Why am I dizzy all of a sudden?
 

I had a dizzy spell last year a few days after getting back from vacation. It wasn't like vertigo with the room spinning and it wasn't like being light headed when you stand up too quickly, this was like being stumbling drunk. I had to hold on to a wall or I thought i was going to fall down. When it didn't get better in an hour or so went to the emergency room. They checked for heart attack, stroke and did a CT scan of my brain. They found nothing and the dizziness went away in a few hours. The ER dr suggested I see a neurologist.

First I saw an Ear, Nose and Throat dr to see if it was an inner ear issue. He ran a hearing test, a vertigo test, looked in my ears, asked me about the symptoms and said it wasn't an ear issue.

Next I saw a neurologist. He looked at the CT scan and said my brain looked normal for a 57 year old. He even asked what I do for a living. I said I'm an engineer and he said that makes sense, I have an engineer's brain :) . He said my height (6'2") and ago (57) could be a problem as tall people have circulation issues. He did an EEG with things stuck all over my head and said it was normal. Then had an MRI done of my brain and he said it was normal. He gave me a vertigo drug to take if I got dizzy again. He said even though the ENT dr said I don't have a vertigo, if the drug makes me less dizzy, it's likely a neurological problem but if it makes me feel no change or worse, it's likely a heart issue. I took the drug next time I was dizzy and felt no change.

Finally I saw my cardiologist. He did a stress test, EKG and week long heart monitor sticker on my chest thing. Everything came back fine.

So now what? It only happens every month or so. I thought it could be hydration so I'm drinking more water but then I got dizzy again on Monday.

I'd get second opinions on all the above. Something like a drop in blood pressure is causing it. Any meds or supplements?

I did a stress test a few years back. Doc supervising told me passing doesn't mean you won't drop dead on your way to the car after.

I know that's not encouraging but based on my experience the stress test is not the final word on heart health. At least as i understand it.

I have that a few times a year. It turned out to be little stones build up in my ear canal. I have to dislodge them using the Epley maneuver (https://www.webmd.com/brain/home-remedies-vertigo).
Usually the body dissolves the little stones on time, for me sometimes the body takes a bit longer hence the dizziness.

The symptoms are dizziness but in my case the spinning is always clockwise. When I explained that to the Dr. she was really excited cause apparently she learned that in Med. school but had never met anyone with that symptom. Its very unusual..

But I know when the dizziness kicks in, whooooo, I'm in for a ride!


good luck.

I get vertigo every month or so. The Dr. initially prescribed Meclizine which is the exact ingredient in Dramamine. My first case of vertigo (about 25 yrs ago) was the worst and I have since learned how to manage it.

I can always tell when it's going to happen as I tend to get a feeling in my rear neck a day or so before. I take Dramamine and it goes away. I will sometimes trigger a vertigo event by moving my head too quickly (like when changing the oil, or plumbing repair where I have to lay on the ground).

I'm not saying this is your case but letting you know what happens to me. Lastly, vertigo runs in my family with my mom and a few siblings so it might be hereditary.

That would be freaking me out. Many years ago, I got dizzy, and it freaked me out. I'm fairly certain that it was Benign Positional Vertigo.

Have you ever tried the "Epley maneuver" for BPPV when you were having the dizzy spell?
It's free and worth a shot.

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THat sounds like BPPV to me, since it's triggered by position and specific movements. The one instance where I had it was similar. I stepped out of an elevator and turned left quickly, and I am fairly certain that was the trigger for my instance.

Yep, the positions of the little stones trigger vertigo and the Epley is supposed to restore the position as I understand it.

I really don't think it's vertigo. There's no spinning just a feeling of being unsteady. Meclizine is what the neurologist prescribed and it didn't stop the dizziness.

When I take Meclizine, it takes a couple of days before my vertigo goes away.

Also, many times when I get up in the middle of the night to go pee, I will be a little unsteady for a minute. It's not dizzy in the spinning sense, but off balance. I attribute this to mild allergies as laying down tends to plug me up.

Any chance there’s a food trigger? I’ve learned that certain foods have very predictable adverse effects as I get older.

Parasite!!!

Just a guess.

You guys are making me feel way better :D

I'm pretty sure the brain CT scan and MRI can rule out a tumor or parasite!

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It might be the solenoid.

I had a similar thing after I'd got food poisoning while on holiday. It went away by itself but I felt a bit woozy for a month or two.

You haven't bleached your hair have you?

I ordered an O2 sensor yesterday and have a BP tester. I haven't found a drop in BP but I'll start monitoring more often.

BTW, they also did an echocardiogram on my heart to check valves and all OK.

In my cpr training the guy said half the time, the first indication of heart trouble is sudden death. Coworker, heavy smoker, was at gas station, filled his tank, sat in his car and died.

I have had somewhat similar symptoms. My Cardio guy had me take all those tests, along with ultrasound examination of my neck and the arteries. He was looking for a possible blockage, but I was in the clear. i see the neurologist coming up in few weeks. In my case it could just be old age creeping up on me. Good luck!

It's great that all of the tests so far have been negative. You'll figure it out eventually.

Considering where we are "I ordered an O2 sensor yesterday" is a funny mental image. Did you go with a pre-cat or post-cat model?

Presumably you don't notice the dizzy spells associated with any particular activity, timing, emotional state, etc...?

When I was in Japan as a kid, I don't remember ever hearing about, seeing, or smelling natto. I've heard of it since and am curious. Based on what I've seen/heard, I think describing it as "unique" may be a bit of an understatement.

I had a very similar condition last year. Went through all the tests and everything came back negative! My Dr recommneded I go to therapy for the dizziness and during my first appointment the therapist asked if I have had Covid recently. And I had it about 10 weeks before this happened to me. She then said she has seen this condition before in several patients who recently went through covid. Her theory was that Covid damages the inner ear nerves in some people and I guess I am a lucky one! Anyway I went through about 6 weeks of therapy and the dizziness is gone. So perhaps ask your doctor to prescrip some dizziness therapy?
Good luck!

Do you drink a lot of strong coffee?

Did you have any episodes of dizziness while wearing your Holter cardiac monitor? If not, it may not have recorded an infrequently recurring event.

I’m in the camp with everybody talking about the crystals in the inner ear and the Epley maneuver.

I had my first episode about 30 years ago, with the room spinning so fast, I had to crawl, to find Ms Rocket. With me having anxiety and panic attacks, it was nightmare feeling. I thought I was going to be locked into it. It went away after a while, and the next one was about 10 years later. I found myself staggering to the left, and after talking to a physical therapist, she taught me the epley maneuver.It worked like a charm, although it takes a while for me to physically feel better. In my case, with me staggering to the left, when I do the maneuver, I want to end up on my right side.

I haven't changed my diet. I drink 2 cups of coffee every morning and that hasn't changed.

I am a drinker but I've cut back on drinking and I'm not seeing a correlation. When I had the chest patch on, I drank to excess one night to see if any change and nothing.

The first episode was July 2024, the next I recorded was Jan 2025 but there may have been one between I didn't record. Then April 7th and again the 21st. So big gap between episodes but last two were pretty close.

Something else I've noticed: I'm a cyclist and my balance is noticeably worse than a year ago. For instance if I try to look behind me I'll come very close to crashing since I can't maintain a straight course.

Maybe diabetes or high blood sugar?

I have type two and if I get sloppy I will have brief episodes of pretty knarly dizziness. Not head spinning but I need one hand on something firm if standing up. One eye goes in one direction. One eye goes in another. Double vision. I cannot control this.

Two minutes or less. Maybe five of these episodes across three years. I can easily drive with an "attack"

One other episode outside the shop in my truck and it encompassed my entire body. Tingles. I thought stroke but I forced myself to walk inside, sit down and test my speech and movement. I was a tiny bit compromized but for only ten minutes. Then ok.

I knew I had gone through something on this bigger one if that makes sense BUT no double vision.

Worked with cardiologist and GP and cardiologist was a dud and did not seem to give a hoot but GP was way more tuned in and got me on Ozempic from the compounding pharmacy so I could afford it.

I hate Ozempic, FWIW, but taking it is the only time I have seen blood sugar below 100 in the morning.

Also need to add, I'm not comfortable standing on a ladder any old time trying to put an eight foot flourescent bulb in. Im pushing 70 and it does not feel optimal being up there and I think it's slight dizziness on top of the age thing.

Check your blood sugar.

Type 2 here and have had similar episodes

Oh, thank God, confirmation. Thank you so much!!!

Please don’t let me diagnose you. Your issue could be any number of things. My cousin died last year at 40 of brain cancer a year after having dizziness episodes. The OP said he had normal brain scans but you only mention cardio work up and taking Ozempic. I guess if the episodes subside totally since the Ozempic maybe you’ve solved your issue but if the symptoms resume, I think I would see a neuro and go from there

Also, you and the OP might look into Ménière’s disease

https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/menieres-disease


…and not sure about the double vision issue you have. I have this and it forced me to stop riding motorcycles. An eye specialist told me I probably have a nerve to the eye that is being pinched at the back of my brain and would need surgery. It was 15 years ago so my memories of the details are fuzzy. It wasn’t diabetes related. I didn’t pursue any further treatment but noticed when I started taking BP meds years later that the eye twitch and double vision has diminished a bit but it never truly went away. Way back then, I was on ladders a lot and it was not fun. Like most health issues I’ve had/have, this just came out of nowhere one day

Don't rule out vertigo. Good luck! That sounds awful.

The Kardia device and the App work well to tell you what going on.

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I've had two issues. First, 2 years ago, when I lost 60ish# in about 6 months, I was on BP meds and my BP went crazy low. Like 60/40. Now I'm down from 3 pills a day to 1 pill on demand, less than weekly.

However, in the past 6 months, I've had a different 'lightheaded' feeling. Couldn't describe it until reading up on 'brainfog'.

I've cut back coffee(max 1 per day) drink alot more water, and add LiquidIV powder to a glass of water daily which seem to help.

I had exactly EVERYTHING you described back in 2016. I got back from vacation and was about to get on a plane again. I got light headed. First time I described it like a headrush. I got some slight tunnel vision. Second time I had a grey out. (did not pass out) My vision dimmed like the shades were being drawn.

I had every test you did, ENT, Cardiologist, BRUCE test , MRI, CT, Holter for a week including a tilt-table test. Checked blood flow to neck, brain, checked for A-Fib, checked for elongated T Waves.

Everyone should have a tilt-table test. Its designed to make you black out, then they bring you back. If your heart stops they pump you with epinephrine and bring you back to life. Every Cardiologist should have one too just to experience it. Nobody has ever died from a tilt table test. The Doc pushed mine out to 1 hour and 20 minutes to rule out heart and those little check valves, one way valves in your lower legs.(no pooling)

After all testing found nothing. On a hunch Cardiologist said I do not know what caused it but he could fix it. 3-4 liters of water per day. He suspected I was Hypovolemic (not enough blood volume) Symptoms mimicked dehydration. The Holter showed my heart stopped three times one night. Not bradycardia, stopped. Doctor greeted me next morning with a welcome back Jeff you died three times. Scared the crap out of me.

The water inflated my blood volume and I had to do this for four months. Pee every twenty minutes. No driving. It resolved on its own. I did have some minerals in my ear fluid and Epley maneuver helped that. I can now do it my self.

I have not had a recurrence since 2016. I still have a fear in the back of my mind it could happen again but has not.

Get a mineral panel done via blood lab work.

Doc did mention with all the flying people can get micro clots. If you sit a lot for long periods it can also screw with circulation.

I wish you the best getting an answer. Its not fun and kept me up at night.

Used the little finger blood oxygen meter last night. Relaxing on the couch and showed 96-99% with heart rate in the low 50's.

I keep coming back to hydration. I've read even the inner ear fluid can thicken if low hydration giving dizziness. I know I don't drink enough water. I've got a 32 oz insulated mug on my desk to drink but I'm only drinking a little over one a day while at work. Need to increase that a bunch.

Sorry you are going through this. I have a friend who is dealing with both heart rhythm issues and meniere's. The meniere's was diagnosed a few years back and was quite mild and seemed to go away. Now it is back and worse. It is hard to diagnose.

I was nice to hear there may have been a correlation. Confirmation was not the best word as it indicates certainty.

My brother has Menier's. If he gets an attack the rest of his day is gone. Vomiting, inability to stand and needs to lay down with nothing asked of him. Even though he's up from his lay down recovery in a few hours he is pretty punk the balance of the day.

He's wise(er) to the triggers. Typing up notes after patient visits can do it so the hospital got him a scribe/typer. There was normally an activity before he would describe as "I shouldn't have done that" He's had some procedures done and I don't hear much lately.

For example: At my shop looking upward at the bottom of his car.with Zeppelin playing, eating chips and drinking orange crush

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Please be careful with OTC pulse ox. There can be issues.

I have worked in the med device space, and my NW includes the initial commercializers of pulse OX.

I would only consider an OTC product that was cleared by FDA. If you want to learn why/what that means, feel free to send me a PM.

I would also be careful about hydration. I have worked in this space as well with expert physicians and physiologists, in applications ranging from sports to geriatric medicine. Key here is to be careful to avoid washing out your electrolytes. Not difficult to mitigate risks, but I encourage you to be aware of them.

I hope that you get answers and can eliminate the issue soon.

Blood work done? Pre diabetes?

I’ve been dealing with this for years, and am supposed to not get on ladders:
Have to be careful about standing up too quickly as, I get lightheaded and disoriented.