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Dr Surangi Mendis | Consultant Audiovestibular Physician

@dizzy_doc

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🌀Audiovestibular (dizziness) Medical Doctor
🧠 Headache specialist
Demystifying dizziness & migraine

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🚨 5 acute dizziness presentations I never want to miss.

As an Audiovestibular Consultant, most of my clinic is filled with people living with vestibular migraine, PPPD, Ménière’s disease and other longer-term balance disorders.

But every so often, dizziness is a sign of something that needs urgent recognition.

Here I cover 5 presentations that should immediately raise red flags 🚩🚩 and why they matter.

But some quick reassurance…

If you follow this page because:
• you’re my ever-supportive colleague / friend / family (thank you for being here! 🙌🏽),
• you’re fascinated by the science of dizziness,
• or you live with persistent dizziness such as vestibular migraine or PPPD,
the chances are this reel is not describing you.

I never want people with dizziness to watch educational content and assume the worst. The aim is to help people recognise the important exceptions without creating unnecessary anxiety.

Instead, think of this reel as knowledge that could help someone else one day.

📲 If you know an emergency physician, GP, paramedic, acute medic or anyone working in urgent care, please share with them. Recognising these presentations early is important.

Education saves lives - but context matters too! by @dizzy_doc

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2 months ago

5 dizziness diagnoses you MIGHT be missing…

And none of these are picked up by scans or blood tests…

👇 How many of the five had you heard of before? Let me know in the comments, and save this post for when you need it.

#vestibular #dizziness #bppv #pots #pppd by @dizzy_doc

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2 months ago

Heads Up podcast new episode out!

🎙️ HEARD, NOT DISMISSED

Do you ever leave a migraine or headache appointment thinking, “I forgot to mention that” or “I didn’t really understand what happens next”?

Our latest Heads Up podcast is all about making the most of your appointment.

Dr Katy Munro, Dr Lauren Wellburn and Dr Surangi Mendis share practical advice on:

📝 Preparing your key symptoms and questions
📅 Keeping a simple headache diary
💊 Knowing what treatments you’ve tried
🎯 Being clear about your main concerns and treatment goals
👥 Taking someone with you for support
🎙️ Asking to record your appointment, if your clinician agrees
❓ Asking questions or asking for something to be explained again
🔄 Knowing what to do if you don’t feel heard

🎧Link in bio to the latest episode of the Heads Up podcast.

Also available on all leading podcast platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts. taken in London, United Kingdom by @dizzy_doc

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a month ago

DAY 5 | BALANCE AWARENESS WEEK 🌀

And that’s a wrap for Balance Awareness Week.

Over the past five days, we’ve looked at just how complex the balance system really is — and how many different ways the system can be affected.

Thank you for following along this week — and to @meandveuk Ménière’s and Vestibular UK and @vestibularveda for continuing to raise awareness of vestibular disorders and the people living with them.

And for our final post, let’s talk about superior semicircular canal dehiscence👂👀

#meandve #BalanceAwarenessWeek #BAW2026 #VEDA #Vestibular by @dizzy_doc

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16 days ago

BALANCE AWARENESS WEEK 🌀

This is our next post for Balance Awareness Week.

Over this week, we’re looking at just how complex the balance system really is.

From Ménière’s disease to vestibular loss and motion sickness, there is rarely a simple “one-size-fits-all” answer to dizziness.
But perhaps the most important message is this:
The symptoms are real. And understanding what is happening is the first step towards getting the right help.

Thank you for following along this week — and to @meandveuk Ménière’s and Vestibular UK and VEDA for continuing to raise awareness of vestibular disorders and the people living with them.

Because balance may be something we usually take for granted… but for someone with a vestibular disorder, it can affect almost every part of everyday life.

And for our next post, let’s talk about Vestibular schwannomas 🧠👂👀

#BalanceAwarenessWeek #BAW2026 #VEDA #Vestibular #meandve by @dizzy_doc

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17 days ago

🌀 BALANCE AWARENESS WEEK

We rarely think about our balance — until something goes wrong.

Dizziness. Vertigo. Unsteadiness. Motion sensitivity.

These symptoms can have a HUGE impact on everyday life, affecting everything from walking and working to driving, travelling, exercising, socialising — and simply feeling safe and confident in your own body.

There are many different causes of dizziness, vertigo and imbalance. Getting to the right diagnosis is the first step towards getting the right support and treatment.

So, for Balance Awareness Week, we are highlighting some of the balance disorders that deserve more awareness — including conditions that are often misunderstood or overlooked.

👂🧠👀 Next up: Ménière’s disease.

Let’s talk about it.

#Me&Ve #BalanceAwarenessWeek #BAW2026 #VEDA #Vestibular by @dizzy_doc

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19 days ago

BALANCE AWARENESS WEEK 🌀

One symptom. Many possible causes.

Dizziness, vertigo and imbalance can look very similar on the surface — but the underlying causes can be completely different.

It might be an inner-ear disorder.
It might be migraine.
It might relate to the way the brain processes movement and balance.

And sometimes, there can be more than one diagnosis contributing.

That’s why sharing knowledge matters. As does specialist assessment and rehab with practitioners who understand vestibular disorders.

For Balance Awareness Week, @meandveuk is shining a light on some of the conditions that can affect the vestibular system — and the people living with them.

Next up, motion sickness.

#meandve #BAW #balanceawarenessweek #motionsickness #migraine by @dizzy_doc

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18 days ago

WELCOME to Balance Awareness Week — a week dedicated to raising awareness of the often invisible impact of dizziness and balance disorders.

Balance is something most of us take for granted… until it stops working.

Dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness and motion sensitivity can affect how someone walks, works, travels, socialises — and even how safe they feel.

And importantly, vertigo is not a diagnosis. It’s a symptom. There are many different reasons why someone may have vertigo, dizziness or unsteadiness - and finding the right diagnosis matters.

Over the next week, I’ve partnered with @meandveuk to share some of the conditions we wish more people were aware of.

Let’s start with bilateral vestibular loss 🧠👂👀

#Me&Ve #BalanceAwarenessWeek #BAW2026 #VEDA #vestibularawareness by @dizzy_doc

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20 days ago

Big thanks to everyone who added to this vestibular migraine infographic 🙌

Here are some of the additional words you shared:

1️⃣ *Guilt* – The unpredictability of symptoms can make it hard to meet roles (parent, worker, friend), leading to guilt when expectations aren’t met.

2️⃣ *Emotional impact* – Especially in 🌀vestibular🌀 migraine:
• Brain chemistry: VM affects areas of the brain such as the limbic system, increasing emotional sensitivity.
• Fear: Vertigo can be terrifying, triggering anxiety or panic.
• Fight-or-flight: Symptoms can activate this stress response.
• Chronic uncertainty: Unpredictable attacks lead to emotional exhaustion.

3️⃣ *Sensory overload* – The brain may struggle to filter motion and visual patterns, causing overwhelm.

4️⃣ *Head pressure* & 5️⃣ *Depersonalisation* – More typical in PPPD, but can overlap with VM.

💡 The good news? These symptoms can be managed — with confidence in the right treatment, a migraine toolkit (including meds that work reliably for attacks, if needed), and support.

Is this your experience too? Let us know 👇

#vestibularmigraine #vestibular #PPPD #migrainetips #invisiblesymptoms #migraine #migrainesupport by @dizzy_doc

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a year ago

And that’s a wrap for Day 1 of the *FULLY BOOKED* RNENT & Queen Square Dizzy Course! 🌀

Day 1 has been a huge success — and we are so grateful to all our delegates who have joined us from across the country and further afield, including Greece, the Middle East and Ireland!

Today’s topics:
🔹 Acute vertigo
🔹 Vestibular migraine
🔹 Ménière’s disease
🔹 PPPD
🔹 Superior semicircular canal dehiscence

And we’ve also covered the basics — anatomy and physiology of the vestibular system, clinical examination and vestibular tests.

A huge thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise, and to our delegates for the questions, discussion and enthusiasm.

But ultimately, we’re all here for the same reason: our patients.
Every discussion, every clinical pearl and every question is about trying to improve the care we provide to people living with dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders.

Because behind every diagnosis we discuss is a person whose life can be profoundly affected by these conditions. Better understanding, assessment and treatment can make a real difference.
That’s what brings us all together.

Day 2, 3 and 4 are incoming — and we can’t wait!🌀

Stay tuned for updates 🙌🏾 by @dizzy_doc

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19 days ago

It’s been a busy month…!!
Here’s a recap 🙌🏾

#vestibular #migraine #vestibularmigraine #headache #worklife by @dizzy_doc

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a month ago

One of our biggest fears is missing a stroke in a patient presenting with dizziness. And the tricky part? Some patients with acute dizziness are having a stroke … sometimes without an obvious focal neurologic deficit.

But sometimes, what you need most is a good history and a great bedside exam.

Let’s do some Sunday learning and break down dizziness in less than 4 minutes!

I’m curious comment below if you’ve done this physical exam successfully! by @dizzy_doc

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2 months ago