Vertigo Attack

[Sam]

Woke up around 10:30 the evening of October 7th with my head spinning.

 

I crawled on my knees from the bedroom tomy wife's quilt room to tell her I had a problem. She freaked and said I was going to the hospital.  Smart lady. My head was spinning all that time.

 

So I actually crawled to the stairs, went down them on my fanny, threw up while going down the stairs, and then crawled to the garage and into the car. 

 

Wife had called our primary physician and he told her to take me to the emergency room at a local hospital and he would call them to let them know we were on our way.

 

When we got to the emergency room and a police officer had a wheelchair ready for me. All Richmond area hospitals have a police officer assigned to them. He was a very nice guy and he wheeled me into the waiting area. The receptionist called to the back area and two nurses came out and took me into the holding area where they put me in a bed and started an IV.

 

A hospital doctor came out and said she ordered a CAT Scan, which I had, and then up to my hospital room.

 

Drawing blood, new meds, shots in the stomach became a normal activity. Had the MRI this morning at 4:30 AM and then back to bed.

 

My doctor arrived at my room around 9:00 and told me all tests were negative. No heart attack, no stroke, no blockage anywhere. But it was vertigo. And it was an inner ear problem. He explained about the crystals touching the silica in the ear causing the problem. So he put me on antivert and sent me home.

 

Feel much better now but no bass fishing on a boat as I still lose my balance.  I have to go to a special PT for balance. After I get control of my balance I can take the boat out.

 

So if you have any eye problems, which I had for over six months, please see your doctor as that is the start of vertigo in many cases. Eye flicker and loss of balance is the start. So be careful

 

 

 

[ike8120]

My wife goes to ENT and he puts her crystals back in place by tapping on the side of her head.

[Jig Man]

I have had this for several years.  They told me to drink lots of water.  Mine isn’t bad enough to take me out but is very annoying.

[Way2slow]

I fought it for three weeks and have just gotten rid of it.  I thought mine was an inner ear, and my doctor said it was those crystals and I have an appointment with a ENT next week, but I have figure out the cause and cure for mine.  Now I've just got to find a fix for the cause.

I sleep with a CPAP and about three weeks ago I woke up with bad sinus congestion, that didn't want to clear up,  So I quit using the CPAP.  A couple of day later, I woke up with a bad case of VERTIGO.  I assumed it was my sinus had caused an inner ear infection.  I order all new supplies for my CPAP thinking it was probably contaminated, so I still didn't use it, waiting for the new supplies to arrive.  In the mean time, Vertigo is giving me fits.  When I tried to practice on my flutes, this caused severe vertigo, or if I bent over to pick something up, I would have to hold onto something a couple of minutes.  

Supplies came in for my CPAP and since it had been almost three weeks since I had used it, figure I have better get them installed and get back on it.  The next morning, after sleeping with the CPAP, the vertigo was gone.  

So, I've come to realize my vertigo was caused by low oxygen levels in my blood.  

When I retired from the military, I get disability for a medical condition I have that reduces you lung capacity, and it was only 73% then.  So, now I figuring it's a lot less.  Oh, and don't assume, I have never smoked a cigarette in my life.  

When I see the ENT next week, my next stop will be with a pulmonary specialist.  

At least for now, being back on the CPAP, the vertigo is gone.  

[Bankbeater]

I had vertigo off and on last year all through the summer and fall. Doctor was not sure if it was the crystals or a sinus infection that got into my ears.   If you have an infection you’ll feel it, but if it’s the crystals you’ll have to wait until your body breaks them down. 

[DanielG]

I battled this years ago. It was menier's disease. It's fairly common and causes these symptoms. It's an inner ear (cochlea) issue.

The room starts vibrating up and down or side to side, you might vomit. Sometimes you get very sweaty and some people sleep for awhile after and wake up okay.... till the next time.

[NorcalBassin]

Glad to hear they hooked you up with a specialist PT. It's amazing what a vestibular trained therapist can do for people in just a few minutes when their world is literally spinning. Glad you're doing better and hopefully that was the last time you have to deal with it.

[Oregon Native]

Good news....all the best and hoping fishing is right around the corner for ya.

[NYWayfarer]

Glad to hear your Ok. Had to be scary as hell while it was happening.

[Glenn]

Sam - so glad is wasn't something more serious!  Glad they got it diagnosed and you're feeling better now.

[J Francho]

Glad you're okay.

[Sam]

14 hours ago, DanielG said:

I battled this years ago. It was menier's disease. It's fairly common and causes these symptoms. It's an inner ear (cochlea) issue.

The room starts vibrating up and down or side to side, you might vomit. Sometimes you get very sweaty and some people sleep for awhile after and wake up okay.... till the next time.

Vomited and got sweaty. Wife thought I was having a heart attack.

[DanielG]

1 hour ago, Sam said:

Vomited and got sweaty. Wife thought I was having a heart attack.

Well, if it is meniere's disease this is what happened to me over time. Just for info. You may not have this issue. Just thought you'd like to know. Maybe more info than you might need, but here goes.

 

My equilibrium issues occurred off and on maybe 1-3 time a week sometimes less, like once every other week. Each one was as bad as the other. Over a period of about 6 months I slowly lost most of the hearing in one ear; the ear that was causing the equilibrium problems. They tracked it over time doing audiology tests. After a few months the bad bouts of dizziness became fewer. Then It settled to some random dizziness that would pass after a few minutes with a bad session a couple times each year. Today, 25 years later, no knock out drag out dizziness problems but I sometime wake up having to grab the walls till my inner ear steadies itself. Sometimes when I lay down and turn my head to one side it starts, turning it the other way will stop it. So, it's minimal now.

 

I've heard that there are some ear/throat/nose doctors that can have you lie down and they turn your head back and forth to certain positions. Sort of like opening a combination lock. It moves the small grains in the inner ear to a settling point and 'parks' them so you're okay for awhile.

 

When an episode happens lying on your back facing up, staying perfectly still and closing your eyes should help a bit.

 

What causes this is unknown. It's thought to be a virus. The cochlea's semicircular canals have small fibers lining them. When we spin around the fibers get swirled around in the cochlea fluid and  cause us to get dizzy till they stop. If we have a small grain of fiber that develops in the semi circular canals and it bounces around in there is makes us think we're dizzy till it settles down.

 

I get cold sores. It's actually a form of herpes. My mother had them also. The virus is passed during delivery via the birth canal (sometimes). Some specialists think the virus that 'may' cause meniere's disease may be contracted this way also. A note: My mother had this issue long ago and lost the hearing in her left ear as a result. Coincidence?

[deaknh03]

I had a bad bout last Christmas, lasted 2 weeks. Literally a living nightmare. Hopefully yours clears up sooner than later. 

[N Florida Mike]

I had one real bad episode of it 15 years or so ago. Got home from a 3 hour trip and fell out of the car, crawled up the steps into the house. I thought “ if I can just make it to the bed Ill be ok . Too late- threw up and kept on throwing up for hours. Finally went to the hospital and what all they gave me made me feel better almost immediately. Doc said it was “ minears syndrome. And to cut out salt and caffeine. My ear still rings all the time and so get little bouts of slight vertigo but nothing like that one time. I took beta histine tablets for several years and they really helped. I try to keep the salt down- it seems to really help. Caffeine doesn’t seem to matter- I drink all the sweet tea and coffee I want!

Hope things get better. Vertigo was only .2nd to minengitus for the sickest I’ve ever been so I can definitely empathize.

[Sam]

Well guys, it is almost 10 PM on Saturday night and so far all is good.

 

I have my pills ready to go at the first sign of dizziness.

 

Thanks for all of replies and well wishes.

[Raul]

Passed through a similar situation about 10 years ago, woke up like with my brain in the air riding on a roller coaster. Because my family has a history of heart related issues and deaths I went to the cardiologist, he ordered several tests and took an electrocardiogram, he discovered that I had a blockage in the electrical system of the heart ( now I know why I was never good at sports, the friggin pump don't work well when needed ) and that the vertigo was caused by abnormally high cholesterol levels. Prescribed a bunch of pills and the problem was solved in a week, unfortunately he put me on a low saturated fat diet for life, crap .... I love bacon and salami, lean meat has no taste.

[Log Catcher]

I had Vertigo probably 35 years ago. It was not as bad as your case was. I would be fine and suddenly my head would be spinning and I would lose my balance. My primary doctor took care of it with medicine but I don't remember what it was. They never mentioned anything about crystals in my ear causing the problem.

[Sam]

Went to my first Vertigo PT today and the PT told me I do not have the type of Vertigo that is caused by the "crystals" in the ear.

 

I probably have the type of Vertigo that is caused by migraine headaches.  Yes, that's right. A person can have a migraine and never know it.

 

Going to a Vertigo doctor on Thursday to find out what he says.

 

And there is nothing you can do for a migraine Vertigo episode other than to try to have less stress in your life.

 

Time will tell.

[NHBull]

One of my best friends has been fighting it for over a decade.

A specialist systematically changed his diet and things improved.

Since he changed his food and drink, his symptoms have improved to the point that he no longer worries about it.

It is ugly to see....Glad your kn the mend

[FishTank]

I had it several years ago.  I woke up in the middle of the night.  My eyes started moving back and forth rapidly and the room was spinning.  Scared me to death.  I couldn't get it to stop for hours but I finally fell back asleep.  The next morning I called my doctor's office first thing and made an appointment. He made sure I had my wife drive me in.  When I was there I saw a new doctor from China, he did a check for inner ear problems and found nothing.  He then did some weird test where he pushed around on my face and skull till I started to have the symptoms again.  He then laid me down on a slightly tilted table and turned my head in a few awkward positions and I could feel the fluid in my brain shift.  Its sort of like having bugs crawling in side you skull (really creepy feeling).  Then the symptoms stopped and have not returned.  Unfortunately this doctor was just a temp as my regular doctor was transitioning to a new position.  I have since told this tale to multiple doctors and they are just flabbergasted.  They don't believe it until they read my medical history.  

 

I have no idea what this treatment is called but it worked.  

 

I hope you never have to experience it again. 

[deaknh03]

10 hours ago, FishTank said:

I had it several years ago.  I woke up in the middle of the night.  My eyes started moving back and forth rapidly and the room was spinning.  Scared me to death.  I couldn't get it to stop for hours but I finally fell back asleep.  The next morning I called my doctor's office first thing and made an appointment. He made sure I had my wife drive me in.  When I was there I saw a new doctor from China, he did a check for inner ear problems and found nothing.  He then did some weird test where he pushed around on my face and skull till I started to have the symptoms again.  He then laid me down on a slightly tilted table and turned my head in a few awkward positions and I could feel the fluid in my brain shift.  Its sort of like having bugs crawling in side you skull (really creepy feeling).  Then the symptoms stopped and have not returned.  Unfortunately this doctor was just a temp as my regular doctor was transitioning to a new position.  I have since told this tale to multiple doctors and they are just flabbergasted.  They don't believe it until they read my medical history.  

 

I have no idea what this treatment is called but it worked.  

 

I hope you never have to experience it again. 

ancient chinese secret.

[.ghoti.]

It is known as the Epley Maneuver

[Sam]

13 hours ago, .ghoti. said:

It is known as the Epley Maneuver

Yes, you are correct.

 

The PT lady told me that there were different types of causes of vertigo.

 

One is the crystals getting into the siica and the Epley maneuver will correct it.

 

The second is an imbalance between the fluid in each year.

 

The third is a migraine that you never know you have.

 

The Epley maneuver does not work; nothing to do with the fluid until the tests are finished; and I am taking two Tylenol a day.

 

Tests scheduled for December 5th unless I can move them up.

 

Thanks for the input. Sincerely appreciate it.

[Oregon Native]

So so  many things to kick us in the butt.....all the best to all of you...I'm glad I can kinda read and kinda type.  What gets me during this semi healing process is the "shadow" people off to the side of my head....wish they would just sit down and chill.