I have had this lightheaded problem for probably at least a year now. I feel lightheaded/off balance. Kinda like i walk a little sideways or something. It can last for hours or days. My eyes will feel heavy and I just feel a little out of it. It's not so bad where I can't do anything but it does make me a little nervous. Also I have these bouts of headaches for a week or so where I will get a horrible headache in the same spot everyday. Then I won't get them again for a few weeks or maybe months again. Also, occasionally i get a weird Muscle spasm thing on my lip. Like a twinge. I have been to see my GP for bloodwork and am waiting for results. If he doesn't find anything abnormal, he is sending me to an ENT. But these symptoms have me a little scared it could be a brain tumor. Does anyone have an experience with these symptoms?
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
kim, I just posted to someone else about possible inner ear problem like yours. Its a ballence problem with your equalibrium that keeps you up-rite and keeps you from falling on your face lol. To confirm your problem i would reccomend getting into a ear specialist and also getting an MRI done to be safe. Also getting a referal to a Nero-Dr. may be nessasary just in case. I hope my comments help hun,keep us posted and good luck......
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
I am having a VERY similar problem, minus the headaches. You can look at my thread called "Brain Tumor Removed at Age 9, is it back?". I am located in Georgia as well, east of Atlanta. But anyways, I went to an ENT and he said that he couldn't "see" anything with his instrument. And then I got bloodwork done: everything was normal. And then I went to a Neurologist, who, based off of my symptoms, said it is an inner-ear problem. I have been feeling "off" since early December, and it makes me very nervous because I had never had a cold/problem last this long! Please keep us posted on your situation, and let me know if any of the symptoms that I have coincide with yours!
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
Ryan, I did go to an ENT today and he didn't see anything wrong. But based on my symptoms he is scheduling me for an MRI (ughhh, that scares me to death). I think he is just being cautious but ugh. Also, he thinks my Blood Pressure might be contributing to the problem. It was really high in the office today 150/100. Bad!! So I am going to follow up with that and have the MRI and see what happens. He did mention something about Vertiguous Migraines or something like that. But I just always expect the worst. I know I need to stop and think positive, but when you feel so bad all the time, its hard. Quality of life sucks right now for sure!
I do have some of the same symptoms you have. It's so hard to know what's going on. And going to Dr's is expensive. The MRI is going to cost me about $1200.00 with insurance and I don't have that kind of money but feel like I have no choice but to do it before I make myself sick thinking about it all the time. I, also like you, think of it first thing in the morning and at night and it does cause alot of anxiety. But you are so young, you shouldn't be dealing with this yet. I am almost 40 (OMG) and I feel like I am falling apart!!
Good luck with your stuff too.. Hope you get some answers!!
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
Your ENT seems a LOT better than mine... mine literally told me to go get some blood work done, and if that turned up normal then he would recommend to "not pursue it any futher"...!
It really does seem like an inner-ear problem though, and the scary part is that they cannot see anything physical to diagnose this. It's all based off the symptoms you're having.
Someone else on here can correct me if I'm wrong, but when you get the MRI, get it WITH contrast. I read another story where the guy got one without, only to be told to go get one with, to see the results clearer.
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
Ryan and Kim, I agree with getting the MRI with contrast,thats how my Dr. first found my tumor,it lit up like a Christmas tree lol. Have eaither one of you thought about asking your Dr's. about checking your spinal fluid levels? It can also cause headaces and dizzy spells if your levels are too high and could also be a possibuilty and one more possibuilty would be a problem with a vertibre in you neck. Many possibuiltys yall.
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
I do think I have a problem with my neck. I thought it was related to the scar tissue where they made the incision, but I'm not too sure anymore. I have always had a "stiff neck" where I am always cracking my neck, from side-to-side. Since the dizziness has started, I have not been able to pop my neck as much as usual. Feeling around on the left side of the neck, I feel a weird bone-like part that I can push into place. I had my doctor feel it, and he said this was just scar tissue. I have also had a few concussions in the past (none recent, though) and two minor car accidents. I didn't connect this with the dizziness because the symptoms started so much later than the injuries...could this still be a possibility? And what type of doctor would I have to see to get this checked out?
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
My Dr's kinda keep passing me around, not knowing what to do. PCP did bloodwork, all normal. ENT checked ears and nose but recommended MRI mostly because of symptoms I told him. Dizziness, Headaches (occasional), numbness in hands only at night, muscle spasm in my lip and diagnosed with esophageal dysmotility a few years ago but I don't have too many problems with it. Does all this sound like a tumor or other neurological problem? Doc called to schedule MRI today but I told them I would call them back when I knew my work schedule, but I am really just scared to do it!
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
I am in a similar situation...I went to the Neurologist, and he told me that nothing stood out to him as symptoms of a brain tumor, but said he would have no problem getting me an MRI. However, I declined, mainly because I am scared of knowing the results! I might just call back and schedule one, though. This is ridiculous...its approaching two months of this now.
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
Ryan, we should just do it and get it over with. I know personally I will feel better if they tell me they didn't find anything. Will still have to figure out what is causing the problems, but would be nice to rule out something serious. And I am sure we are both fine. But I know it's scary.
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
At this point, half of me is wishing it is something findable and fixable. I don't want to live with dizziness for the rest of my life I just want this to be over!!
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
Hey Kimberly, just wanted to let you know I called the Neurologist's office, asked to schedule an MRI, and am waiting for a call back. We can do this together if you want to! The earliest I'll be able to schedule it would be the 11th, though, so you might be able to get one earlier than me!
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
Ryan, I know what you mean. Just want to find the problem and fix it. Can't keep living like this. You wouldn't think dizziness would be a big deal but when it's almost all day every day ..it is scary and frustrating. I'm a single mom and feel bad because sometimes I can't do the things I want to do with my son. I have to call back to schedule my MRI too.. I think they can do it pretty much anytime I call them. But I'm too scared, lol. That and the fact that I will have to pay $1000.00 (hope they take payments..) Maybe I will call and schedule for next week also. This is my last hope, already been to a PCP, ENT, Endo. Gyno with no real answers. We need to get this figured out don't we? Let me know when you are going and good luck!
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
Thanks Kimberly! I scheduled it for Monday the 7th, at 1pm. That's the earliest I could do. And they are doing it with contrast..on a good note, I just went to the indoor gym at my school, and did some rock climbing. While I was climbing, I didn't have any dizziness whatsoever. Now it's back though, and I'm making dinner.
I don't know if I already mentioned this, but I went to Walgreens and bought some Meclizine..it was recommended by some people on this board for dizziness/nausea/vomiting caused by vertigo. I don't really have nausea or vomiting, but figured it would help. It didn't really make too much of a difference that I could tell, but I was glad that I got it.
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
My parents live in Snellville, which is about 30 minutes east of Atlanta. However, I go to school in Statesboro (at Georgia Southern) about 3.5 hours away. SO that means I will be driving up on Sunday night, and then back down to Statesboro on Monday afternoon. Lucky that it's my last semester here and I only have Tues/Thurs classes!!
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
Whoa that is awesome!! Small world; my roommate is from Roswell.
About my MRI...I am nervous of what they will see. I had brain surgery when I was 9, and have a HUGE, upside-down L-shaped scar on my head (under my hair) and don't know if they put anything in there...my mom told me that I have a bovine artery in my head...but no shunts, or anything like that. I ALMOST had to have a shunt after the surgery though. I had a buildup of fluid in this little pocket of skin in the back of my head, but it went away after a week or so.
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
You did tell your Dr. about that right, and maybe mention it to the MRI technician just so they know? Don't worry, you will be fine. We will eventually find out our problem and get it fixed
Re: Does this sound like I could have a brain tumor
The Neurologist knows about my previous surgery, but I didn't tell him about the bovine artery. Hopefully he would look at the previous report, or maybe have my previous records faxed to his office? Anyways, I feel like that's something that would be his job to handle!
I just want this to be over!!
