Hi - I have been suffering from vertigo, imbalance and other "ear issues" for just over 3 years now. it has gotten progressively worse. i have not received any definite diagnosis yet, other than i have tinnitus and equal hearing loss in both ears (a small amount of loss). i am 46 and have terrible sinus/allergy problems and frequent ear and sinus infections but am in good health otherwise. i am at a point now where i feel dizzy, off-balance, and "spinny" pretty much every day. i have been through all types of allergy meds - my primary doc thinks my constantly clogged sinuses are pushing against my ears and causing most of the symptoms but since nothing we do seems to help, she sent me to an ENT for further testing. first one was quite a disappointment as he just kept telling me that i would just have to "live with it" no matter what my symptom - ringing ears? learn to live with it. stabbing pains in ears? learn to live with it. vertigo? learn to live with it. i got the distinct impression that because i did not have bppv he didn't want to deal with me. he mumbled some thing about eustachian tube dysfunction being a possibility but didn't seem inclined to follow up on that. in the main, i felt he did not believe me - which is so frustrating. so, in the new year i am going to find a different ent to visit and in the meantime keep working with primary doc and try to "learn to live with it" - all of it. it is impacting my life and also starting to limit it somewhat - like no escalators. some days are better than others, of course; but christmas eve at church i found myself swaying and feeling as if i was falling into a hole when i bowed my head to pray!! using a computer seems to make it worse, my vision seems affected by it now and again and i am started having trouble walking comfortably cause i "sway" and run into things. my legs are a bruised and scratched mess from walking into the edges of things.

i was wondering how long it took some of you to get a diagnosis? and how did you go about it? i would love to know what is wrong with me and what i can do, if anything, to make the symptoms either go away or at least reduce them. i would really appreciate any feedback! and knowing that i am not alone or crazy...

Hi Seveppa,

Sorry to hear what you've been going thru - it's frustrating enough to have your life literally turned upside down by this junk and then to have a dr. to tell you to "live with it" or "it's all in your head" is really tough.

Just wanted to mention - you may want to see a neurotologist - they specialize in inner ear disorders and may be able to provide you with some more concrete answers. The Vestibular Disorders Assocation (VEDA) website has a list of neurotologists by location to help you locate one if needed.

Good luck and hopefully the next dr. you see will be able to give you some answers ...

Hi Seveppa
sorry that you seem to be getting worse after 3 years, I am at the 2yr mark but I am making progress. I agree with the advice to see a neuro-otologist, they are inner-ear and balance specialists, and I feel I wasted nearly 2 years with ENTs who didn't come up with a diagnosis, in fact, they didn't seem to listen. The neuro-otologist I saw spent hours running tests and asking me questions, then listening to the answers. It has made a big change to the way I feel.

I do not suffer from allergies like you but about six weeks after I first got ill with the violent vertigo I got acute sinusitis and I am still struggling with damage that has done. I am certain that the swollen sinuses and tubes have contributed to the continuing daily dizziness I have had so this may be something to do with your problem. But you must find out what is causing the root problem so that the right treatment can start, e.g. VRT, which has been behind my improvement.
hope the new year marks a turning point for you.

What the others have said: don't bother with the ENT, chances are he's not equipped to figure it out. Get a neurotologist referral. Have you been tested for allergies?

As my other post states, get your hormone levels checked please! You are at the prime age for your sypmtoms to be stemming from low estrogen due to perimenopause. Your doctors are as naive as mine are. I went to a neurologist, ENT, ER, GP doctors and none of them mentioned low estrogen or menopause. I discovered this on my own.

Have your OB/GYN doctor prescribe you a low dose bioidentical estadiol gel that you can apply each morning and evening and see if it brings you back to life like it did me. I felt like a wilted flower for a year, and now I feel in bloom again!

Thanks for all the feedback - I really appreciate it!
I have been tested for allergies - about 8 years ago I was apparently exposed to a toxic mold while working in a "sick building". Prior to this time, I had no problems with sinus, allergies, or sinus/ear infections - even as a child! I began having symptoms of atypical asthma and allergic reactions. Took about 8 months of office and ER visits to get it pinned down, but finally a pulmonologist and an allergist both confirmed that I had allergic reactive asthma and allergies. When tested, I reacted to all the allergens except one type of grass. Especially bad for me are mold (blue/green and black), dust, smoke and pollen. As I live in Florida, all of these are a problem - esp. mold as we get a lot of standing water from frequent rains. I take daily allergy meds and control as much of my environment as I can. Up until March of this year I was working in a very "wet" building with lots of mold. Since my new job I am in a better environment but the symptoms continue. I will be seeing my primary in the new year - she is so great I am sure she will write me a referral to whatever kind of doc I want to see, although she is still convinced that if I could get the allergies cleared up good and all, I would not have the vertigo symptoms. But I will take the advice under consideration. Again, it is appreciated - I just want to feel normal (or as close as I can get to it) again!

Have a safe and Happy New Year!

I would also advise you to see a neuro. I'm 22 and have been having vertigo ever since I got off of a plane in Disney world. As soon as I stood up, I fell. I wasn't spinning; it was as if the ground was moving beneath my feet. I can not go on elevators and have to take the stairs. I saw an ENT and had multiple tests with nothing to show for but a huge bill. I also believe I suffer from Simple Partial Seizures. I have 2 neuros and they both diagnosed me with something different.

neuro1-Says that I'm having a rare migraines due to a calcium deposit in the brain (MRI VERY important) There could be something wrong and you might not even know it!

neuro2-says that I'm having simple partial seizures.

I'm sorry that you are going through this as well but you can always use second option and see a neuro just in case. I know that this is scary not having a diagnosis but, you know your body and you need to listen to it no matter what the doctors say. They are just people too and do NOT have all the answers. That plane ride was 3 years ago and I am pretty adjusted to my 'new' life where I have to avoid evelators, planes, rides at the carnival but I'm scared that something’s going to happen. So, just listen to your body and keep going to the doctors until you do find out what’s wrong. Good luck!!!

Believe it or not, one of the symptoms of perimenopause is an increase in allergies. Something to do with the inflammation. I don't necessarily agree with the doctor who says your problems will clear up once your allergies clear up. I too mysteriously out of the blue started getting allergies to dust mites and dog hair in the past couple of years (which I am currently receiving allergy shots for) and did not notice ANY difference in the dizziness or the like once I started receiving immunotherapy. Allergies alone should not cause the extent of ill feelings we experience with this junk.

I also, am very frustrated at a lack of people believing me. I have been having violent vertigo attacks every two weeks for over a year. My husband says its stress, my Primary Care doc has no clue, my neuro... told me to wait EIGHT weeks before an appointment. If I am ever driving when this happens, I could kill someone, myself, my child, a stranger. Why doesn't anyone take this seriously? I had an MRI, it showed a cyst in my sinus, but since my neuro won't see me yet, I don't know what he'll find... if anything.
I do have to say though, for all I have been feeling alone, reading this post is the first time in awhile I haven't felt alone. I'm sorry all of you suffer as I do, but i am glad to know I'm not insane, that this is a real and happening and not something my subconscious made to get attention. I feel so crazy and alone most days. and afraid, so afraid. For me, everything is getting worse. I am becoming more confused and "cloudy" everyday. In between attacks, I may have 1 or 2 clear days when I can think like me old self, then its gone.

I find myself not even wanting to say more here because everyone thinks I am whining and making it up.