Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)-anyone ever dealt with this?

[22Tink]

I’ve been having dizzy spells for the past few days and was diagnosed with BPPV. My doctor performed the Epley Maneuver yesterday. My reaction to the maneuver was pretty nasty with terrible vertigo and nausea/dry heaves. I’ve been dizzy fairly constantly ever since. I’m just curious if there’s anyone else that has had this and what your recovery experience was like? Man it’s been a rough few days!!

 

[mommasita]

Sorry you are going through this , but yes. About 2 years ago right out of nowhere, but after A LOT of stress. It lasted months. My doctor also tried, no success. I had many tests, MRI, all of it. So strange, I went on a cruise, floated on my back, got water in ears, and thought I was going to drown, I couldn’t tell up from down. BUT, the next day it was all gone,

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have not, Tink. But sure wishing you well and a quick recovery. My best.

And, mommasita, good to hear you recovered from your episode with it.

 

[Christine]

I've had mild forms of it. When I tried to "self-perform" the Epley maneuver I almost vomited and it took me hours to recover.

My mother had it a few years ago. She didn't feel quite right for weeks and she's never really been the same since. She has to be careful when bending forward and down and also when she gets her hair done (shampoo bowl can be a problem).

 

[mnrose]

Yes. The Epley procedure worked for me. It's happened once since the original time, and I did it myself (google it...lots of things that show you how to do it). If you continue to have this, I'd insist on a more complete workup.

 

[Farro]

Yes. For two months, finally got Epley, instantly fixed.

 

[22Tink]

Thanks for your input everyone. I’m glad to hear the Epley worked for some of you. My doctor did say it sometimes takes more than one attempt so I’m hopeful it may still work yet.

 

[22Tink]

I've had mild forms of it. When I tried to "self-perform" the Epley maneuver I almost vomited and it took me hours to recover.

That was my reaction yesterday. I could hardly function afterwards for hours. She wants to try again tomorrow but I’m scared to go through that again.

 

[22Tink]

Sorry you are going through this , but yes. About 2 years ago right out of nowhere, but after A LOT of stress. It lasted months. My doctor also tried, no success. I had many tests, MRI, all of it. So strange, I went on a cruise, floated on my back, got water in ears, and thought I was going to drown, I couldn’t tell up from down. BUT, the next day it was all gone,

That’s interesting! Makes me want to try the water thing. My dr said it has something to do with displaced crystals in the ear canal so maybe the water in the ears helped fix that?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I was diagnosed with it several years ago. I still get it on occasion when I lie down, usually on my right side. Changing positions usually helps the dizziness subside.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Yep. It wasn't fun. I think I had to have the maneuver done 3 times. Each time, I was told to keep upright for 24 hours, so slept sitting up. But eventually, you'll get better. But it's draining to not have full use of your body and to feel like your eyeballs are moving like a bobblehead on the car dashboard. I hope your family is understanding and supportive.

Also, I had it several years ago. Every once in awhile, I go through a mini bout. I can do things like normal, even driving is fine, but it just drains my energy.

I heard someone say that vertigo can be brought on by a virus, but I don't know anything about that. I do know that my mom got it a month after I did, just after our visit, so that is suspicious. Why would two people get such a rare thing within a month of visiting each other? And we had just come back from a cottage (rental) when I got it, so maybe I did pick something up there?

 

[leebee]

I can sometimes tell when an attack is going to happen. I take a decent decongestant and that can help sometimes. I also take Bonine for the dizziness. When it's really bad, it doesn't help, but when I feel a slight touch of vertigo starting, both these things can stave it off... sometimes. I have to be careful when bending, looking down, looking up, laying down, and turning over as all these can trigger the vertigo. It complicates things like having my hair washed, lying down at the doctor/dentist/chiropractor, etc. The Epley didn't work for me at all; I was incapacitated for about a week the one time I had it done. I went from a minor attack (so they thought this was a good time to try it) to being bedridden. I couldn't sense where my feet/legs and hands/arms were in relation to my torso, I was so disoriented. It was awful.

 

[Christine]

Yep. It wasn't fun. I think I had to have the maneuver done 3 times. Each time, I was told to keep upright for 24 hours, so slept sitting up. But eventually, you'll get better. But it's draining to not have full use of your body and to feel like your eyeballs are moving like a bobblehead on the car dashboard. I hope your family is understanding and supportive.

Also, I had it several years ago. Every once in awhile, I go through a mini bout. I can do things like normal, even driving is fine, but it just drains my energy.

I heard someone say that vertigo can be brought on by a virus, but I don't know anything about that. I do know that my mom got it a month after I did, just after our visit, so that is suspicious. Why would two people get such a rare thing within a month of visiting each other? And we had just come back from a cottage (rental) when I got it, so maybe I did pick something up there?

So there are several types of vertigo. One is BPPV which is caused by the osteoliths in your inner ear becoming lose (generally age related). Then there is labryinthitis, which usually comes on after a bad cold or viral illnes/sinus infection. That one cannot be corrected with the Epley maneuver.

 

[22Tink]

I was diagnosed with it several years ago. I still get it on occasion when I lie down, usually on my right side. Changing positions usually helps the dizziness subside.

My right side is worse too. That’s the ear she tried to treat with the Epley.

 

[22Tink]

Yep. It wasn't fun. I think I had to have the maneuver done 3 times. Each time, I was told to keep upright for 24 hours, so slept sitting up. But eventually, you'll get better. But it's draining to not have full use of your body and to feel like your eyeballs are moving like a bobblehead on the car dashboard. I hope your family is understanding and supportive.

Also, I had it several years ago. Every once in awhile, I go through a mini bout. I can do things like normal, even driving is fine, but it just drains my energy.

I heard someone say that vertigo can be brought on by a virus, but I don't know anything about that. I do know that my mom got it a month after I did, just after our visit, so that is suspicious. Why would two people get such a rare thing within a month of visiting each other? And we had just come back from a cottage (rental) when I got it, so maybe I did pick something up there?

Yes I slept upright last night and maybe will tonight too. You’re so right on how draining it is! And I feel like a sloth, everything in slow motion so I don’t make the dizziness worse.

 

[22Tink]

I can sometimes tell when an attack is going to happen. I take a decent decongestant and that can help sometimes. I also take Bonine for the dizziness. When it's really bad, it doesn't help, but when I feel a slight touch of vertigo starting, both these things can stave it off... sometimes. I have to be careful when bending, looking down, looking up, laying down, and turning over as all these can trigger the vertigo. It complicates things like having my hair washed, lying down at the doctor/dentist/chiropractor, etc. The Epley didn't work for me at all; I was incapacitated for about a week the one time I had it done. I went from a minor attack (so they thought this was a good time to try it) to being bedridden. I couldn't sense where my feet/legs and hands/arms were in relation to my torso, I was so disoriented. It was awful.

I’ve been taking Bonine but it doesn’t seem to be helping. I didn’t start taking it till yesterday though so maybe I waited too long. The Epley was rough! I’m not looking forward to trying it again tomorrow.

 

[DLgal]

I’ve been having dizzy spells for the past few days and was diagnosed with BPPV. My doctor performed the Epley Maneuver yesterday. My reaction to the maneuver was pretty nasty with terrible vertigo and nausea/dry heaves. I’ve been dizzy fairly constantly ever since. I’m just curious if there’s anyone else that has had this and what your recovery experience was like? Man it’s been a rough few days!!

That reaction pretty much proves that you needed the maneuver.

Did you stay upright for 24 hours afterwards? If not, you probably need to do it again. When I had it done, I slept in a recliner that night, because if you lay flat, you undo it and knock the crystals out of place again.

 

[DLgal]

Do you have allergies? Try taking an antihistamine. I had a 3 week bout of dizziness last year that ended up being allergy related. Switching to Allegra from Zyrtec made it go away.

 

[22Tink]

That reaction pretty much proves that you needed the maneuver.

Did you stay upright for 24 hours afterwards? If not, you probably need to do it again. When I had it done, I slept in a recliner that night, because if you lay flat, you undo it and knock the crystals out of place again.

That’s exactly what my dr said. I did try stay upright but may have slipped down a bit in the night while asleep. I’m going sleep in the recliner tomorrow night after she retreats. Hopefully that helps.

 

[morrik5]

I had it on our last trip to Hawaii in 2009 - not fun in a strange room, stubbing your toe etc. I actually had it 6 months and the specialist told me the exercise to do to get the crystals back where they should be. It wasn't an immediate cure but I did get over it. Good luck - I know it's not fun.