My story may seem a little long , but here goes. I have a pretty stressful job, about 4 weeks ago while driving during work, I began to experience tunnel vision, I also felt as if I was going to pass out, my heart began to beat rapidly , my chest tightened causing difficulty breathing, I began to sweat, and my arms and legs began to tingle and then briefly felt sort of numb. I was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, by the time I got to the hospital most of the symptoms were gone. They ran a Ct scan of my head, drew blood, and did an ekg. All tests came back normal except for one particular test of the blood called D-Dimer, this was a little high. Many times a high reading on the D-Dimer indicates a blood clot, so they did a Ct scan of my chest, it came back normal. Ever since that day I have been experiencing constant dizziness, some days worse than others. I had to go to another hospital about 2 weeks ago because I began to have the same symptoms. All of the tests came back normal . I have been to see my doctor on several occasions and have a referral to a cardiologist and a neurologist. It takes forever to actually get in to see the specialist when you have an HMO type of insurance and a doctor who apparently doesn't mark any referrals as urgent. I am beginning to believe that the dizziness is causing the anxiety attacks. I have had several more minor ones at home and can usually prevent them from becoming full blown attacks by lying down and trying to relax. When I get these attacks I feel very restless and antsy for a couple of hours followed by extreme fatigue. I have some good days when the dizziness is mild and bad days when the dizziness is moderate to intense. Sometimes I am also very sensitive to certain types of lights ( Christmas lights) that will intensify the dizziness. The cardiologist had me wear a holter monitor which recorded my heart for 24 hours, I don't think it recorded anything telling, since it happened to be a good day and I didn't experience any attacks. I did have the constant dizziness but that was all. I was doing some research online and did read about vertical heterophoria syndrome, sounds like what I experience. I don't want to focus on that yet because I'm still waiting for my appointment with a neurologist to make sure that nothing is wrong with my ears or brain, I have been told that inner ear problems can cause these symptoms also. My doctor also mentioned that it might just be stress related anxiety. What is really frustrating, is that no one has diagnosed my problem in 4 weeks, and I have been using up sick leave. I have the type of job that won't allow me to do the work dizzy and with a potential to have possible anxiety related attacks and God forbid that it be some sort of blood circulation problem in the brain that kills me when I get into a stressful situation at work.

Hey everybody, i just turned 20 and most of you have the same symptoms as me: anxiety attacks, dizziness, and an overwhelming grogginess...sometimes its hard for me to even think. It really sucks for me, because i feel like i should be strong...because i am so young...from what ive experienced..i think...sleep, diet, and exercise play a major factor in the cause of this dizziness...i like to party, and drink a little bit but usually socially. i dont do any drugs, i used to take zoloft for my anxiety attacks, they worked, so i stopped taking them...i was good up until recently i started to get a groggy dizzy feeling...almost everyday...sometimes i will be doing something and the dizziness will just hit me...sort of a slap effect...which causes me to panic...luckily ive been having anxiety attacks so long, i dont have to call an ambulance any more i have learned to fight them....its not pleasant, but i get it done...i just wanna be normal...i really thought i was the only one, so as bad as it may sound...you guys make me feel..."not so alone"...i dont know what to do but i am optimistic, and willing to try anything to stop this everlasting nightmare...its ruining my life. thanks...
brandon

I have had similar symptoms. i had difficulty concentrating, brain fog, irritablility, head pressure at times, and many other symptoms. I stumbled upon an article that talked about Candida Overgrowth. Google it and see if you have similar symptoms. It deals with a combinition of complications that lead to an overgrowth of yeast in the body. Check it up...there are ways to test your self for it. Also, google "Candida Spit Test." Good luck to all of you!

Sorry I forgot to state that I also had anxiety and dizziness. Once again...Good luck and stick with the research.

Hi all, its anxiety and nothing more nothing less. I've had it for the last 15 years, it gets worse when im stressed or depressed (which makes me look at what im doing, slow down and take time out to relax) when you're feeling great and things are going well you dont think about the 'dizziness' or even notice it.

When its at its worst, the anxiety always kicks in, "why is this always happening, why wont it go away, it must be something serious, dangerous, life threatening........" remember these thoughts are symptoms of anxiety themselves, number one thing is to relax - by that i mean take time out for yourself, get a massage, go to hypnotherapy, get some craniosacral therapy - you wont believe how much clearer and stable and relaxed you will feel after that!!! Ive also tried shen therapy which is nothing short of amazing, dont know how it works, just that it does.

Doctors dont know what to do with this type of symptom, they just throw drugs at it, and perform a million and one tests with the same result - no improvement, no explanations.

Dont get me wrong, definitely get it checked out in the first instance, but once the usual suspects are ruled out, you can rest assured its anxiety and/or stress and let it go baby!

PLEASE READ: LONG POST, BUT I HAVE TRIED TO BE DETAILED, SO OTHERS CAN COMPARE.

Is anyone still reading this thread from earlier?

What happened to 7dukcs? Sean?

I have had these symptoms for 5 months now, and I am determined to find out whats causing it. I hope someone else who knows and answer will find this thread.

It is NOT just anxiety, that much I am sure of! I think the anxiety comes from the symptoms, and the reason we sometmes feel better is that we experience something exiting or good, that it overpowers it. Maybe just basic adrenaline.

I hope some of you are still reading this thread so we can continue working on finding a solution.

Here is my story:

6 months ago or so, over the course of a few days, I started feeling like I was going to get sick, you know the feeling you get the day before a flu outbreak. But I never got really sick, instead I had a nasty headache for 3 days straight, every second of the day, when that subsided the dizzyness began. It has been with me since then.

As others describe its a hungover feeling, foggyness, something feeling off. I feel like I rock from side to side also, but not very strong. I also linger a bit when walking straight. Its worst when I wake up, and it takes several cups of coffee and a hot shower for me to feel better. I sleep poorly and wake up a lot. In the beginning I also would wake up and feel like I couldnt breathe.

I have also had panic attacks with fear of dying, but I am sure this is a byproduct.

I was tested for the common bloodworks and no problems (except a bit elevated liver numbers), hearth ok, lungs ok. Haven't had MRI scan yet, but will go check it out.

I have recently tried to isolate some causes, here is what I have been thinking about:

- For me, and others if I understand you, it feels kinda like having a bit of the flu all of the time? I have no problems running or working out, buth afterwards there is "hot" pressure in my head, and my troath feels sore, like after a cold or flu.

- I get exceptionally dizzy after the first meal of the day, it takes me a good hour to get back to normal, could this indicate something to do with the blood?

- I also feel like others that my brain lack oxygen somehow?

- Alchohol makes it worse.

HERE IS SOMETHING NEW FOR YOU GUYS:

I have found TWO and ONLY TWO things that remove the dizzyness and they are both "drugs":

1)Cocaine
Please dont take this the wrong way, I am not a drug user, but I tried a few times after my dizzyness began, and it actually HELPED. NO DIZZYNESS OR BRAIN FOG. I am not telling you to take cocaine, but its worth telling your doctor I think. Cocaine affects neurological processes, so isolating this could be important!

2) Amphetamines
I was recently on a fat burner/diet pill that contained some sort of amphetamine. IT REMOVED DIZZYNESS! Again, I am not saying you should take this, but IT COULD BE IMPORTANT!

So, my conclusion is this:

Whatever the reason for the onset of the symptoms, I am beginning to feel like this is a neurological problem.

Maybe I am leaning towards a dormant, non-dangerous virus, persisting in the body. Epstein Barr was mentioned earlier, and I think thats a possibility. If a virus can stay in the system and affect the neurological system, then it can give all these symptoms that seem unconnected, thats the very essence of neurological problems as far as I understand. An (ear) doctor I was talking to mentioned enchephalitis (brain imflamation), which could explain the headaches. This could account for the neurological symptoms.

I am sure however this is not just anxiety, it seems most people here, including me, had no history of depression. I was coming of the best time of my life when this hit.

I hope more people will read this and reply, and that we can find out whats bothering us.

Best to all!

Hey mate,
Thank you for taking the time to post, and for your excellent positive attitude. For the majority of posters on this thread I think you're right - it is anxiety and people should continue to try out different treatments ranging from the natural to hard core drugs.

However, as with many mental disorders, anxiety can be empirically tested and treated. I spent 18 months testing whether I had anxiety, and it was confirmed that I do not. I was able to rule it out.

So, for everyone posting on this thread, absolutely get 'tested' for anxiety - do the drugs and the questionnaires and the therapy sessions and the meditation and enter a program and stick with them long enough for them to have effect or effectively be able to be ruled out as a treatment.

But once you've done everything that modern science has to offer, and nothing even makes a dent, you need to continue your search.

By the way, it is very difficult to rule everything else out. As demonstrated by the dedicated research being carried out by the people who have posted here, new treatments for grogginess and headaches are being churned out all the time. However,as suggested by justTRY, odds are it is anxiety. Even if it’s not, it is one of the better places to start.

Cheers,
7ducks

It's very interesting and helpful to find fellow sufferers. I had a tough life. I have had many of the described symptoms for almost 10 years now. I was a wreck during the first couple of years as doctors couldn't help me and I felt completely helpless. I almost went insane and every day was a struggle. I still have some symptoms, especially when exposed to stress or just any other negative environment. I have found that fighting yourself, going out, being with friends, travelling, doing sports, getting enough sleep when you need it and just living life to the fullest is the only real cure even if its exactly the opposite of what you feel you are capable of doing. Once your doctor tells you he can't find anything wrong, you just have to trust that fact. Your body is incredibly strong and you just have to get your mind into a state where it accepts this and is able to look forward to the positive things in life. Just keep fighting it. If you are scared of doing something, do it! And don't be scared of panic attacks because your body will always overcome them eventually. I can certainly speak of enough experience. I was ready to give up and now I am enjoying life more than ever...even though I realize that I am inclined to experience these symptoms. Today was another bad day, but they are quite few in total these days and I have more confidence than ever in my physical state, knowing that you can condition your mental well-being. I am 100% convinced that my dizziness has nothing to do with my physical health and I am sure all of us can lead a great life...you just have to go do it. After suffering through years of the symptoms at work and everywhere else, it's like I have gotten used to them and no longer am aware of them. So don't lose hope, there is certainly a light on the other side. I don't want to discourage anyone from finding the true cause, but what helped me immensely was to give up the search....accept what you are and chances are you will feel much, much better...all the best to everyone

check out the anxiety section of the DSM (Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) - you can probably find it printed online for free. My main symptoms tend to be depersonalization (like I'm constantly in a dream state) and lightheadedness. Plus I'm forgetful or absentminded. And, of course, this leads me to believe that I'm going crazy or dying of some dreadful disease like alzheimers. Anyway, the DSM really helped me out because I was able to recognize my symptoms and come to the conclusion that many people must feel the same way. It helps to know that.

I have been having similar things happen, and getting progressively worse over the past 3 years. One doctor said I have autonomic dysfunction, but this does not explain the off balance, groggy, heavy, dizzy or lightheaded feelings i get. I also have weakness in my legs,and sometimes feel like my arms and legs are numb, but trust me I can feel it if you touch them. Its really weird, but so far I have had to trust the Lord in these things. I have no answer, and apparently no doctor does. I will pray for all of you along with myself. This is a very difficult thing to live with, but we can do it. God bless each of you.

Hi everyone, I'm glad I'm not the only one in this. Hang in there those who have this problem. I think I have the same dizziness 7ducks describes. However, mine was drug induced. It has been going on for 2 months now.

Here is how it happened:

Before the incident I had smoked marijuana and drank alcohol on an occasional basis (about once every 4 months) without having any problem whatsoever. But this one time when I did it, the marijuana was probably laced. I felt stoned in a way I had not felt before. I had extremely poor concentration and absent minded. Anyway, after smoking I waited for effects to pass a bit(3 hours), and decided to start drinking alcohol. After having drunk quite a bit, I took a redbull to try to neutralize the effects of alcohol. This is something I have done many times before without anything bad happening to me. Anyway... I had a lot of fun during the rest of the night. The next morning is when my problems started.

Symptoms I have experienced since a month and a half and that I still experience :

Every day has been pretty much the same. My symptoms are constant during the day. I'm not so much dizzy in a normal situation, but I feel like a part of my brain is numb, like something is not right. I have memory problems and lack focus. I still have fast paced eye movement. I have a hard time following a conversation between other people. I constantly forget what they were talking about at first. I have inattention moments when I'm watching a tv program. I noticed that my eyes are a little more difficult to open in the morning when I wake up, I don't know how you call that sticky stuff they produce but I have more than I usually did. I don't notice much balance or coordination problems anymore. I have a mild headaches here and there.

However, whenever I'm in a stressful situation, the dizziness kicks in. I also notice that I get scared when there is people around, one of the reasons is because I don't want the people to notice that I'm not being myself. Speaking is harder to do. I need to do more effort than before. I'm sometimes not able to think of the right word to use and I stutter just a little bit. The other day I even caught myself talking faster than usual and stumbling on my words.

I'm currently trying ginkgo biloba, it says it helps with the memory problems. So far, after 3 days of usage, I can say that if it helps with the memoery, I do not notice it and the same state of dizziness is definitly still present.

I attended a wedding yesterday where there was over a 100 people in a relatively small room. I was talking with some of my family members I had not seen for a while but I was not enjoying it. After a while, I couldnt take it anymore, I had to get out and get some fresh air.


My symptoms were not the same directly after I smoked the marijuana and drank. You can read if you're interested.

First day:
In the morning when I woke up, I felt like it was a normal hangover with difficulty walking due to balance problems and movement coordination problems. In the evening I really started to panic as the hangover was still apparent.

Next 5 days or so:
I kept having panic attacks, especially in the subway and the bus and started to notice that I was constantly dizzy, I lacked focus and I had memory problems when I studied. I also had fast paced eye movement. Watching tv in the evening was very unconfortable, I could not find a confortable position for some reason so I kept changing positions on the bed.

Also, I felt like I had no emotions, nothing made me happy. Extremely dizzy and almost past out during one of my exams. I took five minutes to breathe and I was able to finish.

Next week:
I started to feel better in the morning, but as the afternoon came, about 3 o'clock everyday, I instantly started to be really fatigued, but nothing else. At the end of this week I decided to drink. While I was drunk everything was alright except that the dizziness was amplified. But then the hang,over lasted for 3 days. Very dizzy in the morning when I woke up, headaches throughout the next 3 days and difficulty watching tv in the evening.

I'm french living in the US...so I apologise already for my poor english. Anyhow, 7ducks said it all. It started with me 5 years ago, for no reason and I can't rule it out. We call that dizziness but is it the right word I don't know. 3 years ago, I was in a very bad day of grogginess, and thought I was gonna die...So, worst for the worst, put my shoes on, and went out jogging...After all, If I have to die, I want to be out by the beach. But then after 40mn mn, dizziness went away... So from that day on, I decided to run, every other day, I run 8 miles...and set myself goals. Half Marathon, Marathon, Trail race, Ultra Trail...and it's good to know that I need to train to be ready. But don't get me wrong, I still feel groggy all day at work, and when I run, my body probably produces enough adrenaline to erase the effect. But I don't care, that's the only time of the day that I feel good. I agree with the amphetamines and cocaine for the same reason as the adrenaline. So put your shoes on and go out running!!

SOMETHING I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO DOCTORS ALL THE TIME!!!
MY DIZZINESS IS LIKE BREATHING ITS HAPPENING CONSTANTLY.
Hi all its wardenet again "7ducks" this is also something i would like you to read.
i have still have no luck with finding out what is wrong with me and my current situation has gotten worse i am only 32 and now have lost part of my vision in my right eye which has also made my dizziness worse, reason i mention this is because once again doctors do not know what is going on and why i should get a blockage in my eye.
I want and feel I want to explain in as much detail what it is that has been happening to me and when it started and what to the best of my knowledge happened before it first started.
i was 15 years old and I was having really bad stomach pains at the time i did not know what it was, but after months of being sick and throwing up blood I had an endoscopy and found out i had a hiatus hernia.
This at the time was very unusual for someone so young and fit, after my endoscopy which was on a weekend I went to school on Monday only to feel a little light headed nothing major like having a drag on your first cigarette.
As the days went on the dizziness got worse till the fourth day I woke up and behold I had this dizziness and dizziness is the best that I can describe it at the moment. It feels like spinning, shaking, confusion, grogginess and cold like symptoms all rolled into one.
The light would also hurt my eyes at the time I could not go out in the sun or when I did manage to go back to school I had to wear sunglasses.
After a few months I think about 6 it calmed down a bit but never went when I say it calmed down I say it loosely as I am not sure if part of it is my brain compensating in some way.
Not sure how long after that I got to a point where I could work again, thing was is whenever got a cold, hay fever or any kind of illness my dizziness would kick in big time as after the illness went i.e. cold it would take a few extra days for my dizziness to calm down again, now I also realized that getting too hot or working out would make it worse as well as getting stressed.
I have done so many things in that time from herbal teas, not drinking, acupuncture, and stone therapy, meditation which is very hard when everything in your head is spinning.
At the age of 19ish I split up with a girlfriend and decided to go out and drink which is something I never do and drank spirits “doubles” and a few nights after that while sitting in front of my desk bang my dizziness was back with full force and had to be taken to hospital. Once again while in hospital all blood results came back 100% and doctors looking at me like I was talking crap as everything always came back great by all medical terms I am perfectly healthy.

I am now 32 and have recently had another attack and what makes this worse is that I have also lost part of my sight in my right eye with no explanation as to why and how other than once again I am a healthy young man and this should not have happened to me. My dizziness is now worsened again remembering it has still never gone from my life. I have looked and read over the years and come up with many ideas none of which doctors seem to take seriously at all.
I am going to list my symptoms as best I can with things that cause them to get worse I will also list anything else that is the matter with me such as other illnesses and allergies just in case we all find something similar.
Here we go:
dizziness is with me 24 hours a day’s even in my dreams
light can sometime be sensitive
numbness in the top right part of head with weird feeling in neck.
headaches not always bad ones varies
my dizziness is not vertigo as my balance is fine
flu, colds, hay fever anything like that makes me worse
not enough sleep or sometime to much sleep makes me worse
another thing i have found is that i cannot take a short nap during the day otherwise that will kick the dizziness back in bad, will last for 30mins to 2 hours then calm down a bit.
I have a hiatus hernia and if that plays up so will my dizziness
sometimes I can tell in advance is i get will because dizziness with start getting bad then following that something will happen, cold, flu, bellyache etc.


I am willing to start a forum just for people with the constant dizziness so we can all share what we have tried that way we can all help with our own experiences if 7ducks would like to help start it that would be greatly appreciated


Thanks

I have been experiencing similiar symptoms. Just dizziness, foggy head, fatigue and it's driving me nuts. Have you checked into mold or pesticides as being the cause. It seems to fit your symptoms.

hi all not heard much from anyone, has everyobe gotten better or found a way of reducing the symptoms.
do not mean it in a bad way, just don't know if i can take this for rest of my life.

hi wardenet,

yeah where to go next is always an expensive, time-consuming decision. i reckon first stop has to be a very good (read expensive) psychiatrist to rule out anxiety, depression, etc. head scans are the first thing they'll check before testing a multitude of hard drugs, the majority of which will probably make you feel worse .. i found this to be an unpleasant, expensive but very necessary step in the process. i'd try that for a while until psych disorders can be ruled out.

then i'm afraid, reading back through this thread, the sky's the limit.

i've been planning to go back through this thread and do a summary post listing out all the different things people have mentioned to make it easier for everyone - sort of a reference post. i'll get to that shortly.

anyway, to be honest it's not much use asking me because i'm still there with you. all i am is the guy who started the thread

seriously though .. i promise to report back if ever i find something that works. i might even use caps .. haha.

7ducks

so what can you do with your illness. can u drive etc because i got it bad where i have not been able to, or even go out on my own at the moment.

My anxiety and panic attacks started in college, subsided after college for a few years as I learned to control and deal with them. I am on high blood pressure medicine, Attenol and Lisinipril - fairly low doses. About 6 months ago, I had an allergic reaction to pine nuts and propelled me into a monstorous panic attack, where I hyperventillated and ended up in the ER. Since then, my anxiety has taken itself to a much higher level. I'm anxious in all social situations, getting my hair cut, going to graduation, even going to a family breakfast (although my mom and girlfriend's mom were meeting for the first time so that was a little anxiety provoking anyway ) The anxiety is much more frequent. I no longer have the "I'm going to die" panic attack, but "I'm losing control" attach. In the past week or two, I have developed the grogging, dizzy, dreamy feeling....all the time. The only time I feel normal is when laying down/sleeping. My doctor has prescribed Adavand until my daily anxiety medicine kicks in which is Celexa. However, the last week I have had to take an Advand everyday which helps my anxiety, but the dreamy dizzy feeling does not go away. Only been on Celexa for a few days and I hope it helps with everything.

I'm 28 and expecting my first baby at the end of November and NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT before the baby comes. I feel like this is going to hinder my ability to be a good dad.

Any body have any thoughts before I go nuts?

hi m8 i am not to sure about your condition but if it is to do with anxiety then seeing someone about how to deal with it is best. i mean with my illness which is not anxiety based but does cause it i have tried to change my mental attitude towards situations the more you worrie about it the more anxiety you will produce for yourself.


the best advice i would give, and its only personal advice is this:

1.) i have listened to antony robbins which gives you a better view on things and how to change your views and perspectives in life.
2.) herbal tea's camomile at night peppermint tea in the mornings.
3.) bach rescue remedy herbal flower remedy.
4.) looking at the things that make me the way i am and tring to be honest with myself and change them.
maybe ask your doctor on other ways of speaking to someone that is specialized in that area.


hopee this helps
Andy

but the panicking/anxiety definately feels like a chemical thing where my mind set changes. I used to be able to control it, but can't anymore. I'm fairly certain the celerex will help with the anxiety, just not so sure about the dizziness...