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Suggest Treatment For Dizziness And Nausea In A Person With Dementia
Question: My wife has had a dizziness problem for the last year. She has fallen occasionally. We've exhausted our resources in central Iowa. We've seen numerous doctors and had every test available. We are no closer to a solution. She also has dementia and some physical problems. She has some nausea and has quit eating in the last week. She stays in bed most days because she dosen't feel well. It's pretty much like a hospice situation, just watching her health decline. Any suggestions?
Brief Answer:
Problem involves inner ear or cerebellum
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Healthcaremagic.
I am sorry to hear about your wife. I can help you understand what might be going on. Balance is mediated by the inner ear (vestibulocochlear apparatus) as well as the cerebellum (part of the brain at the back of the head). The problem is likely to be located in one of these two areas. An audiometry will help in finding the involvement of inner ear whereas an MRI will help in finding problems with the cerebellum. Unfortunately there can be situations where an MRI does not pick up a cerebellar problem (when the problem is not anatomical) or an audiometry might not pick up problems of the vestibulocochlear apparatus (when there is no sensorineural hearing loss associated). My suspicion relates to her inner ear since dizziness is present. It is only after a careful neurological evaluation (issues like gait and neurological signs) that a definitive comment can be made. So my suggestions would be to visit an ENT doctor and a neurologist.
Regards
Problem involves inner ear or cerebellum
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Healthcaremagic.
I am sorry to hear about your wife. I can help you understand what might be going on. Balance is mediated by the inner ear (vestibulocochlear apparatus) as well as the cerebellum (part of the brain at the back of the head). The problem is likely to be located in one of these two areas. An audiometry will help in finding the involvement of inner ear whereas an MRI will help in finding problems with the cerebellum. Unfortunately there can be situations where an MRI does not pick up a cerebellar problem (when the problem is not anatomical) or an audiometry might not pick up problems of the vestibulocochlear apparatus (when there is no sensorineural hearing loss associated). My suspicion relates to her inner ear since dizziness is present. It is only after a careful neurological evaluation (issues like gait and neurological signs) that a definitive comment can be made. So my suggestions would be to visit an ENT doctor and a neurologist.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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