Head Pressure, Ear Fullness and Dizziness

Hi All,

For the last 3 months I have a had a constant pressure in my head (like my head is being held tight in a vice) which came on suddenly on the 26th July. There was a strange sensation in my nose and ears on the day and it has persisted ever since, worse on some days less on others. It is accompanied by a varying amount of dizzness/imbalance (but not so much that I cannot go about my day to day activities) and feeling of "fullness" in my ears. (Very much like trapped air after coming off an airplane) This pressure often develops into a headache. It is aggravated by weight lifting, long periods of concentration at work in front of the screen and heavy drinking.

I have a history of migraine with aura and up till the 17th July 2013 I had not had an attack for a year. After the pressure issue developed on the 26th July 2013 I was hit with another migraine with aura on the 13th August 2013. This was quite severe.

I had a bad bout of sinus cloggage and ear cloggage last year, which I had to take amoxicillin for. I generally suffer from bad sinus congestion when I get colds also.

For this head pressure issue I was diagnosed initially with sinusitis and given amoxicillin by the NHS walk in clinic. Then my GP told me to stop the amoxicillin and just get bed rest. I independently went to a Radiologist at Charing Cross for an MRI. I also went back to my GP with the same symptoms, I was given Topamax 50mg to take one a day and told I would be referred to my local Neurology deparment. The results of the MRI came back normal. After this I cancelled my Neurology referral as I thought this would be a waste of time as my MRI was clean (something I regret now). My blood tests are normal and so is my blood pressure

I went back again to my doctor as the symptoms are still persisting and now am referred to an ENT doctor at my local hospital.

I do not know what is happening, or how to solve this! No-one seems to know and all my tests are fine! If any one could shed any light I would be really grateful, it is affecting my concentration at work, keeping me out of the gym and now deterring me from social situations as well! please help!

i've been prescribed topamax, nose sprays (flixonase) and now betahistine.

Topamax made me feel worse, the nose sprays do nothing

I shelled out for a private consultation and all he said was I have an inner ear imbalance, caused possibly by a previous viral infection. Diagnosed me with vestibular migraine and told me do some vestibular rehabilitation exercises. Don't waste your money on private consultation if your hearing is fine.

I've scoured the internet, pestered my doctor and gone private and this is the best I've been able to come up with.

The MRI was through the friend of a family otherwise they are ridiculously expensive.

I feel for you, this is such a s**t thing to have. No immediate relief, not chronic enough to get seen to quickly...just a constant very annoying thorn in your side.

I suggest a neurology diagnostic specialist, found at leading hospitals.

Peace
Trina