I greatly apologize for the length of this post, but I'm at my wit's end. Please, please, please read on:

Over 11 years ago, I began suffering from what I initially called “dizzy spells.” The general traits I have are a slight dizziness that doesn’t really seem to throw me off-balance, but puts me more into a foggy-like feeling that affects my ability to process information. I guess you could more accurately call it lightheadedness. It’s as if I feel disconnected with what’s around me; almost like I’m watching a movie of my life, instead of actually living it. Very rarely has the dizziness actually “pushed” me into a wall, but I have had infrequent incidents of feeling like the ground has waved underneath my feet or literally falling into a wall when standing still without realizing that I was leaning. I’ve also on occasion experienced a rocking motion (very slight motion, but I’m definitely moving back and forth) on occasions when I’m sitting still (I’ve noticed it most often while reading when sitting on the floor). This disconnectedness is usually accompanied by a fatigue/sluggishness and the inability to perform any real analytical or creative work. Participating in conversations is terribly difficult when I’m in a “fog”.

These episodes generally last a few hours to all day long; there have been times during which I’ve experienced them over the course of several days without much respite. Even when I feel good, I don’t think I’ve ever truly felt the way I did before this all began (11 years ago!), as I am absolutely more sensitive to some motions than I was before this began. But, there is a definite “ebb and flow” to how I feel; for instance, the sensations are much less intense right now.

Some of the activities that have brought on the dizziness/fog include shifting focus from one object to another (especially while driving), walking through stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s, blowing my nose (especially when I’m very decongested), scrolling up/down on the PC (this will do it every time), keeping my head turned during conversations/watching TV, watching my kids spin around or swing on a swing set, or even focusing on objects far away (when I try to broaden my field of view, such as from a balcony, etc.). Although it sounds crazy, there are times when it’s as if I can actually “feel” motion in my eyes, as if I can actually feel my eyes focusing or adjusting to a new field of view. I am uncomfortable holding my head upside-down or in awkward, non-level positions. I also can be very sensitive to motion, including riding as a passenger, swinging, etc. I literally avoid bending over to pick up things on the floor; if I do so, I try to keep my head fairly level. On the other hand, there are days in which I seem to get out of bed with this feeling and can’t think of what I did to bring it on. All of these symptoms become much more prevalent when I’m heavily congested.

I’ve seen several doctors/specialists, including family physicians, ENTs, neurotologists, otologists, and psychiatrists. I was initially diagnosed with anxiety attacks and have been prescribed just about every SSRI on the market. For the most part, they didn’t help. After some intense research, my wife and I felt that I could have a vestibular disorder and made an appointment at an ear clinic here in Atlanta. I was incredibly relieved to be diagnosed with BPPV by an Atlanta-area otolaryngologist and receive therapy, but didn’t seem to get much in the way of results from it. After another period of simply “living with it,” I went to Emory’s Dizziness and Balance Center, was given a rotary chair test, and told conclusively that I did NOT have BPPV. I was sent back to the SSRIs and, again, have simply put up with the occasional episodes. I am honest enough to say that these episodes do seem more frequent during periods of stress, but they also come about at times when I’m relaxed. Every now and then, my patience will run out and I’ll again take up the task of getting to the bottom of it.

The questions I have are:
*Should I continue to pursue a vestibular condition?
*If so, what should my next step be?
*How could I be diagnosed with BPPV by one doctor and then told by another that I don’t have it? Is it likely that I “came down with it” several times over the years and simply visited the last doctor after it cleared up? If so, why do I keep getting it? And, why do some motions ALWAYS seem to bother me?
*Why didn’t physical therapy seem to help me?
*If I do have BPPV, are there any treatment options other than physical therapy that you would recommend?
*Any other advice you have.

Your advice is sincerely appreciated.

Could you have some bulging discs in the cervical spine area??? That can cause a host of symptoms.
Including dizziness.......the nerves from the cervical spine are also a part of balance.If you are over 35 years of age there is a strong possiblity that you could have some dysfunction there.

That's something I'd never consider. Stupid question: how would I know? Or, would I need to have it diagnosed by a physician? What type?

Hey Bob sorry to hear about your troubles, but here's some very interesting info.
On a similar note: Have you ever had any back or neck problems? A lot of people have a slight scoliosis and dont know it which can cause probs but also any lower back prob can reflex through the neck and into the trigeminal cranial nerve into the pons of the brainstem. It's the largest sensory input into the brain and overload can short circuit your balance mechanism, which also affects periphal vision and even depth perception. Hmmmm interesting.

Also stress on the brain and spinal cord shuts down the seritonin hormone transmitters in the braind causing anxiety and depression. Do you have any of those probs?

The reason I bring all this up is Ive been suffering with all the same things you described and major anxiety and depression over it and it has come to my attention that I have had some scoliosis for years now and this could be part of the prob...Im looking into it myself.

I've had many test done as well and have never received solid answers. It could be tough finding a good chiro to check you out and be straight with you but they will find if you have any probs in the spine at all. Just something to look into. Im 27 and this has been a nightmare for me. Havent been able to work since it all started.

You might also want to look into TMJD. Do you grind your teeth when you sleep? This is also tied because the tendons and muscles of the jaw joint can irritate the inner ear and throw you all these crazy things. It's a delicate complicated system. One that we'll never again take for granted....

Well that's all Ive got for now. If you wanna talk more about it I'd be glad. Im gonna get mine all checked out and hopefully they can figure something out. Take Care. Eric

Back in 1996 I went to see a neurosurgeon and he ordered an MRI of the Cervical Spine. I then had physical Therapy. I wouldn't go to a Chiro. for something like that. Neurosurgeon is better. You may have to be refferred to one by your family Doc.
This Physio wrote a book which is really good ..he wrote several.
www.egoscue.com (http://www.egoscue.com)
Posture has a lot to do with how we feel. His book helped me get my cervical problem under control as well.

[This message has been edited by dizzy572 (edited 10-02-2003).]

[This message has been edited by dizzy572 (edited 10-02-2003).]

Hey - some of your symptoms are really like mine - the lightheaded disconnected thing, sensastivity to motion, dizzy youck in certain positions including motion. They say I have vestibular dysfunction and bppv - the epley has been a help but not a cure - going back next weel for next treatment. Like you the symptoms wax and wane a bit - but the main thing I hate is imbalance which you do not mention also i do not really have any cognitive problems. But sounds inner ear - not a doctor though. We know how annoying this whole deal is - sounds like you are doing well despite it!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif