Woke up this morning with wicked vertigo.

[Fla Dem]

Last edited Sat Nov 23, 2019, 05:30 PM - Edit history (1)

I've had bouts of Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) for 40 years. My first attack was pretty much the worse, although I've had some severe ones over the years. But the last 10 years they really have been benign. Only a couple of incidents a year. A bit of unstableness when I 1st get up in the morning, but once I'm up and moving around, I just have to make sure not to make any drastic moves.

But this morning was a humdinger. I was pretty much slammed back on the bed when I tried to get up. The movement sensation was extreme. For the first time ever, I actually not only felt extremely nauseous, but threw up. Once I was able I did a set of the movements to help reposition the crystals in the ear canal. But boy, did that episode really knock me for a loop. Had to cancel plans I had for today, and it wasn't until 2:30 that I was really able to get up and move around.

Glad to say I am feeling a lot better. A little wiped out, but upright.

I feel so sorry for people who have these type of extreme bouts all the time. I've been fortunate over the years mine have been somewhat minor.

[Darwin2019]

1. I have that, too. It is terrible

I have had some bad episodes and it can knock you on your butt. Hope you have recovered.

[Fla Dem]

6. Thanks. I good for today. Not sure what waking up tomorrow morning will bring.

[rzemanfl]

2. A friend with BPPV had a stroke she thought was BPPV. Glad you are feeling better. n/t

[Fla Dem]

7. Oh good, somethng else to worry about.

But no, don't think it was a stroke. Thanks for the good wishes.

[rzemanfl]

12. She ended up in an ambulance. Fortunately the part of her brain the stroke affected has

another blood supply.

[at140]

3. Hope you find a way to recover soon

What you described sounds horrible to go through, even on rare occasions.

[Fla Dem]

8. Thanks so much. I'm actually fairly lucky,

Some people have it severe like I had it today every time.

[klook]

4. Get to the doc when you can to make sure you don't have an inner ear infection.

This was exactly my experience a couple of years ago, and after getting on antibiotics and anti-nausea medicine I was dramatically better.

Have had BPPV a few times, too — not exactly a barrel of laughs.

[Fla Dem]

9. Hmmm, something to think about.

If still persisting Monday will pursue that and try to get to see the Dr.

[klook]

11. Cool - best of luck.

Hope it doesn’t flare back up.

[murielm99]

33. I had a bout of vertigo not long ago,

when I was supposed to be at a voter registration drive. I did not go.

Later, I started to get a noticeable ear infection. I had it treated, and I am fine now. I used to get ear infections often, but not so much any more.

I get mild vertigo if I allow myself to become dehydrated. We all need to pay attention to what our bodies are telling us, whether it is with ear infections, hydration, or other symptoms.

[Zoonart]

5. I too have these from time to time.

Glad when they pass.I do all of the exercises to alleviate. I tell folks that I cop to having rocks in my head.

[Fla Dem]

10. OK, you made me laugh...Thanks!!!

[Zoonart]

14. Any time.

[Hoyt]

13. Experienced a couple of episodes. It's intense dizziness that you can't stop or really describe.

Luckily, it's always occurred getting up or turning over in bed. Can't imagine what it would be like driving or something.

Closest thing to it is being really drunk, smashed and having to put your foot on the floor to help with the spinning and disorientation.

Glad you are better.

[JPK]

15. I have vertigo as well.

My last recent bout had ne very nauseous and I was throwing up. I was at work and when I got home I was in bed the rest of the day and the next. You never know when it will hit. I was fine at work the slowly started to feel a little dizzy and an upset stomach. Then it really hit.

[Fla Dem]

18. Wow, so sorry to hear that. Mine have never struck during the day.

Always attack upon waking. I have to think some head movement we do overnight in our sleep jars those damn crystals.

Glad it didn't happen to you when you were driving or some other activity that could have been dangerous.

[Croney]

16. Search Epley Maneuvers on YouTube now!

I had severe vertigo and an ER doctor taught me about this method. It really works. I haven't had an episode in years, but part of the cure (IMO) is the absence of anxiety due to knowing that if I do feel it coming on, I am in control of stopping it.

[Fla Dem]

17. Yes, I did do those and they do help.

But there was too much movement sensation and nausea. Had to wait for that to calm down before I was able to do them.Thank you for the reference.

I would like to thing not having anxiety over them would prevent the vertigo from occurring. I too feel pretty confident I can control them. But as I said this was a humdinger. Probably ranking the 3rd worse over a 40 year period.

[doublethink]

21. I'm now 61 years old and had my first episode of Vertigo (BBPV) about 5 months ago ...

had a slight recurrence maybe 2 months ago. The first one was awful, waking up trying to get out of bed and got knocked back feeling like all the blood in my body had drained out, and the room was spinning. Crawled up to the window above the headboard, opened the window and BREATHED. Thinking my blood wasn't flowing to my limbs I stared kicking my legs in bed, moving my arms etc ... it was crazy. Finally got up, staggered around made my way outside. More air, more movement. After about a week (gave it the 5 day test to see if it was a pre-stroke etc,) nothing I researched with my condition made sense. Still "dizzy" day to day, and sleeping with my head 'up' on a pillow, I finally went to the doctor. They had no idea and tried to send me to the ER. Anyway my sister sent me a Youtube video of a guy that experienced the exact same thing I did. Here's the video ...

boom, did the maneuver and instant relief after 1 or 2 days. Changed my diet and about another million other things lol ... we shall see. Only had a slight recurrence since like I said about 2 months ago, did the epley maneuver and no problem since. We shall see. I'm a information geek like probably most of DU ... and I'm thankful we can share this and much more information about our would. Thank's for the thread and hope you are well. And stay well. Peace.

[dixiegrrrrl]

24. I think you just helped me..

I have had vertigo and could not figure out why, I assumed it was sinus related since my head feels stuffed up, except...had an episode where I actually lost my balance while standing still, would have fallen if I had not been able to grab a counter top. THAT is attention getting.
Just watched a youtube of the exercise, and will try that, since getting out of bed in the am is when I feel it most often, tho not as severely as that one incident.

To be honest, if someone had just said to me something about "crystals in the ear" I may have laughed it off, till now.

[Croney]

26. I hope so, good luck!

[frogmarch]

19. I take meclizine (OTC) for mine, which

is what Dramamine is, but I usually buy generic chewable meclizine tablets.

I've had positional vertigo for years. Wind in my ears is what usually sets it off. My first episode sent me to the ER. I was vomiting nonstop and falling down, unable to walk, so my husband took me in. The doctor knew right away what was wrong and started a meclizine IV on me, and within a few minutes, I was much better and able to go home. Now I keep meclizine in one form or another within reach at all times.

[CousinIT]

20. I've had this too. God-awful.

I hate that crap! It has on more than one occasion made me nauseated to the point that I threw up.

Ugh!

[Doodley]

22. I've had BPPV for nearly 30 years. First time I had it, it took me twelve hours to drive 300 miles

to get home. I am a lot better now, but still get mild episodes. What I noticed is while I lose weight it gets better. My weight goes up and down, but on the downward trend I am always fine. Remember, there are other causes of vertigo. Your symptoms this morning could indicate a virus or something more serious.

[Fla Dem]

23. Thanks Doodley. I never thought it was caused by anything more

Than those calcium crystals getting into your ear canals. Now maybe something causes the crystals, I don’t know.

[Doodley]

25. There are a hundred other causes of vertigo. How is your health and fitness otherwise?

I still have trouble driving on bridges, and rainy weather at night can be a struggle - a lack of visual information that normally compensates for the faulty information from the ears. When I am bad, I get the supermarket vertigo. I know the effects differ. but does this sound familiar? If I have a flu coming on, it can come on.

[terip64]

27. Physical therapy for vertigo worked for me.

I was really skeptical when my doctor recommended it, but it worked. I had to hug the wall when I got up in the morning and I started to worry about it. I decided to talk to my doctor and she told me about the physical therapy. I went about five times and couldn't believe it worked. I was lucky because my insurance covered it.

[NJCher]

32. chiropractors, too

The first time it happened to me I had no idea what was happening, and it was a very severe episode, too. After that episode, I immediately went to my chiropractor. Somehow I innately knew he would know what it was, and he did.

I later figured out that it was from falling asleep in a chair without proper support for my head. I subsequently bought a new chair with the right support and it totally solved the problem. Of course, I could go to bed at a reasonable time, but that would be too sensible.

I've had side effects, although now they are all gone. But for a while, I was terrified going up and down steps. I like to garden, and one of my gardens is up the mountain, a full 20' higher than my house. It overlooks NYC and I used to enjoy looking at the the skyline but now I just try to keep my eyes focused on the ground. I will even carry a long piece of PVC pipe as I work in that garden and use it as a support in case I happen to look down the mountain and get dizzy.

[tblue37]

28. My deafness is caused by Meniere's disease, which also causes extreme vertigo becauss

it progressively destroys the ear canal. The hearing loss is progressive, and at 69, my hearing loss is quite severe. However, the hours of vertigo tend to become less frequent and less severe over time. I used to get them every 3 or 4 months, but I haven't had one for almost 2 years now. They used to last for 12 to 20 hours, but the last one was over in about 5 hours.

I hope they're over for good now. Extreme vertigo is more awful than people can imagine! Even closing your eyes doesn't help the violent spinning!

[Thunderbeast]

29. I have (had) Menieres

Finally had shunt surgery seven years ago because drop attacks became weekly.

Total hearing loss in left ear...but NO more vertigo.

Lucky it did not migrate to other ear.

[tblue37]

30. I have hearing loss in both ears. I wish my problem were just on one side. nt

[RestoreAmerica2020]

31. Glad ypur feeling better. Take care!

Paz