Started back @ work

[Jelley93]

So yesterday 06.06.2022 I went back work on a phased return. Mornings to start of with for a fortnight. Yesterday morning I felt horrendous due to having no sleep and full on anxiety I took one propranolol before work and one when I came home. In my opinion my off balanced feeling is due to PPPD. When I was classed as overmedicated or undermedicated the dizziness comes on. which in turn causes anxiety which in turn causes the dizziness and so on. Today I felt a bit better. The reason I think its PPPD is when I am doing other things I don't notice it then obviously I am wondering where its gone so it comes back. I was debating whether to start a small dose of a SSRI anti depressant. To try and help my mind with the anxiety and so hopefully would aid healing. I must say when I have had bad anxiety the last few days propranolol really takes the edge off. However like I say I would like to try a SSRI to help me long term.

[humanbean]

Can you tell us what PPPD means, please.

[Jelley93 in reply to humanbean]

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic functional disorder of the nervous system, characterised by non-spinning vertigo and perceived unsteadiness

[Lalatoot]

Jelley I was offered either Propranolol or SSRI for my anxiety. The GP suggested propranolol as he said why alter brain function when your symptoms are physical. However I chose the SSRI and was on it for years. My problem was that I was too low a dose of thyroid hormones and what my body lacked in hormones it made up for by running on adrenaline. It was not a good way to live.An SSRI affects levels of serotonin. The gut is one of the major areas for serotonin. As a result gut function may change which in turn can affect absorption of levo. Some folks need a slight increase in levo as a result.

If you do opt to take an SSRI make sure you take it well away from levo.

It helped me get through for years but it was only once I came off it and became determined to get on top of my thyroid hormones that I really started to heal.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Constant dizziness and feeling like walking on small rocking boat can be low B12 or other B vitamins

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Propranolol slows uptake and conversion of levothyroxine (Ft4) into active hormone (Ft3)

Anxiety is common hypothyroid symptom

Have you managed to get TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 tested together yet

Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[Jelley93 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello slow dragon. Yes take b complex and vit D now as my b12 was over range on last test. I'll probably buy a private test in near future as NHS ones are only for TSH and T4. The SSRI element I would like to try as also before hypothyroidism. I had anxiety back then as well.

[Sparklingsunshine]

HiI feel your pain, I'm currently being treated for PPPD, mine started nearly 2 months ago after a migraine. I tried standard medications for vertigo like Stemil but nothing worked. I don't have BPPV as I had a negative Epley manoeuvre performed by my GP.

I started on Sertraline 50mg about 3.5 weeks ago and today is the first day when it's not been as bad. I get exactly what you mean about distracting yourself. I helped my son weed his garden last week, which involved a lot of bending down and changes in position. Yet for those two hours I had no dizziness or weird sensations. Sometimes I can kid myself that it's gone but it always comes back.

I really didn't want to take Sertraline but I can't cope with the constant swaying and just feeling "off ". It can take at least 8 weeks before the pills start working so fingers crossed. This has really impacted on my quality of life.

I'm seeing my neurologist on Thursday. I know it's not anything like MS as my brain scan was clear. If he confirms he thinks it's PPPD then I'm going to ask for a referral to ENT for some vestibular rehabilitation exercises that can help retrain the brain to help regain balance.

Also there are some good videos on YouTube about PPPD. With some vestibular exercises to try.

[Jelley93 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Hi sunshine. I came across one of your posts last week. I did some research on PPPD and all the symptoms align with what I am feeling. My first encounter was in 2017. When after a bout of glandular fever. I started to feel off balance. That in turn made my anxiety shoot through the roof. Which in turn made my dizziness worsen. When I started levo 6 months later. My dizziness disappeared. However it has come back few times since notably last year and now. When I drive, no dizziness. Or am doing something to keep brain occupied it's not there. I read up about SSRIs treating the anxiety and that's like 70% of the issue. As the anxiety calms. You don't care about swaying and your brain learns to not bring up the dizziness symptom. If you type PPPD in YouTube. Numerous people have it. I take propranolol which calms you. But I want some help for the mental side of things.Good luck with your journey

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Jelley93]

Hi

I know there's a strong link with anxiety, depression and OCD, type A personalities who are very driven and perfectionist . I genuinely don't think I was anxious or depressed before this started but I am prone to OCD and I suffer from migraines which can trigger symptoms. There's a high correlation between PPPD and migraines.

I heard it described as a software issue with the brain. The hardware is all perfectly normal but the programming has gone a bit haywire. It's probably worth giving the Sertraline a try, it seems to help even in those without anxiety but treatment needs to last for about a year to prevent relapses.

It isn't not be a cure but around 70% of patients saw a marked reduction in symptoms. And if you do CBT as well, it's even higher. I'm going to ask about that as well. Good luck to you as well.

[McPammy]

I use to feel off balance and dizzy at times. I have Hashimotos and was treated with Levothyroxine mono therapy for years. My balance issue got worse. To cut a very long story short what my problem turned out was too low T3. I was barely converting Levothyroxine T4 to the important T3 hormone. As soon as I started T3 combined with T4 medications all my symptoms went away. Today I feel healthier and happier than I’ve felt in years. Please check your T3 and check if you are converting ok. Lack of T3 leads to numerous symptoms.