Room spinning dramatically

[OnNaturesCourse]

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.

Low b12?

It sounds textbook BPPV to me too. I had episodes of it in my mid 40s and it's horrible. The room whirls round and you feel the need to hang on to something. It was brought on by head movements through 3 planes exactly as you describe - like tilting your head down, sideways and then up to look at the roof of the oven say, or the underside of the sofa.

Get checked out by a GP. In the meantime I second googling the Epley manoeuvre and doing that. Get someone to help you hold your head in the right position. It worked within 24 hours and the relief was immense. I learnt to do it on my own after that and could cure myself whenever it recurred. The episodes lasted a few years for me if I occasionally forgot not to do the sideways looking in the oven thing and then they just faded away.

I was told by the doctor it's something that is quite common in peri/menopausal women. Oh joy.

I had this OP, it only happened if I had my neck in a certain position. Gp thought a virus initially, then BPV, I had the manoeuvre done for that. However in my case it was an issue with my neck and an osteopath sorted it in the end. It’s more likely to be BPPV though do consider an osteopath if it drags on.

I get it op before a big migraine hits me.
I live with vestibular migraines with vertigo sometimes i get the spinning and no pain.
Or i can have days of a slow spin other times i cant even walk straight.

Thank you all. Food for thought with all the suggestions. Definitely will speak to GP, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Interesting about the looking in oven thing as I would have been in that kinda position looking up at my other kids while sorting baby out and also ducking under pram etc etc too.

Ive been meaning to prioritise a visit to a chiropractor in my budget as I do have back / pelvic issues and pain, I wonder if that would help if it's neck related.

If it's BPPV it's ear related, not neck related. It's crystals in your ear canals that have become dislodged and are upsetting your balance system. The Epley manoeuvre literally moves them back to somewhere they won't cause any trouble. It works like one of those kid's toys you have to tilt very carefully this way and that to get balls through a maze.

I wake up with this every so often randomly, have to ring in sick and go back to bed. Usually when I wake up it’s gone

Second what @PaperAndDustsaid. Don’t waste your money on a chiropractor, it won’t help this. You can google the Epley manoeuvre and do it yourself. Important thing is holding each position for a good 1-2 minutes, don’t rush it. BPPV is caused by little crystals being displaced from where they usually sit in the inner ear into one of three canals. Majority of cases it’s the posterior canal affected which the Epley will treat but there are rare occasions the crystals move into a different canal. To treat it you have to physically move the crystals back to the vestibule in the inner ear, hence the manoeuvres which slowly tip the crystals round. But the manoeuvre you need is different if not a posterior canal BPPV. Hence suggesting an assessment with a vestibular physio rather than DIY treatment, but probably no harm trying the Epley if you want to. It is really horrid. The right manoeuvre will give some almost instant relief, and shouldn’t take long for it to fully resolve.

See the doc as you’re concerned and this isn’t normal for you but I wouldn’t worry yourself sick in the meantime. This is normal for me, although I am very tall and have low blood pressure so I have had these episodes since about 13.

Ive been meaning to prioritise a visit to a chiropractor in my budget as I do have back / pelvic issues and pain, I wonder if that would help if it's neck related

Compleeely wasting your money there. It will likely be middle ear related. Instead, spend your $ on a physio familiar with Epley. While you can Google and do it yourself, most people don’t do it correctly so having a physio well versed in it to ‘do it to you’ is often better.

I had this for a while years ago. Tests were done but not conclusive. They said it could be labrinthitis but were more convinced that it was painless migraines. It hasn’t happened for years now.

there’s no way your face should be “wonky” several days after going to the dentist! even an ID block which can make you feel lopsided should wear off in a few hours. you should’ve gone to A&E once 4 hours had passed

By some miracle I managed to speak with a GP who pretty much said it's "vertigo" but to come get my ears checked anyway 🤔

I mean vertigo is a descriptive term for room spinning. What can cause that varies. It could be some inner ear problem. There are some meds that may help or I think there are also some physical manipulations that can help.

My ears are clear. Possibly BPPV plus stress and low iron levels. Given some exercises to do. Come back in a few weeks if still happening.

Like another poster I get a similar thing, but I wake up in the morning unable to move without everything rotating and I have to lie very very still or I'm sick. It lasts a few hours and then passes - I have always associated it with migraines because I used to get the odd dizzy spell before a crushing migraine.

Sounds exactly like BPPV. It's benign but annoying/distressing.

The exercises the GP gave me are meant to induce the dizzy feeling but they don't so I'm not sure but the GP seems pretty convinced it's nothing to worry about.

Could be vertigo, I had it post birth, I couldn’t lie down or turn my head certain ways without nearly passing out!

Vertigo . Tablets won’t help unless you’re being sick, you need to get the crystals back in place in your ear. Try looking on YouTube Brandt Daroff to get them back in place and the Epley manoeuvre as well,
it’s horrible. You have my sympathies

Yes the crystal ear thing. I dont get it often but as a teetotaller, now I know what it is incredibly rather enjoy it. Reminds me of drunken times

Low iron can definitely cause dizziness but this sounds more like vertigo to me. It's horrible and often makes me feel nauseous (like seasickness) during an attack too 😔

I wish I could enjoy it as a fellow teetotaller! Scared the sh*t out of me.

Are they Brandt Daroff exercises? When I saw the GP he told me to do those every day for weeks on end. They were useless and made no difference at at. When I finally got to see the consultant he did one Epley manoeuvre on the spot with instant results.

I thought the BD exercises were pointless and just prolonged the agony.

How low is your iron? I've had this and has completely stopped since an iron infusion