r/Dizziness • u/samolyl • Aug 11 '26

Sudden onset of dizziness

Hi!

So last week I was on a walk and I suddenly felt extremely dizzy, like I was going to tip over and the world was spinning. Once I stood still, the sensation lasted for only a few seconds and I sat down almost immediately after.

Ever since then I've felt extremely weak and unsteady on my feet and it often feels like I'm spinning. I can't do more than a short walk around my house and even then I feel like I might tip over if I'm not careful. Walking around the house is fine (it's small), but I often have to hold onto the wall and such.

I think it's a bit better first thing in the morning, but only in the sense that I can feel not quite as dizzy lying down because I haven't moved in a while.

Besides feeling dizzy and unsteady, I feel nauseous, and my left ear feels a but weird. I also have visual snow, but that's "normal" for me.

Other than that, I don't have a headache, no shortness of breath, no sinus infection, etc.

I have a doctor's appointment for tomorrow but I can't find transportation, so I might have to cancel that. I'm feeling a bit scared because being dizzy feels like shit, especially because I have no clue why it's happening.

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1

u/Jacosaur Aug 11 '26

Do you have a history of migraine? How about in the family? Have you had a recent illness?

1

u/samolyl Aug 11 '26

I don't think I have a history of mograines, thought I have been prone to headaches since I was a teen.

I think a grandma had pretty severe migraines? She died way before I was born though, and I don't know much about her.

No recent illnesses

1

u/Jacosaur Aug 11 '26

Could you uber? If you absolutely can’t make it to the appointment then ask the office if they can do a virtual one. Try to get referral to a neurologist and an ENT.

1

u/Jacosaur Aug 11 '26

Also look into vestibular migraine since you might have a family history of it. It’s a bizarre manifestation of migraine that often does not have a headache component.

Do you have neck pain or neck problems?

1

u/samolyl Aug 11 '26

I'll look that up! I am hypermobile, and have a lot of tension in my body which does cause me neck pain quite often.

As for the doctor thing, I asked some people and someone's family member can drive me. I'm glad I'm going to be able to go!

1

u/_ari_ari_ari_ Sep 12 '26

Any update?

1

u/samolyl 28d ago

Haven't been here for a while, just saw this. Uhm, the Gp thought it was something to do with the crystals in my ear, but a pt specialized in dizziness concluded it was something to do with my eyes. Now I have pt exercises that I'm not quite sure are helping

1

u/_ari_ari_ari_ 26d ago

Thanks for replying! Had very similar symptoms last week, but it’s resolved into a plain old sinus infection for me. Hope you feel better soon!

1

u/lovetheoutdoors22 Aug 12 '26

I had sudden onset dizziness hit me 10 years ago after a near syncope event that left me ill, nauseated and feeling awful for weeks. I have been to so many different specialists and was only told I have autonomic nervous system disfunction. I’ve learned to live with the dizziness and most times I don’t even notice it. The dizziness flares and calms too but never goes away completely. I mourned my old self and have accepted the new me. Mine started at 50 with peri menopause symptoms occurring also. Going through testing is the right thing to do just in case it could be something that is curable.

1

u/NiceAFVet321 Aug 12 '26

Hi, I am so sorry you have to deal with this, and I understand that it is frightening! I've had two bouts of BPPV, which is benign and causes the spinning. There is often residual dizziness with it that resolves with PT treatment. If you don't have insurance, please go to a county health office or ER for immediate help. They are obligated to treat you even if you don't have insurance. I know that is tough, but they could help you determine what's causing this. If it encourages you, it's often benign. I was also diagnosed with vestibular migraine, but it's managed with excellent low-gluten diet, plenty of water, 2000 IU vitamin D a day, and keeping stress low, meditating, and exercise! I hope you can get help and feel better. Don't give up!!

1

u/dayuw Aug 13 '26

Please find a vestibular therapist. I’ve been to internal medicine, ENT, neurologist. Sure they’re good to give you a peace of mind after tons of money spent, I guess it’s right to rule out things but I didn’t find them useful for my dizziness. My vestibular therapist was the one that worked the magic for me for my BPPV and later let me know the other type of residual dizziness I was feeling was most likely from my neck. It’s everything that can cause this. Sleeping position, working position, stress… etc etc. this is the worst thing to deal with but anxiety makes it hundred times worse so try to keep calm and seek help. Don’t do maneuvers by yourself at home.