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Christmas

Vertigo is trying to ruin my Christmas!

(48 Posts)
willa45 Wed 20-Dec-17 14:58:13

Vertigo has happened to me only once before but nothing like this! I woke up in the wee hours to go pee and was overcome with dizziness and sudden waves of nausea. I couldn't even get up from bed..... The whole world was spinning and I felt like I was tumbling backwards.

Long story short, DH helped me down the stairs (I went down sitting step by step). I ended up in the ER where they ruled out stroke, brain tumors, etc. etc. . That was Monday morning. After a battery of tests and blood work, I was sent home later same day with a boatload of prescriptions.

I'm still facing the same laundry list of things I need to do for Christmas and haven't done any of them. I only manage to get around if I hold on firmly to a wall and tell myself repeatedly, that 'this too shall pass'.

Never had it this bad and so I need to commiserate. Has anyone else here suffered from Vertigo? How did you manage? How long did it last?

loopyloo Wed 20-Dec-17 15:06:16

Oh you have all my sympathy. Have they given you proclorperazine? Take that 3 times a day. Make sure you drink plenty and rest. Does ear feel more blocked than the other ? If so try to sleep on the better side. Cut down on salt and drink no alcohol.
I have had several episodes of this and getting tired and stressed encourages it. Have been fighting it off this week.and today was the first day not dizzy this am.
Best wishes.

paddyann Wed 20-Dec-17 15:09:03

you have my sympathy too,its a herniated disc with me,I thought it was improving but after this weeks physio appoinment I cant move without horrible shooting pains .I might cancel Christmas .

Teetime Wed 20-Dec-17 15:11:31

Poor you will yes I have had that - it does lessen after a few days on drugs but you do need to rest.
Its a chest infection for me - feeling quite poorly but managed to get a GP app on Friday - will be drinking/self medicating for now

millymouge Wed 20-Dec-17 15:16:07

DH woke in the night some years ago and everything was spinning round and he really couldn't move. I called the duty doctor who diagnosed labrynthitus (I hope that is how you spell it), an infection of the deep inner ear. Very big doses of antibiotics and it went never to return (I hope). Very odd as he was fine when he went to bed.

Alima Wed 20-Dec-17 15:51:34

This seems to last differing lengths of time with different people. DH woke with your symptoms in the early hours of May 13th. (We will never forget!). A paramedic arrived, did all the tests then a doctor to prescribe anti sickness meds. All these months later he is still dizzy most of the time, has tried various medication/head exercises and nothing has worked. Hope your symptoms clear quickly Willa.

shysal Wed 20-Dec-17 17:49:11

I have suffered on and off for years, the first attack being when I was expecting DD1 47 years ago. The attacks on average are bad for up to a couple of weeks followed by several weeks of feeling 'spaced out'.
I have been clear for a few years because I spend my whole life avoiding all the triggers such as looking up, turning my head quickly, lying flat on my back or front, and certainly no fairground rides or swimmimg pool chutes!
I do hope you will improve soon, get DH to do all the outstanding jobs. He might appreciate you more afterwards! Take care flowers

shysal Wed 20-Dec-17 17:56:40

The Epley Manoeuvre has been beneficial for some vertigo sufferers, performed by a doctor or done yourself at home. Look it up on line, there are videos to follow. I had no success but ex DH was cured instantly.

GrannieBabi Wed 20-Dec-17 18:31:09

A few years ago I turned over sharply in bed in the middle of the night and immediately the whole world was spinning! Any movement made me feel sick. I was (eventually) diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo BPPV. This happens when a small piece of debris breaks loose and is floating in the ear canal. Ask doc about Epley manouvre.

Sar53 Wed 20-Dec-17 19:14:33

Willa45 you have my utmost sympathy. This happened to me at the end of October and it is only this last week that I can lie down at night and look up and down. I still feel unsteady at times but I'm not getting the awful room spinning and feeling of nausea. I've had Proclorperazine but didn't really notice it helping at all.
I'm hoping it won't come back.
I hope it doesn't last too long and spoil Christmas for you. Xx

Luckygirl Wed 20-Dec-17 19:47:36

Oh it's horrid - you poor thing.flowers

silverlining48 Wed 20-Dec-17 23:35:38

Yes, it is horrible, you have my sympathy. It will pass, but time varies. Be careful turning o ver in bed, slowly slowly.
Betahistine ( serc )3 times a day, every day, not just when you feel unwell, has helped me. Or there is an injection which works quickly or buccastem under the gum.
There have been posts a few times about this problem. Menieres, labyrinthitis, both have the same debilitating vertigo symptoms. hope you feel better soon.

littleflo Thu 21-Dec-17 07:51:29

I have not been able to get on with prescribed medicines. The only thing that works for me is Sturgeon sea sick pills.
I take two and the outset and then try to sleep. Then I take one at night for the next two nights.

travelsafar Thu 21-Dec-17 08:36:44

oh you poor thing, really hope this goes quickly. flowers

GabriellaG Thu 21-Dec-17 09:30:45

You might need your ears syringing.
An imbalance between the fluid in your middle and inner ear can cause the symptoms you speak of.

Everthankful Thu 21-Dec-17 09:42:56

You have my sympathy. I was hospitalised with this. How can a room spin around you while you stand still, or can’t even move?! I felt as though I had been physically pushed over from behind and would fall to the floor. I take other medications and couldn’t keep anything down. I remember then wall hugging! It’s like having the worlds worst hangover while having a migraine and severe travel sickness all at the same time.

Duchessofherts Thu 21-Dec-17 09:52:20

If you are willing to try this, it will work, for menieres, positional vertigo, viral labyrinthitis and similar debilitating conditions: Google John of Ohio and you will end up on a menieres website where this chap has devised a regimen of vitamins and over the counter supplements designed to alleviate this awful condition. I had tried all conventional medicine and numerous Epley manouvres and I was absolutely desperate and would have tried anything!! I have stuck to this regimen for two and half years and have been 99% free of all symtoms.

Aepgirl Thu 21-Dec-17 09:53:02

I have this at the moment, thankfully to a lesser degree than yours. But it is a horrible feeling and puts your life on hold for a while. Last time I had it it lasted quite a while, but I do know a doctor who does this Epley thing, so might have to consult him.

Lilyflower Thu 21-Dec-17 09:59:50

Good luck. I hope you find some treatment as the condition sounds horrible.

henetha Thu 21-Dec-17 10:08:35

All my sympathy to you, it really is very unpleasant isn't it.
I've had about 4 or 5 attacks of this in my life, spread out over the years, widely apart. It usually last up to 48 hours and I can't do anything except lie down and hope it will soon stop. I don't know the reason, but possibly associate it with cold windy days which seem to affect my ears somehow.

Rocknroll5me Thu 21-Dec-17 10:10:08

I have had this twice. I hope never again. Both times it took weeks before I could walk straight. The first time I just lay on the bathroom floor all day because I kept vomiting. No dh. Emergency doctor arrived at 1am but I couldn’t Get to front door. That time it was diagnosed as labrynthitus. I found the Mayo Clinic site the most helpful it encourages you not to give in to it. You havevtovre-teach your brain where your body is. The filaments in your inner ear are sending the wrong signals, lies. Like extreme seasickness or being drunk ... which thankfully are very short lived.
Three years later it happened again this time in a theatre and I was taken to a&e as I had to keep my eyes closed because of the spinning and was vomiting loudly. So embarrassing. A couple of days on drip. Two weeks in hospital. They couldn’t get to the bottom of it tested everything, at one time said I had s stroke then thought better of it after MRI. In the end it was diagnosed as vestibular migraine. Oliver sacks wrote on it brilliantly in his book ‘migraine’.
So again weeks of not walking straight but again complete recovery. So fingers confidently crossed for us both. I did get wonderful help from a neurophysiotherapist. From her i got a vestibular training mat, you can get them online. Practice on that whenever... I also took the dogs out everyday in the woods reteaching brain everyday balance on uneven surfaces - and no one could see, had company. Also brilliant trick of placing your feet as you get out of bed firmly on the floor look at them and wriggle your toes. Far less likely then to crash against the wall when leaving the room.
It is extraordinary, both times my recovery time was about 5 weeks then it was really complete. Last attack 5 years ago the first 8 years ago. Though remember it as though yesterday!!!
So don’t lie in bed. I took stemital to stop the vomiting in hospital. Stagger around in the countryside until you get better. Let me know how you get onflowers

lesley4357 Thu 21-Dec-17 10:12:37

Agree with LITTLEFLO stugeron works for me to settle BPPV. check on internet for exercises to help. Good luck

Grannyanna12345 Thu 21-Dec-17 10:21:04

I’ve had vertigo on and off for years, but it was at its worst just as I was coming up to retirement - the final stresses of work really triggered it. It improved as soon as I stopped working! I do Pilates and often go dizzy on roll-downs and when turning over on the floor, but I enjoy the class and refuse to let the vertigo prevent me from doing it.

Musicelf Thu 21-Dec-17 10:21:45

Yes, Stugeron is my preferred medication. I find tiredness brings on the vertigo, as well as stress. It is indeed very debilitating at times, and extremely annoying. Strangely, I didn't suffer at all on a very rough sea when cruising - not a trace of seasickness or vertigo! Maybe I should live on a ship.

MinniesMum Thu 21-Dec-17 10:32:43

Horrible and I really feel for you. I only had it once, the morning we were due to go on holiday! I got up from the table and fell on the floor, no balance whatsoever. This was back in the days when doctors did home visits and ours was there in half an hour. He gave me an injection and a some pills. I had had a bad cold and had been taking aspirin and he told me that aspirin can cause it! Who knew!. It went away, I slept all the way to Cornwall and it never came back. I have never taken aspirin again either.