Dizzy spells causing anxiety?!

[Katy]

Katy

October 6, 2017 at 2:08 pm #235

Helloo hope everyone is ok on this rather wet Thursday afternoon!

A couple of weeks ago I started with what I thought was an ear infection. Went to see a nurse practitioner who said there was no infection present however it could be a blockage in my inner ear tube. 2 weeks on and I’m still feeling pants, I’m going dizzy and clammy and feeling sick. Now if I worked in a job where I was sat down all the time this would be fine however I’m a scrub ODP so I’m stood operating for hours on end in a theatre!

I’ve avoided scrubbing for long cases over the last couple of weeks however even during some shorter ones I’ve gone all dizzy and ended up having to sit down and descrub. I suddenly go all dizzy and sickly and everything goes blurry. Actually feels like I’m fighting with myself not to pass out.

Managed to get another appointment today as I have 2 and a half weeks off now. The receptionist insisted I saw the nurse practitioner again rather than a actual doctor. Anyway she’s prescribed me Prochlorperazine tablets to take 3 times a day for a week. She says this should help with the dizziness ect.

Has anyone else had any experience with this? The more I go dizzy the more I panic and I think it’s making it worse. I’m also starting to worry about being scrubbed which isn’t helping ?

Thanks guys xx

[Elbie]

Elbie

October 6, 2017 at 2:08 pm #236

Two things spring to mind;
1, it really isn’t up to the receptionist to triage appointments. I would speak tot he practice manager about this.
2. a colleague had similar symptoms which got worse over time, until she collapsed at work, was taken straight to A&E where labyrnthitis was diagnosed. I also used to work with someone with Meuniere’s disease, which apparently came on quite quickly.

I would certainly want to see a doctor about this.

[pakkasham]

pakkasham

October 6, 2017 at 2:09 pm #237

I had similar a few weeks ago…I was actually losing my balance and falling over at one point… and was told it was possibly due to ear crystals! I was given the link to the video below with exercises to help and since I did it I’ve been fine.

Just to warn you though if it is to do with ear crystals then when you turn your head to the side affected the room will spin but you need to stick it out till it stops.

[Luke]

Luke

October 6, 2017 at 2:09 pm #238

The receptionist has no right to insist that you do not see the doctor….next time she does this ask her which medical school she qualified at.

[andy]

andy

October 6, 2017 at 2:10 pm #239

My god daughter recently had vertigo (same aymptoms as you describe) and she saw OOH doc as she is a child and he said it was due to an infection, but it an ear infection, a urine infection. She was given some ABs and told to see GP if no improvement but thankfully hers cleared up. I would question the nurse practitioners ability to diagnose, I thought that nurses couldn’t diagnose, but certainly see or request a call from the GP as it obviously hasn’t cleared up from your last appointment. Also, the receptionist, while she has a tough job, shouldn’t be telling you who you can and can’t see.

[Katy]

Katy

October 6, 2017 at 2:10 pm #240

Thanks guys I’ll give it a try!

I’m going to see what I’m like over the weekend and if I’m not better I’m going to request an appointment with a doctor on Monday.

I asked one of the ENT surgeons at work about it yesterday and he said from what I’m describing it sounds like a inner ear infection and a course of antibiotics should sort me out alongside some anti sickness meds however when I told the nurse practitioner this all she said was well why didn’t he give you some antibiotics then went on to say she couldn’t see any sign of an infection ?

I’m booked in for an eye test on Thursday next week aswell just to try and rule everything out.

I’m normally such a fit and well person… even riding my horse is making me wobbly ?

[bobby]

bobby

October 6, 2017 at 2:11 pm #241

I am frankly gobsmacked that she said that your colleague should prescribe for you! We did have a medic who could and did, prescribe for the team, but this was because she was part time with us and part time GP! I do wonder if some of the problem/hostility you are receiving, is in part because you are “in the business”