I have been experiencing dizziness for months now and sometimes it just happens randomly and I also have certain triggers when it always happens (driving in car, riding in the car, lights in supermarket, big stores, certain patterns). I feel like this all started when I went into menopause.
I also have what my regular doctor said are sinus headaches, but when I take the sinus medications (sudafed, nasonex, nasal rinses) they don’t work at all, so I was thinking the headaches might be migraines (she also gave me two doses of maxalt and that didn’t work either). When I get headaches and pressure, I have trouble with bright lights and feel like I don’t want to move my head.
I have seen a neurologist and he doesn’t know what is wrong with me. He did a few balance tests and I did fine, but I wasn’t feeling dizzy at the time. He is trying to get a referral to Dr. Baloh at UCLA, but I may not get it through my insurance.
I am becoming depressed and anxious as I am afraid to drive anywhere due to the dizziness and it’s making my quality of life suffer right now.
I was thinking I could take some of the the info off of this website to my regular doctor and see if she thinks that I may have MAV and prescribe a low dose ssri to see if it helps.
Any ideas or advice for me?
Thanks,
Donna
Donna,
Welcome to the board, sorry you have to go through this mess. Dr. Baloh is an excellent dr. for this stuff. Sounds like a classic case of MAV to me. Baloh actually favors celexa for this condition which is an ssri, so sounds like you’re already on the right train of thought here.
Is your dizziness constant? Do you have any ear symptoms at all? Usually if they can’t find anything wrong in the tests, it turns out to be migraine. This is definately a great place to go when you need some info and advise. Everyone on here is great!
Good luck to you!
Greg
Hi Greg,
Thanks for replying to my post.
I do get pressure in my head and ears and when my allergies are bad the headaches and dizziness are definitely worse. My dizziness is not constant, but I do feel off balance quite a bit. My MRI was clear and an ENT said my sinuses look fine, so that is why I’m thinking it’s migraine instead and the medicines for sinuses don’t do a thing for me.
I don’t think my regular doctor will have a problem prescribing a low dose ssri to see if it helps until I figure out if my insurance will even let me go and see Dr. Baloh.
I’m so glad to have found this board because I think there is a lot of useful information here and may have helped me figure out what is going on with me.
Take care,
Donna
hi donna,
definitely sounds like mav to me but it sounds like you are on the right track! figure out your triggers, your medications and you’ll be on your way to recovery. i’m constantly dizzy 24/7 for over a year and trying to figure this mess out. i’m also in so cal and wondering if i should make a visit to dr. baloh, fyi he won’t prescribed you medication from what i’ve heard? he’ll recommend it though. you’ll have to keep us posted.
welcome!