I can't seem to decide on which "Topic" I should put this in...but here goes. My Dad (my hero) has been suffering for many years with these horrible symptoms of what he calls a severe "rush" in his head. He is 62 years old. The symptoms are severe vertigo, constant ringing in his ears, loss of equilibrium and hearing, but he has these "rushes" or attacks even worse when he is driving. He has also noticed that if he is chewing gum or anything else while driving, it seems to intensify the attack. It has only gotten worse as the years have gone by, it is so severe now that a drive over a few miles puts him into these attacks and he has to pull over immediately as he feels he is not in control of his body let alone the vehicle. It has ruined so many aspects of his life. He used to be an avid outdoorsman, and now he can barely make it to work (2 mile drive). He has seen a few different doctors and they all tell him he is fine. He is not fine. PLEASE! If anyone here knows anything about this, please reply and help me help my Dad. Thanks in advance.
MzDeen
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Vertigo, Panic, Disorientation
- By MzDeen
- Posted March 18, 2008 at 1:57 pm · 7 replies
- In Eyes and vision
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7 replies
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- By JenTilley06
- Posted March 19, 2008 at 9:44 am
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look up the symptoms of a condition (a treatable condition) known as systemic candida. it is quite common, and can be caused by several different factors. i derived mine from a corticosteroid nasal spray that i was taking for my allergies.
get your father to check whether the symptoms listed match his own; but be aware that any "antifungals" can have a bad effect on the liver.
i was told by a nutritionist (referred by my doctor) that the best bet is to follow what is called the "candida diet"; but for faster effects... a raw foods diet is highly recommended.
all of this information can be found online (symptoms/diet information)
and i hope your father begins to feel well again (it is possible!!)
- By JenTilley06
- Posted March 19, 2008 at 9:46 am
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the rush probably intensifies when he's chewing gum because of the sugar... sugar feeds candida!!!
again... look into the diet... and the raw foods diet... difficult at first, but can be done!!!
- By FredC
- Posted March 20, 2008 at 5:30 pm
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Vertigo can be a very frightening thing as you never know when it is going to hit you and when it does you can be helpless to do anything, even dial a phone for help. I have had three such events in my life, one minute you seem to be fine the next the world is spinning and you can not control it. First I have to ask the obvious question, has he been to an ENT, not just his GP? Second does he get sinus infections, or have a drip? What I found is that if not attended to this could lead to an ear infection and this is the area that is causing his issues. At the first sign of a light head I take a decongestant, if it is bad they do sell anti-vert that may help him with spinning as well. Also, I found that after my first attach I was frightened, and I would be in a store moving my head back and forth to look at the products and I would get dizzy. Then it would turn into a panic attach as I thought I was going to get the vertigo again making it more of a panic attach than vertigo. I hope this helped a little, the best of luck to you.
Fred
www.informationuneedtoknow.com
- By FredC
- Posted March 21, 2008 at 8:34 am
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Last comment, just make sure he speaks to a Dr. before he takes any medication. I am reading all the comments and what helps one thing may impact another.
Take care and good luck to you and your Dad
- By tsdriscoll
- Posted March 21, 2008 at 7:46 pm
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Please don't freak out. I am also 62 years old and have had to deal with this same condition since the early 1980's. My first experence was getting out of bed and the room would spin. I fell back onto the bed. I slowly sat up in bed and shook my head to clear it ,bad mistake.The room took off again. I managed to get ready and the wife drove me to the G.P. I had a cold at the time and felt terrible. The doc gave me anti vert. He had me on a massive dose of it for the first few days an then tapered down for two weeks. Did it help?Yea to a degree.It is a long story but I found out that I had an inner ear infection. I saw many doctors and stumbled upon an ear nose throat doc that had the same problem. The infection had caused major damage to my bodies ability to balance itself . you nead your eyes,inner ear and ankels to work ase a unit to keep you in a balanced state. I went to the doctor's opthemoligst.She fitted me with a portable eye checking device that I wore around the office and outside for several minutes. She kept tweaking the settings untill everthing settled down..New glases with prizems in them allowed my brain to rewire itself. It took about two weeks of frustration to get adjusted to them,but sudden head movements will always be a no-no. Just got back from the doctor with anti-vert. I made an apointment to get new glasses in two weeks. Best of luck Tom
- By MzDeen
- Posted March 22, 2008 at 10:36 am
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Thank you all so much for your comments and help. Dad seen the family doc just this week. They did or I should say re-did some specific tests on him. They are thinking possibly the condition of BPPV. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Most common, it affects only one ear, they determined that he is affected in both ears which they seem to think was unusual or rare. He is seeing a ENT on Monday. He has always had sinus problems which the doc discussed as well. I do think that the severe attacks while driving have probably done just what you did, turn into a panic attack. He's so afraid that it's going to happen, that he does panic and it does happen. There are several treatments available for this, some just simple exercises you can do at home. I found a lot here on the net and printed him some of it. I have had vertigo myself off and on since 1999. I had to quit a job during one round of it. Funny thing is that I am so worried about him, and in turn he is worried about me. Awww...the father/daughter relationship! Thanks again, and when he finds out, i'll post it here.
MzDeen
- By NotJustADizzyBlonde
- Posted January 3, 2009 at 6:05 am
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Hi,
Your Dad is at a classic age to be suffering from Ménière’s disease.
http://www.dizziness-and-vertigo.com/menieres-disease.html
When suffering from dizziness and vertigo, be persistant and get it checked out.
Also he is lucky to have a caring daughter like yourself.
Cheers
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