Anyone had vertigo?

nancy324

nancy324

Cathlete
Last night I became so dizzy that I had the sensation that the room was spinning, and I couldn't keep my balance. It really scared me and it continued for over an hour. My DH called the doctor on call, and I was getting ready to go to the ER. But when I spoke to the doctor, she said that since I didn't have any other symptoms, and the spinning stopped when I laid down, it probably wasn't anything serious, just "vertigo". She said lots of women experience it and the usual cause is an imbalance in the inner ear.

Has anyone here ever had it or known anyone who had it? I have no idea what set it off and I'm now in fear of experiencing it again, so I want all the info I can get. Thanks!
 
Yes, I used to have it a lot as a kid. I remember the doctor giving me some kind of pill for it. (who knows what the heck it was, back in the 60s in the boonies where I came from...but it would work.) I've actually had milder cases of it as an adult, but nothing major.

My grandmother never called it "Vertigo"; she would say that her head was "swimming." :D She suffered from it quite a bit.

Did you get up really fast? Had it been a while since you'd eaten? Hopefully this will be a one-time occurence.

(BTW, I just saw the movie "Vertigo" last week! I know it has nothing to do with this, but, really, how often does the word "vertigo" come up in the course of a week?).

Hope you feel better!
 
I've had it, Nance, usually in conjunction with an inner ear infection. So bad that when I turned my head, I felt like I was going to throw up. I think the doctor is right that it's nothing serious. However, it's not something I'd want to experience frequently, that's for sure!

How are you feeling today?
 
Yes, ME!!! Awful! My very first episode was in the middle of the nite...I awoke to the room spinning and it lasted FOUR hours. (Naueas/vomiting) DH wanted to take me to ER but there was no way I was getting in a car! UUUGH! I went to doc and she diagnosed it as vertigo. It came out of clear blue. I asked if my aerobics and jumping around all the time could have caused it and she said no, it is an inner ear thing. There is an "exercise" you can do if you feel it coming on. Sometimes, it would work, other times not...let me look up the info & pix for you. BTW, I had it for probably a year (this past year) with episodes happening about 6X but always a feeling of mild nausea that i learned to "live with". Just this past January it seems like it's gone...knock on wood! Doc prescibed me Antivert which knocks me out so I found an OTC med that works also and doc said it was safe. I will also find the name of that for you. I only took it if the dizziness/nausea got bad.....BRB....

http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid8692709


Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie") http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion/action-smiley-066.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance, I Hope You DANCE!
 
Hi Nancy.

I've had what is called positional vertigo for as long as I can remember. Having my head in certain positions will set it off.

Here's something things most of the population probably find effortless but I have trouble with because of my vertigo issue:

Going to the dentist: That reclined position can set it off.

Going to get my hair washed at the hair dresser: Again, the reclined position is a problem.

Laying or sleeping on my back: I can only do it for short periods of time with a pillow under my head. To lie flat on my back w/nothing to prop my head up a little bit doesn't happen. I've rolled onto my back in my sleep and caused an attack of vertigo that was so bad that I've thrown myself off my bed in my sleep in an attempt to make it stop.

When I was diagnosed there was really nothing that could be done for it. I don't know if there's anything now. I really should look into it.

I hope your episode was just a passing thing that does not become a regular occurance.

(((HUGS TO YOU)))
 
Thanks, tpf. When it happened, I had just finished dinner, so that wasn't the problem. Also, I tried getting up very slowly, many times, but I just couldn't stand, so it wasn't as issue of getting up too fast. In fact, I couldn't even sit up!
 
>I've had it, Nance, usually in conjunction with an inner ear
>infection. So bad that when I turned my head, I felt like I
>was going to throw up. I think the doctor is right that it's
>nothing serious. However, it's not something I'd want to
>experience frequently, that's for sure!
>
>How are you feeling today?

Thanks, Shell. Much better today, but I stayed home from work, just in case. I'm afraid to venture too far from home.
 
>I had it a couple of times this summer, linked to an inner
>ear infection.

Shelley and Kathryn: are there any other symptoms of an inner ear infection? How do you know you have it?
 
You've mentioned that before, Wendy. It sounds very uncomfortable. You really should try again, as they're coming up with new things all the time. Thanks for the hugs!
 
Hey Nancy,

Yes, I have had this -- one time only, knock wood, so there's hope that that's it for you. My dr. told me that staying in bed really just delays the correction for it. She gave me a xerox with some exercises to do -- basically, you keep your eyes focused on one spot and try to move -- probably you ought to try to search for better instructions than this. The idea is that your brain has gotten confused, and by focusing the eyes and moving, you are correcting the confusion. I found that after staying in bed for a couple of hours, and then moving slowly, I was fine. It was scary!

-Beth
[email protected]
 
Deb, as soon as you tell me what it is, I'm sending DH out for it! I admit to still being a little dizzy today, although nothing as bad as last night. I do have a touch of nausea, but not too bad. I keep eating bread to keep the nausea under control.
 
Hi Nance! Glad you are feeling a bit better. It's no fun, I know! Here is a link to the Epley Maneuver:


http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_ha/figures/fg20_1.html

Like I said, sometimes, it worked, sometimes it didn't. I am still searching for the OTC supplement's name...my sis has Vertigo and gave me some the supplement I mentioned to you. (I didn't take it til I okayed it with my doc and she said it was actually the same thing and was safe to take) I marked down on a LIL' piece of paper what it was called and cannot find the paper...I will keep looking or get a hold of my sis for the info on the label. Sorry, I have a class in a bit so it might be later tonight or tomorrow...I'll keep in touch and Good Luck. Hope this is your one & only attack. Sometimes, people have only ONE attack!


http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid8692709


Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie") http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion/action-smiley-066.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance, I Hope You DANCE!
 
Nancy, see my post from last week (see below.) Mine was initiated by strains in my neck and shoulder. Although I've been getting treatments, I still have the problem. I'm still limited in my mobility in the neck/shoulder area which is constricting blood flow to my brain. I "may" also have a slight inner ear thing going on but my issue was brought on by my blockages. My osteopath suggested I take Allegra-D to combat any dizziness, I think. I can't remember exactly what he said but I am seeing him in a little while and I can find out. I don't know how anyone works out with this going on. Just when I was doing some stretches, it floored me. Hope you feel better soon.

Bam

http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=4&topic_id=474876&mesg_id=474876&page=4
 
RE: Found it!

Thanks so much, Deb. I'll print out the page and go to the CVS. Thank goodness it's only a few blocks away. I can't believe how scared I am to leave the house. :( x(
 
I've had slight vertigo and moderate dizziness, then I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Vertigo made me feel like the earth was shifting/tilting; it was awful. All of the vertigo and most of the dizziness went away after 6 months of taking medication.

I had never been able to do turns and spins in exercise videos without getting dizzy, so I had to modify them out.

Now I can do ALL the turns and spins. :D
 
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