About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery North American Skull Base Society American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001 Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 12/16/2007 Subject: Sudden Dizziness
Question Hello Mr.Wilkinson,
One year ago I ve started to fell sudden dizziness.
It was only when I was walking and it was just a feeling of being suddenly pushed by somebody behind me .
( I can also explain it as the ground was sliding under my feet ) .
It was nt all the time it was happening time to time. I had many tests ( blood work , MRI from my brain , etc ... ) everything came back normal.
It lasted about 1 month and it desapered by itself. I was so happy...
This year it has started back .
It started with the feeling of walking on the clouds,being on a boat , with foggy mind , then it turned to the sensation experienced last year.
I have it for 3 and half months now. There are days that it happens only one time , and there are others on which it happens more frequently.
I went to see many doctors . Including Neurologists ,and ENT specialist they cannot explain it. I had all the test done one more time ( including MRI ) ,
but once again all came back normal.
It comes anytime during the day ( day / night ).
It last about one second . Here are the positions it happens : When I stop after walking (or moving ),sometimes when I am in my bed ( slightly feeling pushed
forward ) ,and it happened once when I turned my neck . As I ve told you : This is not a constant sensation , but when it comes it scares me.
I ve had a baby six months ago . And I have postpartum depression also.
Question is : Which specialist should I contact more ?
Can it be just anxiety ?
Thank you so much for your opinion and sorry for my english.
Answer I think you should see an otologist (ear specialist) for a full ear examination, audiogram, and possible balance testing. I am not sure what you have, but the time course and positionality could indicate positional vertigo.
