Unexplained Dizziness
I went to the walk-in clinic this morning because I am experiencing dizziness. It started the night before last and while I was not myself yesterday, what hit me last night troubled me enough to see a doctor this morning.
I awoke last night at 4:00 a.m. and felt really dizzy so I sat up to get focused. I started to look at the time which is projected onto the wall by my alarm clock, and when I did, I couldn’t get the time on the wall to hold still. It was as if I was in a rocking chair rocking wildly, and the time was moving up and down in four-foot spans.
It was unsettling to say the least.
I closed my eyes a few times and it managed to slow down. I could look at the clock again, but as I closed my eyes, they seemed to be moving very annoyingly under my lids without my control. Don’t ask me–I have no idea–that’s just what it felt like.. It was to the point I could not sleep. After an hour or so, things subsided and I fell asleep.
Today I am unsteady. At the doctor’s office they had me try to walk a straight line, and I had trouble doing it. Thankfully I didn’t drive there.
The nurse looked at my ears because I have a bad ear which has issues, but she ruled my bad ear out–it looked good. But my other ear appeared to show some potential of bubbles in the ear canal, which could be fluid. So she said that could be the cause though she isn’t sure. I’ve had a lot fluid and an infection in my other ear and never knew it, so would this ear make me feel different? I’m curious.
The nurse gave me a few steriods to try and if that doesn’t stop this, she told me to go to the ER. I thought that was strange. Why the ER I asked. I’d prefer my doctor, but I suspect I won’t be able to get an appointment quickly if I need it. She concurred. Then she explained the walk-in clinic wouldn’t be able to do anything else for me hence that is why she made that recommendation.
Bear with me — I hope to be feeling better soon!
Eyes, I don’t know about Chicago but in North Carolina walk-in clinics are not staffed by fully licensed doctors. And most clinics are run by hospitals so the workers there – they’re generally doctors in training – have an obligation to send people to the ER at their associated hospital. You’re certainly not going to hear any of them recommending you go to an actual doctor’s office with a medically-licensed professional. That’s money out of their pocket. I suggest you make an appointment with another doctor at another facility before you go to the ER (and incur the associated emergency fees).
Yeah, I saw a nurse practitioner, not a doctor, though I have seen doctors at this facility. She did tell me to make an appointment with my general doc and if I could get one in 4-5 days to take it and cancel it if I didn’t need it. I thought that was fair and good advice. I forgot to write that! Thanks for your thoughts. You always wonder when a person recommends the ER as a first resort when there are doctors and this would not be an emergency. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Sorry, forgot to mention my diagnosis. (Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional!) Your description sounds like Vertigo which is normally an inner ear infection. In my opinion, the steroid you were prescribed was meant to boost your body’s immune system to fight off the disease naturally. That was probably the best, safest choice of the person you saw. If it’s virally-based there’s little any doctor can do but if it’s bacterial, then you should have been prescribed an antibiotic. Bottom line: You need to have your ear checked again. Hopefully, the next doctor will have a way of testing the fluid to be certain or can come to a definitive diagnosis in some other way.
My own ears are particularly susceptible to infections. I have a very long history of ear infections as a child. I had tubes put in before age 1 and the doctor who performed the surgery said I was his youngest patient ever at that time. You’ve already lost hearing in one ear so please take this infection seriously. Take your medication and seek further help if you don’t feel some relief within 24 hours.
Vertigo is a SYMPTOM – not a diagnosis and there are many things that have the potential to cause vertigo which include: labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis, vertiginous migraine, multiple sclerosis, transient ischemic attacks (“mini strokes”), cerebral vascular attack (a “big” stroke), cerebellar ischemia or hemorrhage, Meniere’s Disease, a Chiari Malformation, etc. Eyes – please do not wait to seek medical attention – especially if your symptoms persist!
Hello Eyes,
I have a very similar story. After flying to France, the moment we landed on ground I felt that something was off, I was losing my balance becoming dizzy and so fourth, it lasted the whole trip and actually kept me from doing a lot of activities. However when I flew back home it got even worse. I couldn’t walk straight, I’d actually walk into walls, the room would sometimes be spinning or for instance when I’d look at the blinds it would almost be like the horizontal lines were travelling downwards. It moved on to feeling like the ground was rocking back and fourth and at times it felt like a free fall in an elevator. Both my parents are nurses and they got me into the hospital right away. They did all sorts of test, hearing and a test where they’d shoot water into my ears while recording my eye movements. This was all to test for vertigo or a temporary like-vertigo that usually occurs with people after travelling by boat or plane. I know that you travel a lot so it might be something to consider. Thankfully after a few years it has almost vanished compltely, I’ll occasionally get an off day but for the most part it was nothing like before.
That’s a pretty common complaint in the Midwest. Here, it’s generally weather-related, barometric pressure affecting the sinuses and ears. That kind of thing.
I had a literary agent once who had terrible vertigo and finally had some kind of surgery to relieve it. Before that, she’d spend days in bed, watching the room spin and tossing her cookies.
Another friend suffered from bouts of vertigo with all the same complications. It’s caused by a benign tumor at the base of her skull — something she’s had all her life and not life threatening at all since it’s never grown an iota in her 60-some years.
I suffer from dizziness whenever the weather changes. Suffice to say, I never need a meteorologist to tell me when a storm is brewing. All the forecast I need is right there in the old noggin.
Feel better soon, Eyes. No doubt you’ll be fine. That said, it’s always much easier to cope with if you know what’s causing it. Good on you for going right to the doctor.
I hope you feel better soon Eyes! Thankfully I’ve never experienced anything quite like that, and while I certainly empathize with you, I hope I never do. Take care of yourself, we’ll still be here. 🙂
hope you feel better
Obviously I join with everyone else wishing a full and speedy recovery. One perspective to keep in mind. The “eyes moving annoyingly under my lids without my control” is similar to one of several treatable eye conditions, but it’s impossible for me to figure out which one it is from the blog post, and I’m not a physician. Eyes moving involuntarily is actually fairly common, more than most people realize. My suggestion is to also consider getting a referral to an ophthalmologist. There might be a connection between the involuntary eye movements and dizziness (one of the conditions is also associated in some situations with vertigo), but I would defer to a physician’s opinion on this. Keep in mind there might be no connection, but I feel it’s worth checking out. My best guess is that you’ll be over this fairly quickly.
Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
Russ Conte
Get well soon Eyes. Well wishes from the UK.
If you have had any intestinal problems lately, your electrolyte imbalance could be part of your problem. If the steroids don’t help, you might need to call your doctor.
Hi Eyes, I hope you feel better soon!
I have had vertigo on and off for decades. You might consider taking gingko, an herb recommended to aid circulation to the brain.
Thanks for all the kind thoughts. I’m better, but still woozy. Thankfully, no wildly swinging episodes again. Let’s hope I’m on the upswing!
This can be so scary eyes! My hubby had virago a few months back and found out he had a sm stroke. Hope you’re fine now.
Are you doing any better now?