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Original poster

Vertigo? Advice please

28 replies

AcornAutumn · 21/11/2020 22:04

Hi there

Had this once in early 20s and remember meds made it worse. However, I think that might have been an ear infection.

I think I have this BBPV - for two weeks now turning over in bed is a problem and yesterday I had to drop to the floor while doing a side stretch because I was that dizzy.

Did it go away on its own? Reading suggests it might. I’m not keen to be given anything that might make it worse and I’m not sure if the doctor will just say wait and see.

Has anyone done the wait and see and how did that go? Complicated as I’m meant to care for elderly mum. I can walk around upright no problem, but bend to the side or lie down and it’s horrendous dizziness.

I feel perfectly fine otherwise and it was a real shock to have to drop to the floor yesterday- I was lucky that my brain was able to make a decision to land correctly if you know what I mean.

All advice gratefully received.
I will try and speak to the doc but I can’t say I’m optimistic about getting a phone appt for a few days.

OP posts:
TheOrchidKiller · 21/11/2020 22:19

Hi Acorn
I did the wait-and-see with this once and it took about 2 weeks to go. It also took 2 weeks to get a GP appt so by the time I got there it had pretty much gone.

It sounds like you need to phone your GP though. Don't put up with it.

Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
AcornAutumn · 21/11/2020 22:23

Thanks Orchid
Actually I’ve not really had it two weeks

What happened was that about 2 weeks ago, I had problems lying down but then only noticed I was off balance in yoga poses and had a very slight dizziness lying down. From yesterday it’s come on really fully and suddenly.

I will phone the GP but the website pretty much says “piss off” so not sure what will happen!

OP posts:
Original poster
AcornAutumn · 21/11/2020 22:25

Orchid did you have it all the time? When I had it before, I couldn’t walk to the bathroom without clinging to the wall.

It’s not like that but I’m worried about it getting to that!

OP posts:

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General health
LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 21/11/2020 22:26

try the Epley Manoeuvres....have a google, they have worked really well for me First time it was pretty much straightaway and the second time I had to repeat them but I had forgotten to do the first bit properly, but next day I was fine.

Mine was worse when leaning forwards or looking around...I would pitch into things...fridge...washing machine and I could not focus on screens, I felt my eyes were doing that comedy cartoon roll but if I was still and upright or lay down eyes shut it was much more bearable.

notangelinajolie · 21/11/2020 22:32

Ha! Yes it's always a good idea to head for low ground. I get it sometimes. I have B12 deficiency which is a factor. Ask your GP to test for it.
My vertigo comes out of nowhere - I literally wake up one morning, sit up to get out of bed and have to lie back down again. Attacks last on and off for anything from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. They do go away eventually.
Moving my head to the right when I'm laying in bed sends my head in a spin and so does getting up out of bed in the mornings. Thankfully I'm alright once I'm up.
The room suddenly spinning used to really frighten me and send me into a panic but I'm so used to it now that it doesn't bother me. It annoys me more than anything tbh.
You can get tablets on prescription for it but I can't take them with the eye condition I have.
I also find sleeping with soft pillow that isn't too high helps.

Original poster
AcornAutumn · 21/11/2020 22:43

notangelina how do you manage in daily life e.g. doing floor based exercises? Or is it just when you get up from lying down? Having that for months must be awful.

Laurie yes, I saw those while googling but I think the chances of seeing a physical therapist aren’t high at the moment? It doesn’t look like something to try at home?

OP posts:
Lou98 · 21/11/2020 22:51

I have Vertigo and have done for a few years now, I started having surgery on my ears when I was very young and the last surgeries I had left me with vertigo, I hoped at the time it would be temporary but that's me a few years past that surgery now and it's still here so think it's permanent now. For me the only medication I was offered was to treat the nausea that I was getting when it was at it's worst, I was basically told that because of the reason behind the vertigo there wasn't much else they could do and so it's just something I've eventually over time learned to live with.

I think the starting point would be to find out exactly what's causing it, you've mentioned in the OP about a previous ear infection, could it be you have another one now? I would definitely speak to your GP but rather than just discussing medication to help with it (although definitely worth discussing), ask them to look in to what could be causing it. If it is something such as an inner ear infection, then some antibiotics should clear that right up. It could be something else (another example being vitamin deficiency as mention by PP) but finding the cause is your best bet to treating it.

Fingers crossed you get answers OP, it is a horrible thing to live with and can be scary when it comes on suddenly!

Original poster
AcornAutumn · 21/11/2020 22:55

Lou yes, I would really like them to see me and look in my ear but I dont know if they are doing that.

I don’t have fever, sickness or any other ill health signs.

OP posts:
Original poster
AcornAutumn · 21/11/2020 22:56

Lou also, I very much hope it’s not permanent for you Flowers

OP posts:
TheOrchidKiller · 21/11/2020 23:21

I think I did have it all the time for days & then it wore off but was still there a bit. I thought it was a migraine at first (I get them sometimes without a headache but with the other symptoms), & it might have been, but I've never had one go on that long.

The GP did a thorough check but found nothing, probably because I was almost better by then. He said it wasn't worth doing the Epley stuff at that stage, but I know other people who did the exercises & it helped.

I knew someone else who had it in relation to stress, & they found beta-blockers helpful.

Peckhampalace · 21/11/2020 23:40

I had a couple of episodes of dizzyness and nausea in may/ June. After first episode had phone consultation with gp and got antibiotics in case it was an ear infection and was told to ring in if it happened again- it did and gp had me in same day to check it wasn't anything obviously serious.
Luckily it hasnt happened again, but don't assume gp won't see you/ take it seriously.

Original poster
AcornAutumn · 21/11/2020 23:44

@Peckhampalace

I had a couple of episodes of dizzyness and nausea in may/ June. After first episode had phone consultation with gp and got antibiotics in case it was an ear infection and was told to ring in if it happened again- it did and gp had me in same day to check it wasn't anything obviously serious. Luckily it hasnt happened again, but don't assume gp won't see you/ take it seriously.
Thank you Peckham

When you say it happened again, do you mean a second ear infection?

OP posts:
Original poster
AcornAutumn · 21/11/2020 23:45

I’m going to go and try to sleep now, argh

Will see replies in the AM. thank you all so much, it’s a grim feeling.

OP posts:
Pinkchocolate · 21/11/2020 23:48

My husband had it recently for the first time. The only way he felt ok was lying down. He saw a doctor who said he had fluid in his ear. It lasted three weeks and went away on its own. It’s annoying but hopefully it’s shouldn’t last much longer.

Gazelda · 21/11/2020 23:49

Looking back, I've had 3 attacks over the past year.

The first 2 I put down to a bug of some sort. Or late onset migraine. Or an odd symptom of menopause.

The most recent was awful - I couldn't move without being sick.

I got a gp phone consult (this was during lockdown). He prescribed anti nausea meds and the exercises mentioned above. I did these regularly for 2 days and the vertigo eased. I was exhausted for about a week afterwards.

If it happens again, I'll do the exercises straight away, even though they were hellish to do while trying to fight off vomiting.

SpnBaby1967 · 22/11/2020 18:48

I had it a few weeks back, found a video on YouTube that supposedly cures it. So, I did as she instructed and no kidding it was gone!!

I cant remember who it was but the exercise was basically kneeling down then leaning forward and tucking my head under (not just forehead to floor) and then turning the head. I swear it worked!

Original poster
AcornAutumn · 22/11/2020 21:11

@SpnBaby1967

I had it a few weeks back, found a video on YouTube that supposedly cures it. So, I did as she instructed and no kidding it was gone!!

I cant remember who it was but the exercise was basically kneeling down then leaning forward and tucking my head under (not just forehead to floor) and then turning the head. I swear it worked!

Thank you

That looks much less scary than having my head hanging off the bed!

I’m reluctant to try it today but maybe tomorrow.

OP posts:
Lou98 · 22/11/2020 21:28

@AcornAutumn

Lou also, I very much hope it’s not permanent for you Flowers
Thank you!❤️

I would keep pestering them for a face to face appointment if I was you, if it is an inner ear infection or similar it can get a lot worse if untreated and become a longer term problem. I understand the frustration trying to see someone just now though!

Fingers crossed it gets sorted for you 🤞

Original poster
AcornAutumn · 22/11/2020 21:41

Thanks Lou

I am much much better today, hence I’m reluctant to try the moves....if it’s all going back to place by itself, I don’t want to disturb it.

I’m wondering if some of my exercise set it off in the first place, maybe a yoga inversion or something? I exercise daily but don’t keep track so I’ve no idea what I did the day it started.

OP posts:
Original poster
AcornAutumn · 22/11/2020 21:42

I’m unsure whether to pester them for face to face if there’s more improvement tomorrow- seems a bit unfair... what do others think? I don’t want to pressure the system unnecessarily.

OP posts:
Peckhampalace · 22/11/2020 22:22

Mine wasn't an ear infection (I don't think). GP gave me tablets for nausea in case it happened again and suggested it could be either labyrinthitis or meniers disease but luckily it hasn't happened again so no further investigation had been needed. Was a bit scary though when it happened and I had to stop driving for a while in case it happened again.
Hope you are back to normal soon.

Starrrz · 03/12/2023 23:02

@Peckhampalace how long did it go on for? Im not suffering and its driving me insane xxx

Peckhampalace · 04/12/2023 09:25

@Starrrz
I was fine for a couple of years then had a few more attacks close together. Further investigation showed it's probably Meniers disease so something I am stuck with although I haven't had an attack for months.
See a vestibular physiotherapist if you can, I had one session and a couple of follow up calls and it made a big difference.

Starrrz · 04/12/2023 09:39

@Peckhampalace sorry to hear that!
do you havr any symptoms daily?
do you have hearing loss etc? X

Peckhampalace · 04/12/2023 09:54

@Starrrz yes, a bit of hearing loss on one side, worse some days than others and some tinnitus, again worse some days.
Apart from not driving (on consultant advice) there is little impact day to day at the moment thankfully. Luckily I don't need a car for day to day life.
Low sodium diet, limited alcohol and caffeine are all supposed to help.