Question
Hello, I'm new to this whole thing, I'm wondering if I'm doing this right.... anyhoo. I have a problem. I'd appriciate a ton any sort of advice etc.
I've felt weird for about the last month. I've had some heasaches in the middle of my fore head and sometimes in the sides. It wasn't this bad first. I had the lightheadedness about couple times a day but nothing too bad. But now it's gotten a lot worse. I feel lightheaded pretty much all the time. I don't have a spinning sensation, it's more like a feeling of being constantly drunk. I feel like I'm moving my head all over even though I'm keeping it still. Sometimes when I walk I feel like I'm about to fall to my right side. I also feel tired and unable to concentrate too well on anything. I haven't had any colds or anything lately. Sometimes I think there's a little hint of redness in my left eye. My blood pressure is normal and my hemoglobine is normal as well. I though it could be my stiff neck but I've been stretching it for over a week now and it hasn't helped at all. I got x-rays taken to check up my sinuses. Nothing there. I also got checked up for my blood sugar or what ever it is called in English but nothing either. I don't know what to think or do. I don't know whether I should be worried or not. Does anybody have any idea what this might be? I'm a full time student and it's hard for me to concentrate on my studies for I seem to lack the ability to concentrate due to this problem. Oh yeah, I'm not suffering from stress either. Please, anyone, what can this be?
Answer
1) Don't worry yet! This may be uncomfortable but doesn't sound serious , given that you HAVE seen a doctor already. However, I have a few questions for you.
2) When the doctor did blood tests, did he/she do a FULL blood chemistry, including checking for magnesium, pottassium, sodium. A FULL chemistry includes more than just hemoglobin but a complete test of white blood count, red blood count, and lots of other things that tell them how your thyroid, liver and kidneys are. All from the blood.
3)Did they test your urine?
4) How old are you?
5) Do you have any other health problems, even simple ones like allergies?
6) ARE YOU EATING REGULARLY? You mention "studies" so I am assuming you are a student...and when I was a student we didn't eat or sleep enough! Got headaches and dizziness as a result.
7)Did the doctor who checked your sinuses, give you any tests for balance for your inner ear?
8) Are you on any prescription medication for ANYTHING?
9) Are you taking ANY medication that you can buy over the counter without prescription?
It would be good for us to know some of these answers before we "guess" too much.
To reassure you a bit, I had EXACTLY the same thing as you are describing when I was about 30. This odd, vague sensation of always being lightheaded. I felt, when I walked, that I was walking on a boat! It was a sensation almost like "sealegs"....I see you are from Finland, so I don't know what that word there would be for it. But you know how you feel AFTER you've been on a boat for a while and then get off? Land doesn't feel secure. And I had the feeling I was tipping even though I wasn't. AND even when I was sitting, if I moved my head, I felt disconnected , as if the earth moved beneath me and had nothing to do with my head movement.
I had blood sugar tests (called glucose tolerance tests...these are more than a simple blood test...where you go to a special lab and they give you pure glucose to drink and then monitor your blood. Then more glucose, then more monitoring. I think it took overall, a few hours! Just to see how my body regulated sugar. One regular blood test at the doctor showing "normal" glucose may not be enough.
ANYWAY, I went through that, (and it was normal) plus I went to a neurologist and even had a brain scan and everything was normal.
By this time, I was in a state of anxiety, which only made the sensation more pronounced. Tranquillizers helped. After all these tests, and an ear/nose/throat man, and my regular doctor and a neurologist, the final diagnosis was that sometimes there is no discernable reason for the sensation and it will simply go away eventually. AND IT DID. It may have been a virus of the inner ear. No one really ever found out.
The important thing is to rule out all possible causes. There are many and most are benign, and treatable. But I know how you feel. I was SO uncomfortable all the time...but it DID go away.
Let me know some of the answers to each of my above questions.....maybe we can pin this down more!
Answer
Thank you so much for answering. I'm so glad to hear that there is someone who has went thru' the same thing. I'm so relieved to see you answer Zuzu. Thankso much!!!! Here are the answers for the questions you asked. I'm gonna have my full blood test done on Monday including urine sample. Those should give me so more information I hope. I'm 23 years old and yes I'm a full time student studying computer science. I do have acid reflux desease but it doesn't give me much trouble. I'm using nexium for that and have been for the last year. It hasn't given me any problems. Plus I only use it now and then about 3 times a month. Nexium is the only medicine I use. I haven't even had advil for ages. I'm eating regularly for if I don't my hemoglobine drops really quickly. We have a good place to eat on Campus and I eat there a hot meal ever day. Plus I eat dinner at home. I was checked for sinuses and nothing there. The doctor also told me to squeeze his hands and said my strenght was normal and my reflexes were fine. Plus my eyes were checked and they were fine too. The pressure was fine and all. I really do feel like I had gotten off a boat unable to walk normally. Sealegs would be exactly the right way to discribe it!!! I could very well be something similar you had. More than anything, I'm making myself scared thinking about all kinds of horrible stuff I might have. I could very well be that my system is just had enough and it needs to relax. My neck does seem a bit stiff now and then. I also found out from my dentist about a month ago before this all started that I'm grinding my teeth. Maybe something to do with tension? I appriciate your comments and interest!!!! Thanks. Smiles.
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Smiles.
Answer
Zuzu, I thought I'd let you know. I just got tranquillizers from my doc for it was getting hard for me to do any normal stuff and after using only 2 of them the lightheadedness went away!!!! You were right about that. I feel great now. I can even turn my head quickly without being worried about falling. Thanks for the advice. I just wanted to let you know you were right!!!! Smiles.
Answer
Zuzu, I thought I'd let you know. I just got tranquillizers from my doc for it was getting hard for me to do any normal stuff and after using only 2 of them the lightheadedness went away!!!! You were right about that. I feel great now. I can even turn my head quickly without being worried about falling. Thanks for the advice. I just wanted to let you know you were right!!!!
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"Blood is thicker than water. But love is thicker than blood"
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hereubb/smile.gif
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"Blood is thicker than water. But love is thicker than blood"
Answer
Hi there!
Your latest post had some major 'tip-offs" and important hints!
Grinding your teeth (called bruxism in medical terms) is a MAJOR cause of just the kind of headache you describe. AND can cause this sensation we're talking about...sealegs, weird, disconnected sensations. Not feeling "attached" to the earth or our surroundings... basically not "grounded".
The last description "not grounded" (maybe a bit like floating)
is also a CLASSIC symptom of tension, fear and anxiety.
Also, the neck stiffness can definitely be a cause of the headaches, and you should be careful how you do neck stretches.. and there are certain stretches for the neck that shouldn't be done AT ALL until a doctor says it's okay, and shows you eactly what to do or not do. If done wrongly they can hurt more than help. Stop them for now, talk to the doc, and let us know how it went, okay?
P.S. If you are studying computer science, I presume you are staring at a computer screen a lot, no? That could be your answer right there. A lot of variables. Maybe one or more causes. But I don't think it sounds like anything to be scared about. Really. So calm down, get some sleep, try to relax!
