Hi

I suffer from Chronic Sinusitis, Allergic Rhinitis and have a deviated septum on the left side. My mother, brother and many others in my family are also affected by allergies and many of us get dizziness, vertigo and lightheadedness from time to time. I also have a dog, a goose and a goat and bring them into my bedroom often (yes, I'm a bit "eccentric") and they tend to aggravate my allergies as well.

Many mornings, I have awoken with my entire head feeling like one big mucous-filled balloon. I look in the mirror and see a puffy-eyed/puffy-faced monster looking back at me (I look like boxer who just lost a fight!). My eyes get all moist and red and mucous drains down the back of my throat. Pressure behind the eyes too. My symptoms are almost always worse if I drink alcohol the previous evening/or sleep with pets. My top teeth also ache sometimes and my eyes water and nose gets plugged up, drips, etc. It can be a REAL nighnmare sometimes!.

Perhaps one of the most disturbing symptoms I experience (most often after drinking alcohol the previous evening) is this "jolt" or "shock" sensation that briefly goes through my head first thing in the morning. Sometimes it wakes me up and sometimes I just have a breif vertigo spell and that wakes me up. All are a bit scary!. This morning was the weirdest though because I was laying there half awake and half asleep (or maybe I had just drifted back to sleep - I'm not sure) but anyway, suddenly a quick vibration went through my head and seemed to transmit down my shoulders (I think). Anyway, the vibration I experienced can best be described as the type of vibration you would get from one of those foam rubber vibrating excesize tubes that you wrap around your waist and it only lasted for a second. It really freaked me out!!.

I'm a 43 year old male and take 1mg of Lorazepam in the mornings for anxiety and panic attacks and Atarax in the evening to help me sleep (and also for anxiety). Anyone else ever experience any of these things?. I'd love to hear from you!.

- Regards, GreyGoose