Post Op Headache and Dizziness

[tennisgirl]

Hey Gang,

I'm almost at two weeks from my surgery with Dr. Gross, and my hip is doing great and I've been using a cane for the last two days.  However, I'm still plagued with mild dizziness and a dull headache, plus some ringing in my ears.  This all started up a week ago, and while my headache has improved, the other symptoms have stayed the same.

I did get checked out by my GP last week, and all tests came back normal.  Dr. Gross' office recommended increased fluid intake and tylenol for the headache, which helped a little.

I have another call into Dr. Gross' office but haven't heard back from them yet.  I'm a little freaked by this and wanted to know if anyone else has had this experience.

[Luanna]

Your symptoms sound like what happens to my next door neighbor once or twice a year. She gets dizzy, has a headache, her ears ring and her balance feels a bit off. She takes a Benedryl at night before she goes to bed and it helps a lot. She isn't sure what causes it to happen but did mention 2 possibilities: 1. Allergy or 2. Middle ear infection.

Do you recall this ever happening before?

Luanna

[tennisgirl]

Hi Luanna,

No, I've never had anything like this in my entire life.  I'm waiting to hear back from the surgeon to see if they think it's anything else, and I'm sure I'll hear back tomorrow.  My GP gave me a prescription for Antivert but it's not working.  I'm hoping it's something as simple as an ear infection, it's just that it's lasted a week that has me worried.  I may try the Benedryl and see if that helps tonight...can't hurt, and I'll just be hungover in the morning.  I'm pretty sensitive to most meds, and I want to rule out anything I started taking post surgery.

Will keep you updated on the outcome, and thanks for the reply.

Mindi

[tennisgirl]

I am going to my GP tomorrow...they couldn't get me in today, but I'm beginning to think it's a sinus/ear thing, as I'm now feeling pressure in my right cheekbone and right ear.  Still a little dizzy with a headache, but I'm hoping that it's just a simple infection.

Hip is still doing great!  I tried to sleep on the incision side, but it's still too sore, but I think I'll be sleeping on it by the end of next week.

[curt]

    You are probably right about the ear/sinus diagnosis, but a medical opinion would be nice.  Hope it clears it all up for you.  At about your timing my incision went from hurting to itching and it started to get a lot easier to sleep on.  Rub, rub, rub.

Curt

[Aerial]

I had this issue with a prior surgery.  I had a headache to beat the band for almost two weeks.  Nothing would kick it.  I mentioned this at my pre-op appointment today (i dont want to repeat the headache) and they said to drink alot of fluids to flush all the "crud" out of your system.  I also had some dizziness along with the headache in my previous  surgery.  I think it is anesthesia related although that surgery was done under general.

[Tin Soldier]

Keep in mind you had a strong dose of antibiotics from surgery.  I think it's quite possible to effect your immune system in a bad way after the antibiotics leave the system.  Tis all great while you're on them, but then you go home and are trying to get your guts back in order after a 2 day dose of IV antibiotics.  Surgery is a major drain on the system and all the drugs don't help the longer-term recovery, also.  I think it's probably ear infection coupled with system recovery from drugs.  That's my non-medical opinion.  Like others said, lots of water and see your doc.  Good luck, hope you get through it, soon.   

[Anniee]

Yes, either a reaction to the surgery drugs, an ear infection or allergies would be my guess too.  I used to get headaches and really bad dizziness - enough to cause nausea and making it impossible to drive or work for several days - a few times a year.  Finally went to an ear, nose and throat specialist and had all kinds of tests done.  He could find nothing wrong, and concluded that it was allergy related.  He put me on an non-prescription allergy medication and I have not had a problem since.

Let us know what your GP says!

[tennisgirl]

Hello Hippy Friends,

First let me say how thankful I am to Pat and all of you that I have to "talk" to.  I went to the GP at the crack of dawn this morning, and she thinks it's a sinus/ear thing, so for now I'm taking Mucinex D and Nasonex, plus drinking alot of fluids (not good for trying to sleep through the night, ya know).  She also gave me a script for Augmentin if I don't see any improvement in two days.

So, I feel a little less pressure in my face since starting the OTC meds, but still have that dizziness...hopefully this will pass.  I've already decided if I'm not better by Monday I'm going to an ENT doc.  I swear I am tired of seeing doctors and my pledge for 2012 is to see as few as possible!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Mindi

BTW, Nancy Smith called me to check up on me today.  She and Lee Webb were concerned about how I was doing.  I can't say enough about the terrific care you get from Dr. Gross' practice.  They are gold!

[Luanna]

Hi Mindi,
Good to hear that it looks like something simple and easy to fix. Hoping that you are feeling much better very soon. Feeling dizzy is the worst.

Best,
Luanna