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BPPV (vertigo)

(17 Posts)
eddiecat78 Wed 03-Aug-16 18:13:48

I`d be interested to hear of other people`s experience of this as I`m now in week 5 and very fed up.
GP carried out the Epley Manouvre a couple of weeks ago but it didn`t help much. I haven`t had too many actually dizzy spells but most of the time I feel as if I am walking on unstable ground and it also seems to be affecting my vision - especially trying to focus on the computer (which makes me feel quite queasy/"car sick").
I can`t decide whether to ask for another go at the Epley Manouvre

Luckygirl Wed 03-Aug-16 18:24:23

You have all my sympathy. I have vestibular migraine and this means that I have a lot of giddiness, and can truly identify with the seasick sensation. It goes through bouts of days or weeks and it is a complete pain.
If yours is not improving then go back to GP I would think. There may be medication to alleviate the worst of the symptome.

Chrishappy Wed 03-Aug-16 19:10:23

Have you tried taking cinnerazine, anti sickness meds, I suffer attacks about twice a year and find they help a lot

jollyg Wed 03-Aug-16 19:11:29

I have had Epley done twice and it worked, beware of being sick post the procedure.

I have had it for more than 5 years, some say antisea sick pills help.

I used to be most unfazed by boat motion. Crossed the Cook Str in the most awful seas with crickery crashing all around, but last spring on a sea crossing in Greece, it was not too rough, but I cluched my sick bag.

Now have got osteoporosis, and what with that and BPPV, I am a bit wobbly,
before always used a stick, now Im on two.

eddiecat78 Wed 03-Aug-16 19:30:22

thanks Ladies
GP gave me a prescription for Prochlorperazine (!) to take if the sickness got worse but when I read about the possible side-effects they sounded worse than the vertigo so I haven`t tried it.
The nausea isn`t as much as a problem as the feeling of wobbliness which is making me feel quite anxious - I wonder if there is a bit of extra adrenaline sloshing about in my system trying to keep me stable?
I`m also wondering if wearing varifocal glasses isn`t helping - it took me quite a while to get used to them - but I really don`t want to give them up

jollyg Thu 04-Aug-16 09:51:34

Sorry inmyho, Prochloroperazine is only useful to alleviate sickness, nothing else. Does not do anything for the wobbles.

I have varifocals and have had them for a long time. Its not unknown for the optician to dispense a wrong prescription. Im afraid I got to the best I can afford, sod the cost, my eyes are more important.

When I am walking I look straight ahead or down as our pavements are so badly laid. Himself used to say, 'look at that bird' or' what lovely clouds' If I would look up i would feel disorientated, so he has at last learnt only to say such things when by bum is securely seated.

Try using a walking stick. Mine comes in sections and can be easily enlarged . It will at least give you some confidence.

Now I just accept it as part of my life now, and get on with it.

Teetime Thu 04-Aug-16 12:20:11

I found Prochlorperazine did help my wobbles (had them ever since a very bad bout of labyrinthitis and several milder attacks but I get nausea as well) and no side effects. The wobbles do affect my vision as well I get a strange pattern appearing in my vision and have to sit with my head straight on (if you see what I mean) until it settles.

shysal Thu 04-Aug-16 13:19:40

www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1226733-Labrinthyitis?pg=1
This recent thread might help you with more ideas. I do sympathize, being a fellow sufferer from time to time.

eddiecat78 Thu 04-Aug-16 13:55:31

Thanks everyone - have arranged a phone appointment with gp for tomorrow and am hoping she will agree to try Epley Manouvre again

belladonna Thu 04-Aug-16 20:14:26

Partner and son could not understand why I did not want to walk across the stepping stones at Dovecote ...the looking down makes me disorientated !

Falconbird Thu 04-Aug-16 20:41:41

I had Labyrinthine years ago and it is very horrible. I had the room spinning around, the ground moving under me and false movement syndrome when I thought objects were moving eg parked cars.

The symptoms sometimes come back if I have a head cold but they are mild in comparison to the early days.

Falconbird Thu 04-Aug-16 20:42:22

Should read Labyrinthitus.

eddiecat78 Fri 12-Aug-16 07:59:24

Had second Epley 2 days ago - now feeling much worse! No actual dizzy spells but more unbalanced generally. Any words of encouragement would be appreciated

Falconbird Fri 12-Aug-16 11:09:29

Hi eddkecat78 - things will improve don't worry. Mine took awhile to really feel great but it does get better - honestly.

loopylou Fri 12-Aug-16 12:36:02

I take Stugeron travel tablets for vertigo, suffering an attack at the moment so very much commiserating ?

eddiecat78 Fri 12-Aug-16 18:27:42

thanks, especially for the reassurance Falconbird - I have been wondering about taking travel sickness tablets but Doctor has now put me on betahistine so I think I had better stick with them for a while.
It seems ridiculous that something so small happening in your ear can make you feel so rotten!

silverlining48 Fri 12-Aug-16 19:00:52

I have had nearly 30 years of intermittant dizzy spells/ vertigo/ vomitting . Initially it was diagnosed as labrynthitis and latterly menieres, same symptoms but with added tinnitus and deafness in one ear. Attacks then increased in regularity over the last 10 years and at one low point I had to give up my driving licence for a year. Bad times for sure.
I was prescribed betahistine about 4 years ago and am delighted to say I have been Symptom free for the last 2 years, for me betahistine has worked. I am now on one tablet a day.
Hope they help you as they have helped me eddiecat. Loopiloo i suppose you know that an injection from the doctor can stop the vertigo in minutes. I needed it so often my doctor taught my husband to do it at home. Happily I haven't needed one for the last 4 or 5 years.