Hey all, I'm new here but I'm in desperate need of some answers. I'm a 26 year old active male who has always been health conscious. Anyways, about 6 years ago, one day I started feeling like I had the flu. I had horrible brain fog and just overall uneasiness like I had a virus. I also had a mild fever of about 99 something for a week or so. During this time the left side of my face started feeling "weird" like a cold sensation. Then as the days went by, the "cold sensation" turned into severe prickling and tingling, like water running down my face constantly. The initial "flu" feeling subsided after about 2 weeks but the prickling and tingling on the left side of my face occured ALL day EVERYDAY, then about 2 months into it I suddenly randomly get horrible vertigo, out of no where. I also started feeling like I had a virus/flu again.

So 2 months in, not only has my face been prickling and tingling everyday, I now have extreme vertigo that had me on my couch for months until it slowly subsided, eventually becoming very mild. I had all of these symptoms for about 7 months total. Then eventually my face stopped prickling and tingling and my vertigo disappeared. Now since then I would have mild "flare ups" a couple of times a year where I would suddenly have mild vertigo with sudden left side face tingling but it's been pretty much non-existent for years now.

About 2 weeks ago, two days before I got a very bad cold, my left side of my face started prickling and tingling EXTREMELY bad along with the right side of my face AND my nose. No vertigo though. Since then it's been prickling and tingling everyday for 2 weeks now. I finally broke down and made an appointment with a neurologist soon because I need answers. It's very irritating because it's so hard to concentrate when my face feels so intense.

Some side things to note: I don't have any pain but only mild "stinging" sensations. Also, when I touch my face, the sensations feel completely normal, always have. I've never had any facial numbness or weakness. I went to my general doctor years ago and he wasn't sure what it could be but ruled out trigeminal neuralgia.

I don't have the "flu" feeling right now, just intense tingling and prickling. Any ideas at all? I'd really appreciate anyones input or educated guesses. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Hello Oasis88,
Welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

As well as posting here for ideas, it sounds as if it would be a good idea to repost over on the
Trigeminal Neuralgia Forum

Up at the top of that forum are the "Sticky" posts. They contain info and resources.

The latest thread on the TN forum called "New Classifications" is a post that contains a link to a site explaining Classifications of Neuropathic Facial Pain.

I hope you find some answers and get this sorted.

take care,

Welcome Oasis88.

This could be Meniere's Disease. There is an ENT in Mobile, Alabama who specializes in it. Dr. Gacek. I believe his father also is a specialist and practices in Mass. He says it is the shingles virus or one if the other herpes viruses and treats it with Acyclovir 800 mg 3 x a day, then after 2-4 weeks you cut back to 1x a day. He does an injection in your ear of acyclovir and a steroid if the internal medication does not help your dizziness. He said sometimes the medication it has a hard time reaching the inner ear.

Welcome holgar.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. What kind of vertigo is it? Is it constant or is it the kind that flares up when you change position, such as rolling over in bed or standing up or laying down or looking up?

Welcome maggie1963.