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General health

Head swimming and feeling giddy - any ideas?

19 replies

JuliaAndJohn · 06/10/2005 08:28

For the last couple of weeks I have been getting frequent bouts of feeling strange. It's like I am standing on a boat - I feel like I am swaying. It's not really giddiness as such, and I don't feel as if I am going to fall over. It seems to get worse if I move my head.
I have three kids under three and am breastfeeding my 3 month old. No time to go to the doctors, which would be hell anyway with the kids.... Anyone experienced this before? Any ideas?

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LadyMiaouPoshPaws · 06/10/2005 08:38

Sounds like you've got vertigo - a virus or infection affecting the inner ear. You need to find time to visit the GP - I think you can get medication to deal with it.

Sympathies - not had it myself but know it's very unpleasant!

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jalopy · 06/10/2005 09:14

Poor you. It sounds like viral labyrinthitis. Definitely get it checked out by the doctor though. It's a horrible illness. I had it 3 yrs ago.

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morningpaper · 06/10/2005 09:16

I had very low blood pressure while breastfeeding and passed out a lot. Check it out with the Doc.

Make sure you eat a LOT and regularly too.

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throckenholt · 06/10/2005 09:19

low blood sugar maybe ? Are you eating sensibly - lots of complex carbohydrates (eg bread, wheatabix)?

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mandymac · 06/10/2005 09:19

Sounds like Labyrinthitus - virus affecting your inner ear. DH and I have both had it. DH got prescribed strong antishistamines, I got zilch for some reason (at different times), not sure if you could take them when BF or not. I had it a few times and it took a few weeks to go, but got better gradually during that time. Probably worth a visit to GP (if you can manage it with your lo's) to see if he can give you anything to ease the symptoms.

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sweetheart · 06/10/2005 09:22

Sounds like Labrynthitus to me too - is it worse when you are laying down or turn over in bed?

I was prescribed Stementil the couple of times I had it - it's an anti-sickness medication and you can take it when your pregnant (It's what they prescribe for severe morning sickness) so I would imagine you can take it whilst bf'ing.

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buffytheharpsichordcarrier · 06/10/2005 09:30

I read the heading and thought - Labyrinthitis! It sounds like it. I had it too. Have you recently had a viral infection?
I was prescribed Stemetil and I was still bf at the time. I didn't take it though because I started to get better at that point (it took a long time to get a diagnosis - I just thought I was tired) and also I have read some unpleasant things about Stemetil.
get to a doctor....

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yowlingmonster · 06/10/2005 09:35

I get like this when my blood pressure drops. I have had low blood pressure through pregnancy and since. My midwife suggested licorice which seems to help me.

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Carmenere · 06/10/2005 09:39

These symptoms also fit vertigo which I have suffered from for the past ten years, best thing is to go to the gp.

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frannykenstein · 06/10/2005 09:40

Another vote for labyrinthitis. The boat feeling describes it perfectly - bizarrely I got it after having been on a boat for several hours and thought it was just a result of the rocking.

I was pg when I got it and the doctor didn't prescribe anything, just said wait a few weeks for it to pass and don't climb up any ladders!

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merryberry · 06/10/2005 09:45

love?

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JuliaAndJohn · 06/10/2005 10:07

Wow thanx. I have made a gp appt for monday.
Horrible feeling. All rather unnerving. Was starting to worry. Is there a blood test 2 confirm if I have the virus? Will it go on its own, if that's what I have?

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JuliaAndJohn · 06/10/2005 10:08

oooo yes, it could of course be love!

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buffytheharpsichordcarrier · 06/10/2005 10:13

I was told it would go away on its own (which it did, pretty quickly after I was diagnosed) but that it might recur (which it hasn't so far).

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Hattiecat · 06/10/2005 10:20

I keep getting the same feelings - feel like am doing a double take all the time. have put it down to coming off prozac cos am 32 weeks now and took it upon self to "go it alone" without the chemicals to harm the baby....that's really interesting - maybe it is this labyrinth thing. has anyone else come off prozac with this sort of side effect - have come off it before with no problem at all...bizarre!

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mandymac · 06/10/2005 10:59

Hattiecat - the double take thing is definately a Labyrinthitus symptom. One of the tests my gp did was to move his finger slowly in front of my eyes and ask me to follow finger with my eyes. With Labyrinthitus your eye kind of flick to the side before catching up with the finger - he got very excited when they did this!

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JuliaAndJohn · 06/10/2005 11:25

I have no hearing loss- could it still be labyrinthitis??

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jalopy · 06/10/2005 13:19

It doesn't affect the hearing. It's an inflammation in the inner ear and affects your balance. If it's viral labyrinthitis, I doubt he will take a blood sample. He'll probably prescribe stemetil and let it run it's course. It can take a few weeks to go.

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CreepyJess · 06/10/2005 13:43

Or could you be a bit anaemic do you think?

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