Vertigo and Strong Headaches

Updated on October 16, 2011
A.R. asks from Chesterfield, MO
13 answers

Hi Dear Moms!
I am sure that several of you have experienced vertigo (everything spinning around me: walls and windows), and may be it helps me to find the causes of it. I started 4 weeks ago with vertigo, I just woke up and the whole room was spinning around. I was nauseated and feeling horrible that day; the following days I still had vertigo, and still have it; however I just feel that way only when I change positions suddenly, or especially when I lie down flat on my back (no pillows). Since then, I have strong headaches and a dull pain on my neck all the time (day and night). I went to my doctor, and he checked ear, nose, blood pressure; he did a test to check my heart also, everything seems normal, so I am trying to figure out what is happening to me. Have any of you experienced this problem? What did your doctor do or suggested? I was given Meclizine to just manage the symptoms some way. I don't feel OK with it because I would like to know the real cause of it, something never experienced before. Please, please ladies let me know your experience with this problem. Thanks a lot!

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B.

answers from Augusta on

I have had this problem before.
It was either related to a sinus infection or a migraine.
I usually take a goody's powder and it helps.

oo, I have also had this when I am pmsing

2 moms found this helpful

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L.C.

answers from Allentown on

There is a condition with the inner ear that gives bad verticgo -- it's something like crystals in your ear coming loose and causing it. My husabnd had it and the neurologist just moved his head around to adjust or shake it loose (neurologist will knowwhat to do). Can't say that headaches came with it through.

The pinched nerve sounds like it could also be the cause -- that might give bad migraines which in turn make you dizzy. I agree, you need to find out the cause.

5 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

Migraines and Vertigo can go together. I have chronic Migraines and Vertigo is just part of it.

I truly once thought we were in the middle of an earthquake..

Please see your physician next week. There are meds you can take to block them.

5 moms found this helpful
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E.M.

answers from Honolulu on

I had it one time and it turned out my spine was misaligned. My doctor is a DO so he did some OMT and it stopped within minutes! It was all because of a nerve being pinched in my neck!

5 moms found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I also suggest seeing an ENT.

There is an inner ear test that they can perform to check for Meneire's Disease. My husband was diagnosed with this 2 years ago. They prescribed some medicine that he keeps with him so that when he feels a spell coming on he can take it right away and keep the vertigo at bay.

4 moms found this helpful
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L.R.

answers from Washington DC on

Ask to see an ENT (ear, nose & throat specialist) and ask the ENT for a more detailed workup on your ears. Issues with the ears can cause vertigo but I'm not sure about the headaches. If this persists even another few days this severely you must see a doctor and DEMAND they run more tests and investigate. You may need an MRI or other scan of your head and neck to rule out tumors, blood flow issues, compressed disks causing the headaches, whatever, etc. You may have to get very assertive with them -- doctors can be reluctant to order tests these days but you need to get a doctor on your side who will order whatever is needed, not one who will fuss about any testing because he or she fears the insurance company.

4 moms found this helpful
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M.D.

answers from Lewiston on

Good luck, vertigo is no fun. I have been given medicine, but what helped most were exercises I was given to do. I did them while laying on the bed. The doc. gave them to me. You might be able to google exercises for vertigo, or get them from a physical therapist, if your doc. doesn't have a sheet for you.
Good luck.

3 moms found this helpful
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R.C.

answers from Phoenix on

Please see an ENT Dr. I suffered for 9 years with occasional vertigo and vomiting whenever I turned over in bed. A few months ago I finally went to an ENT who did the Epley maneuver for Benign Paroxsymal Positional Vertigo, and I've only had one very brief mild episode since. I'm not worried anymore that I have a brain tumor or other serious problem. Vertigo is so awful. Don't wait. See a specialist ASAP.

3 moms found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

When it comes to this sort of thing I'd be very wary of internet diagnosis. But H. are my two cents.

I get vertigo when I have migraines that have gone too far. The liquid in my inner ears just loses balance and that's it... once I get dizzy from a migraine, I can't recover from it until I vomit.

You could have an inner ear problem.

I also tend to get vertigo with blood pressure problems and issues related to my Fibromyalgia.

I would suggest seeing a neurologist and then an ENT (Ear Nose Throat) specialist. The problem is that it could be almost anything and your primary care physician seems stumped, so you have to start somewhere.

3 moms found this helpful

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

For me, vertigo was a precursor to a stroke.
I think you should see a neurologist.

3 moms found this helpful

E.M.

answers from St. Joseph on

I have vertigo. it comes and goes, there are times when it is so bad I wont even pick up the kids. with mine i feel like the room is spinning one way and I am spinning the other. for me, it doesnt matter if I am standing, sitting, laying down etc. It happens anytime anyplace. sometimes a "spell" will last for hours and hours. my doc has D. a couple of MRI's, I have had an EEG. nothing pops up. the meclizine doesnt even help mine anymore. he prescribed ativan to me. I took it once, i got "lucky" and hubby was home for one of my spells and I felt safer with him H. with the kids in case i had a weird reaction.they gave me "exercises" to do to help prevent/stop the vertigo but none of them worked for me. My doc told me I should see an ENT seeing as he could not figure my problem out. I never made the appt because our lives have been hectic X100 lately. could be Meneire's Disease. i'd go to an ENT

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W.M.

answers from Nashville on

I have Vertigo and I have the valume too, the Meclizine, and it doesn't seem to help. I do take it b/c it 'may' work a 'bit'. It seems like I get the symptoms more when I am overtired. go to bed one night as early as possible. Have your husband take care of the kids one night and try to go to bed no later than 8:00. Take a pill before bed and sleep good. Go to an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor instead of your regular doctor. it is in the inner ear and the ENT doc is experienced with the Vertigo. They will test you to see if you have that or Menier's which is more serious. They can help you determine more than your regular doc. Also, they give you exercises to do to stop the dizziness. The Vertigo is caused by the little crystals in your head coming loose (this is laymen's terms how they told me) and you need to get those crystals to settle down. The crazy thing is I used to have it really bad and when we went on vacation I went on a roller coaster, fearful of it getting worse and believe it or not, I didn't have a dizzy spell for 2 years. The doc said that it is good for you to be upside down, lay on a bed with your head hanging off the side, turn your head side to side, etc Good luck, it is an awful feeling.

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K.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

Yes!!!!!! I'm still going through it, booo!!!!! Being dizzy, STINKS!!!!
Mine started after I had bad bronchitis last August.. It wasn't going away and after 2 rounds of meds and a steroid, the dizziness came on... I thought it was a side effect of the meds.. Well over a year later I'm still dealing with the issues :0( (I have become really fatigued, and get that "out of it" feeling.. Like I can't concentrate. I also have neck issues from 5 years ago)

I don't have a lot of advice, just know your not alone.. I've been to a TON OF DOCTORS over the past year for this....

- 3 ENT's (did the balance and hearing tests. The balance test showed I was off on my right side. The crystals were out of place). So they sent me to physical therapy for it. Did nothing... They said vertigo migraines could be it, gave me medicine and it made me feel worse...
-3 neurologists (I also get numbness sometimes, along with my headaches. They did a nerve conduction test and thought maybe neuropathy)...
-1 Infectious disease doctor that thought it was maybe Lyme Disease.

I've had a ton of bloodwork D. (all normal), CT scans of my brain, spine, and neck (all normal).. I'm a medical mystery....

Were you sick prior to getting the dizziness? Anything stressful happen?

1 mom found this helpful
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