Is "Dizzy" a Symptom of Something

Updated on May 27, 2009
M.B. asks from Sherman, IL
36 answers

My husband thinks I should call the doctor but I thought I'd ask your opinion.
The last couple of days I feel "a little disconnected", like after taking a cold medicine that will make you drowsy (which I have not done) and I will get dizzy when I get up or down.
This is my only "symptom". Do you think I should call this doctor, what could it be?
Thanks for your help!

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So What Happened?

Hi Ladies,
Thank you all for the responses! I went to the doctor this morning and the exam didn't show anything so now it is on to blood work. She is wondering about anemia or thyroid so I will just have to wait and see. Thanks again, I really appreciate everyone's advice!

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K.S.

answers from Chicago on

I get dizzy a couple of times a year...just have to stay in bed for the day and sleep. My friend suggested it might be an inner ear thing, which makes sense..

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J.

answers from Chicago on

I have had the dizzy feeling with an ear infection. I didn't even realize I had an infection - just felt stuffy and sinus-congested. Good luck!

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J.S.

answers from Chicago on

It could be any number of things. Since you've never experienced these symptoms before, I would make a doctor's appointment.

I hope you feel better soon.

Let us know what happens.

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M.D.

answers from New York on

Dizzy is a symptom of a lot of things. I am always dizzy.
I went to the doctor several times for this over the past 3 years. Blood work always back normal. I went for a brain MRI and it turns out i have sinus issues (according to the MRI). No other sympotoms besides being dizzy.

I have a couple of triggers. Allergies when the pollen is flying. I also have low blood pressure and i keep snacks in my car that contain salt. So I snack on chips and pretzels alot. The gatorade idea is great. I do that also. It helps. Stress can also make me feel "out of sorts" a disconnected feeling. once you feel that way you start to get nervous and i think it makes it worse. Good luck hope everything works out.

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R.C.

answers from Lakeland on

Hi,

I know this response is beyond late, but another thing to look at is menier's disease. It is something that affects the inner ear and acts like vertigo does. Just a heads up if they can't get to the bottom of it.
I have the problem if I drink too much diet soda and not enough water.
I hope you figure it out........ I hope it is nothing! :-)

Roz

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M.S.

answers from Detroit on

Hi,
I know I am horribly late in this response ... I just wanted to give a quick maybe answer. Some of the other responses touched on the effect of sinuses or allergies. I do get dizzy spells when my sinuses are the problem ... the doctor never noticed this even though I went in for dizziness and I had all the blood work done. So if your blood work is clear (hopefully so) and you are still having them ... try a neti pot (available at any drugstore). It is totally medicine free and it really clears up my sinuses to get rid of my dizzyness. The funny thing is, I never really know when my sinuses are the problem because by nose isn't stuffy, but somehow they are indeed the cause, and affect my inner ear balance. Good luck!

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C.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

On Thursday I had the same thing. My husband told me to grab some gatorade on the way to work because my electrolites were off. After I drank the whole bottle, I was actually not getting as dizzy. He also told me if I am not eating right this could contribute to it. It is worth a shot to try gatorade. Hope it helps.

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L.E.

answers from Chicago on

I had this vague symptom years ago - you should read up on something called "Meniere's Syndrome" on Web MD,etc. I had it and it was treated. While I don't currently suffer from symptoms, I do have occasional bouts of dizziness. Pay close attention to your salt/sodium intake also - it plays a role in Meniere's. It may not be this at all, but it's a possibility. If it continues, definitely see a DR. about this. Good Luck.

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K.S.

answers from Atlanta on

Did anyone suggest eating several bannanas? When I feel that way i am low on potassium.

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L.M.

answers from Sacramento on

I had this a while back. My B12 was very low. It was withing the "accepted range" but I needed supplements. I started getting B12 shots which made the symptoms go away.

There are many other symptoms of low B12. Check it out and see if you have any.

http://www.health-boundaries-bite.com/Vitamin-B12-Symptom...

http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/vitaminb12.html

http://www.quilldriverbooks.com/b12/excerpt_b12.htm

My story is a little involved but it ended up that I was not absorbing B12 for a long time due to a gluten intolerance and some other food intolerances. It also caused me to have a thyroid problem and be borderline anemic. Since your doctor is already looking into those, you may want to ask for a B12 test and maybe even an antibody test to see if you have any type of autoimmune disorder.

Let me know if you would like to know more. I've been studying it A LOT for the last year!

Take care!

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I had these exact symptoms and the doctor said it was probably fluid in my ear although he could not see any. He gave me Nasonex, an allergy nasal spray, and the problem went away although it is common for me to get these symptoms again during peak allergy season. See your doctor just to be sure....

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Y.J.

answers from Chicago on

Hi, its been a few days now, yes I do believe you should see a doctor. Dizziness could mean your equilibrium is off, you might be getting an inner ear infection, lack of iron in your blood, any number of possible problems or nothing at all. Do yourself a favor, better now than later.

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M.B.

answers from Washington DC on

You've gotten a lot of great replies. Diet/blood sugar/electrolyte and sinuses can cause dizziness. I wanted to suggest one more thing that I didn't read. In the past when I've gotten dizzy it is actually coming from my neck. After I get adjusted by a chiropractor it goes away. I'm a chiropractor as well and see this often in patients. I think it is a good thing to also check with your doctor (which you are doing) to rule out other possibilities.

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

Checking in kinda late, but I wanted to tell you I have this problem. Sometimes my blood pressure is very low. My cardiologist told me to drink lots of water when it happens. He also had me buy a BP machine so I could check it at home.
Since you have already been to the doctor she probably checked your BP, but it is usually higher in the doctors office!
Stay on top of it. It is not "nothing". It is a warning sympton of something.
God bless.

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Z.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Any chance you were dehydrated? Some women have low/normal blood pressure and are really sensitive to fasting, dehydration, low sodium, heat, etc because they have this thing called "vaso vagal syncope". I had 7 years of bad diagnoses before I was given a "tilt table test" which identified my fainting spells.

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T.F.

answers from Boise on

I haven't read all the responses, so this could have already been mentioned - but look into benign postural vertigo. BPV happens when calcium in your inner ear breaks off and it gives you the feeling of dizziness.

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C.C.

answers from Boston on

It could be vertigo an inner ear problem which causes dizziness. Especially with quick movements.

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D.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

i get that a lot..i think it's b/c i have low blood pressure..my friend said she went to get checked for it and they told her it's nothing and not to worry..hope u get to the bottom of it..i work out a lot and that also brings blood pressure down...and get a little tummy ache sometimes when working out and dizzy.

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D.M.

answers from Chicago on

hi there

usually dizziness is caused by an inbalance in the ear i actually had it and went to my doctor vertigo i think is what you might have it goes away after a bit.

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J.C.

answers from Rockford on

I can get this way with allergies, and never used to when I was younger. Even if I am not sneezing or getting a runny nose or itchy eyes or other symptoms, I will get that same feeling you do. It took a long time to get to the bottom of this for me, so I wanted to pass my experience on to you in case you have the same thing. I had sinus surgery a few years ago and only rarely get allergies now. When I do, I take benadryl and feel better. The worst thing for me was taking the non-drowsy stuff, so I stick with benadryl.

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B.O.

answers from Nashville on

just another idea - I had a relative who was healthy and got dizzy all of a sudden. He had a pinched nerve, took a cat scan to figure it out though :-(
Good luck,
Barb

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

As you can see by your answers it can be caused by a ton of different things. Better safe than sorry....call your doctor.

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M.S.

answers from Chicago on

GOod morning M B,

Have you been eating enough or healthy enough lately? Maybe your blood sugar level is low? If you went to the doctor, it would calm your husbands' fears. Whatever you do, good luck!

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K.B.

answers from Seattle on

Bit of a late reply and hope you've resolved it, but I've had that in the past and at one point my doc chalked it up to shallow breathing due to stress. He had me breathe into a paper bag. I've definitely experienced the all-day type of dizziness at times when I'm feeling especially stressed. I also have very low BP, and so often get that dizzy, about-to-faint feeling if I stand up too quickly. Because dizziness can be caused by so many things, it's defintely a good idea to get it checked out. Good luck -- or hope you've gottened it nailed down by now.

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K.A.

answers from Chicago on

Yes, I think you need to call the doctor. Before calling, you need to think about what time of day that you are having this symptom. Also, what is going on right before you have this symptom. It sounds like your pressure may be up or you may be stressed out about something.

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A.A.

answers from Chicago on

Could be a variety of things. But, sounds like your vertigo is off. Definitely go in and get ears, blood pressure, and blood sugar checked. Hope you feel better soon.

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S.R.

answers from Chicago on

Hi,

This can be from an ear infection even when there's no pain. Low or high blood pressure. New medications. Combination medications w/alcohol. Heart issues. Too little sleep over a week or so........I'd go to the doctor and get the BP checked. Good Luck.

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E.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I used to have this and the doctors' couldn't figure it out. I have gotten help with acupuncture.

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V.B.

answers from Sherman on

I have had a lot of dissiness too. Oft times I was dehyrdrated. So one of the best things for everything is drink a lot of water. May the Lord bless you as you drink up and as you wisely get medical help too. Love in Jesus, V.

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W.P.

answers from Chicago on

Sounds like low blood pressure, if it's happening when you stand up etc. I have the same thing and occassionally pass out from it. Be careful as if you fall you can hurt yourself. If your blood pressure is normally "low" this is likely what it is-a doctor will find that pretty easy.

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S.B.

answers from Rochester on

Hi. This symptom can have many, many different causes. I had vertigo (dizziness) for months and couldn't figure it out. Ear doctors, etc. couldn't identify what was cuasing it and blood work showed nothing of concern. When I eliminated diet soda/pop and anything with artificial sweetener, I found relief. For me, I was sensitive to aspertame, etc. which would cause the dizziness. Just in case it might help you! Thanks

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M.S.

answers from Chicago on

I second the allergies idea. If I do not take Zyrtec during summer/spring/fall months, I feel very dizzy. If I stand up, expecially when I stand up quickly, I feel as though I am going to loose my balence. Try taking Clariten or Zrytec for a couple of days.

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C.H.

answers from Chicago on

I'd go to the doctor, but most likly they will say it's virtigo. Last year, I got it twice. I ended up in Immediate Care Center and the doctor there said that in teh pat year, the number one complaint women were coming in for was virtigo. He said he believed it had something to do with the weather and the pressure. He said it could last a week or up to 6 months. There's really no saying. He suggested I take Sudaphed (pseudoephedrine 60 mg 3 times per day for a week) and see if that helped. It did.

For me, the virtigo just came out of no where. It got worse when I moved my head quickly and at times, I noticed I was not walking in a straight line.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

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L.A.

answers from Chicago on

The same thing happens to my husband. His blood pressure is usually on the low side. He also gets dizzy after giving blood. You could just call the doctors office and talk to one of the nurses.

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H.P.

answers from New York on

I agree with Tina F. I was actually just treated for this a few weeks ago. Same symptoms. Made me very disoriented for a week or so. But then all went back to normal.

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J.M.

answers from Dallas on

Hope you're feeling better, but Tina might be onto something about the inner ear problem, BPPV. Some Physical Therapy Clinics treat vestibular problems and there is no reason to suffer!

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