax was causing the vertigo. I'll report back later on.

[milkcarton]

How are you feeling now? What were your symptoms before? Starting to think whether I need syringed now!

[dk74]

Nah, vertigo is still there. :( I think it might be due to anxiety now. It definitely got worse when I was sitting in the doctor's waiting room and when I had finished and was on my way home, not a sign of it.

I don't know whether to go back to the GP or not. The thought of having to go to hospital for tests and whathaveyou is scaring me to death.

It's classic anxiety when you think about it - if you get the slightest sensation of dizziness, you start to feel anxious in case you pass out or something which probably makes it worse. Hence panic attack.

[Phuzella]

dk74 yes worrying about dizziness definitely makes it worse. Do you get the room spinning type vertigo or light headedness?

[dk74]

I had the room spinning vertigo on Boxing Day when I woke up. Since then it's just been the light headedness as if you've had a bit too much to drink. :D

[milkcarton]

That's exactly what I have to tell myself too, it is only anxiety! However, I fond some dizzy epsiodes scarier than others, especially when I get the sense of vertigo. You always forget when it happens that you've experienced it before.

I really want an mri scan but dr doesn't feel any need for it :( just wish I would stop feeling so anxious and dizzy too. Especially in the mornings and evenings.

Milk x

[dk74]

My brother-in-law has had dizzy symptoms too but he doesn't have anxiety. ENT specialist thinks he may have fluid behind his eardrum. That's a possibility for us all, isn't it? I don't know how that is rectified though.

[Phuzella]

I get BPPV now and then which leaves a bit of light headedness for a few days after the initial spinning attack. But I've found anxiety can cause dizziness too. When I get this I just try to carry on as normal, and it goes away:)

[Ange1]

I suffer with this problem too and had my first attack on waking quite a few years ago. Mine turned out to be caused by a neck problem which was sorted with treatment. The physiotherapy department of the local hospital also has a specialist physio that deals with vertigo related problems caused by disturbance in inner ear. There are special exercises that can help so it's not all anxiety although anxiety causes muscles etc to tighten which doesn't help. Sinus problems can also lead to vertigo symptoms. X

[dk74]

Please tell us more about the neck problem. It's another thing I was wondering about because I'm always cricking my neck looking at my computer screen. It's only recently (after several years) that I've adjusted the height to be at eye level.

[Ange1]

One of my neck vertebrae was out a bit and tightness in various muscles of my shoulder and mid back had pulled everything out of alignment. A good therapist can diagnose and sort it out in a few treatments. Hunching over the laptop or straining the neck and shoulders at the computer screen are prime suspects. Too much of it and mine starts to kick off again so I have treatment straight away to stop it all getting worse. X

[dk74]

Did you ever black out or faint because of your vertebrae issue?

[Ange1]

no but I was afraid I would. Once I sat up in bed and went so dizzy it felt like I was going to pass out or die! The fear of falling over or staggering in public makes it all so much worse and brought on panic attacks sometimes. That was my perception of course, to others I'm sure I looked perfectly normal x

[dk74]

Thanks, you've been very helpful. I have another GP appointment in two weeks so I'll ask him about my neck.