Dizziness and vertigo

Hi I've got PA and self inject for 1 year, generally 1 monthly. I have started suffering dizziness and vertigo. Laying down makes the room spin and I'm walking like I'm drunk. I'm wondering if this is a symptom or something else? I am trying to get GP Appointment as I can't drive or get to work! Any advice please?

[Jillymo]

The dizziness and virtigo was the symptom I found to be the most disturbing. I couldn't even walk straight and found myself walking into things. If it were me I would be doing more frequent injections. Also check other vits like folate, vit D ect.

I hope your symptom's start to subside soon.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Do you think you're getting enough B12?

Forum members sometimes find they need to increase the frequency of B12 injections.

Jillymo makes a good point about checking folate and Vit D and I'd add iron to that list.

Might also be worth getting GP to check potassium and magnesium levels.

Have you been referred to a neurologist as you mention dizziness and an unusual way of walking?

NICE guidance Suspected Neurological Conditions

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng127

NICE when to refer B12 deficient patient to neurologist/haematologist/gastro -enterologist

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

Thyroid

Many on this forum also have thyroid problems.

Have you had any thyroid tests?

In UK GPs often only test TSH which won't give a full picture of thyroid function.

There are other thyroid tests.

thyroiduk.org/thyroid-funct...

Thyroid Symptoms - Hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

I suggest putting any thyroid results along with an outline of your story on Thyroid UK forum on Health Unlocked.

Links to forum threads where I left detailed replies with lots of B12 deficiency info eg causes and symptoms, UK B12 documents, B12 books, B12 films, B12 websites and B12 articles and a few hints on dealing with unhelpful GPs.

Some links may have details that could be upsetting.

Some of the info will be specific to UK.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

I am not medically trained.

[Parlay]

other than getting enough b12 if you’ve had a recent cold virus it could be labrynthitis. If you have a full feeling in one of your ears and a slight difference in hearing in one ear it could be Ménière’s disease and if it gets worse on laying down and turning over it could be BPPV and epley manoeuvre would sort it instantly. That’s the most common reasons. Others are inner ear infection wear and tear in your neck vertebrae etc. it’s so unpleasant hope you get it sorted soon.

[Marymary7 in reply to Parlay]

Agree with you. I’ve got vertigo at present. Not as bad as last week. I’ve done the Epley Manoeuvre a few times which made me feel really ill but I’m not as bad now, I just need to face doing it again as I’m still suffering when I look up. My GP said in the past that it’s Calcium crystals in the inner ear and advised I do that manoeuvre. This is my third bout in the last ten years. Look online to do the manoeuvre it’s on YouTube.

[Parlay in reply to Marymary7]

many people try doing it on there own but it really needs and ENT to do it properly as you need to lay with your head hanging off a bed and let someone else hold the weight of your head whilst doing the movements. Plus they watch the eyes for nystagmus to know they are moving the crystals. Vertigo is a horrendous thing isn’t it.

[Marymary7 in reply to Parlay]

I agree but my GP didn’t do it, he just said look on YouTube! I have a doctor in the family and he did the Epley with me once. I think it’s ok on my own I watch the demonstration on my my mobile while lying on my bed. It is a very strange set of symptoms at its worse with terrible nausea.

[Parlay in reply to Marymary7]

I don’t think gp’s do anything now. Soon they’ll be asking us to diagnose ourselves on Google! Best thing to do when you get and attack is to focus on one point and not move from it until it passes. Don’t lay flat.