Resurgence in Dizziness

[milhaus]

It's been a while since I have posted here. I think I am now 7 years post my first translab, which is hard to believe. For many years after I really struggled, I was only 23 at the time. I developed a bit of a drinking problem, which has since been solved and I haven't had a drink in about a year and a half. I always worried I damaged my remaining vestibular system a bit by drinking so much, but after quitting time went by and much dizziness subsided.

However, last week, I had a major resurgence of dizziness. I feel dizzy all the time now. It's really weird because I can remember the exact moment in time when it started. I don't have vertigo, I just feel disoriented and strange in a way that's hard to explain. Can be hard to think straight. This has caused me intense anxiety. The dizziness and anxiety feed on each other. It is a classic chicken vs egg problem. I don't know if the dizziness is causing the anxiety or if the anxiety is causing more dizziness. However, the dizziness doesn't seem to go away even when I am relatively relaxed.

It has me a bit terrified because it makes me worried something is wrong with my other side, maybe even another AN. I have already had the AN and also retinoblastoma in my eye. Two tumors in my head already make me worried another could crop up at any time. I have gone ahead and scheduled another MRI and appointment with my neurotologist in December, but in the meantime, I can barely function. It has me even more worried because I am supposed to start a new job tomorrow (working from home, fortunately) that I have been working to get since March. I am freshly graduated with my master's degree and will be working as a software engineer. Sorry to vent just a little, but I have basically been working really hard to get my life on track since this AN really messed me up. Now that I am finally on the verge of achieving success, this happens.

I went to the ER over this last week. They told me there was a little fluid in my ear but besides that, I looked fine as far as they could tell. They said I should follow up with my neurotologist. Has a recurrence of intense dizziness after so many years happened to anyone else? How common is it to get another AN on the other side years later? Does anyone have any advice for me?

Andrew

[Greece Lover]

Sorry to hear of your problems.  There are lots of things that can cause dizziness, as you know. And being comprimised from the surgery you might be more susceptible.  I definitely feel changes in my equilibrium depending on various things: stress, weather, etc.

there is a rare disease, NF2, which you can read about on these forums.  But I wouldn't worry about that.  best to get in touch with your ENT doc and see what they say.

good luck!

[v357139]

Hi Andrew.  Sorry for what you are experiencing.  Have you discussed the dizziness with your neurotologist, and what does he say?  You may also want to talk to your regular doctor, and perhaps he will refer you to another specialist.  Dizziness can come from lots of different things, and may not be related to your AN surgery at all.

I did not have dizziness after, but I had lots of anxiety in trying to pick a surgeon.  The worst thing was to do nothing and just worrying about it.  And your imagination can be counterproductive.  Doing something always helped me.  So seeing a few doctors is an action that may help.  If possible, it also can be good to find an activity that diverts your attention to something else.

Since I also had anxiety, it might be good to talk.  PM me if you are interested, and I'd be glad to.  Nothing like talking to someone who has been through it.  All the best.