Dizziness & Vertigo Support Group

Hi there: I'm new here. I was diagnosed with BPPV by a neuro 10 years ago after sudden attacks of very severe vertigo. Seemed to happen out of nowhere - no illness or accident preceding it. The room seemed to be twisting to the right and I had to sit or lie down. If I was driving, I had to pull over. Had an MRI, MRA, EEG - all negative. I lived with the attacks for many years - they were annoying but not disabling. They would happen sometimes every day, sometimes I would go months and then I went years without them.

In the last three months, the dizziness seems to have come back, but it's less acute. The room isn't spinning and I don't feel like I'm going to fall down - just have a sense of disequilibrium. The spells while less acute last much longer - hours and they seem to come day after day. I saw my GP and an opthamologist (for visual sensations I'd been having which she diagnosed as opthalmic migraines) but both said I am healthy.

One strange thing I have noticed is that while there is definitely a positional component to the dizziness, there seems to be an emotional one as well. If I am very upset, anxious or some other strong emotion comes on, I notice it either makes me dizzy or makes it worse. For example, I was having a big fight with my husband the other day and during the fight I started getting dizzy. I often start to feel dizzy while giving presentations at work or speaking to an important superior - sometimes it happens when I laugh hard! Just now, I was started by a knock at the door and that startling sensation brought it on.

I am seeing a neuro on Friday. I am quite worried about the new presenation of my dizziness. I am also occassionally seeing bright pinpoints of light in my peripheral vision. The opthamologist noted nothing at my last exam, but I am still worried.

Does any of the dizziness strike a cord with anyone?

Thanks much -
Joanne
Posted on 02/18/08, 01:02 pm