What causes your vertigo and does anything help it go away?

[staci]

I am pretty sure I have vertigo. I get dizzy spells occasionally, and the whole room spins. I went to a bunch of doctors and specialists a few years back, and no one could pinpoint anything. In the clinic they were trying to get me dizzy by sitting me up and laying me down, but of course I never felt dizzy on THOSE days It got better during my pregnancy, but now has come back. I will go a week, a month, etc with nothing and then it will hit me like a truck. I woke up 4 times last night with the rooms spinning, and it has done it a few times today. Usually if I stay still and breathe deep it will stop spinning.

Im trying to decide what brings these attacks on? Is it something dietary? Lack of sleep? Stress?

If anyone has any suggestions, Im all for them! We are pretty broke right now so I dont want to go back through all those doctors to have them tell me nothing useful. How can I prevent an attack? What makes them go away once you are already dizzy?

Thanks guys! ANYTHING is greatly appreciated!

 

[ducklite]

It can be a symptom of perimenopause. You might want to mention it to your ob/gyn.

If it is vertigo (which I suffer from) I believe there is a medication you can take for it, but mine hasn't been bad enough to warrant that.

Anne

 

[WeirdEyes]

I take Antivert for mine. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn't. Sinus issues can cause the vertigo also. Sometimes I can't even get out of bed because it is spinning...not fun! Good luck!

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Whenever I have it, I have an inner ear infection with no other outward symptoms. They give me antibiotics and it goes away. Sorry, I know that is a horrible feeling!

 

[staci]

I take Antivert for mine. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn't. Sinus issues can cause the vertigo also. Sometimes I can't even get out of bed because it is spinning...not fun! Good luck!

That sounds like me. I cant MOVE when its spinning, its so debilitating. I hadnt thought of sinus issues, I have plenty of those


Also, I had never heard the perimenopause thing. I will definitely mention it.

Thanks guys you have already helped a TON!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

have your ears checked for a mild infection. I had a friend that had vertigo and found out that she'd had a mild ear infection for awhile. Once the infection was gone, so was her "vertigo."

 

[staci]

Thanks to the two posters who brought up ear infections. i obviously didnt have one when i was at the doc trying to figure this all out a few years back, but i very well could have one now. i was very prone to them as a child.

Thanks!

 

[ZebraStripes]

There was a small article in the September 13, 2005 issue of Woman's Day on this. I cut it out for my sister who suffers from spells of really bad vertigo. She has benign positional veritigo caused by calcium carbonate crystals in the ear. Not to long ago I had a short spell of vertigo. The doctor said it was fluild buildup in my ear caused by seasonal allergies. If you want a copy of the article, pm me, I've got it as a .pdf. Good luck!

 

[agotta]

Mine is always an ear infection. Nothing has ever helped until the doctor prescribed Meclizine. Granted, I was toward the end of the vertigo spells, but still

 

[staci]

Thanks for the vertigo article zebrastripes.


With all of the posters talking about ear infections, maybe i should fork over the $20 and go get them checked out.


my mom insists that it is eating too much salt that causes this. Anyone heard of that?

 

[ducklite]

Thanks for the vertigo article zebrastripes.


With all of the posters talking about ear infections, maybe i should fork over the $20 and go get them checked out.


my mom insists that it is eating too much salt that causes this. Anyone heard of that?

Salt can cause a temporary rise in your blood pressure, and that could certainly lead to a dizzy spell.

Anne

 

[DisneyBug1995]

Mine is also caused by sinus or allergy problems. I take something like sudafed that will help to drain my sinus.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Meclizine can also be bought OTC, just ask the pharmacist, try it and see if it helps you. Also you can get 100 pills for about $8 OTC, compared to quite a bit more for the RX ones.

 

[LightBurnsBlue]

There was a small article in the September 13, 2005 issue of Woman's Day on this. I cut it out for my sister who suffers from spells of really bad vertigo. She has benign positional veritigo caused by calcium carbonate crystals in the ear. Not to long ago I had a short spell of vertigo. The doctor said it was fluild buildup in my ear caused by seasonal allergies. If you want a copy of the article, pm me, I've got it as a .pdf. Good luck!

Do you get your vertigo randomly? Or is it when you sit up/lay down/move your head quickly? If it's the latter, there is a good chance you have crystals, or tiny rocks, in your ear that are making you dizzy. My mom suffered from terrible vertigo for two years, and most doctors just said menopause or sinus infection. She finally found a doctor that knew about the disorder with the crystals...he taught her exercises to try to get the crystals in the right place in her ear. It's strange, but it's working. So...good luck!

 

[eclectics]

Sinus is causing mine. Thankfully not severe. I don't even have to move my head sometimes! Getting old is so much fun!

 

[PrincessKitty]

There was a small article in the September 13, 2005 issue of Woman's Day on this. I cut it out for my sister who suffers from spells of really bad vertigo. She has benign positional veritigo caused by calcium carbonate crystals in the ear. Not to long ago I had a short spell of vertigo. The doctor said it was fluild buildup in my ear caused by seasonal allergies. If you want a copy of the article, pm me, I've got it as a .pdf. Good luck!

This is more common than realized! An ENT physician or somebody with special training can put you through the different positions to try to dislodge the crystals. Here is an article on the web that shows you the different positions:

http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/bppv/bppv.html

 

[Griggle]

Mine is definately sinus related.

My dr. advised I probably picked up a viral infection in my inner ear and any kind of a sinus related issue would trigger it. And, it does. My bouts are miserable. They can last up to weeks.

Meclizine totally knocks me off my feet. I use Dramamine which contains the same active ingredient, in a lower dosage.

Feel better soon!!

 

[msdznyduck]

Do you get your vertigo randomly? Or is it when you sit up/lay down/move your head quickly? If it's the latter, there is a good chance you have crystals, or tiny rocks, in your ear that are making you dizzy. My mom suffered from terrible vertigo for two years, and most doctors just said menopause or sinus infection. She finally found a doctor that knew about the disorder with the crystals...he taught her exercises to try to get the crystals in the right place in her ear. It's strange, but it's working. So...good luck!

You can also try a Physical Therapist that treats Vestibular problems. They will do an evaluation, and will also teach the exercises that will adjust the crystals in your ear if that is what they think is wrong. Vertigo can also be helped by heat and ultrasound to your neck if they think it is being caused by a cervical problem, which is also possible.

 

[Christine]

As mentioned above, most cases of vertigo are caused by the crystals in the ear. It is commonly referred to as "benign positional vertigo" or BPV. If you go to an ENT that specializes in this, they can do some maneuvers on your head that will settle the crystals. They can also give you some exercises to do at home that will keep things in check. Look this condition up on the internet and you will see what I'm talking about.

A woman in my office had this and after she went to see the ENT, she never had another case of it.

And yes, too much sodium in the diet can exacerbate the condition by causing swelling in the ear canal.

 

[staci]

WOW you guys are awesome!!

I did go to a specialist who dealt with vertigo in 2002, but since the appointments had to be made so far out, it never worked out that I was there when I was having a spell. They were looking at my eyes to see movement or something, and when they couldnt make me dizzy, they said they couldnt do anything, although the positional vertigo was likely what I had. They told me to come back if it got worse, it never got worse, just off and on occasionallly.

I will definitely check out that website to see the different movements I should do, thank you!

And it is very good to know that salt can swell the ear canal, I do eat way too many salty foods (gotta love chinese ).

Again, thank you so much! I spent a good 4 months in 2002 going back and forth between specialists and my regular doctor, and no one could give me any answers to anything. Many of them played the 'you must be stressed' card on me, but I am really a pretty relaxed person and I knew I wasnt making it up.

Thanks again!