Brief Answer:
Possible Vertiginous Migraine

Detailed Answer:
Good afternoon. You are describing symptoms that are seen in a couple of disorders.

One is called VERTIGINOUS MIGRAINE which is a form of migraine headache that has in association with the usual problems of nausea/vomiting, terrible headache, feelings of severe vertigo and resultant imbalance. In this disorder there is an interesting phenomenon where the episodes of VERTIGO and MIGRAINE can occur at completely different times without being obviously related to one another....still it is considered connected.

Another disorder to consider would be MENIERE'S disease which usually comes on rather abruptly, involves TINNITUS (buzzing in the head), terrible VERTIGO to the point of having nausea and vomiting, and often times headache acompanies though it is not the major symptom that people notice or complain of having. However, in MENIERE's there is one thing you haven't mentioned which may mean that you may not have it and that is a noticeable and certainly measurable hearing loss in the affected ear in which both the TINNITUS (buzzing) and VERTIGO seem to exist. Also, an episode of MENIERE'S DISEASE often lasts for a prolonged period of time...can be up to hours in some cases. You didn't mention the duration of this episode but I get the impression it is not of a very long duration.

Workup of this problem should involve a very good ear examination by ENT to rule out anything happening in the ear such as the Meniere's, infection, etc. If that is unremarkable then, I would recommend a good neurological examination by a neurologist, perhaps even a headache specialist as the diagnosis of VERTIGINOUS MIGRAINE is more likely in my mind compared to the Meniere's because the average age of presentation is more in the 45 year old age range whereas VERTIGINOUS MIGRAINE can happen virtually at any age.

I would also consider an MRI of the brain (possibly with gadolinium contrast) and look for a problem in the pontocerebellar angle region if this is clearly a NEW ONSET problem.

If I've adequately answered your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and being sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating if you feel my answers/suggestions have helped? Again, many thanks for posing your questions and please let me know how things turn out.

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This query has utilized a total of 25 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.

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