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Original poster

Room spinning dramatically

67 replies

OnNaturesCourse · 04/11/2025 20:14

This happened a few weeks ago in the hospital after a appointment for my child. We had stood up, walked back to the waiting room and id bent down under the pram then back up before spinning round to attend my other child. The room didn't stop spinning when I did. I had to sit down and do some big breaths etc. It all passed in under 5 minutes. I put it down to the up, down, spin motions I done in a few moments and quickly. I felt a bit off for a few days after then all back to normal.

Tonight I had bent down slightly and lighted 11month old out buggy, popped head round side of car to instruct other child to get in and possible looked around for my other child at the back of me too. It was dark and there was car lights moving around a lot. Suddenly got very dizzy and then the world started spinning. I had to sit on edge on boot and almost hold on. Kids moving around in car kept bringing the spin speed back up, I noticed I was almost holding my breath and after a few deep breaths it all slowed down again. But it was a bad attack I thought I was going to have to phone for help or lie down in my boot but I was desperately not trying to scare the kids. This was about 2hrs ago now and I still feel a bit woozy but no more spinning. In lasted, what felt like, a good 5 minutes if not longer this time and it was spinning fast. Like I was on the waltzers.

I'm iron deficient and low in folic acid - on treatment for both. Currently on a pretty heavy period (normal for me) but wasn't at the first attack. Was extremely hot having just come out of the kids swimming lessons tonight and possibly a bit warm the first time it happened.

Going to call GP in morning but wondered if anyone had a guess at what the hell is going on? I'm feeling pretty scared. My mind always jumps to the worse.

OP posts:

NotTheSameTwentyFourHours · 04/11/2025 20:28

Low blood pressure? POTS? Could also be a panic attack or inner ear.
Try and get a GP appointment - I know that's easier said than done for many people.

echt · 04/11/2025 20:30

While they'll want to rule out stroke and cardiac issues, there are quite a few things it could be: labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis, BPPV, Parkinson's, Meniere's, or just good old stress. I know, cheery isn't it?

The GP will want to know if you've had any infections or knocks to the head.

I had the whirlies and actually passed out, banging my head. The dizziness went away immediately. Then it happened again five minutes later. A gazillion tests later showed nothing, but the symptoms matched BPPV which took a year to pass.

I hope yours resolves itself happily, @OnNaturesCourse .

Original poster

OnNaturesCourse · 04/11/2025 20:49

All sounds do scary.

Getting a GP appointment is a absolute nightmare, was told today it was 3 week wait (getting my iron levels checked again) but I'll try again tomorrow.

OP posts:

echt · 04/11/2025 21:51

Full disclosure. I'm in Australia and have private health insurance, which is way more common here (not least because you're punished by a tax for not having it ) so got seen, scanned, MRI'd, etc. very quickly.

My list wasn't intended to scare, just a coincidence that an article on dizziness popped up in The Age today. It's a Telegraph article, but so behind a paywall, but you can read it free for seven days.

I hope you get seen soon, @OnNaturesCourse. All the best.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/conditions/dementia/dizziness-causes/

Access Restricted

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/conditions/dementia/dizziness-causes

Mscheese · 04/11/2025 21:57

I have low iron too and I had this happen recently as well. Apparently it was linked to that according to my GP.

Original poster

OnNaturesCourse · 04/11/2025 22:00

@Mscheese did you have dizziness or was the room spinning? Apparently they mean different things. Mine was definitely spinning like coming off the waltzers.

OP posts:

TalulahJP · 04/11/2025 22:03

When iron is low you can faint so i was always careful on my period not to bend down and up again too quickly.

inner ear infections can cause the whirlies too. I reduce dairy to stop the phlegm building up in my ears and sinuses and that helps.

Mscheese · 04/11/2025 22:05

The room span it wasn’t for long, but I had to lie down. But I was ok after a couple of minutes.

I did have something similar just as I started Peri-Menopause about 10 years ago in my early 40s.

That time it went on for a couple of days, I was told it was vertigo then. The first time it happened I bent down to turn a fan off, I thought I was having a stroke it was so scary.

Talk to your GP, hopefully they’ll see you and you’ll get some tests. Hope you feel better soon.

DieselBlue89 · 04/11/2025 22:12

Sounds like labyrinthitis to me as it was brought on by particular movements and involved the room spinning. This is due to inner ear crystals being the wrong place. The epley manoeuvre would help if so. But best to speak to doc as you have other symptoms. Hope you feel better soon.

Mysterian · 04/11/2025 22:27

I had labyrinthitis last month. It was like the world kept turning 90 degrees and wouldn't stop until I laid down for 5 minutes. Totally incapacitating. And because I had gone to the dentist a few days previously my face was a bit wonky so the ambulance people assumed the worst and I got taken in for a possible stroke. It was most horrid but easy to treat with a couple of pills. Get well soon.

Original poster

OnNaturesCourse · 04/11/2025 22:32

I'll definitely give the GP a ring tomorrow, wish me luck as appointments are goldust. Was told 3 week wait today but going to explain I don't feel comfortable being main caregiver for three kids like this. My baby was in the boot with me tonight while my eldest sat on the boot edge with me. I didn't have time to strap him back into his pram or carseat.

OP posts:

SwedishEdith · 04/11/2025 22:40

I had this at the start of 2020. Two nights running at, weirdly, almost exactly the same time. Could barely move or get up the stairs. Made me throw up - horrible sensation. Prescribed sea sickness medication but it's never happened since. I had had some kind of inner ear virus a few months earlier as I lost my hearing in one ear (eventually came back). Maybe it was connected but it's not happened again.

Original poster

OnNaturesCourse · 04/11/2025 22:54

@SwedishEdith it's horrible, I could feel myself swaying and honestly thought I need to lie down before I fall down...

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Original poster

OnNaturesCourse · 04/11/2025 23:02

I may have found a trigger point - not to the extreme of earlier but sitting with my head tilted so my ear almost rests on my shoulder (sounds weird but it's my slouched comfy spot) and the straightening my head up to centre point brings on the woozy start of the spins but doesn't escalate into a full whole room moving situation. Interesting though as my head would be in a similar position reaching into/over the pram from the side.

OP posts:

Panola · 04/11/2025 23:04

OnNaturesCourse · 04/11/2025 22:00

@Mscheese did you have dizziness or was the room spinning? Apparently they mean different things. Mine was definitely spinning like coming off the waltzers.

That was BPPV for me the GP said.

Original poster

OnNaturesCourse · 04/11/2025 23:14

@Panola it's horrible, literally felt like I was hanging onto the world.

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SErunner · 04/11/2025 23:19

It sounds like a BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo). The positions you’re in when it starts are almost textbook. Speak to your GP - you might get lucky and they might know how to assess and treat it properly, but lots don’t. You could also ask for referral to your local NHS physio service who should have someone who specialises in vestibular disorders. But the quickest and probably most assured way of sorting it would probably be seeing a private vestibular physiotherapist if you can afford it.

Original poster

OnNaturesCourse · 04/11/2025 23:27

@SErunner I'm definitely going to try see one...

I didn't realise the spinning could be so intense. I knew friends at high school, many years ago now, who suffered from spinning and I feel bad now for doubting how bad it was! Like the world was spinning at 100mph and I was the anchor in the middle standing still.

OP posts:

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 04/11/2025 23:29

BPPV it sounds like. Google the epley manoeuvre. Fairly simple to do.

Divebar2021 · 04/11/2025 23:34

I suffer from it periodically - even turning over in bed can set the room spinning. I had a colleague who was off for weeks with what I thought was vertigo but she was crawling on her hands and knees to get to the toilet etc. In the end it was resolved by a Dr throwing her around quite violently which immediately resolved the issue. ( my very basic understanding was it was to do with a crystal in her ear)

MILLYmo0se · 04/11/2025 23:36

OnNaturesCourse · 04/11/2025 23:27

@SErunner I'm definitely going to try see one...

It's an awful feeling! I've had it only once thankfully but lasted a couple of days on and off, was like the worst case of the drunken spinnies from uni when you lie on your bed after a night out. I went to get out of bed in the night not realising how bad it was and crashed into to the wardrobe doors then bounced of the bedside locker sending everything flying, scared the crap out of everyone with the racket. BPPV sounds a likely culprit for you

ValBiro · 04/11/2025 23:40

@Divebar2021 I've heard of people being off sick from work with this for months, how awful!

I had it for one entire day around this time last year, it was so bad I couldn't climb the stairs/walk and had to crawl to the loo (felt sick but wasn't) as it felt like I'd get sucked back into the ground if I stood up! I had to spend the day in bed, which is unlike me even at my most ill. It was really scary, I thought I'd be stuck like that forever!

Went to see the doc, he said your ears are so full of wax I'm surprised you can hear anything at all 😆. I said it's only my husband I have trouble hearing 🤣!

They just needed a good clean out, but yes it was the crystal thing and he did the epley manoeuvre just to be on the safe side and h
It hasn't come back since.

Good luck OP, I feel your pain!

Original poster

OnNaturesCourse · 04/11/2025 23:41

Honestly thought I was going to pass out earlier and my brain kept thinking the kids but I could focus enough to do anything other than barricade the boot and tell my eldest to sit tight as Mum was a "bit" dizzy.

I hate anything medical so I panicked which probs didn't help, and I'm still scared but more settled that it's likely something not life threatening. (had a distant family member die of a brain tumour so my head automatically goes there)

OP posts:

loveteandcake · 04/11/2025 23:45

Sounds like vertigo, google the manoeuvres it works for me

Brendathebear · 04/11/2025 23:50

I had vestibular neuritis a few years back. It lasted 72 hours- my goodness I was ill. It came on suddenly and severely, I thought I was having a brain haemorrhage or something else that was significant.

I just vomited on repeat, too ill to even move my head a tiny bit. It felt as if I was in a very high speed centrifuge. I mostly kept my eyes closed during that time. It was constant.

However, after that 72 hours it faded and I felt absolutely fine!

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