what do you guys know about vertigo..medical advice needed..

[Ren the devils trailboss]

xmas eve night I awoke at my parents house the room was spinning violently. It was all I could do to keep from hurling. After about 15 minutes the room stopped spinning and I lay down again to have repeated episodes all night long. During Xmas and and the day after I have been dizzy off and on and light headed all of the time. When I stand up or lay down I get very dizzy as the room is spinning. My blood pressure is fine so what is it..I cant see the doctor until Wednesday but this is driving me crazy. Its the worst in the mornings and in the evenings but the lightheaded feeling is also horrible. I have not had headaches, earaches, loss of appetite, fever...just dizzy..


any advice? Is this inner ear..??

[TorzJohnson]

Originally Posted by Ren the devils trailboss

xmas eve night I awoke at my parents house the room was spinning violently. It was all I could do to keep from hurling. After about 15 minutes the room stopped spinning and I lay down again to have repeated episodes all night long. During Xmas and and the day after I have been dizzy off and on and light headed all of the time. When I stand up or lay down I get very dizzy as the room is spinning. My blood pressure is fine so what is it..I cant see the doctor until Wednesday but this is driving me crazy. Its the worst in the mornings and in the evenings but the lightheaded feeling is also horrible. I have not had headaches, earaches, loss of appetite, fever...just dizzy..


any advice? Is this inner ear..??

About 6 months ago I had brief periods of dizziness and lightheadedness coupled with a tingling kind of numbness on one side of my body - thought I had a stroke or a TIA. Turns out I had type II diabetes and didn't even know it. Have 'em check your blood sugar while they're poking and probing you ad infinitum.

[Larry B.]

Sounds like an inner ear problem. Might be some sort of infection.

[GigOne]

It's hard to tell.

Do you have any ringing in your ears ? Do you get dizzy when you move your head ? Any abnormal (or more than usual) amount of ear wax in your ears ? Have you been sick recently ? Have you increased your physical workload (i.e., exercising) ? How is your intake of fluids (less than normal, normal, above normal) ? How is your output of fluids ? Are you on any med's (if so, when did you start taking them) ?

From the info that you've provided above. . . . what your describing can range from an inner ear infection, a sudden drop in blood pressure, the flu, higher than normal stress and/or anxiety levels, etc., etc., etc.. . . .

My suggestion. . .keep yourself hydrated and get in to see a doctor as soon as possible.

[cockroachfarm]

Sounds like labrynthitis. I've had mild bouts - not a pleasant experience.

[Esav Benyamin]

Since vertigo is only a symptom, and of too many possible serious problems, the only real advice any of us can give you is to get to a doctor ASAP. If Wednesday is it, don't go anywhere else until then, and have someone drive you.

[underaged!]

Drinking?

[java]

Esav is correct in his suggestion. I have Meniere's disease and its main symptom is verigo of the nature you have described but there are a host of other maladies that cause vertigo. Get to the doc and have him do the diagnosing.

[Danbo]

Sounds like Dutch Elm Disease.

Sorry, had to get that little barb in. Seriously, I hope you figure out what is wrong, and get better, Ren.

[shaldag]

Quite possibly a middle or inner-ear infection. Until you see a doctor, keep well hydrated. I doubt that you are driinking alcohol much right now, but if you are--stop, as this could make things worse.

[Ren the devils trailboss]

going to see a Dr. Tomorrow..Im hydrating and since I gave up booze, alchol is not a problem..

Ren

[Blackwatch]

I don't have much to add to the above statements.

I have benign position vertigo, or so the docs have told me. Usually, it strikes every once in awhile, then once corrected (by some simple exercises) it goes away for awhile.

Recently, I have had both a) a two week period of easily sparked vertigo and b) am currently in a 3 week period of feeling like I'm going to get vertigo but not getting it often at all.

The doc gave me some antihistamine to use when it gets bad...I still may go back if it doesn't ease up soon.

I hope you find it to be easily diagnosed and alleviated.

[java]

Originally Posted by Blackwatch

I don't have much to add to the above statements.

I have benign position vertigo, or so the docs have told me. Usually, it strikes every once in awhile, then once corrected (by some simple exercises) it goes away for awhile.

Recently, I have had both a) a two week period of easily sparked vertigo and b) am currently in a 3 week period of feeling like I'm going to get vertigo but not getting it often at all.

The doc gave me some antihistamine to use when it gets bad...I still may go back if it doesn't ease up soon.

I hope you find it to be easily diagnosed and alleviated.

Definitely go back to the doc. Benign positional vertigo is too often used to explain what the doctor has been unable to explain. True benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, BPPV, is caused by loose otoconia – small crystals of calcium carbonate normally found in a part of the inner ear called the utricle, that shift within the saculae and semicircular canals during head movement stimulating the cilia causing conflicting sensory inputs. BPPV is readily diagnosed through a history of observation and testing and is very treatable. Recurrent vertigo lasting for the duration you are speaking of may have another underlying cause. All the tips about hydration mentioned here apply. Meclizine hydrochloride, also known as antivert or bonine, is the normal "antihistamine" given for treating the nausea, vomiting, and dizziness associated with motion sickness.

Continuous unexplained bouts of vertigo need to be investigated for cause to eliminate serious problems such as pontine angle neuronomas, stroke, or degenerative inner ear problems. If your doc cannot provide a reasonable diagnosis and recommend treatment then he needs to recommend a good otolaryngologist or possibly a neurologist and an audiologist for more definitive testing.

Get yourself checked.

[Jason Cutter]

Most of the info mentioned is spot on... Labyrinthitis (just a descriptive term, its not a diagnosis) is the most probable thing that could come about with anything as innocent as a virus like a passing cough/cold syndrome that goes on to affect the inner ear balance mechanisms. It is usually self-limiting from a few hours to a couple of days, but unfortunately, is quite disabling while it lasts.

I myself get this problem 2-3 times a year, usually related to a head cold but sometimes I wake up with it, no obvious precipitant known. I have poor hearing in my left ear due to a past martial arts percussion injury and with a history of shooting and working around loud machines, my doctor just shakes her head at me... Apparently all this doesn't help the condition.

Regarding the "antihistamine" , this class of drugs is not usually used to treat Meniere's or labyrinthitis although it can help to reduce the feeling of nausea and induce sleepiness and help you get rest. You might be thinking of BETAHISTINE (sold in Oz as "SERC") one of the newer meds supposedly intended for this very condition.

Of course, its a worry if it doesn't just suddenly go away, so definitely get checked out again, even if its a followup visit and you're feeling OK already.

Hope you feel better shortly. Jason.

[java]

Originally Posted by Jason Cutter

Most of the info mentioned is spot on... Labyrinthitis (just a descriptive term, its not a diagnosis) is the most probable thing that could come about with anything as innocent as a virus like a passing cough/cold syndrome that goes on to affect the inner ear balance mechanisms. It is usually self-limiting from a few hours to a couple of days, but unfortunately, is quite disabling while it lasts.

I myself get this problem 2-3 times a year, usually related to a head cold but sometimes I wake up with it, no obvious precipitant known. I have poor hearing in my left ear due to a past martial arts percussion injury and with a history of shooting and working around loud machines, my doctor just shakes her head at me... Apparently all this doesn't help the condition.

Regarding the "antihistamine" , this class of drugs is not usually used to treat Meniere's or labyrinthitis although it can help to reduce the feeling of nausea and induce sleepiness and help you get rest. You might be thinking of BETAHISTINE (sold in Oz as "SERC") one of the newer meds supposedly intended for this very condition.

Of course, its a worry if it doesn't just suddenly go away, so definitely get checked out again, even if its a followup visit and you're feeling OK already.

Hope you feel better shortly. Jason.

Betahistine (SERC) is not currently accepted for use in the US. Its role in the treatment of Menieres is under study. Current treatment of Menieres is empirical and symptomatic and the antihistamines mentioned are part of the common treatment to relieve symptoms of nausea and dizziness. Antivert has been well established as a vestibullar sedative and an antihistamine.

Betahistine is available in Canada and as an over-the-counter drug in Mexico. It has the same sedating effect on the vestibular apparatus and research on its use to combat the symptoms of Menieres is encouraging. Betahistine's action is similar to the body's histine production reactions and should not be taken in conjunction with any of the currently available OTC drugs containing antihistamines.

There are various "treatment" regimes for Menieres but this is only one possible diagnosis and it merely reinforces what has been stated here before - Go see the doc and eliminate the more serious causes of vertigo. If it continues, do not be afraid to seek a second opinion.

j

[Blackwatch]

I didn't mean to cloud the issue or not give all info. 1998 or so, I did go to a neuroligist, who diagnosed me with BPPV. I didn't get any meds. It was pretty annoying and dangerous, but thankfully only happened one time while driving. Exercises, mostly when it happened, corrected it. Gradually, the time between bouts went from hours, to days, to months, to about 1 time a year. Normally, it was when I fell ill with something else.

This time, it did seem to hang on a long time. Mostly, though, all I got was the feeling that it was gonna happen. I did get dizzy/head rush feelings sometimes, and just take it slow when I think it's going to happen. I do plan on going back to the doc, but this time getting an actual appointment, and not go to the walk-in clinic (which is where my records are. we are looking for a local doc.).

I don't take that antihistamine stuff often. I took it for 3 days after they gave it to me, but then felt worse on it around the 3rd day. So, I stopped. I used it one dose since.

Thanks for the advice. I had mostly jumped in to wish Ren well and let him know he wasn't alone, and I got help!

[Joss]

I have episodes of vertigo irregularly every few weeks - I've had 4 in the last 6 months or so, and never before that. First one was when driving so it freaked me out. Came very brutally, then receded over 20mn. Doctor says this is consistent w/ BPPV. It doesn't seem to be more frequent.

[lizardman_u]

I don't have any sage advice for ya Ren, but I will send a Prayer or three your way for a speedy recovery.

Dave

[Trout Tamer]

I, too, have had vertigo. I went to an E/N/T and found out that walking up hill for a minimum of 3x/week, at least 20 minutes per session, helps to balance the inner-ear fluids and such. I hiked and hiked and it worked.

I have no idea what the cause of your malady is, REn. It could be any number of things. Vertigo is treatable, though, and, sometimes, by unlikely-seeming treatments.

The doctor I saw told me that one of the fundamental ideas behind treating vertigo (depending on its cause, of course) is to do activities that will induce the vertigo. Over time, the brain will learn to re-route the transmissions and re-establish a proper link, so to speak.

Good luck with your treatment, whatever it may entail, and keep your spirits up.

[Blackwatch]

Trout Tamer,

The last bit about activities that induce vertigo is something that I've always strived for, since I got it. I usually workout, do cardio, etc. These last couple months I've done away with gym/cardio stuff, and not really picked it up anywhere else. I did find a few "in home" exercises on webmd.com, but I really need to do the cardio some more...

done away with them, due to funding...not just laziness.


Any news Ren?