I need some help/advice about dizziness. I'm not sure if this is epilepsy or not, that is why I am posting here. I am cross-posting this in the Allergy forum as well.

I have been having lightheadedness/dizzy EPISODES and are not sure what they are. Here is an example...

"March 14, 2003
11:53am

Sitting at PC at work, I had a BAD dizziness episode. It felt like my whole head was zapped with electricity, then my eyes went slightly out of focus, then it felt like my head was being squeezed all around it, the top too. It lasted about 5-10 seconds. When it subsided, I got hot/flush and my forehead started to sweat somewhat. Then my heart started to pound. Then I felt pressure in my face, around my nose, cheeks, and forehead. Nothing went numb. I had no chest pain. I did not have trouble breathing. Checked pulse and it was about 84 per minute and I did not notice any out of rhythm beats.

Earlier, I was blowing out 3 extremely dusty PCs with a can of compressed air. I did this outside. I also ate 4 chocolate chip cookies about 10 minutes before it hit."

These are the kind of EPISODES I have. They never last more than 5-10 seconds - well, one time it did. I went to ER, they said Labrynthitis. My ENT said no way.

Could these be seizures or something non-life threatening (allergy/sinus). I have NEVER had these before in my life, and I have had allergies/sinus trouble all my life.

I have been diagnosed with Sarcoidosis in Jan 2003 - makes me scared that Sarcoid has affected my heart (can cause life-threatening arrythmias)

I don't know what to do. I'm lost, confused, and very scared. Can anyone suggest anything?

Thanx

I have a friend who said she had similar episodes for a few years, but only when shopping - like the grocery store or Wal-Mart. Well, last month she was having a dizzy spell in the Wal-Mart along with trouble focusing, the next thing she knew she woke up with paramedics around her. It had generalized into a grand mal seizure. Her EEG and MRI are clear, but they have put her on Dilantin. I don't know, perhaps hers were triggered by the florescent lighting. She chipped some teeth and hit her head on the way down. Best wishes to you.

Does it feel like all the energy is sapped out of your body afterwards?

Nope, can't honestly say that I feel drained afterwards. I try to shake myself out of it, and I get up and move around.

My sister had this and they said migrain.

I know how you feel. I have had these spells for over five years. They come and go but are nearly always preceded by problems with sinus. I have had many doctors look at it. Had Cat scans, MRI etc. but they have called it meniers disease, epilepsy, labarinthitis, or migraine. The thing is, don't let it get you down! It may never happen again. The fact that you were sitting at a PC may have contributed as I find this to be the worst thing for me. Also I wear glasses now and I find them hard to focus properly sometimes. Did you get a headache afterwards and feel very slow, not feeling like you want to talk to anyone?: Don't let it sap your confidence. Have the tests done with the doc but mainly, don't stress, don't drink too much and get enough sleep.

I know how you feel! I have had these spells for over five years. They come and go but are nearly always preceded by problems with sinus. I have had many doctors look at it. Had Cat scans, MRI etc. but they have called it meniers disease, epilepsy, labarinthitis, or migraine. The thing is, don't let it get you down! It may never happen again. The fact that you were sitting at a PC may have contributed as I find this to be the worst thing for me. Also I wear glasses now and I find it hard to focus properly sometimes. Did you get a headache afterwards and feel very slow, not feeling like you want to talk to anyone?: Don't let it sap your confidence. Have the tests done with the doc but mainly, don't stress, don't drink too much and get enough sleep.

It seems everything is fine afterwards, but alot of the times, I feel like one of these episodes is going to start, but never does. Then when I least expect it, I get hit with one. Again, they only last about 5-10 seconds. I have let it bother me before. I got scared about it. Lately, I have just turned it over to God.

I noticed that it is worse when I get little sleep also.

could be absent seizures..

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Betty mom to Tripp

What are absent seizures?

I have suffered with these episodes also for years. It feels like a cattle prod to the brain. Mine last for about 1-2 seconds and then I feel really woozy for awhile. I had one this morning at a bookstore. I can go for months without them and then get one or two a week for while. I do suffer from migraines but they don't seem to happen around the same time. They scare me to death but I have not had them checked out due to a lack of health insurance. If anyone finds out what they are please let me know http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif