Question - dizziness / perhaps vestibular problem

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Hello,

Been a member here for a while, but first time posting is now.

I have Asperger's, as well as migraines (since I was a few years old). In the last 8 weeks, I've had a more-or-less continuous problem with lightheadedness / dizziness -- but not vertigo. (Nothing spins / there's no illusion of movement.)

So far doctors aren't sure but think it is probably "vestibular neuritis," an inner-ear thing that can take anywhere from weeks to months (or, very rarely, years) to resolve. Related to labyrinthitis, but without the hearing problems associated with the latter.

It's continuous (mostly), not "episodes" or "attacks." I have sort of motion intolerance; moving around is tough, and so are visually complex environments (that is, a lot of visual stimuli, such as a busy grocery store). It feels like something internally is off-balance. I occasionally get headaches; sometimes heartbeat-like throbs of the forehead but with no migraine; sometimes nausea, rapid heartbeat, or difficulty catching my breath (shallow breathing / panic), etc.

As for AS, by the way, it's never made me dizzy before, and nor has my migraine problem. I did take sertraline last year for a few months for social anxiety associated with the AS, but discontinued it (the prescribing doctor said I could ease off of it if I felt I no longer needed or wanted it).

Anyway, I was wanting to know if anyone has had a dizziness problem like mine (that they wouldn't mind talking about), particularly a possible inner-ear problem, or if anyone has any thoughts on it. Partly I'm trying to determine if it IS, in fact, actually an ear thing, or if maybe something else is going on!

Any input, much appreciated.

How long ago did you discontinue your meds, and did you do it very gradually? I had terrible dizziness as a side-effect of weaning myself off an SSRI for social anxiety (Lexapro), even though I tried to do it fairly gradually (I think I took something like 1.5-2 months to go from full dose to nothing). My dizziness wasn't continuous though- I would go through periods of movement intolerance (usually later in the day), and if I turned my head even slightly, I would get a terrible wave of dizziness. The only relief I got was from lying down. It took weeks after completely discontinuing the meds for my symptoms to fully dissipate.

Good luck figuring it out! Being dizzy is a horrible feeling- aside from being unpleasant in themselves, my dizzy spells always felt like they were sapping my strength.

This is really something you should talk to a doctor about. Don't take medical advice from people on the internet who have never met you and don't have medical degrees.

It sounds like he has been to more than one doctor without conclusive results ("so far doctors aren't sure but..."), and he is trying to find out if anyone else has experienced anything similar (presumably to get ideas which he can then discuss with his doctors).

I have dizzy spells - not what I would call vertigo. Also have ringing in ears and racing heart. One specialist thought jI migth have Meneire's Disease. Could be. I think it gets confusing because people interpret dizziness as vertigo and vice versa.
I think a trip to the docs (Ear, Nose, Throat) would be a good idea for you, because there are many conditions that could cause your symptoms. However, I found that this article really explains much of my problem.
See if any of this rings a bell:

Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome

Thanks, everyone for the replies. See, I'm trying to figure out if Asperger's plays into this thing at all. I know I'm at least "wired a bit differently," so to speak. (So is my younger brother -- he has autism and previously suffered epilepsy.)

I'm not so much seeking medical advice as I am looking for whether others here have had a similar experience; I'm seeing a neurologist-slash-ENT specialist soon, but I'm trying to be proactive and find out info on my own as well.

LostInSpace, I wondered about the sertraline too. I took it for a few months last year (say, perhaps, June to October) but was allowed to discontinue it. I wonder if it's related, though, as this current problem hit me in late January.

(Actually, about five days ago, I took one of the sertraline pills by mistake -- and 100 mg at that -- and the ol' body went into 'manic mode' for a good three days!)

I'm wondering if this is actually a thing called migraine-associated vertigo; I've had migraines since childhood. I can note that these aren't "attacks" or "episodes"; it's mostly continuous (except when I sleep). And secondly, it's a very abstract unsteadiness, not spinning vertigo or even imbalance.

There's a doctor called Tim Hain, who I've an appointment with; hopefully, he can get me sorted out!