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What Causes Headache, Dizziness, Nausea And Earache With A History Of Brain Damage?

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Posted on Mon, 8 Aug 2016
Question: Passing Plout for 5 to 13 min. At a time day & night she has had brain damage due to cardiac arrest in 2000. Up to now she has had some headaches, dizziness. And tremors n her hands...headaches have varied over the years but has never passed out. Dr's thought it was from low blood pressure and at first it was very low. BP has run low and now it is staying 106/67 to 122/78 and everywhere in between...they took her BP while she was blacked out and it ran 114/75, 121/78, 111/72, 116/76 these were taken while laying down so BP may not b problem? She has had CT and CT with contrast and no abnormalities. .one Dr said her brain wa aging faster than her body (she just turned 50) she has a pace maker and difibulator and those r working great. Every test they have run comes back normal. She knows when they will start. Bad headache, very dizzy, neasua pain n ear then out she goes.just like she's asleep but u can't wake her up. It's happening sometimes 2x an hour and more often than that.
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Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Seizure possibility should be explored.

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

Since lack of blood flow from low blood pressure has been excluded, what must be sought now is the possibility of seizures. Brain damage due to the cardiac arrest may cause the brain to be more prone to seizures. I understand that the CT may result normal but that doesn't exclude damage from that cardiac arrest which now with brain aging may cause additional symptoms, it only sees major lesions. A MRI might show something more but I guess that can't be done due to the pace maker.
So the one possibility to check for seizures is EEG. One simple EEG may not be enough if not done during an episode, prolonged EEG monitoring may be necessary. Only if there is a EEG recording during a passing out episode may there be a certainty it is not a case of seizures.

I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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What Causes Headache, Dizziness, Nausea And Earache With A History Of Brain Damage?

Brief Answer: Seizure possibility should be explored. Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. Since lack of blood flow from low blood pressure has been excluded, what must be sought now is the possibility of seizures. Brain damage due to the cardiac arrest may cause the brain to be more prone to seizures. I understand that the CT may result normal but that doesn't exclude damage from that cardiac arrest which now with brain aging may cause additional symptoms, it only sees major lesions. A MRI might show something more but I guess that can't be done due to the pace maker. So the one possibility to check for seizures is EEG. One simple EEG may not be enough if not done during an episode, prolonged EEG monitoring may be necessary. Only if there is a EEG recording during a passing out episode may there be a certainty it is not a case of seizures. I remain at your disposal for further questions.