have you had/do you have "vertigo?"

[wildernesslodgelover]

I just started looking into this, as I have had some severe bouts with dizziness recently...I had two today, but before today, I had one maybe a month ago, and one maybe a month before that. I feel very dizzy, like I may fall down. It lasts maybe 10 seconds. I don't feel nauseated, just like I am spinning.

I know I need to go to the doctor, but I kind of want to get an idea of what ya'll think, as I hate paying for lots of pricey tests to be told it is nothing, or just vertigo...which if mild, has no treatment.

Thanks for any input you may have!

 

[JARNJ3]

I've been diagnosed with vertigo a couple of times.

It seems, for me, to be a side effect of taking the drug prednisone (for asthma and sinus issues).

Its very disconcerting. Before it was diagnosed as veritgo though - the doctors ran tests to make sure the dizziness wasn't caused by other issues.

I was given veritgo exercises to do. You literally have to force yourself to be dizzy - in a controlled setting. After about 2-3 days of these exercises - it went away.

http://www-nmcp.med.navy.mil/Neurology/vertigo.asp

The one that works for me - is I lie on the bed face up, with my head slightly off the mattress. I turn to the right - then the left. It causes extra dizziness at first - but then eventually, it stops the dizziness.

 

[ducklite]

I've suffered from a mild case of it on and off for years.

OP, not sure how old you are, but it can be one of the many symptoms of peri-menopause.

 

[kirbydog48]

I've had something called "benign positional vertigo". I get the spinning sensation from time to time when I move my head position (like when I'm lying in bed and turn my head too quicky). The Dr. said it was nothing serious and gave me a prescription antihistamine which made me loopy, so I stopped taking it. Basically it's an inner ear issue. I've known someone who had it a lot more seriously, hers was called labrynthitis. Definitely check with your Dr., if only so you won't worry.

 

[keishashadow]

quite a few years ago i was sick with the flu

got up one morning and slammed into the wall near the bed. I found myself staggering and very dizzy, nauseaus. it was on a sunday & DH insisted i go to the ER; which was packed.

when i was finally seen, the dr. indicated that a virus was running thru our area and many people had exactly the same symptoms.

i was prescribed ativan and was urged to follow up with a specialist that week. Within a few days i did feel much better and discontinued the medication.

unfortunately, i now have a tendency to get motion sickness (which i didn't before) and get dizzy/fear of heights? I'm told it's common for this long term complication; sometimes due to physical changes in the ear canals. I do have a Rx for the patch which helps when i cruise & fly; just glad it hasn't returned in it's original form.

good luck to the OP

 

[wardfamily1]

I clicked on the link because I've been having the same problem. It started last week. I woke up in the middle of the night and felt dizzy. I turned over, I was facing right, I turned facing left, then I felt incredibly dizzy again. It was a little scary, I thought it may just be some type of inner-ear thing and just haven't made it to the doctor yet.

 

[daannzzz]

I clicked on the link because I've been having the same problem. It started last week. I woke up in the middle of the night and felt dizzy. I turned over, I was facing right, I turned facing left, then I felt incredibly dizzy again. It was a little scary, I thought it may just be some type of inner-ear thing and just haven't made it to the doctor yet.

I had bouts of dizzyness and then one morning when I rolled over in bed BOOOM it was like someone stuck me on a spinning teacup. I could not even sit up for a while and was in bed all day. Went to the doctor and he also said it was benign positional vertigo which has to do with partical in your inner ear that go where they shouldn't. You can take meds for it and it can help but I get way to sleepy on them. It is not anything dangerous except it is extremely nasty. There are some movements they can do to help repostion the particals but I have not treid it yet.

 

[golfgal]

It could also be other things like low blood sugar or a brain tumor. I would get it checked out.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I've suffered from a mild case of it on and off for years.

OP, not sure how old you are, but it can be one of the many symptoms of peri-menopause.

*sobbing*

I'm 39!!!!

golfgal-I know it is not low blood sugar...I keep an eye on that, as my mom is type 1 and I had gestational. I went to an endocrinologist last year and my sugars are great. But thanks for the tumor idea...now I am freaking out!!!!

jar-thanks for the link!

Thanks to all the replies! It feels at least a little better to know I am not alone.

 

[DawnCt1]

You should have it evaluated by your physician but in the meantime, try Bonine. It is OTC and is often effective.

 

[chobie]

I've suffered from a mild case of it on and off for years.

OP, not sure how old you are, but it can be one of the many symptoms of peri-menopause.

Oy. It started with me at about age 34. I sure hope that wasn't peri-menopause.

I did notice at first it came with PMS.

I have had a re-occuring ear infection since Sept and I know as soon as vertigo comes the ear pain will be there in a day or two.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

You should have it evaluated by your physician but in the meantime, try Bonine. It is OTC and is often effective.

thanks Dawn, I will check that out!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Oy. It started with me at about age 34. I sure hope that wasn't peri-menopause.

I did notice at first it came with PMS.

I have had a re-occuring ear infection since Sept and I know as soon as vertigo comes the ear pain will be there in a day or two.

I do think peri-menopause can start in your mid thirties. I know, Iknow...bummer!

 

[fltwinmom]

When I was in high school a girl in my class got diagnosed with it - only after she was in the hospital for three days and they ran every test under the sun.

She would get it more around the equinoxes (is that the plural of equinox?? lol...)

Crazy, but she first had it when we were sophomores and as far as I know (kept up with her thru college) she never really found a treatment that worked.

Good luck, OP. Hope everything turns out ok.

 

[Buckalew11]

I've suffered from a mild case of it on and off for years.

OP, not sure how old you are, but it can be one of the many symptoms of peri-menopause.

That's intersting. I did not know this. At 42, I'm having vertigo bouts more frequently than ever. maybe this is why.

I had bouts of dizzyness and then one morning when I rolled over in bed BOOOM it was like someone stuck me on a spinning teacup. I could not even sit up for a while and was in bed all day. Went to the doctor and he also said it was benign positional vertigo which has to do with partical in your inner ear that go where they shouldn't. You can take meds for it and it can help but I get way to sleepy on them. It is not anything dangerous except it is extremely nasty. There are some movements they can do to help repostion the particals but I have not treid it yet.

This has happened to me a few times in the past year.

You should have it evaluated by your physician but in the meantime, try Bonine. It is OTC and is often effective.

The day mine was at its worst I took bonine and I felt like it did help me. The spinning was making me so nauseated.

 

[DawnCt1]

The most common cause of vertigo is a vestibular disturbance in the inner ear in the "semicircular canals". Most of the time it resolves on its own after a few days.

 

[Sandy321]

I was diagnosed with it a few months ago -

I have low blood sugar, and low blood pressure which causes dizziness also - but a few months ago it was so bad I couldnt move without extreme dizziness and a bout of two of "tossing cookies" HORRIBLE!!

The doctor felt it was "meniers disease" which is vertigo - and prescribed of all things 1/2 tablet of a diuretic - and it WORKS! When it was bad dh called and he prescribed the bonine ingredient (exact same thing) then I came in and had the exam and talked to him he prescribed the diuretic - which really gave me pause, no way can a diuretic make a difference!! and my dad is on the same diuretic for high blood pressure BUT it works!! I no longer take the bonine daily, but I do not skip the diuretic!

So call the doctors office and see if a nurse practitioner can talk to you - and give you advice and make the appointment!!

I went to Disney in Jan 3 months after the severe bouts - shockingly I was able to ride Rock N Roller Coaster!! I never expected to!!! Its dh fav ride, and we were childless, so I thought, I could handle it for a few minutes -

now when the doctor explained the whole vertigo/meniers disease he explained about these crystals in your inner ear and how they get "lose" so dd thinks that was hysterical "Mom you have ROCKS in your head that got lose"

I think maybe the roller coaster put them back!!

 

[Allison]

I also have BPV. I had a terrible time with it last night and today because I'm sick with a cold and all stuffed up and it is messing with my ears.

I take meclizine which is the active ingredient in products like Bonine. It's much cheaper to buy it in the generic form. I got 100 tablets for $7.99. It helps but it also makes me tired if I take more than one tablet.

 

[kimluvswdw]

When we lived in Ohio for awhile I used to get it all the time. I was to every specialist there was including a neurologist (sp?). My doctor even sent me to the Cleveland Clinic. I got two opinions on what caused it. 1. migraine equivelants (migraine symptoms without the pain) and 2. Allergies. I have no idea wht caused it but I used to have to take pills to help with the dizziness. It got to be where I could not leave the house. Well when I moved back to Virginia Beach in April of 98 it all stopped. I really don't have a problem with it unless my sinuses are bothering me.

Good luck with it. I know it about drove me insane.

 

[ducklite]

That's intersting. I did not know this. At 42, I'm having vertigo bouts more frequently than ever. maybe this is why.

I found out about that as a possible cause a few years back when a co-worker had a bad attack of vertigo at work, to the point that I called the company nurse. While she was in the nurses office the nurse mentioned it to her.

So then I asked my GYN who also confirmed it. Whodda thunk?

The good news is that I'm almost 47 and I'm noticing a tapering of the peri-menupause symptoms that I've had over the past five years or so--I'm hoping "the end is near."