episodes of lightheadedness w/nausea

[Ravensong]

I'm not around here much. I've been diagnosed with complex partial seizures since 1981 and that journey has been a difficult one. One of the hardest things for me has been getting medical professionals to agree that what I experience is actually seizure activity; one neurologist will swear up and down that what I'm experiencing is a seizure, while the next (or a psychiatrist) will say it's not. I've been on all kinds of drugs and Tegretol worked wonders until I became toxic on it, then I finally was put on Topamax, which controls my seizures completely, as long as I don't miss a dose.

Lately, I've been having daily headaches - 28 days of them, to be exact. I've had a repeat MRI, to make sure there haven't been any changes, and it's fine. I have had 2 migraines during this period, but the other headaches are something else. Nobody has figured them out yet.

What I want to ask here, though, is about these brief episodes I'm having at very random intervals. I get extremely lightheaded, with nausea. These episodes last maybe 3-5 minutes then go away and I'm fine. I mentioned the lightheadedness to my doctor (I didn't connect the nausea until tonight), and he just shrugged it off. I'm wondering now if there's any possibility this could be a seizure?

Any thoughts?

 

[masterjen]

I'm not a doctor, but two things cross my mind:
1. medication side effect
2. hypotension, where blood pressure is too low. BP can decrease temporarily and sometimes for only short periods of time for a lot of reasons; keep track of what you are doing at the time the lightheadedness occurs, including time-frame related to when you last ate.

 

[Nakamova]

Did anything change in your lifestyle, diet or environment 28 days ago? Do the headaches occur at the same time of day? Those might be clues as to their origin. As for the nausea and lightheadedness -- those could be simple partials, but as masterjen noted, there can be other causes as well.

 

[MouseyMouse]

We must have the same doctor I have been having dizzy spells - where I'm convinced I'm going to black out for the last couple of months - not on a daily basis but pretty darn close. The headaches are very similar - and I always feel nauseous when I have a headache.

My doctor doesn't seem to care or worry about those symptoms either. I just switched doctors and have an appointment tomorrow. I am not on any medications as of yet.

The way that I got into a new GP was to tell her everything that's been going on with me, and the fact my current GP didn't think any of it was an issue. She wasn't accepting any new patients, but made an exception for me.

Maybe it's time to scope out a new doctor? I have found a lot more comfort in speaking with this doctor - and a lot more confidence in her treatment modalities.

With that being said, I still don't know what's going on - but I thought I'd pass on the thoughts. Once your doctor starts shrugging off symptoms - how are you going to get better?????

 

[masterjen]

The way that I got into a new GP was to tell her everything that's been going on with me, and the fact my current GP didn't think any of it was an issue. She wasn't accepting any new patients, but made an exception for me.

Maybe it's time to scope out a new doctor? I have found a lot more comfort in speaking with this doctor - and a lot more confidence in her treatment modalities.

With that being said, I still don't know what's going on - but I thought I'd pass on the thoughts. Once your doctor starts shrugging off symptoms - how are you going to get better?????

I would think that the fact this GP made an exception to see you means she is taking you seriously, but maybe her shrugging off approach is an attempt (albeit a strange attempt) to make you less worried. Unfortunately, it has become necessary as patients to do a lot of our own research, and perhaps if you were to provide your GP with written articles from reputable sources that relate to your symptoms she will be more likely to act on your concerns and address them with testing or referral to a specialist. Also, remember that the doctor works for you not vice versa so pressure your doctor to explain why a particular symptom is or is not a concern. And at that point if you still feel you are not getting the answers you need, find a new doctor.

 

[Ravensong]

Did anything change in your lifestyle, diet or environment 28 days ago? Do the headaches occur at the same time of day? Those might be clues as to their origin. As for the nausea and lightheadedness -- those could be simple partials, but as masterjen noted, there can be other causes as well.

No, nothing changed, and the headaches begin in the morning after I get up and last all day long. They are worsened by bending over, lifting anything heavy, and really, any activity. I thought initially they might indicate a CSF leak, as I've had surgery to correct a Chiari Malformation (several years ago), but the brain scan was clear. BP is generally fine, no medication changes.

 

[Ravensong]

hi MouseyMouse,
I am looking for a new doctor - both a GP and neurologist. I tend to be very assertive with my docs, but in the last year or more, I've had a lot of issues with them paying attention to what I say, or shrugging it off and blaming everything on my depression. Last thing they said was my depression ended up being pneumonia! Also, when you have depression on top of all the medical issues, there is little energy to or interest in advocating for yourself.

It's all very frustrating. Sounds like you get that. Thanks for responding.

 

[Nakamova]

The Chiari link could be a strong possibility, since symptoms can recur even several years post-surgery. The symptoms could be related pressure ather than leaking. Your headaches in particular sound like ones associated with Chiari malformation, since they are aggravated by bending over and by other activities. And nausea is also a Chiari-related symptom. Might be worth pursuing this angle. I hope you get relief soon.

 

[MouseyMouse]

hi MouseyMouse,
I am looking for a new doctor - both a GP and neurologist. I tend to be very assertive with my docs, but in the last year or more, I've had a lot of issues with them paying attention to what I say, or shrugging it off and blaming everything on my depression. Last thing they said was my depression ended up being pneumonia! Also, when you have depression on top of all the medical issues, there is little energy to or interest in advocating for yourself.

It's all very frustrating. Sounds like you get that. Thanks for responding.

I understand where you're coming from. I agree with Nakamova that you sometimes need to advocate for yourself - and do some research - but sometimes it's not possible!! When you type in "headache" into Google or Yahoo or Bing it comes back with so many results from Barometric pressure changes to Deadly brain tumors!!!

It's a hard one to diagnose for sure, maybe as many people advocate keeping a diary to track epileptic events, maybe you should keep one that tracks headaches... keeping in mind that barometric pressure (thunderstorms), allergies (maybe new and undiagnosed leading to sinus pressure), to low blood sugar could be a cause. Oh oh, and dehydration! I frequent that boat because I drink a lot of coffee...

I know that right now it's allergy season, and up here in Canada it's been a hell of a start. My sinuses are so full, but not runny... I have used a Neti Pot over the last couple days to help flush out my sinuses and have found some relief.

Good luck with the new GP, and maybe as a last ditch effort, talk to your GP and tell him that you're not happy with him/her shrugging you off, and that if you're concerned - because it's out of the normal, then he/she should be as well.

fft: <-- this emoticon makes me laugh...

 

[Ravensong]

Thanks, all. Guess I'll head on over to the Chiari forum and chat with some folks there for a bit, at least until my next appointment. All this is very frustrating.

 

[KittyI]

Hi Ravensong,

Sorry to hear you are struggling. I'm currently being investigated for a complex atypical migraine (no headache) & epilepsy.

I get a similar thing to you, I suddenly feel waves go through me, from my legs up to my stomach. I then feel a horrible rising feeling & get gripped by an intense nausea. I got light-headed and dizzy and the world around me slows down, I feel foggy and find it hard to talk or function.

Sometimes it fades away, lasting about 2-3 minutes, after I feel foggy and tired. Othertimes it gets worse & worse until it grips me, sometimes awaking me from sleep, I then start to get terrified and start walking around, not really sure where I am going, then I just drop unconscious, wake up & stand up, then drop unconscious again. I normally make myself vomit trying to stop this nausea that is incredibly intense. Eventually it fades away and I feel light and floaty and fall into a deep sleep.

Its the worst feeling ever, its terrifying and so hard to explain.

Does your nausea ever develop into something like this? My neuro calls this epigastric rising, I believe its a partial seizure.

Perhaps your nausea is this and coming from a partial seizure?

 

[Ravensong]

Hi Ravensong,

Sorry to hear you are struggling. I'm currently being investigated for a complex atypical migraine (no headache) & epilepsy.

I get a similar thing to you, I suddenly feel waves go through me, from my legs up to my stomach. I then feel a horrible rising feeling & get gripped by an intense nausea. I got light-headed and dizzy and the world around me slows down, I feel foggy and find it hard to talk or function.

Sometimes it fades away, lasting about 2-3 minutes, after I feel foggy and tired. Othertimes it gets worse & worse until it grips me, sometimes awaking me from sleep, I then start to get terrified and start walking around, not really sure where I am going, then I just drop unconscious, wake up & stand up, then drop unconscious again. I normally make myself vomit trying to stop this nausea that is incredibly intense. Eventually it fades away and I feel light and floaty and fall into a deep sleep.

Its the worst feeling ever, its terrifying and so hard to explain.

Does your nausea ever develop into something like this? My neuro calls this epigastric rising, I believe its a partial seizure.

Perhaps your nausea is this and coming from a partial seizure?

Hi KittyI,
Thank you for responding. It sounds like you are really going through a lot right now. I'm so sorry. I hope you get some answers soon.

My nausea is not nearly as intense as this, and is not accompanied by some of the other symptoms you have. I do have a kind of light and floaty feeling, and have had lots of trouble with intense sleepiness, but I'm not sure the latter is related to that or just the headaches. I guess I have a lot going on and it's really hard to separate everything out to understand what it is.

Thanks again! Best to you.

Ravensong

 

[Ravensong]

Oh, btw...thanks for mentioning the "complex atypical migraine." Will need to look that up!

 

[Zolt]

Are you drinking enough water? LIghtheadedness i heard can be cause by lack of water.

Cheers,

iano: op: