Community Chat

[colliemom4]

I think it depends on the person as to how long it takes to get rid of it but I do think it will go away for you within the next week or so. My dad had it and it only took him a few days to get over it and my best friend had it and it took her over a week to get over it. I think it just has to run it's course. I'm so sorry you are experiencing this. I know you must be miserable. If you are terribly worried about it then by all means see your doctor. These are just experiences people I know have had with it. I hope you feel better soon.

[sophiamarie]

On 5/27/2014 lulu2 said:

I had a colleague who suffered from Meniere's disease. Bouts of vertigo were a symptom of the disease.

I woul also go along with this. A relative of ours had this and his doctor put him in the hospital. The only treatment that worked was Valium (at that time in the 80's)....

It's not a pleasant thing to have to endure, but I remember the Valium really worked and didn't make him drowsy either. It helped with the nausea and the dizziness.....

I hope you come back to us with the doctor's diagnosis. He might send you to an ENT specialist.....

Good Luck....

[Lotus]

On 5/27/2014 mominohio said:

On 5/27/2014 Lotus~ said:

I had vertigo about 2 years ago.

It first started as a "fuzzy" feeling.....when I turned my head too fast I felt weird. I could be sitting down and felt like I was going to fall. I went to my heart doctor and he did the EKG and also put me on a 24 hour monitor. All was well.

That feeling lasted a few days and then when I was at home, I got up from a sitting position and tried to get to the bathroom and I was "listing" to the right. I had to hold on to the wall to keep from falling.

I immediately went to the ER and they gave me some type of medication (can't remember the name). It really didn't help and made me feel spacey and wired. I then went to an ENT and he gave me a steroid shot and I felt better right away. In addition to helping the vertigo, it helped every ache and pain I had. It was great!

PS....I also had a period for the first time in 10 years....the dr said that steroids will "play" with your hormones and that was not unusual.

I hope you feel better soon.....it's a horrible feeling.

Thanks for this input. This is the exact thing I'm looking for, as most doctors won't even mention the period thing. And that would freak me out, as I have been without one for a very long time as well. I hear you about the steroid taking away all those aches and pains for awhile, you feel like your 20 again!

I won't lie.....I've actually thought about going in with "vertigo" again.....just to get that shot. I felt great and it was worth a few days of having a period again

[gidgetgh]

I've had vertigo for almost 8 years. It's one of the most horrible things... it really is. Mine usually hits in the middle of the night. I wake up with the room spinning. It's terrifying.

Several years ago, I went to physical therapy for it- vestibular rehabilitation. They worked with me and then gave me a series of exercises to do at home. While most of the exercises (except the Brandt Doroft exercise) don't directly help stop the vertigo, they help strengthen your balance which helps you.

Cut way back on your salt. That sometimes helps.

When I've had a bout with vertigo, it takes me months to get over it. For me at least, it's a slow recovery. I sleep sitting propped up in bed. I never sleep with one pillow anymore, always two and it takes me a few months to get brave enough to try two after a bout.

I don't ever bend over anymore with my head straight down. When I'm at the dentist, I ask them to not recline the chair back too much.

I'm glad you have a doctor's appt. scheduled. More than likely, it's benign positional vertigo, but that diagnosis should come from your doctor.

As someone else suggested, the Epley Maneuver helps, but that's usually administered by a professional. The best exercise for you at home is the Brandt Doroft. When I've had a bout, I start with that. They should be some videos on you tube for it. I'm not brave enough to not use pillows. I start with two pillows and after a few weeks switch to one.

Sending you my best wishes for a quick recovery from this. It's no fun.

[hckynut]

On 5/27/2014 mominohio said:

I'm posting here as I'm not sure how much traffic the health forum gets. Also, before anyone reprimands me for not getting medical advice, I have an appointment, but can't get in till Friday afternoon. Only looking for your experiences and what has helped you.

I spend most of Saturday night in the ER. Woke up very hot, nauseated, and the room spinning. Spent an hour in the bathroom trying to get sick, finally did. Symptoms continued so went to ER. Given something for nausea and something for dizziness. Had an EKG and heart monitor.

I have experienced this for the first time this past week. Had a couple of episodes where I sat up in bed and the whole room went spinning, but everything settled out in a matter of a minute or so. Saturday was a biggie. I have been on the medication for the spinning every 8 hours since, and no more need for nausea meds. I'm still "off kilter" and cannot lay down (been sleeping in a chair, upright) and get more dizzy if I bend over or tilt to the side. I'm functioning, but at a slower and more careful rate.

I've been online and read up some, but was wondering if anyone here had experiences and things they did that helped with this condition. I'd appreciate anything you'd care to share, as it seems like a long wait to get to the doctor, which I'm sure will only be the first step to seeing a specialist.

Thanks for any input.

I have always pretty much known my causes for feelings similar to vertigo. Mine have usually been related to a my 2 heart attacks/medication/low blood pressure/deadly high INR/major artery hematoma/and most recently with tachycardia, which sent me to the ER most of last Sunday. Probably a few more things that I have missed but mine has never been to a point where I think that emptying my stomach is going to ease or solve my problem. When I am in doubt, like last Sunday, I headed to the ER. But I base doing this more on my past life and death events as opposed to the feelings as the type you have expressed.

There is a lot of traffic on the Health and Fitness Forum with many willing to try to help.

[foundinlv]

mominohio.....I was in my 40's when I had vertigo for the first time. I remember bending over to pick something up at work and then getting dizzy when I stood up; it was uncomfortable but not debilitating. Last year I had a few bouts of vertigo that were really bad and very debilitating. Couldn't keep food down because of the nausea not even water and yet with all the tests that I had, the only thing that really helped was taking over the counter Dramamine. It comes in a less drowsy formula and also in a chewable formula which is great when you don't have water. Dramamine really worked for me but it still took about 8 hrs to start feeling at 100%. Also, my ENT told me to start taking 1000mg of Vit C and I have taken it everyday since. I had the Epley Maneuver which had worked for me in the past but last year not so much. It was the Dramamine that stopped the room from spinning and let me drink water and eat again.

Dizziness for the uninitiated, is scary. While I never went to the ER it's not hard to let your imagination run away from you as to the cause. This year I've had no bouts of vertigo which makes me very happy.

[RainCityGirl]

I have ongoing positional vertigo due to middle ear damage from sinus infections, plus I flew one time with a respiratory infection and felt as if my ear had imploded. My ears have not been the same since. Usually, I can over ride it by changing positions of my head or staring at one focal point till my brain over rides it on its own. Yours, on the other hand sounds like an inner ear infection, though I am certainly not a doctor. That can be cured with meds.

[I am still oxox]

On 5/27/2014 RainCityGirl said:

I have ongoing positional vertigo due to middle ear damage from sinus infections, plus I flew one time with a respiratory infection and felt as if my ear had imploded. My ears have not been the same since. Usually, I can over ride it by changing positions of my head or staring at one focal point till my brain over rides it on its own. Yours, on the other hand sounds like an inner ear infection, though I am certainly not a doctor. That can be cured with meds.

That is not fun, I have it on occasion due to stress from work, and tension in my neck, apparently the "opening in my skull" is a bit small and the muscles that go thru is can get strained and cause dizzy ness

[birddrops]

Had you traveled recently by boat or by plane? I suffered from mal de debarquement, a syndrome meaning bad disembarkment. You can google it. I had it after a long plane trip for nine months and again after two cruises for seven months each. I no longer cruise or fly long distances. It is not well understood and there is not much you can do. The only time it didn't bother me was driving, because the car was moving.

When seated at home, I had to keep pillows around me for stability. They really were miserable times in my life. Good luck with your dizziness.

[RainCityGirl]

On 5/27/2014 Usedtobeoxox said:

On 5/27/2014 RainCityGirl said:

I have ongoing positional vertigo due to middle ear damage from sinus infections, plus I flew one time with a respiratory infection and felt as if my ear had imploded. My ears have not been the same since. Usually, I can over ride it by changing positions of my head or staring at one focal point till my brain over rides it on its own. Yours, on the other hand sounds like an inner ear infection, though I am certainly not a doctor. That can be cured with meds.

That is not fun, I have it on occasion due to stress from work, and tension in my neck, apparently the "opening in my skull" is a bit small and the muscles that go thru is can get strained and cause dizzy ness

My ENT told me that the actual dizziness is caused by calcium particles that have come loose and they get caught on the tiny hairs in your inner ear. As the hairs move with the calcium on them, it causes vertigo. He taught me the technique of focal point staring so that the brain over rides it. However, my sinus damage has caused mild Meniere's whic results in dizziness as well.