vestibular issues (dizziness?)
Sabine_Stroehm
Posts: 19,263 Member
It's back again. UGH. I have to say for my own personal journey the vestibular issues have been the worst.
Not the hot flashes. Not the night sweats (though those suck). Not the insomnia (though that REALLY sucks).
Not the moods and tension (though my husband would say that sucks).
The vestibular issues. Off and on now since 2007, I have periods where I feel so off balance I truly wonder if I'll fall. I'm a professor. I MUST present at conferences. It's required. This often means being on a low stage (like 10 inches), in a hotel, with hideously patterned carpet below me. That ALWAYS makes me dizzy. It's the carpet, since it happens without the stage. Sometimes highway road trips make me dizzy. It comes and goes, but some things always make me dizzy now.
It's a weird feeling. I start by feeling just a bit out of sorts, then it feels like my eyes are a few seconds behind my body. My head feels full, my hearing decreases, my tinnitus increases. There's kind of a roaring sound. And I'm dizzy as heck. (Not sure dizzy is the right word, but anyway...). Super off balance.
Then it recedes. Sometimes a hot flash comes.
It's not anxiety. I've been doing this for years. I do much more "high profile" stuff than this, trust me.
It's hormones and patterned carpets.
Related: recently, I was in a room with a few people, including a friend. There was a presentation going on. Then they turned off the lights. PITCH BLACK. When they turned off the light they told us to look to the left (to wait for something to happen). When the lights went off I felt a little "funny". When I looked to the left the floor went out from beneath me. I couldn't find myself in space AT ALL. I was totally off balance. I reached forward and put one hand on my friend, and just that simple act brought the floor back beneath me. And then I just stood there and waited for the lights to be turned on. It was surreal.
I've seen audiologists, I've seen ENTs, I've seen OBGYNs. All tests have been negative.
In 2007 I was convinced it was hormonal. I still am.
As all of my symptoms cycle, so does this one. And right now it's at the center again. UGH.
Definitely ready for this one to end, as it makes it hard to do my job. I had 4 conference talks this summer. 4 hotels, with 4 hideous carpets. Each time I tried to arrive early, get on the stage or get into the presentation space, move my head around a lot and trigger it, so I could get past it. Then I made sure I was in the middle of the stage, not near the edge, and always knew where the back wall was. It's ridiculous! Most presenters are making sure their power points work. I'm making sure I won't fall over lol.
Rant over. All things considered, I believe my menopausal journey has been so much easier than so many. I need to count my blessings. cheers
Not the hot flashes. Not the night sweats (though those suck). Not the insomnia (though that REALLY sucks).
Not the moods and tension (though my husband would say that sucks).
The vestibular issues. Off and on now since 2007, I have periods where I feel so off balance I truly wonder if I'll fall. I'm a professor. I MUST present at conferences. It's required. This often means being on a low stage (like 10 inches), in a hotel, with hideously patterned carpet below me. That ALWAYS makes me dizzy. It's the carpet, since it happens without the stage. Sometimes highway road trips make me dizzy. It comes and goes, but some things always make me dizzy now.
It's a weird feeling. I start by feeling just a bit out of sorts, then it feels like my eyes are a few seconds behind my body. My head feels full, my hearing decreases, my tinnitus increases. There's kind of a roaring sound. And I'm dizzy as heck. (Not sure dizzy is the right word, but anyway...). Super off balance.
Then it recedes. Sometimes a hot flash comes.
It's not anxiety. I've been doing this for years. I do much more "high profile" stuff than this, trust me.
It's hormones and patterned carpets.
Related: recently, I was in a room with a few people, including a friend. There was a presentation going on. Then they turned off the lights. PITCH BLACK. When they turned off the light they told us to look to the left (to wait for something to happen). When the lights went off I felt a little "funny". When I looked to the left the floor went out from beneath me. I couldn't find myself in space AT ALL. I was totally off balance. I reached forward and put one hand on my friend, and just that simple act brought the floor back beneath me. And then I just stood there and waited for the lights to be turned on. It was surreal.
I've seen audiologists, I've seen ENTs, I've seen OBGYNs. All tests have been negative.
In 2007 I was convinced it was hormonal. I still am.
As all of my symptoms cycle, so does this one. And right now it's at the center again. UGH.
Definitely ready for this one to end, as it makes it hard to do my job. I had 4 conference talks this summer. 4 hotels, with 4 hideous carpets. Each time I tried to arrive early, get on the stage or get into the presentation space, move my head around a lot and trigger it, so I could get past it. Then I made sure I was in the middle of the stage, not near the edge, and always knew where the back wall was. It's ridiculous! Most presenters are making sure their power points work. I'm making sure I won't fall over lol.
Rant over. All things considered, I believe my menopausal journey has been so much easier than so many. I need to count my blessings. cheers
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Replies
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »I have to say for my own personal journey the vestibular issues have been the worst. I have periods where I feel so off balance I truly wonder if I'll fall.
It's hormones and patterned carpets.
I never had anything like this until I started taking Cytomel (thyroid hormone replacement). My endocrinologist insists it's completely unrelated.
I get dizzy watching the tracks go by on the train.0 -
Yep, trains make me dizzy. Driving in snow with the wipers... you name it. Sometimes it's just a bit, sometimes it turns into a day ruined like a migraine day.
It was my first symptom of menopause and continues to be the most annoying. Interesting that the thyroid med caused it for you.0 -
I didn't have the vestibular issues to the same extent that you do, but I did have lots of vertigo when I was in the thick of my peri-menopause issues. Couldn't do yoga or any exercises down on the floor or my ears would gurgle and ring. Thankfully, it has gone away. Hope yours improves.0
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Eliza899vt wrote: »I didn't have the vestibular issues to the same extent that you do, but I did have lots of vertigo when I was in the thick of my peri-menopause issues. Couldn't do yoga or any exercises down on the floor or my ears would gurgle and ring. Thankfully, it has gone away. Hope yours improves.
Sounds like you have what I have. Perhaps I just have a unique set of circumstances: i.e. I don't have a choice to not do it sometimes. (and maybe, given my easy puberty, and years of easy menstruation, I'm not as chill, I KNOW I've gotten off easy.)
I whine, but only because my work makes it impossible to say no to the vertigo. I know others have it much worse.
Pilates is HARD sometimes, but as my teacher is going through menopause as well, she's very understanding!. Anything you learned that helped would be much appreciated! THANK YOU!0 -
I wish I had some good advice, but I don't. Mine just went away eventually. I did hear from other friends that their doctors recommended certain moves with their head that put them into vertigo, and they would ride it out and that helped them. Likely could find that online? Sorry I am not much help.0
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I get it occaisionally. I thought it was more age than hormones. It hits out of the blue for me, with no warning and doesn't last more than a few seconds at a time. The first time it happened I thought I was having a stroke or something. Now I just grit my teeth and know it will pass. I do know now not to ride on swings (even porch swings) or do flip turns when I swim laps!
Funny story about the first time I had vertigo: I teach music to children from ages 3-14 in a private school. One day when I was with my first graders we were learning a song that talked about somersaults. I was trying to explain with words what a somersault was. They weren't getting it. So I demonstrated. The vertigo hit so hard I couldn't get up! ("Boys and girls every thing is okay. Teacher is just gonna lie here and rest for a few minutes. . . . ")
Anyway, since it does seem to come in cycles, (thankfully not too often for me!) I find that taking non-drowsy Dramamine--the stuff for car sickness--for a couple of days helps. Just make sure to get the non drowsy version or you will be miserable.0 -
I get it occaisionally. I thought it was more age than hormones. It hits out of the blue for me, with no warning and doesn't last more than a few seconds at a time. The first time it happened I thought I was having a stroke or something. Now I just grit my teeth and know it will pass. I do know now not to ride on swings (even porch swings) or do flip turns when I swim laps!
Funny story about the first time I had vertigo: I teach music to children from ages 3-14 in a private school. One day when I was with my first graders we were learning a song that talked about somersaults. I was trying to explain with words what a somersault was. They weren't getting it. So I demonstrated. The vertigo hit so hard I couldn't get up! ("Boys and girls every thing is okay. Teacher is just gonna lie here and rest for a few minutes. . . . ")
Anyway, since it does seem to come in cycles, (thankfully not too often for me!) I find that taking non-drowsy Dramamine--the stuff for car sickness--for a couple of days helps. Just make sure to get the non drowsy version or you will be miserable.
Love the somersault story! That would be something I would do. I've tried the dramamine (and a prescription one) but didn't feel like it helped more than waiting it out. Maybe I should try again. I'm about to experiment with (in sequence) Vitamin B, Vitamin D, Gingko and different kinds of magnesium.0 -
I completely understand what you are talking about. I absolutely hate the vertigo/dizziness. I have been plagued with it for many years. It hadn't bothered me in a long time and just recently has resurfaced with a vengeance along with my migraines. I had a total hysterectomy over 13 years ago.
Of course when I say to hubby that I have to stop for a few minutes because I'm dizzy he just responds "you mean dizzier than usual ". Ha ha he's so helpful. Some nights it's so bad I can't hardly close my eyes to go to sleep. And closing my eyes in the shower to rinse shampoo out is a real scary thing, I have to hold the wall so I don't fall over.0 -
I completely understand what you are talking about. I absolutely hate the vertigo/dizziness. I have been plagued with it for many years. It hadn't bothered me in a long time and just recently has resurfaced with a vengeance along with my migraines. I had a total hysterectomy over 13 years ago.
Of course when I say to hubby that I have to stop for a few minutes because I'm dizzy he just responds "you mean dizzier than usual ". Ha ha he's so helpful. Some nights it's so bad I can't hardly close my eyes to go to sleep. And closing my eyes in the shower to rinse shampoo out is a real scary thing, I have to hold the wall so I don't fall over.
Dizzy in the shower? Does not sound fun!0 -
Have you had an MRI? Not to be alarmist, but when my mom's vestibular apparatus went out it was because she had a brain tumor, a non-malignant and operable one, that was putting pressure on her vestibulocochlear nerve.0
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lithezebra wrote: »Have you had an MRI? Not to be alarmist, but when my mom's vestibular apparatus went out it was because she had a brain tumor, a non-malignant and operable one, that was putting pressure on her vestibulocochlear nerve.
Yup. Had an MRI and a bunch of other tests. Twice. Apparently dizziness in menopause is quite common, but when I first had the dizziness I saw my doc, an ENT, and an audiologist. And in fact, I saw my doc again last month, and will be seeing an audiologist and an ENT again soon.0 -
I had the dizziness too, but I attribute it to my migraines which totally changed in pattern since I started menopause. The dizziness has subsided significantly since going on HRT, but so have the migraines. Hormone issues probably had to do with both, but I'm also on a new migraine preventive.
My primary doctors have been pretty awful through the whole thing (I fired a few before realizing that Kaiser's primaries in my area are just plain bad), and they all insisted it was benign positional vertigo. There are exercises that you can do to help. Obviously it was not BPV as it went away upon proper treatment of my migraines, but the exercises may help you. I see that you are seeing an ENT. Do you also have sinus pain? Chronic sinus pain is usually migraine (my pattern changed from head to neck/sinus) and it may be that the dizziness is related. Dizziness is a common symptom of certain types of migraine and migraine is often an issue with menopause.0 -
TheGaudyMagpie wrote: »I had the dizziness too, but I attribute it to my migraines which totally changed in pattern since I started menopause. The dizziness has subsided significantly since going on HRT, but so have the migraines. Hormone issues probably had to do with both, but I'm also on a new migraine preventive.
My primary doctors have been pretty awful through the whole thing (I fired a few before realizing that Kaiser's primaries in my area are just plain bad), and they all insisted it was benign positional vertigo. There are exercises that you can do to help. Obviously it was not BPV as it went away upon proper treatment of my migraines, but the exercises may help you. I see that you are seeing an ENT. Do you also have sinus pain? Chronic sinus pain is usually migraine (my pattern changed from head to neck/sinus) and it may be that the dizziness is related. Dizziness is a common symptom of certain types of migraine and migraine is often an issue with menopause.
I don't think it's BPPV either. And I've wondered if they may be vestibular migraines, based on their patterning. I don't have much in the way of chronic sinus pain.
I had traditional migraines growing up (complete with aura, numbness, nausea, light sensitivity etc.). I've had maybe 20 of those in my adult years. But since peri started I've had aura migraines, aka ocular migraines with no head pain. So that they may be vestibular migraines (again without the pain) is quite possible.0 -
It took forever for my doctors to look at migraine as the cause of my sinus pain despite a history of chronic migraines and the fact that most recurrent sinus pain is migraine. Had to see the ENT twice and hear him say he could see nothing wrong with my sinuses, but here's some prednisone. A few days on the new preventive (nortriptyline) and the pain started going away.
I'm assuming you've been checked for orthostatic hypotension. My doctors would simply not look there despite a pretty consistent low blood pressure even in an upright position. I guess it's too hard to take two blood pressure readings (I'm convinced now that Kaiser primaries are trained to dismiss and get the patient out -- the most lackluster care ever). I'm also prone to hyponatremia so I've increased sodium in my diet and that may be helping too.0 -
TheGaudyMagpie wrote: »It took forever for my doctors to look at migraine as the cause of my sinus pain despite a history of chronic migraines and the fact that most recurrent sinus pain is migraine. Had to see the ENT twice and hear him say he could see nothing wrong with my sinuses, but here's some prednisone. A few days on the new preventive (nortriptyline) and the pain started going away.
I'm assuming you've been checked for orthostatic hypotension. My doctors would simply not look there despite a pretty consistent low blood pressure even in an upright position. I guess it's too hard to take two blood pressure readings (I'm convinced now that Kaiser primaries are trained to dismiss and get the patient out -- the most lackluster care ever). I'm also prone to hyponatremia so I've increased sodium in my diet and that may be helping too.
I typically have lower blood pressure, and have experienced orthostatic hypotension many many times. While the roaring in the ears at the time of the event is similar, it's not that. Glad you got your issue diagnosed!0 -
I hope you get it figured out. The dizziness was a real problem for me so I sympathize. I fell straight back once and almost hit my head on the sidewalk. I wish I could tell you whether it was the hormones or the migraine meds that are helping. Probably a combination of both. I do take vitamin D and magnesium. I also take lysine pretty regularly, but I don't know if that has any effect on dizziness or migraines. It's got some study results supporting its use as a mood stabilizer, with some anecdotal support as an antiviral and a visceral fat reducer (it's given to chickens to reduce fat percentages).0
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Hello, wow reading this thread has reassured me a bit. I started having peri symptoms about a year or more ago and early this year had terrible dizziness. Was really worried, went to my Drs and she just referred me to a neurologist. No questions about menopause or anything. My mum had ms so that is always in back of my mind. I still get them but not as bad and not as frequent. I go next week to see the specialist and having ready the reviews on line about him I'm not sure how it will go!0
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Oh I also have low blood pressure, always have, and suffer from migraines. But they have been pretty good of late.0
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I've had vertigo this past year and wasn't sure if it was related to my changing hormones or not. It does seem to show up around the same time before my period (which, of course, is sporatic these days). I've been in perimenopause for at least 4 years or more. I did find the Half Sommersault maneuver helps those bouts of vertigo go away quicker for me:
http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/newsroom/newsreleases/Pages/two-home-exercises-treat-vertigo.aspx
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aamundsoncpa wrote: »I've had vertigo this past year and wasn't sure if it was related to my changing hormones or not. It does seem to show up around the same time before my period (which, of course, is sporatic these days). I've been in perimenopause for at least 4 years or more. I did find the Half Sommersault maneuver helps those bouts of vertigo go away quicker for me:
http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/newsroom/newsreleases/Pages/two-home-exercises-treat-vertigo.aspx
I've tried that as well. It does seem to help a bit.0 -
Hello, wow reading this thread has reassured me a bit. I started having peri symptoms about a year or more ago and early this year had terrible dizziness. Was really worried, went to my Drs and she just referred me to a neurologist. No questions about menopause or anything. My mum had ms so that is always in back of my mind. I still get them but not as bad and not as frequent. I go next week to see the specialist and having ready the reviews on line about him I'm not sure how it will go!
Dizziness is listed as one of the 34 symptoms of menopause.0 -
oh yes,,,, severe anxiety and dizziness are my worst. sigh... I wish I was a man some days!!, like really, they need to get pregnant and fat, and get periods, I too have been to docs, all is fine,, it goes right back to perimenopause for me.0
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My vertigo was so bad this weekend! I think the added stress of my week made it worse. It's slowly subsiding but I decided to stay home from work today because it seems it's the worst mid-day....and I don't think driving while dizzy is a good move!0
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I just got back from seeing another otolaryngologist to review my test results. He says: it's not in my inner ear. He is pretty confident, based on my tests, and his assessment, that mine is vestibular migraine.
Other migraines have ramped up for me, so i guess this shouldn't be a surprise.
On the plus side, I haven't had an episode since I ramped up the progesterone, so that, and the accompanying great sleep I've been having have me thinking I'll stick with higher dose progesterone for a while.0 -
aamundsoncpa wrote: »My vertigo was so bad this weekend! I think the added stress of my week made it worse. It's slowly subsiding but I decided to stay home from work today because it seems it's the worst mid-day....and I don't think driving while dizzy is a good move!
Not fun! Hope it subsidies totally!0 -
I'm glad the progesterone is helping. I'm having a nerve ablation in my neck in a few weeks that we hope will cut down on my migraines. We've been having a lot of weather changes here in the past couple of weeks that have triggered the neck pain (probably from facet joint deterioration), which triggers the migraines. I've been having some dizziness with the migraines, but I think that mine are mostly basilar. I'm glad you are getting some answers. It seems like it takes a long time to whittle things down to a migraine diagnosis.0
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I got this fixed!
Exactly the same symptoms, quite extreme. I underwent a similar standard protocol with ENT, MRI, etc. Finally I saw a leading neurologist who let me know it was a type of migraine (without headaches). After testing a few medications, I ended up taking Topamax. It's not without side effects (mostly you don't feel as sharp), but it got rid of the vertigo.0 -
paddlegirl831 wrote: »I got this fixed!
Exactly the same symptoms, quite extreme. I underwent a similar standard protocol with ENT, MRI, etc. Finally I saw a leading neurologist who let me know it was a type of migraine (without headaches). After testing a few medications, I ended up taking Topamax. It's not without side effects (mostly you don't feel as sharp), but it got rid of the vertigo.
My ENT said the same thing a type of migraine! YAY for finding smoothing that works!0 -
I had some pretty extreme side effects with Topamax, but I know a lot of people take it and it doesn't seem to affect them much. It's very effective for migraines if you can tolerate it. I take nortriptyline (Pamelor). It doesn't seem as effective, but I have virtually no side effects from it and I find it very energizing. My vertigo is gone, but I still get headaches, depending on the weather (they appear to be triggered by arthritis/neck facet joint degradation). They hit my sinuses pretty hard, especially on the left side. Yesterday I took a sudafed just to see what it would do, and my pain is soooo much better. I think it must help to knock out the sinus symptoms that come with the migraine, or maybe the stimulant effect is anti-inflammatory. I don't know, but I think I'm keeping this in my regimen until my nerve ablation on the 6th (that can't get here soon enough -- with our weird weather right now, my pain has been escalating).0
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I get it occaisionally. I thought it was more age than hormones. It hits out of the blue for me, with no warning and doesn't last more than a few seconds at a time. The first time it happened I thought I was having a stroke or something.
I called the EMT's this morning because of my first and hopefully worst case of vertigo ever, complete with spinning room, sweating, chills, nausea. . . it was horrendous. And I don't have anyone that can drive me to an ER - on the ambulance I went. 5 hours later, and a full boat of expensive tests later, diagnosis was BPPV - and an Rx for anti-nausea meds, that make me bone tired.
Oh the joys of old age.
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