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Dizziness over last 18 months

(42 Posts)
PinkCosmos Wed 18-Oct-23 12:47:24

My DH has been suffering, on and off, from dizziness for around 18 months now. He is 64 and is otherwise in good health.

He went to the GP in January this year and she gave him some medication. I can't remember the name but it was only one month's worth. She also gave him some exercises to do.

He took the medication randomly and only did the exercises a couple of times, despite me nagging him to do both.

The dizzy spells have got worse over the last couple of months. Some days are better than others. However, my DH is under quite a bit of work stress at the moment.

He went to the doctors again yesterday. His blood pressure and other signs were fine. The gp asked him to say the months of the year backwards e.g. December, November etc. He was unable to do this. He was also vague when asked when the dizzy spells started, which the gp seemed to find irritating.

The gp told him to go to get his eyes tested and then go back to see him. The gp asked him to bring me along, which I am finding a bit worrying.

I think the gp is considering dementia or similar. I have no idea what could be causing these dizzy spells.

My DH suffers from dyslexia which I think is why he could not say the months backwards.

My mother had dementia. I can see no similar signs in my DH.

I have been on Dr Google extensively and all I can find re. dizziness is ear related stuff.

Does anyone have any experience of this kind of dizziness and what was the outcome.

Thanks in advance

spabbygirl Sat 21-Oct-23 18:23:09

I have dizziness and have had maybe full on for 6 months or so, at first it was easily managed with betahistaine but now its worse because I had hight blood pressure but now that is under control I still have it & my dr says its because of ear problems so I had my ears syringed and its still there. dr looked into the ear & said I have an infection the other side of the ear drum so I must do steam inhalation 4x daily, you know when you put your head over a bowl of hot water with added menthol, but I'm really bad at doing it, its so boring. I don't agree about keeping away from dr google, I think as long as you're on a respectable website, ie NHS or one of the charities it can be helpful, it only means my imagination runs wild if I don't research things, but bear in mind not all the advice might be relevant to you. It's a horrible condition & your GP should do more to check its nothing more serious. Perhaps you could explain why some tests are going to be more difficult for him, maybe she does suspect dementia because of that & hasn't considered other reasons

Floradora9 Sat 21-Oct-23 21:44:11

He needs to do the exercises several times a day every day for months at a time . Doing the odd exercise will be no good at all but retraining his brain with the exercises will make a difference . The idea is to train his brain not to react to some situations by provoking the dizziness and learning to cope with it .

montymops Sat 21-Oct-23 21:58:56

Agree with many here - your GP is not helping you. I get dizzy with atrial fibrillation and am now on pills which stop it. My father as he got older, often got dizzy as he suffered from very low blood pressure. Your husband’s problem needs investigating.

PinkCosmos Mon 23-Oct-23 12:04:26

Fluer 20 - And please stop scriptwriting, that helps no-one and will just add to the problem

I am the OP and don't understand what you mean by this comment

Here is an update:

DH had his eyes tested. No issues other than quite weak reading glasses.

I went to the GP with him on Friday. The GP commented that he hoped DH was in a more cooperative mood. DH told him that he struggled with the backwards months as he is dyslexic. GP said why didn't you tell me this last time.

GP did balance tests and I helped with answers. GP gave DH some tablets to take and told him to come back in two weeks.

The tablets are the same ones he had previously. Last time he only took them randomly. DH said he will take them three times a day religiously.

I can't remember the name of the tablets - picking prescription up today - but they are supposed to help with the blood flow in your ears and help the crystals move into a better position.

The GP said if they don't work there was other medication he could try. I suppose the GP is trying to eliminate other things before sending him for more tests. He did have a MRI scan about six years ago for a similar problem. They didn't find anything amiss.

Grantanow Mon 23-Oct-23 12:34:57

More attention needed from your GP. Dizziness has many causes, more and less serious. Some, like inner ear problems, are trickier to diagnose. Keep after it!

Kaci Mon 23-Oct-23 15:40:05

I had extreme dizziness, even felt like I could fall over to the side when I move my head a certain way. I had all the standard test and they were all clear. I was back in my doctors office sitting on an the exam table when she asked me to lie down. She then tipped the table quickly and there it was... My eyes where flickering back and forth. It was my ears. Apparently I had a crystal dislodge. She gave me a paper with ear exercizes, it took awhile but it finally stopped it. Once in a while it'll slip out again and I just need to do the exercize once or twice and it is back where it belongs.

Gundy Mon 23-Oct-23 15:45:41

Nicolenet You’re right! I’ve never understood why people come here for medical advice seeking answers to their illness or affliction.

“For the love of…!” Go to the Doctor if you’re sick, don’t waste time here. Waiting here days, weeks or months… they could be dead. (to put it one way…)

Kaci Mon 23-Oct-23 15:48:20

If you think he could have ear issues, there are a lot of manuvers on You Tube for ear crystal issues. My doctor said to use this one, for it works the best. www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/home-epley-maneuver

Kaci Mon 23-Oct-23 15:51:01

Coming on here talking and asking questions about things, including medical issues, is like talking to your friends. Sometimes we learn from each other.

Primrose53 Mon 23-Oct-23 16:15:40

Lostmyglassesxx

A lot of personal experience here. This could very well be BPV, which is where the crystals in your ear get dislodged and they have to be moved back with various manoeuvers. This is something a GP can easily do and he can do it himself. If you look up the Epley manoeuvre And establish whether he is having the symptoms, BPV vertigo is when your head in a certain position either to the left or the right dependent which ear and everything spins. When it’s observed by professional, they will see something called a nystagmus , which is where the eyes sort of judder - it can be connected to other physical issues or just something that comes and goes, but a GP or an osteopath or physio can diagnose it or rule it out. It is one of the worst horrible discombobulating things to live with so tell him to get back to the GP or find another professional- it could be other things within the ear and dizziness can be a symptom all sorts of things, but there are specific types of dizziness which you they attribute to specific conditions.

I have BPV. If I lay down flat I feel like I am rolling off the bed. If I bend down to pick something up I go really dizzy, same if I reach up to a high cupboard.

Doli55 Mon 23-Oct-23 16:33:58

It sounds like your husband needs a referral to an ENT specialist.

JackyB Tue 24-Oct-23 08:26:07

It can also be a symptom of long COVID.

welbeck Tue 24-Oct-23 11:22:42

i don't like the sound of that doctor. should not make comments about being unco-operative.
why don't you go see a different one next time.

PinkCosmos Tue 24-Oct-23 16:37:39

Gundy

Nicolenet You’re right! I’ve never understood why people come here for medical advice seeking answers to their illness or affliction.

“For the love of…!” Go to the Doctor if you’re sick, don’t waste time here. Waiting here days, weeks or months… they could be dead. (to put it one way…)

OP here. I didn't come here asking for medical advice !

I asked 'Does anyone have any experience of this kind of dizziness and what was the outcome.'

Not the same thing

granbabies123 Tue 24-Oct-23 21:26:36

Could it be vertigo. I suffer from this especially if I turn right when laid down in bed or if I look upwards. If you think it is, google excercises for vertigo.

Freshair Thu 26-Oct-23 17:43:49

You mentioned stress at work, this could be the primary cause. He could surely retire at 64 years old?