Community Chat

[YorkieonmyPillow]

I did the Epley Maneuver by myself, at home, and thank goodness I did. Only thing that helped me.

[Kachina624]

On 5/27/2014 Mama Mia said:

Yes, you need to see a doctor, in the meantime, look up the Epley Maneuver, which can be used to to help with vertigo. I have never had it that bad, take care.

mm

I woke up with it one day several years ago. Stayed in bed a couple days until I got better. When I went to my doctor, I mentioned it to her and she told me about and demonstrated this exercise. Have never had another episode.

[fortune]

mominohio, I had the exact same thing. It was diagnosed by a neurologist. I went for physical therapy with a therapist familiar with its treatment. I'm fine now. Here's a link:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vertigo/basics/definition/con-20028216

[Jerz-girl]

hey I don't know if this is going to type out correctly because we're driving and I'm speaking into my phone.it could either be Meniere's disease or bbpv Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo | BBPV . I will come back on when I get home...my phone is picking up other conversations. Jerz

[ROMARY]

DD had it many years ago, after once being on a boat/smaller cruise ride. Antivert seemed to help. DM had it, and Bon___ (don't remember the OTC name) helped, along with very easy PT exercises such as standing (and holding on to the back of a chair or holding onto a walker) and keeping your eyes focused on an object across the room, etc. Then, taking your hands off of the chair or walker for a few seconds at a time. I'll look up the name of the Bon____ and I'll be back. UPDATE: It's BONINE. Take 1/2 a pill first, just to try it, read directions, etc. Often times we don't need the full dose of anything OTC. I take only 1/4 Benadryl tablet(or store brands) for allergies, (which I don't have very often).

[ROMARY]

It's BONINE, used for travel, yet worked very well for vertigo. OTC p.s. It's what her doctor recommended, BTW.

[Mominohio]

Thanks everyone for all the info, links and support. I'm going to spend some time this evening online and check out the various ideas and I'll get back to everyone when I have more to report.

I appreciate everyone sharing, as I think it gives someone (like me in this instance) who never knew much about something, somewhere to begin and to be more informed before going to see a health professional. I think there is nothing more frustrating than going to a doctor without having some head start on what they might ask, what you might not even think to ask them, and coming out feeling like you got nowhere because you were clueless from the beginning. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help.

[Jerz-girl]

hey mominohio,as I was saying earlier...

If I were you, I'd start with an ENT, skip the MD. The ENT specializes in ear disorders. Call your MD and ask them to recommend the ENT they use. The two disorders I mentioned earlier are usually two of the main causes of dizziness. Sometimes other ear disorders such as fluid deep in the ear where you need specialized testing to determine if you have fluids which involves being injected with a high dose lasix (Strength for a horse!!) Etc because looking into the ear with a otoscope doesn't show deep ear fluids. Some ear viruses and nerve viruses can cause dizziness too, so it's important to get the an ENT.

When one medicine stops working, there are others out there to try, your Dr will recommend what's best for you, sometimes it's trial & error. When things are real bad , usually where you have to be hospitalized, they can give you Valium intravenously. Usually Meclizine 25 mg every 6 to 8 hours depending on the severity of the room wanting to spin will help knock it out after a week or two, again depending on the severity.

When the room eventually stops spinning and that woozy feelin like g of when you tilt your head either side to side or up to the ceiling and down to the floor and it feels like the room is going to start spinning again, you however, will still feel off balance and lightheaded which can take months to fully go away.

Depending on what it is like Meneir's Disease your DR will tell you to cut back on sodium to about 1200 mg a day and give you a water pill like Hydrochlorothiazide. Also for Meneir's you Dr should tell you not to zip around the grocery store isles or look all the way up or all the way down and IF it is Meneir's you do NOT want to do any maneuvers, you WILL make the dizziness worse!!!(If it is Meneir's) Tilting your head and rocking Etc will make Meneir's dizziness worse, these maneuvers work for dizzy disorders like BBPV.

Sleep elevated too. Sorry for leaving in the middle of this, it thundering outside and my dogs are out there.

Jerz

[beach-mom]

I've had it twice in my life. Mine seems to be brought on by inner ear problems, possibly water in my ear due to my swimming. I had it the first time my freshman year in college. I woke up with the room spinning and feeling nauseous (and I hadn't been drinking). My roommate felt my forehead and told me to get to the clinic. The nurse found out I had a pretty high fever and called for an ambulance. I was in the hospital a few days, then back to campus on Antivert.

I had it just last year too. Again I think it was caused by swimmer's ear and a bad cold. This time I was on Meclizine, which is like Antivert (may be the generic name). My doctor also gave me an anti-nausea medicine.

I also have a history of low blood pressure. It doesn't take much to make me dizzy. They can't put any exam chair (like dental) too far back or I'll get sick. When I'm lying flat, I have to get up very slowly.

I hope you feel better. Aside from the medication, the only think I could do is treat it similar to a migraine - dark room, wet cloth on head, lying still.

[GCR18]

I got it for the first time earlier this year. I got out of bed quickly, as I always had, and the room started spinning. I thought I was having a heart attack or stroke. I crawled back into bed to access things. I called in sick and stayed in bed. I read about vertigo here, so I was able to put 2 and 2 together.

I couldn't get a Dr's appt for a couple days, which turned out okay. She called it a virus. Between the nurse and Dr, they had me lay down and get up fast a dozen times. I would have been miserable if I had to do that the day it happened. She asked if I wanted to go to physical therapy, but I said no. It happened again 10 days later. I was sleeping and it woke me up. It was short and wasn't as powerful. It hasn't happened since, but I am still very careful moving and have lots of pillows on the bed. I hate doing that, but I don't want it to come back.