vertigo? anyone have it?

[Grumpy's Gal]

is it worse when you're laying down and get up?

 

[paigevz]

Yes, I have it, and yes, that happens to me, but my doc says that is caused by blood pressure being a bit low and not making it to your head quickly enough when you do that. He said I should sit up for a few seconds before I get up. I find it best if I don't lay down too long (except for bedtime of course!). I can usually handle a half hour, but much longer and not only do I get dizzy (I did actually faint once), but also my head pounds a bit after the dizziness goes away.

 

[diznygirl]

Yes, and yes!

I had it a couple weeks ago. I felt a little better sitting up as long as I wasn't moving - but getting up was dizzying. It felt like I had 2 glasses of wine - I was very loopy. My dr. prescribed the sea sickness patch and that helped settle things down.

 

[ilovepcot]

DH has vertigo occasionally *really, really bad* and his doctor recommended the Meclizine tablets which are sold over the counter. They work but do make most people very sleepy. DH didn't care...he was so sick with this that he was unable to work and the sleep did him a world of good. And yes, it seems to be quite a bit worse when you're laying down and try getting up.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

did you always have it or did it just happen?

The last few weeks, I have been a little dizzy right when I get out of bed. And sometimes when I turn over in the night.

It's weird. Never had this before.

 

[alliecats]

If Meclizine is Antivert, I have taken it, too. I had no side effects at all on it, but it did work very well. I hate that feeling, so even if it had come with some mild side effects, I would have just dealt with it.

 

[Christine]

did you always have it or did it just happen?

The last few weeks, I have been a little dizzy right when I get out of bed. And sometimes when I turn over in the night.

It's weird. Never had this before.

Yep, sounds like vertigo. Look up "benign positional vertigo" using Google.

 

[MinnieM3]

Yep, sounds like vertigo. Look up "benign positional vertigo" using Google.

That's what I had/have at times. First noticed it with the turning from side to side while in bed. I saw an ENT that specialied in it and he did some weird (not painful) twists and turns with me on this special table and I was good to go. It "cures" 80% of his patients!

 

[mcr5298]

My mother has just been diagnosed with Meniere's disease. She has been on medication for the last month, although I'm not sure which medicaiton she is taking. It has seemed to help, so at least she is not throwing up as much. I can't imagine feeling like that all of the time. My heart goes out to all of you with the symptoms of vertigo!

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

Yes, I have it, and yes, that happens to me, but my doc says that is caused by blood pressure being a bit low and not making it to your head quickly enough when you do that. He said I should sit up for a few seconds before I get up. I find it best if I don't lay down too long (except for bedtime of course!). I can usually handle a half hour, but much longer and not only do I get dizzy (I did actually faint once), but also my head pounds a bit after the dizziness goes away.

Paige...thats Orthostatic Hypotension. And you described it right...when you sit or stand, you're blood pressure doesn't come up fast enough to keep great blood flow to the head. Its much different from Vertigo though.
I've had vertigo several times, the first being the most severe and scarey. I took the Antivert which is basically just an antihistamine (thats why it makes you sleepy) and helps dry up any fluid in the inner ear. The person that described the "movements" the ENT does...I've heard that does work pretty well with some folks. And to answer your question, yes, getting up or turning over is much worse for me when it happens. It should go away though. All my subsequent attacks have been more mild. The first one put me in the floor LOL.

 

[Sparx]

I always thought vertigo was when you looked down over something and you're afraid of hights? that happens to me. It didn't used to, until I took a bad fall. I get it looking down stairs sometimes (it was stairs I fell down) Sometimes it feels like the blood rushes out of my head when I sit up too fast. Is this vertigo?

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

I always thought vertigo was when you looked down over something and you're afraid of hights? that happens to me. It didn't used to, until I took a bad fall. I get it looking down stairs sometimes (it was stairs I fell down) Sometimes it feels like the blood rushes out of my head when I sit up too fast. Is this vertigo?

Vertigo is a type of dizziness that's characterized by the sensation of spinning. It's sometimes referred to as a hallucination of motion. Imagine what it would feel like to be placed suddenly on a roller coaster that won't stop, and you begin to understand the alarming symptom of vertigo.

A fairly common cause of vertigo is labyrinthitis (explanation below). This type of vertigo may occur after a flu-like illness, severe ear infection, or may have no clear cause. It's usually self-limited, meaning it goes away all by itself. But it may intermittently reappear over weeks to months. Bouts of vertigo are commonly treated with meclizine (Antivert).

Vertigo can also result from other vestibular (balance center) disorders. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is thought to be caused by tiny loose particles floating freely in the fluid (endolymph) of the vestibular system. Meniere's disease is a chronic condition that causes vertigo associated with ringing or roaring and progressive hearing loss in the affected ear(s). Other causes of vertigo include vestibular neuronitis (inflammation of the vestibular nerves), and post traumatic vertigo which may occur after an injury to the head involving the inner ear structures. Sometimes vertigo may be a symptom of a more serious underlying illness such as a stroke or tumor.

So, anyone with the symptom of vertigo should be seen immediately by a doctor in order to determine the cause. If you can't get in by appointment, then obtain a ride to your local emergency room. They're well equipped to do the required initial evaluation, and provide relief from the unpleasant symptoms, regardless of one's ability to pay. Don't drive or operate machinery until cleared by your physician.

WHAT IS LABYRINTHITIS? People sometimes refer to labyrinthitis as an inner ear infection, but it usually isn't due to an actual ear infection. In the most general terms it's a condition which causes irritation of tiny structures such as microscopic hair cells which project into fluid-filled canals (labyrinths) within the vestibular system located deep in the inner ear. Normal balance is, to a degree, controlled by movement of fluid and particles in the labyrinths, in response to changes of body position. This causes the hair cells to send electrical impulses to the brain helping to define the body's orientation. In labyrinthitis the hair cells and other structures in the labyrinths have become irritated or inflamed. They discharge randomly, sending chaotic messages to the brain, tricking the brain into thinking you or your surroundings are moving or spinning.

 

[damo]

Vertigo is a terrible feeling. When I got it, I woke up in the morning and without even opening my eyes (still lying in bed), I could feel the entire room spinning. I had no balance when I attempted to get out of bed and the room continued to spin around me. Mine was caused by ear problems and with decongestants and motion sickness medication, I was able to get it under control.

I don't know if it was worse while I was lying down or up. It was just bad both ways!

 

[Blondie]

Yep, sounds like vertigo. Look up "benign positional vertigo" using Google.

That's what I have. I was diagnosed with it a few years back. It scared the crap out of me, I'll tell you that. I woke up with it one morning. When I'd bend down to get something out of the dryer, I nearly fell into it!

Antivert works somewhat. My biggest problem was with the nausea that comes with vertigo, it's terrible!

I'd love to ride Mission Space at Epcot, but there's no way I'm risking feeling nauseated for the rest of my day or possible vacation from one ride. No thanks!

My doctor gave me an exercise to do while laying on my bed with my head hanging off of it. Very slowly turn your head to one side and leave it there for a minute or two. When he had me do this in the office, I could hear what sounded like a waterfall inside my head. After one side, he brought be back to center, had me stay there for a few, then I rolled my head to the other side, stayed there for a minute or two, then back to center again. It cured me!

 

[lemondog]

I suffer from benign positional vertigo. It hasn't acted up in years, but here lately I've had a nasty sinus infection and it really sent my BPP back into overdrive. Every time I turn my head to the left and slightly up (especially when I am laying down) I get vertigo. I quickly turn my head back and it goes away, thank goodness.

My mom has Meniere's and when her vertigo acts up it is BAD. She is bedridden for nearly a week and suffers from extreme nausea.

 

[Jynohn]

I'm another one who suffers from BPPV Took forever to get it diagnosed. The doctor kept telling me it was a "virus". Then I was told it was "anxiety" and was prescribed Ativan. Once it got to the point that I couldn't walk across the room without falling down, she decided to take me seriously. Fast forward to numerous visits to neurologists and ENT's and I was finally diagnosed over a year later.

I too went in for the Epley manouver (I think that's what they call it) and have only had a few recurrences since. The last one was horrible though. It was just a few weeks ago and the room started spinning so violently that I had to throw up, but had to literally CRAWL into the bathroom because I wasn't able to walk. Thank God it's been better since, but I still get that "off balance" feeling a few times a day. I think it's time for a readjustment!

 

[princesspumpkin]

did you always have it or did it just happen?

The last few weeks, I have been a little dizzy right when I get out of bed. And sometimes when I turn over in the night.

It's weird. Never had this before.

Since this is new for you , it might just be an inner ear infection. I had this happen to me (while sleeping, I noticed being dizzy as I turned from side to side. Then when I got up in the morning. The final straw was after I got up from the floor doing sit-ups, I actually fell back down.) After seeing the doctor, I was diagnosed with an inner ear infection. Antibiotics cleared me up. But, years later, I was actually diagnosed with positional vertigo as well.

 

[suzannen]

I'm so sorry you're feeling this. It really is a terrible feeling. I had it once, and I was diagnosed with certain allergies. Once I was prescribed some allergy medicine which included a strong decongestant, it got much better pretty fast. Now as soon as I start feeling dizzy at all, I will take a decongestant and it's never happened to that degree since. I do still remember how awful I felt. I hope you find something that works for you soon.

 

[suzannef]

Blondie
Do you do this with your head facing outward or inward. I suffer from this occasionally too. The first time was definitely the worst because I didn't know what was happening and I was home alone with my 3 kids bumping into walls.lol After getiing some anti viral medication and meclizine I felt much better but still very weird. The meclizine made me feel better but so tired it was unreal. I felt like I could have just curled up on the floor or ground outside and fallen asleep. Not possible with 3 little ones I also suffer from horrible sinus infections that tend to make the vertigo recur. We went on the Disney cruise last year and had no seasickness at all but after the cruise I would feel like the whole room was swaying during dinner. I would say to my family. "Can't you feel that?" They think I'm nuts


Suzanne

 

[d.reece]

diagnosed with BPV a year ago. I am currently having a reoccurance, i feel off balance when im walking and have head spins when looking down or laying down. Am i the only one walking round in living hell? Anyone else suffering too ? still working everyday, but feeling exhausted and isolated.