Medical info...now son has unexplained dizziness

[KeithC]

Still dealing with my daughters possible thyroid cancer scare but that is going better than we originally thought and the ENT is saying the chance of cancer is very low now. More tests were done this past week and we go back next week to get final results and decide what to do. Thanks to all on that front.


Now my son is just shy of 25 and this past Tuesday was very dizzy and was throwing up from it. It was pretty much all the time.

Long story short he went to the Dr. and he said absent of any other things he could find he maybe had the rock slide inner ear crystal thing. Never heard of it but it is a real thing after doing some checking.

He gave him meclizine for nausea and I guess it helped that part a bit in that even though he still is dizzy he can keep food and drink down now. He also had him do the exercises for this disorder. Doc said if not better in a week to come back.

He tried to go to work today and had to leave since he is still dizzy.

When he was young like in grade school he had this and I took him to the doc and she said it was probably an inner ear infection throwing off his balance and making him dizzy. It went away but he did have it come up again a couple times but just for really short periods of time and doc said not to worry.
Fast forward 12-15 years with no problems and now he is at this point where it is hanging on for days.

We have him going back to Dr. tomorrow but always like to get the TGP take on these things!

PS: he has no other symptoms like fever or infection according to doctor visit.

[Mr. Kite]

No idea what it is but I hope he gets better.

[Ken Ho]

Dizziness or vertigo ?
Big difference, and easy to tell.

[Julia343]

Tinnitus building beforehand? Pressure? Then it suddenly goes away? Then in about an hour or so bam! On the floor and can barely crawl to the bathroom to vomit? Sometimes you can feel like you want to vomit, but don't. Is it episodic or constant?

Vertigo will almost always have:

to some degree. Dizziness is more like feeling like one is going to pass out.

[jumpnblues]

Benign positional vertigo is a possibility. An ENT doc or audiologist can give you exercises to do to get rid of it. It's curable....if that's what it is. It is caused by the crystals in the inner ear becoming "dislodged", sometimes by abrupt or violent movement of the head or trauma to the head. The crystals can be put back into place in most instances. Quite often there'll be a period of vertigo when turning or holding your head in a particular orientation and if you hold your head there it will slowly subside. For me, about once every 1-2 years, I will have dizziness that will last for a period of hours. I don't experience that very often. It's usually a very brief period...maybe 15- 30 seconds. And it's usually mild, although it can be enough to briefly cause a slight loss of balance. Some people have more intense episodes. Fortunately, mine is mild enough that I just ignore it and it usually subsides in a few seconds. I haven't gone in for the cure yet. If my symptoms become more intense or noticeable I might go for the exercises.


Tom

[Paneer]

You may want to consider the possibility that this is Meniere's Syndrome. I had an attack out of the blue one night, then had weekly episodes for about four months, then they went away as suddenly as they'd started. Lots of water, low sodium diet, and a daily trip to the sauna kept things in check for me.

[unoguitar]

I have vertigo, either Meniere's or positional (each as described by previous posts), or some weird combo of both. Have had symptoms for ~15 years now. Very much a nuisance. Thankfully hasn't gotten worse. Have actually had long periods of no symptoms at all followed by rashes of repeated experience. I have not used medication as the antivert was more troublesome than the illness.
At it's worst (very intense) I can only sleep in one position or it will come on. Thankfully that rarely happens.
I know that for some unfortunate few the effect(s) can be 24/7 which would be unimaginable.
In my case it seems to run in the family. Mother has it and now my younger brother has begun having symptoms (in his 40's).

Best wishes for your son.

[d-b]

I have Meniere's Disease. What you have described is exactly my experience. My ENT eventually sent me to an Otologist/Neurotologist that was able to treat me. I am living with it and doing pretty good now for 13 years.

For now cut out all caffeine, all alcohol, most sodium and as much stress as possible. Drink lots of water. There is no cure and no known cause but it can be managed for most. Do your research and find the best Otologist/Neurotologist in your area and get to them asap!

Good luck!
db

[unoguitar]

Originally Posted by d-b

For now cut out all caffeine, all alcohol, most sodium and as much stress as possible. Drink lots of water.

I should have added this as well. However I do abuse myself with coffee pretty routinely. Can't seem to quit it and I occasionally pay the price...

[Sigmund Floyd]

Yeah, I have the BPV. For a long time I took a water pill (hydrochlorothizide?) - lately I don't take it. But a low salt diet is key although I've strayed from that, this is a good reminder. When I had it real bad about 7 years ago I ended up in the ER a couple times, very debilitating. I fear it to this day and I know I've never been 100% the same as I was. Forget about any carnival rides or crazy chit. I have kayaked on rivers and that was almost too much. It should pass. I also had a pill for the vertigo and one for nausea that helped. I could only lie on my side on a bed or floor for hours along with a lot of nausea. Hopefully he doesn't have it too bad.

[Vince]

Your son has my sympathies. Balance and vestibular disorders suck. Bad. You may want to ask if they've ruled out vestibular migraine. I wrestled with symptoms for a few years. After seeing 6 ENT's and neurotologists, they ruled out Meniere's and BPPV and finally landed on vestibular migraine, and with some meds and a good migraine management protocol, my symptoms went away. Best of luck to you and your son.

[Stringbender11]

I've had BPV on and off myself. There is a routine you can do twice a day that has worked well for me. Google BPV in it's full wordage and you should see some links to the exercises. It takes about 10 minutes and isnt painful or uncomfortable.

[A-Bone]

Originally Posted by Vince

Your son has my sympathies. Balance and vestibular disorders suck. Bad. You may want to ask if they've ruled out vestibular migraine. I wrestled with symptoms for a few years. After seeing 6 ENT's and neurotologists, they ruled out Meniere's and BPPV and finally landed on vestibular migraine, and with some meds and a good migraine management protocol, my symptoms went away. Best of luck to you and your son.

What migraine management protocol and meds do you follow? I have been having a hell of a time with migraines for the last year and a half or so after a rather benign migraine experience for the prior 20 years or so, and am interested in hearing other people's management strategies.

[KeithC]

I appreciate it all as usual. He is doing a bit better but still dizzy at times. The GP referred him to an ENT for either testing or to "put the crystals back in place"

He's convinced it just that.

We'll see what they say on Thursday.

Thanks again TGP

[A-Bone]

Originally Posted by KeithC

I appreciate it all as usual. He is doing a bit better but still dizzy at times. The GP referred him to an ENT for either testing or to "put the crystals back in place"

He's convinced it just that.

We'll see what they say on Thursday.

Thanks again TGP

That is definitely the most likely cause.