Vertigo

[manchestergal]

Doctors tell me it can last an hour, a day/days, weeks.....well how does anyone function? I think I have BPPV or whatever it is called. I am 60 and just started with this several months ago. Lasted 2 days even with meclazine. I remember having it several years ago and ended up in the ER, just freaked me out. My last one was a few hours ago. I went to sleep and was scared to open my eyes when I woke up. Can emotional stress bring this on or is it purely a physical thing?
Any hopes this won't come back??????

[Kathy444]

Mine has been going on for 4 months now and it is hard to function.
I do know if I get very nervous and upset when it happens it makes it worse

[4eva]

I had the same panicked feeling when I experienced it last month and ER doc told me the same story you were told. My doctor told me that if it continued to the point I could not function, she would make all sorts of referrals to specialists. Luckily, I have not had a severe attack since then (knock on wood). I just get the occasional "swaying/limbo" feeling when I bend over to pick up something or turn too fast, but it's tolerable. I guess that if you continue to have severe episodes where you can't function, talk to your doctor or seek a second opinion. Good luck and hope you feel better.

[Kathy444]

I am happy to say I have been feeling much better in the last couple of days.
I still get lightheaded on and off but at least I can start functioning again. I think that was the hardest part of it not being able to play with the grandchildren and do my normal everyday things.
I am so glad to hear you are also feeling better hopefully we will both improve enough so we can put all the doctors behind us and start living again

[bessie18]

Usually my virgo acts up in dim lighting and mostly at night time...I had to go to the hospital last night cuz a bad ringing sensation started in my ear....my left ear will hurt and the doctor perscribed me meds that don't even go with this and it has horrible effects..I refused to take it....does any one knoe how to lessen the dizziness? Its bad when I wash dishes too...I'm 18 and have 2 kids.... I can't enjoy them!!! I had multiple ear infections when I was pregnat but doctors wouldn't even give me ear drops so there fore I have virtigo...thanks doc!!!
Bessie

[Kathy444]

Don't give up I know it is hard especially when you are trying to just do everyday things.
I can finally say it does start getting better. I honestly don't think the doctors know what is wrong when all the test results keep coming back with no solution.
It must really be hard having little ones and trying to function with this
I don't know if this will help or not but the ear doctor did prescribe nasonex for me and after a week of using it my ear is feeling much better.

[melschool]

Hi,
I'm 50 years old and have had several episodes with this debilitating health issue. A great doctor gave me a very simple exercise I can do on the edge of my bed with my feet dangling off the side. If you do it several times a day (I do it 3 times a day - depending on the severity and my nausea level), you can get rid of it earlier. I suggest you keep doing the exercise for about a week or two even after the verigo is gone. The exercise goes like this:

1. The bed should not have any pillows and be a flat surface before you begin. Begin by sitting straight up and looking forward (I count to 10 "one thousand").

2. Then slowly lower your body so that your shoulder touches the bed, but before your head touches the bed you tilt your head up so that your eyes are looking to the ceiling. This can be immensley uncomfortable and sets on the dizziness - maybe to the point of throwing up, depending on how severe it is - but this is suppose to happen.

3. When the dizziness stops you sit up and look straight ahead - count again - and wait for the dizziness to stop.

4. Then you do the other side and so on. I repeat this 3 times on each side. There's no magic number as far as I know. The more, the better.

Believe me it's not fun but it WORKS! I had it so bad once my daughter had to hold my hands in front of me and I cried. But since that most aweful episode the cases have been less severe. As soon as I feel a vertigo episode coming on I do the exercises right away and it goes away within a few days. Good-luck. I know what you're going through. In fact, I've been battling an episode this week - which is how I found this site.

[SCORPIO700]

Hi, like you I had a similar thing maybe 5-6 years ago, but yesterday at work, felt fine all day until 4pm when wham! I just suddenly felt really dizzy and from then on the room started spinning, then I gradually felt nauseous until an hour and half later I was actually sick. Felt this way all the evening (when I was sick again) and went to bed at 7pm, and when I turned over in the bed or went to the toilet, everything was moving around and my balance was just way off. When I got up at 5pm this morning I was gradually starting to feel a bit better and now at 2.30pm I am about 80%, still feel I have a "fuzzy"head and a little tiny bit nauseous, but just taking it easy today. I got straight on the net to look up symptoms and conclude that it was a vertigo attack rather than migraine. I read that the tablets that can be given for it are the same as Sea Legs travel pills, so wished I had known that as I have some in the drawer downstairs!! What was so bad, was the speed at which I felt so bad, did the same thing happen with you the last time? Hope this helps you, as I honestly couldnt have walked, driven or worked with this yesterday, in fact my husband had to come and pick me up as I couldnt have driven at all.

[Kathy444]

I also tried the meclazine but it didn't help that much hopefully you have better luck with it than me.
I am trying a new ent on Friday the other ent although he was very thoughtful and tried to help as much as possible and did help with the sinus issue doesn't seem to be able to help with the ear problem

[BethC]

I just found this forum searching for information on vertigo. I am 46 years old and I have been experiencing vertigo attacks every year (several a year) for the last 12 years. I am now seeing a specialist at the Mass Eye and Ear. I just had an attack this weekend. They just hit me and last about 24 hours. I am incapacitated when I have an attack. I do take Meclizine - not because I think it helps with the vertigo, but it helps me sleep through the vertigo. My new doctor thinks it may be neurological migraines without the headache. I will let you all know what I find out.

Beth