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Original poster

BPPV / vertigo , feel like its coming on , any advice

36 replies

dizzycatdance2 · 06/10/2018 17:49

Hi
I had a bad attack of this two weeks ago.

Laid my up in bed , not moving for nearly 4 days, nausea / spinning the works. Time off work.

I've been busy today and feel like its coming back.

What do I do for the best ???

Lie down now and keep still ?
Remain up right ?

Hang from the BL**DY ceiling !!! Aaergghhh !

I just don't want to make it worse .

The prospect of another bad attack fills me with dread and I'm loathed to take more time off work.

Any ideas ??? Tia

OP posts:
TillyVonMilly · 06/10/2018 18:01

No advice op but Flowers I had a bad attack in May and I felt horrendous for over a week Sad

Original poster
dizzycatdance2 · 06/10/2018 18:05

Thanks,

Its so much more than feeling "giddy" (thanks evil work colleague)

OP posts:
Original poster
dizzycatdance2 · 06/10/2018 18:14

Thanks,

Its so much more than feeling "giddy" (thanks evil work colleague)

OP posts:
FFSOMG · 06/10/2018 18:17

A medication from the GP sorted me, think it was chlorpromazine?

Lynne1Cat · 06/10/2018 18:19

I had that a few weeks ago. It was horrible. It went after a few days, but perhaps you need to see a doctor. Sit up as straight as possible, and move slowly

FlamingJuno · 06/10/2018 18:20

See an osteopath for the Epley manoeuvre.

TillyVonMilly · 06/10/2018 18:21

Giddy?? Confused you’ve not just got off a waltzer!
If you’re anything like me, I couldn’t walk in a straight line, could only get down stairs on my bum, my vision was like a rolling picture on an old TV set. I threw up each time I walked a few steps, the only time I felt ok was when I layed flat on my back in bed.

PootfrintsInTheSnow · 06/10/2018 18:24

Op, Google the epley maneuver, it's sorted me out many times Wink

KatyaZamolodchikova · 06/10/2018 18:25

Travel sick tablets, specifically Cinnarizine. Sturgeon 15 is the brand name. I was told by a doctor to take these when I had suspected BPPV, although they won’t sell you them if you tell them that, so you’ll have to fib and say they’re for travel sickness if you’re asked. Apparently they work really well, although they didn’t work for me as I didn’t have BPPV.

dapplegrey · 06/10/2018 18:28

Is BPPV similar to Labrynthitis?
The Epley manoeuvre worked when I had that.

Tahani · 06/10/2018 18:36

Have you done any of the exercises suggested here?

www.webmd.com/brain/home-remedies-vertigo

(Don't do the foster one if you have to be anywhere, made me want to vomit)

Munchmallow · 06/10/2018 18:36

Im a sufferer too and recently my attacks have been lasting longer.

Google Epley manoeuvre on Youtube, you can do it yourself but be warned it can make you feel very sick.

I dont have medication but my gp has offered to do the manoeuvre on me but I've never managed to get an appointment with him when I have an attack Hmm

Ifonlyiweretaller · 06/10/2018 18:42

I take Cinnarizine which I am prescribed for it. As Katya says, Stugeron is the same thinng (but much more expensive than on prescrition, particularly if you have to take up to 6 a day!)
I've had Epley manoevre four times over recent years and the last twice it hasn't worked as well as it should, so I take 2 cinnarizine at least once a day in the morning to keep it at bay. I suggest you start with the stugeron asap. It's horrid isnt it. When I can eventually walk I have to move around as if i'm on wheels, sort of gliding along keeping my head & eyes fixed in one position.

ButEmilylovedhim · 06/10/2018 18:45

Sorry to hear that OP. I had an attack of BPPV a few weeks ago, absolutely horrible. Stress set mine off I think. I was sick once then very nauseous and felt wrong for a good week.

Lying down set it off so nights were horrendous. Sitting upright with my head straight reduced the incidences.

Another thing I found was that I was panicking when the vertigo started up and I think that made it a lot worse. I started consciously relaxing instead. Very hard but I knew by then nothing too bad was going to happen and just let the feeling come and go so to speak instead of tensing up and bracing myself. I think that made each episode less intense than it could have been. But I might be talking rubbish and mine was tailing off by then.

That's really interesting about the travel sickness tablets, I'll remember that for next time!

Hope you feel better soon!

Munchmallow · 06/10/2018 19:06

Yes to relaxing during an episode, I find if I stay in the same position the dizziness settles.

And once I understood what was happening I didnt panic as much.

To those who take travel sickness medication, does it help the dizziness or just the nausea?

I tried seabands but they unfortunately didn't help me at all.

Original poster
dizzycatdance2 · 06/10/2018 19:08

Oh thank you all for the good advice.

I'll get my son to get the over the counter remedies asap.

I did try the eply manouver last time but it just made me feel worse.

Waiting on a gp appointment to be referred to a specialist physio for the eply etc.

It seems ok ATM , just avoiding looking up or down.
Restricts posting somewhat !

Thanks again

OP posts:
Yogagirl123 · 06/10/2018 19:25

I have suffered with vertigo for many years, wrongly diagnosed as BBPV. It turned out to be something completely different of which dizziness is a common symptom.

I tried Epley did not work for me either.

Have you had any other symptoms? Without wishing to worry you it may be worth asking for a referral to a Neurologist if your GP thinks it’s suitable of course, if I had been referred I would have been given the correct dx many years earlier.

Good luck OP, vertigo is one of my worse symptoms, totally debilitating.

I hope you feel much better soon.

Upsy1981 · 06/10/2018 19:59

You have my sympathy OP. The only thing I can advise is sitting as still as possible. Being flat made me feel worse so I had to sleep propped up. Sometimes you do have to take time off unfortunately. I certainly couldn't have worked when I was in the middle of an episode. I didn't even trust myself to walk downstairs and felt like I could vomit at any moment.

Ask to be referred - insist on it. I got referred to ENT and eventually to a physiotherapist who specialised in balance issues. She performed the epley manouvere on me (I wasn't in the middle of an attack at the time) and (touches wood hurridly) I have not had an attack for ages now. I an going for a review in December but if I am still clear then I will be discharged.

I had two things going on, BPPV and vestibular migraines. Thankfully in sorting the BPPV, the migraines seen to have gone too.

In the meantime, you might be prescribed travel sickness tablets which do take the edge off. You can also get over the counter medication called vertigon. Unfortunately, I found that once an attack started, I just had to ride it out by sitting as still as possible. And please don't be tempted to drive!

Upsy1981 · 06/10/2018 20:01

P.S. I tried the epley myself during an attack. It didn't work and I thought I was going to vomit. Its much better when someone does it to you.

Whatififall · 06/10/2018 20:09

Definitely get some cinnazarine (not sure on spelling) from chemist asap.

I didn’t have bppv but I had labyrinthitis for 4 weeks earlier this year and it was horrible. I found lying half propped up in bed helped. It was better than lying flat (felt like I was on a boat) or sitting upright (room spinning).

Original poster
dizzycatdance2 · 06/10/2018 20:19

Sitting still watching done gentle Netflixs.

Even crazy camera angles are to be avoided ATM.

I will get gp to think beyond bppv , so thanks for that advice.

Its a comfort to know I'm not alone in it.

A bit like migraines ( I'm lucky enough to have v never had one )

I don't really "get" what they are like ,

I think people who haven't had this "get" it either

OP posts:
Original poster
dizzycatdance2 · 06/10/2018 20:22

Sitting still watching done gentle Netflixs.

Even crazy camera angles are to be avoided ATM.

I will get gp to think beyond bppv , so thanks for that advice.

Its a comfort to know I'm not alone in it.

A bit like migraines ( I'm lucky enough to have v never had one )

I don't really "get" what they are like ,

I think people who haven't had this "get" it either

OP posts:
Tahani · 06/10/2018 21:35

my head spins, bad when lying down, and it seems worse when turning on to my right hand side - do you think this sounds like BBPV or something else?

TuMeke · 06/10/2018 22:00

Google Cawthorne Cooksey exercises, and try them to see if they help to stabilise you. You do need to be patient and consistent with them, though.
And I also echo the advice to get yourself referred to ENT for further investigation. But be aware that balance disorders are very poorly understood even by ENTs and you will need to be persistent if you feel that the treatment or diagnoses you receive are not helping! I am a veteran speaking from bitter experience, unfortunately Wink

Original poster
dizzycatdance2 · 06/10/2018 22:01

Tahini
I find it difficult all the time to look up / down for prolonged periods. Looking for something, up and under a table , for instance, is horrible.

Does that ring any bells with you ?

OP posts:
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