Any ideas on what can cause dizzy spells?

[billsmrs]

Well as you know our family has been under ALOT of stress lately. We thought that might be the reason for hubby's dizzy spells. He went to the doc and he said maybe but he wasn't ruling anything out. He told him it could be a inner ear but there was no way to say for sure. He also said it could be his sugar and they did blood work on that but still no answer.

Yesterday and today he has been SUPER dizzy. To the point where he said he needed to sit down! This isn't like him.

I have tried to think of everything I could possibly could to try and help him with these spells.......watched his sugar intake, checked his blood pressure, made sure he wasn't dehydrated since it is so hot, etc and still no luck.

Any suggestions or idea?

[szucker]

My dizziness is caused by a vestibular problem (inner ear).
When it's really bad the doctor prescribes Anti-vert which is just super strength dramamine. When it's not too bad, I just take dramamine on my own. I always carry dramamine in my bag "just in case".

[chellem]

i went to my TMC (troop medical clinic) a few years ago with the same prob...dizziness... they did all kinds of tests and all their official diagnosis and prescription......was............ drink more water and don't move so fast :) :) :) :) so much for confidence with the military health care system :) :) :) :)

[billsmrs]

[[QUOTE]When it's really bad the doctor prescribes Anti-vert which is just super strength dramamine. [/QUOTE]

I called the office this morning and they phoned that out for him! I thought that was what it was but wasn't positive. If I tell him that is what it is he won't want to take it! lol ;) The office said they want him to take it for 7 days and if no better then come back. 8\ Hmmmmm.....doesn't sound too promising for a diagnosis.

[billsmrs]

[QUOTE]drink more water and don't move so fast [/QUOTE]

LOL!! :D That is easy for them to say, huh?!

They told hubby to increase his fluid intake and eliminate the stress in his life! LOL! ;) So....do they mean STOP living?! That is the only way I can see the stress stopping! Know?! 8\

I am passing all this on to hubby. It will make him feel better to know he isn't the only one experiencing this. I think he really thought the doc was just giving him some senseless advice so he would come back. Maybe now he will see it was the normal advice for anyone with this!

Thanks! :)

[Mouse7088]

You had said you watched his sugar intake and I have to say I get these spells all of the time....reason being..not ENOUGH sugar intake. You would think this would be great for a chocoholic, but it's not..LOL! If I am out and about I will grab something quick from the candy rack, but if I can I stick with a more "natural" fix, like a banana or grapes. This was a serious problem when I was pregnant just because I would pass out if I didn't sit down NOW. I also drank a lot of fruit juices.

[jen6889]

My Cousin was having a problem with dizzy spells last month. She had tests done and it appeared it was caused by little mini-strokes. My Grandmother also has dizzy spells when she is having heart problems.

I get dizzy when I'm too hot, jump up too fast, or eat poorly.

Could also be Diabetes or Hypoglocemia (sp?). I also had a big problem with dizziness when I was pregnant with Cody. I was normal on the Gestational Diabetes test, but sometimes I wonder... whenever I had a dizzy spell, sugary food (sweet tarts, smarties, etc) helped out big time.

[billsmrs]

Diabetes runs in his family so that was one thing we were concerned about.

The doctor did mention hypoglycemia. We have been trying to watch his sugar intake as I said before. He said he seems to notice it gets worse about an hour after he eats something sugary. So I am beginning to think it is the hypoglycemia.

I wish I could encourage him to eat more fruit. He will eat bananas on occasion and grapes sometimes. But his favorite thing is chocolate cake or donuts or reeses cups. If I could get him to stop or at least slow down on these items I bet he would feel better.

My mom has hypoglycemia and they toldher to eat several small snacks throughout the day......fruit, cheese, etc.....and that would even out her blood sugar level.

[3tbear]

Inner ear problems, I get them alot and it does cause dizziness. There is nothing you can do about it, but I have found a way to alleviate the dizziness just by taking a travel sickness pill like a Bonine. Any travel sickness pills should work if it is inner ear. I sometimes get the inner ear problem if I have a cold. Does your hubby have a cold is my next question?

I also had fluid in my ear recently so my doctor wrote me a prescription for a decongestant. That could have been causing my dizziness too.

[kewlgirl29]

I went through this last year. I had some other symptoms as well such as seeing spots when I turn my neck to the right.

I even had a cat scan. Nothing they could pin point. Yipee.

They prescribed the medication talked about here but I didnt even bother with it since mine wasnt too bad and seemed to pass when I wasnt under too much stress.

Steph

[blueaguave]

he should try to eat every 2-3 hours, something fatty at each mini-meal, the first and last mini meal of the day should definitely have a decent amt of protein and fat.
bannanas actually have more sugar than most fruits, they're still way better than cakes donuts etc. Berries, apples,etc are better

Here's some good ideas for mini meals:
-hard boiled eggs, maybe with some berries
-berries w/full fat cream
-apple slices with peanut butter
-turkey breast on whole grain, with mustard or mayo
-Laughing Cows, swiss cheeses,etc

Never eat a meal without some fat in it, fat stabilizes blood sugar!!!! Cut back the white flour and sugar things drastically!!!

some people take chromium formulas and/or l-glutamine supplements to stabilize blood sugar and curb cravings. I use Dr Atkins Dieters Advantage, but there are other Chromium/hydroxycitric acid formulas too.(Be careful, some throw in stimulants too, I know Atkins doesn't, yout want the chromium and HCA but not the speed!)Usually you take a couple times a day, an hour before meals. Also, l-glutamine comes in 500 mg tablets, they say to take between meals, if you take an extremely large quantity you may get constipated, but it would have to be 4 tablets at once, as long as you spread out throughout the day should be allright

try to go to an alternative MD, or health food store with a good staff!

[blueaguave]

its true, if you eat some candy you feel better immeadiately, but then you crash faster, if you eat quality natural protein/fats with some quality natural carbs(sugars), you don't crash at all. The candy provides the quick fix, and then an hour later you feel worse, the minimeals prevent the whole cycle, its called the "Blood sugar roller coaster".

[3tbear]

Doughnuts are one of the worst foods if you have hypoglycemia. Sometimes when I ate doughnuts in the morning I would feel faint, sugar overload. They are also bad for your arteries.

[NaomiMarie]

Hope you get some answers real soon. Please keep us posted.
((((((hugs))))))
Naomi :)

[teraberry]

I've had problems with dizziness too. Haven't ever been to the doctor for it, but I'm convinced it's an inner ear problem. Other symptoms I've had that also can be related to inner ear problems are motion sickness and ringing of ears on occasion, of which I have had both. I never knew Dramamine would help - I'll have to try that next time I have problems.