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Dizzy, light headed and keep wanting to shut my eyes

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AJLang said:
Thank you Mikey and for saying that I'm special 🙂 It would be nice to have common stuff for a change 🙂 I had already wondered about an acoustic neuroma and that had scared me although I know that they're benign. I hadn't realised they were fairly common and fairly easy to treat. I've managed to find the money to have the MRI's done privately (which GP suggested because I need an open MRI due to claustrophobia and to get CCG funding it looks like I would have to wait until consultant appointments) but I'm just waiting for her to confirm which MRIs. The MRI clinic said a full brain scan and then an IM one which covers the ear canal. I just want to get back to normal (well normal for me) because I'm now getting very nervous of going out on my own - although I'm trying to overcome that. Sorry for the long reply. Thank you everyone for your messages 🙂
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I went through a similar thing in my 40’s Amanda and had an MRI scan and saw a neurologist. I find I can’t tolerate MRI’s at all now but I’ve just had a full CT scan (for the other reason).

I’ve been left with permanent tinnitus which is believed to be the result of a slight hearing loss in one ear. I get occasional dizziness but thankfully it abates. Hopefully this will be a transient thing. I did wonder about an acoustic neuroma but it’s strange that the symptoms extend to your limbs. They’ll probably want to rule out Meniere’s Disease too.

It’s always scary not knowing but sometimes it’s just a very persistent inner ear disturbance/infection which causes loads of horrible symptoms. Hope it goes well x
 
Thank you Amigo x I'm trying to be more rational today and hoping that it is a persisten inner ear disturbance/infection. My other big hope, which I completely forgot to post yesterday, is that the dizziness might be from the amitriptylene and the hearing loss is just coincidental. I had my last amitriptylene on Friday but I'm guessing that it takes a while to get out of the system.
 
Dizziness is certainly one of the many side affects of Amitriptylene. The manufacturers state that you should rise slowly to avoid this so I assume it generally happens when you climb stairs or sit down or stand up quickly. They do warn of certain muscle problems but mainly head/fascial. They also warn about coming off them slowly. Considering this drug is used for many ailments from bedwetting to pain relief it is unsurprising it has many side effects.
 
Couple of points - the dizziness that amitryptiline might cause isn’t common, but has more the characteristic of light headedness rather than rotational. What you are describing Davein is postural hypotension, which in lay terms might be described as dizziness, but that isn’t what is happening to Amanda.

And if the amitryptiline has been helping, Amanda, you might as well carry on with it, for the simple reason that it won’t be causing your current symptoms, and you need to feel the best you can. Any side effects of this type of medication usually pass off as your body and brain adapt. For sure, that’s what I’ve always found.

Don’t worry, the MRIs will provide your answer.
 
mikeyB said:
Couple of points - the dizziness that amitryptiline might cause isn’t common, but has more the characteristic of light headedness rather than rotational. What you are describing Davein is postural hypotension, which in lay terms might be described as dizziness, but that isn’t what is happening to Amanda.

And if the amitryptiline has been helping, Amanda, you might as well carry on with it, for the simple reason that it won’t be causing your current symptoms, and you need to feel the best you can. Any side effects of this type of medication usually pass off as your body and brain adapt. For sure, that’s what I’ve always found.

Don’t worry, the MRIs will provide your answer.
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Interestingly Mike, when I had this they actually gave me amytriptyline but in my case the tinnitus was stressing me out.
 
AJLang said:
Sorry everyone I've just realised that I haven't thanked you for your messages, so Thankyou 🙂 I'm still getting these dizzy spells and when they happen they are awful (and not when I'm drinking Mikey 🙂). It now appears that it may not be labythinritis - GP is talking about referring me to neurologist and ENT because it has been confirmed by Boots audiologist that I have hearing loss, but just in my left ear, and I've also been having horrible weak sensations in my lower arms (and sometimes lower legs) for a month.
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I was diagnosed with Labythinritis years ago and every time I had an attack was given tablets to take away the symptoms. Last year I had a really bad dose and could not stand up at all. I managed to get an appointment with a new Doctor (only because he was the only one available) and he said it was not Labythinritis but BPPV, very similar symptoms but different cause and fortunately he was able to fix with a ten minute moving my head into different positions. It was weird but it worked and felt great ever since. BPPV can cause hearing problems and also tinnitus. Might be worth looking it up and checking your symptoms.
 
BPPV is not really like the symptoms AJ has, from what she has described. One of the Ps stands for paroxysmal, with short episodes of vertigo and nystagmus and depends on head position - positional is what the other P stands for. It’s also much commoner in the over 60s (sorry), not surprising if you look at the actual cause, which is the gradual accumulation of tiny crystals in the inner ear fluid. That’s why head movement cures it - it simply moves the crystals somewhere else where they won’t cause symptoms.

Neither hearing loss, nor tinnitus are features of BPPD. If these are present, then something else is the cause.
 
The brain and IAMs (ear) MRI were normal but I am still getting the same symptoms.
 
Thanks Grovesy. I have a telephone appointment with my GP on Wednesday. I guess the next stage will be a referral to ENT because of the hearing loss in my left ear which we don't know if it is or isn't related to the other symptoms. Goodness knows how long it will take to get an ENT appointment. In the meantime I will try to be as positive as I can.
 
AJLang said:
Thanks Grovesy. I have a telephone appointment with my GP on Wednesday. I guess the next stage will be a referral to ENT because of the hearing loss in my left ear which we don't know if it is or isn't related to the other symptoms. Goodness knows how long it will take to get an ENT appointment. In the meantime I will try to be as positive as I can.
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Hope you can get an appointment soon 🙂
 
Thank you Alan 🙂
 
I hope you do get an answer, Amanda. But at least you know all the relevant investigations have been done before you see the consultant.

It’s tough being a medical mystery, I’ve been there - it’s even worse when you are called that by a neurology professor:confused:🙂
 
Sorry to hear that you are getting the same symptoms again. I hope you get some answers and the right treatment.
 
Hope they get to the bottom of it AJ and you feel better soon x
 
Glad to hear MRI's were clear, but must be frustrating not knowing what's causing it. Hope you get appointment soon.
 
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