Tinnitus and dizziness

[Jacsav]

Hi,

I have both tinnitus and dizziness, I just wondered if anyone knows if they are linked¿

[Happyrosie]

they may well be linked. Have a look at the website of Tinnitus UK.

[Ana20]

Hi! Yes, they are.

Search on You Tube a video with this title T and dizziness. It’s very well explained by an American doctor.

Good health!

[tomlwatson]

Agree with Happyrosie, may well be but not necessarily. I had both at the onset of my T and after further testing Meniere's was the diagnosis. Seemed like the end of the world at the time but it wasn't. Information and habituation helped loads. Dizziness is only occasional for me now. You will improve, please hang in there.

[Hop38 in reply to tomlwatson]

Hello. Can I please ask how you settled your dizziness? I have had T for years amd occasionally issues with dizziness. Since last Thursday I'm dizzy all the time, even when not moving I still feel dizzy its awful. I'm sure I have Menieres also (low frequency hearing loss, T and dizziness) but ENT said that I don't. Thanks

[Jacsav in reply to Hop38]

Hi Hop38.

I still have dizziness and I’ve noticed when I’m tired or run down it’s worse, as is tinnitus.

In 2014 when I first got my dizziness, it was extreme, I couldn’t see or walk when having a bout of it and fell down the stairs a couple of times, I should have gone to the hospital, but didn’t.

A year or so later I had MRI and had lots of tests done that concluded migraine. Tinnitus arrived 5 years later, after my Dad died

I don’t take any drugs for it and get it from time to time, I’m used to it now and try to live a healthier lifestyle and drink plenty of water.

I don’t know what triggered the dizziness, but weirdly after 10 years I have noticed it’s worse in May and that’s the month it initially started, I also notice that wearing flip flops makes it worse, when walking, I think it must be the brain vibration from a hard sole.

I hope that helps

[Hop38 in reply to Jacsav]

Thank you for your reply. Its a very frustrating and hard condition to live with

[Happyrosie in reply to Hop38]

I really don’t understand how the medics tell the difference between menieres, BPPV and labyrinthitis.

I was told I have BPPV and am prescribed prochlorapazine (though I don’t need it often now). I now what causes it - turning too fast when lying down and exercising. So I don’t do Pilates any more.

Also when I have a bout I do vestibular rehabilitation exercises.

[Hop38 in reply to Happyrosie]

I don't think they know the difference between then to be honest which is so frustrating. Can I ask what vestibular exercises you find helpful? I did the Brandt Daroff which had no impact at all. I've heard of the Epley Maneuver which sounds somewhat complicated and scarey to attempt.

[Happyrosie in reply to Hop38]

The Eply is something to be attempted after nothing else works, It can be done at home with someone you trust following utube videos. Best done by a doc, a physio or similar. You feel very very sick afterwards and pretty bad for two days. But it’s effective for 80% of people. I’ve now had it done three times, since the second time I didn’t realise what the consultant ENT was doing until he had started - and once started you HAVE to continue (takes about three minutes ) - and I was fine afterwards. The third time was defo the last time, I vomited in the surgery ……

Brandt daroff works (for me) as long as you sit down and do them at least three times a day, you have to persist when you think nothing is happening. But I could only do the sitting or standing ones - the lying down one was ….. oh dear!

[Hop38 in reply to Happyrosie]

Bless you, the whole procedure sounds absolutely awful🤢! I think I'll leave that to the very last thing I try! The dizziness has reduced a little today right after I felt some pressure in one ear which now has a "hollow" sensation in it. Perhaps something was trying to get out? Who knows.......

[Castlekeep in reply to Happyrosie]

hi I am having bad bouts of vertigo. Now for over a week . have Meneries and take Betahistine 3 times a day also on pregabalin Have just been prescribed Stemetil but they are mainly for sickness.Have asked dr if I can be prescribed Sturgeon which I hasa long time ago. Any one had anything similar thanks for any suggestions to help.

[Hop38 in reply to Castlekeep]

Hi Castlekeep You can easily get sturgeon in your local chemist without a prescription. My dizziness is subsiding a little today after 4 days of constant annoyance. My right ear had alot of pressure in it today, now it sounds quite "hollow"when I eat etc but dizziness is not as bad. Perhaps i had an infection, who knows. My doctor prescribed me Betahistine today so will start that tomorrow

[Beesmac]

Hi - I get quite a lot of dizziness since my Tinnitus began. It’s always worse first thing in the morning but generally eases off when I’m up and about. It does affect my balance also .

[Jacsav]

Thanks everyone.

My dizziness actually started in 2014, I did eventually see a neurologist and the diagnosis was migraine. I never really believed this diagnosis I’m not sure why and I didn’t take medication for it either, I’ve never liked the idea of taking drugs.

My pulsatile tinnitus and other tinnitus which are 24 hours a day started in 2019.

The neurologist did tell me to stop consuming aged food and drink, dried fruit, blue cheese, red wine and to drink plenty of water. I have noticed that if I’m dehydrated in the morning my pulsatile tinnitus sounds like symbols being smashed together.

The dizziness seems to come and go, it’s intense at the moment, I have just come down with a cold too which always makes things worse.

I hardly drink alcohol now and drink at least 3 pints of water per day, I think that helps.

I’m new here and really glad I’ve found you 😊

[Happyrosie in reply to Jacsav]

Excuse me saying this, but I look at the colour my pee in order to determine the quantity of water I suppose about three pints is about right

, the ENT consultant explained exactly why hydration helps, I’ve forgotten the exact explanation but it was entirely logical

[1966366]

Have a gander at the condition of vertigo and see if anything clicks.

[Sonnybee]

Hi there. Many years ago I had a severe bout of dizziness over some months. No tinnitus then, but I do have T now. Back then it was diagnosed as a virus in the inner ear area. At the time I was prescribed medication that is normally used for motion sickness. Cant remember the name of it unfortunately, but it did help. I still get the odd blip now and again, but I tend not to panic so much now as I've had it so long. Bit like the T!!! So yes, in your case they could be linked. Speak to your doc if you can and wish you well.

[Castlekeep in reply to Sonnybee]

Hi Was your meds cinnarizine(stugeron) will give me Hope if it did help you cheers 🙂

[Sonnybee in reply to Castlekeep]

Stugeron definitely rings a bell. I think they tried me on a couple and that was the one that I settled on. It took a while for me to adapt but once I realised the the dizziness wasn't a serious ailment I began to panic less about it. Very similar to the tinnitus actually. If we can try to stop constantly monitoring our T and dizziness, we make it less important, and subconsciously our brain begins to ignore it. It will come, but takes a little time, so be patient and take care. We are with you.

[Castlekeep in reply to Sonnybee]

Thanks Early days yet will see how it goes Every thing takes a while to get into your system.Balance has improved slightly,but the more I sit the less I move.have had to sit for a long time due to this .Vicious circle ⭕️ but have to accept at my age (89 oh) not as sprightly as I was in 60s .Enjoyed cruising but not good if you have vertigo.Take Care

[Jacsav]

Hi All,

Just an update, saw my doctor today about tinnitus being extreme at the moment and has been for a couple of months, and so has the dizziness (vestibular migraine)

So being sent for a blood test and will decide from that if I’m sent to ENT or neurologist or neither I guess. I also bought some Nytol and hope to get a full nights sleep tonight.

I will keep you all posted on what happens now