Vertigo is a sensation of dizziness that causes a person to feel like the world around them is spinning. It is a symptom rather than an illness in and of itself. Because of this, it’s essential to do some digging and exploration of other symptoms to figure out what the cause could be. Only you know your entire range of symptoms. Here are four things you should do before your appointment to talk to your doctor and get help for vertigo.
Note all the Details about Your Vertigo
Be prepared to explain several things regarding vertigo you’re experiencing. When did you first start feeling dizzy? How long does a bout of vertigo generally last? How often do you experience episodes of vertigo? And does anything, in particular, seem to happen before or during your episodes of vertigo? It would also be helpful to keep a diary of the times you experienced it.
Note Every Other Symptom
With vague symptoms like vertigo (which can be a symptom of many other issues), discovering your exact diagnosis lies in your other symptoms. Nothing is too inconsequential; list all symptoms even if you think they are benign or irrelevant or think you know their cause. Do you have issues sleeping? Headaches? Nausea? As with vertigo, note the intensity and duration of any other symptoms and whether they occur with your vertigo or not.
Note any Injuries to the Head
Vertigo can sometimes follow an injury to the head or brain. It’s imperative to relay any injury incidents to your head area to your treating physician. Especially any that occurred around the time your vertigo started. Note any other symptoms that occurred around the time of the injury as well. Even if you’re not experiencing them anymore.
Know which Specialists to Ask For
If you are starting your journey to discover the cause of your vertigo by visiting your primary care provider, know which specialist(s) you should ask to get a referral to. Your primary care provider is a good starting point, but a specialist will have diagnosed and treated many more cases of vertigo than a general practitioner. The first doctor you should see is an ear, nose, and throat specialist, also known as an otolaryngologist or an ENT doctor for short.
An ENT is an ideal first stop because vertigo is often caused by something going on in the ears. Our ears are responsible for keeping us balanced. So ear issues are often the culprit when we feel unbalanced and dizzy despite remaining still. From there, if the ENT doctor cannot come up with a diagnosis or suspects something outside their area of expertise, they can refer you to the appropriate specialist.
If you need help with your vertigo, see Dr Edmund Fisher at his Bakersfield, CA office. He has years of extensive experience diagnosing and treating vertigo issues and can help you get to the bottom of your vertigo.
