dizzy and in need of help....

[isalu]

I've posted on this board earlier, but I am wondering if anyone has any advice for me. I have been dizzy for the last year and a half...it is a constant feeling, better only when driving and laying down. It is not room spinning dizzy, but just a constant swaying feeling. It tends to be worse when shopping, but it is pretty consistant all the time. I tried to document how many times a day it actually happens and it was well over 20 +. Anyway, I had tonz of testing done last year - bloodwork, MRI or brain, CT, etc. Everyone seems stumped, but an allergist and 2 ENTs seem to think allergies are causing the problem...apparently my nasal passage is almost fully blocked and I tested postitive to a skin test which showed severe allergies (however, I have no "typical" allergy symptoms, i.e., runny nose, sneezing, etc). My question is, could this really be anxiety related. I have been seeing a therepist for about a year and she says I have OCD because I am constantly online researching this and any other small bodily twitches, tinges, etc...(really I have no other symptoms of disease or anxiety). I have had 2 kids in the last 2 years and possibly could be stressed about this - plus this all started after my mother had a health scare with MS (turns out she does not have it, although her sister did pass away from it at an early age). For some reason I am obsessed with thinking I have MS. Can anyone offer some advice - I know you are not doctors, but I just need to know if anyone else has a similar experience. Thank you....

[Leela_C]

Hi there! There are a bunch of us on this board that are dizzy too...not room spinning, but like you describe. I have had tons of tests and no doctor can find anything wrong with me. You're lucky it stops when you drive. If you have had all that testing, I would think you are clear of MS. I have pretty much given up on doctors and found that the less I concentrate on this dizzy stuff, the less dizzy I actually feel. I hope you feel better soon!

[isalu]

thanks for your reply Leela - do you take any medication for this? Do you find anything other than not thinking about it helps? How long have you been dealing with this horrible sensation? Did it just hit you out of nowhere one day?

[boxerlover227]

Oh yeah I must raise my hand on this one! I feel this way 24/7.....
Here is what it is like for myself, I get a floating feeling, intense Falling to the side & backwards sensation, sinking to the ground feeling, a motion sensation as if I am swaying on a boat, and my favorite the good old dropping feeling you get on an elevator.. The "elevator sensation" When I am standing or sitting still I feel as if I am rocking or swaying side to side. Constant motion. sometimes it causes me to feel sea sick!
I also feel like my head is very heavy foggy and swimmy and some days just have trouble holding it up! All these sensations I experience on a daily basis mostly 24/7 The only time I don't feel this way is if I am laying down, it seems to subside then. I have gotten many eye rolls from the Doctor's I have seen in the past.. As if these feelings were being made up in my head.. These daily sensations have caused me more anxiety and intense panic attacks.. It seems as soon as I experience any one of these sensations my panic attacks kick in full force..
OKAY so now the big question "can anxiety really make me feel dizzy" The ANSWER is yes, Doctors have known for many years that psychological disorders, such as anxiety, can cause symptoms of dizziness and imbalance. This type of dizziness was given the nonspecific name of psychogenic dizziness. Here is what I have learned through my years of struggles with anxiety related dizziness, and believe me I research and research and ask my therapist to explain it over and over again..
What disorders are associated with psychogenic dizziness a question all of us on this board commonly ask, well the truth is Several studies point to a specific set of disorders that can cause symptoms of dizziness and imbalance. All these disorders are in the anxiety disorder family and include panic attacks, certain phobias, and chronic anxiety disorders.
What symptoms are the symptoms? How does your dizziness feel? Another question we all ask on this board, the answer is Psychogenic dizziness will present with a variety of symptoms including lightheadedness, feeling heavy headed, feeling a pressure sensation in the head, feeling far away or detached from the environment, feeling like they are going to fall, and sometimes even the feeling as if you are going to faint.
Can something else be causing my dizziness? Another question that floats around here as well. And the answer is yes, inner ear disorders are the most common reasons for dizziness, In fact inner ear problems that have completely resolved but the symptoms still persist, despite the resolution of the inner ear disorder can happen. In this case I was told and found VERY interesting is that it appears the inner ear disorder triggered an anxiety, panic, or phobic state. In this situation, the psychological disorder perpetuates the dizziness, despite the fact that the underlying inner ear disorder has resolved. How interesting is that!!! I couldn't believe that when I was told by my Doctor.
Well I never had a ear infection or disorder, so what else could it be? Another question that goes through our minds.. The answer is there are several physical disorders that can present with symptoms similar to those experienced with psychogenic dizziness. Some of these conditions included anemia, thyroid disorders, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disorders, hormonal disorders.. Just to name a few. But keep in mind these disorders present many other serious symptoms and NOT JUST dizziness. Anxiety Disorder can come out in us in so many ways not just dizziness, and I think it should be know that the mind is a powerful weapon and sometimes when we suffer from this condition we tend too become so sensitive to what we feel .... I know that's how it is for myself!!
Have you been check for inner ear problems? Or any other related illness to vertigo/dizziness? I have been suffering for many years like this so I know how you feel.. It can be very scary at times feeling like this! I hope this post helps, any thoughts or questions let me know! Boxerlover

[isalu]

Hi boxerlover -
Thanks for the great post- it is very helpful and certainly gives me some piece of mind. Although, as you probably know, it is so hard to convince yourself that this could be caused by anxiety and not something more serious...it seems like one day I may feel a little better and then I start to try and reassure myself it is really anxiety and then the next day...BOOM, it's back and I obsess even more than the day before about having some terminal illness. I have been checked for inner ear problems, all came back normal. I think I mentioned in my original post that 2 ENTs and my allergist are all convinced this is due to allergies and my small nasal passage causing pressure. I skin tested a month or so ago and testing came back that I have SEVERE allergies to many, many things. Some days I accpet this, but others I have a hard time coming to grips with it. I just started allergy shots, but they don't seem to be helping at all yet - I guess it's too soon and were still in the midst of allergy season until the first frost.

Anyway, allergies or not, anxiety is not helping the situation. I just want this to stop. How long have you been going through this? Does anything seem to help you? I really don't want to try meds, but I am losing hope. I just want to look back and remember this as a really bad year and a half of my life, but I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I really believe in your explaination, but I want to learn how to overcome this. Thanks for the great post!!!