I'm right there with ya Candance. Back in April, after a 24hr stomach flu, I began to immediately feel extremely dizzy (which I associated more with vertigo) and for three days straight it was so bad that I could not get off the couch or out of bed. On the third day I drove to the store and completely blanked out...had no idea why I was driving or where I was going. I made it back home and ran up the stairs to tell my husband, then fainted. Doc's have told me everything from it's "silent migraines" to it's good ol' "anxiety." I'm not crazy...there's something wrong with me. My vertigo has never gone away since then. Some days are better than others but for the most part, I cannot do any of the little things I always took for granted. I am now being tested for possible MS diagnosis. Had an MRI today (which was horrible!) and should get my results next week.

You are not alone. It is frustrating when noone believes you when you tell them what is going on. Hang in there. I have found that this site at least assure you that others do believe you and can understand what is going on. I have been dizzy for two and half years now, and most days I can ignore the symptoms but on bad days everyone knows something is wrong. Please keep trying to find a solution and when you need support post something or read other's post it does help.

For a long time, family members and others did not believe that something was going on. They told me it was all in my head. I had to go through multiple tests and what not to have people finally believe that even though I look physically fine, I am not. Like Jen said, I have had this for 4 years now, and most days I can ignore the symptoms, but it took me almost 2 years to get there.

The best thing I can say is that if the MRI is negative, keep pushing to eliminate anything that it could be. It betters your chances at narrowing down what you might have as opposed to guessing and wondering. :)

Lulimommy, take the MRI results with a grain of salt. I've had two of them. A lot of doctors (not saying yours, but a lot of them) tend to default to a diagnosis they are comfortable with as soon as they find a passable amount of evidence.

The two big things they're looking for on the MRI are growths/tumors, or white spots inside your brain. My neurologist went for the MS angle right away. Scared me half to death. He was almost convinced that was the answer. I insisted on further testing to confirm it. An MRI of my neck came back clean, which forced him to retract the MS diagnosis.

If they do find white spotting in your brain, don't accept that as proof of MS automatically. There is more than one way to test for MS, and you should have two positives before settling on that diagnosis. If your doctor is a true professional, he will encourage you to have a second opinion since MS is such a major diagnosis.

After my neurologist failed to prove I had MS, he pretty much said, eh, I am out of ideas, keep taking meclizine and good luck with that. I then had to take it upon myself to see an ENT.

Addressing your comment: " . . few people care and no one understands."

I understand - completely! I often feel that my family thinks I'm "faking it" when I tell them I don't feel like going somewhere, or doing something. They know that I was taken to a hospital by ambulance three years ago, they know that I went to physical therapy sessions, and my wife saw the video of my left eye oscillating. I am not nearly as off-balance as three years ago, but it is still there in a lesser degree. If you would look at me - I look normal (for a 64 year old long-hair hippie). When I walk, I sometimes feel that I'm walking a bit off-balanced - but to others, it probably doesn't show. SO, if they can't see evidence of my vertigo, it is difficult for them to have an understanding of my condition.

Let me suggest that you ask any "non-believers" to join this support group and read some of the posts. Or, pick out some pertinent posts and share them. Let them see that you aren't "The Lone Wacko." :o)