Benign positional vertigo

[mumofjust1]

That's the diagnosis iv had from my Gp this afternoon.

However, upon looking into it online, it seems that BPV causes sudden, short bouts of dizziness. That's not how I'm feeling.

When I move my head, look up, down, left or right, and when I lie down, I feel like everything is spinning. I feel terribly nauseous- bouts of nausea that last about an hour or so at a time, getting really severe then fading away.

I'm getting mold, intermittent ringing and humming in my ears - not too bad, but bad enough so that I notice.

I've been prescribed Stemetil which doesn't seem to be helping much - maybe just a little. I'm to take 1 tablet 3 times daily.

Does this sound like BPV to you? Or does it sound like something else?

*mild, not mold bloody IPhone!

Google the epley manoevre and give that a try (you will probably need an assistant, but it is just a series of specific movements). If it is bpv that should help, and if it isn't bpv it certainly won't do any harm. Hth

Google the epley manoevre and give that a try (you will probably need an assistant, but it is just a series of specific movements). If it is bpv that should help, and if it isn't bpv it certainly won't do any harm. Hth

Thanks Milkjetmum - the Gp performed the epley manouvere on me last time I had it, it was hell! She wanted to so it again today but I was feeling so bad - having to hold onto her desk whilst I sat there - she thought she'd best leave it.

She did say there were neck exercises I could do - will have to google them

mumofjust1 - yes it sounds like BPV. My wife has suffered from it continuously for nearly 20 years. It comes and goes. Sometimes very bad sometimes not so bad but always there. Worse when she is tired or ill.

Stemitil did not work and we do not know what caused it. One day she fell over while walking down the road and could not stand up afterwards.

Gradually she has got used to it but she struggles in dark places as she now uses her eyes to balance.

Morebeta - thanks for your reply! Your poor dw! 20 years is a long time!

I had my first bout a few months ago, it lasted a couple of weeks and went away. Then felt a bit off balance at the beginning of the week and it's just become worse and worse . I feel so nauseous, I'm trying not to move my head too much but keeping my head still and just moving my eyes is making it worse too!

I haven't actually fallen over yet, but have felt like I may, and after driving myself home from the GP I literally had to hold on to the wall when I got in.

It's awful - hats off to Dw for coping for so long

mumofjust1 - this is serious.

On NO account must you drive. My wife is unable to drive. If she did and she was on the motorway she could slump over unexpectedly and be unable to steer. She would crash and kill someone and herself.

Please, please ask your GP for advice on the driving issue. Having to hold on to things after driving is a very bad situation.

I don't have bpv but I do get bad vertigo. Please don't drive when you are not well. When mine is bad, I couldn't possibly drive but on days when it's mild, I get someone to drive for me or stay home. If you drive whilst dizzy, apart from being a danger to yourself & others, you will invalidate your insurance.

Hope the stemetil helps (doesn't with me) and that you feel better soon

Morebeta - nope, I will definately not drive until this bout is over.

I have already said that to Dp, so he knows that driving duties are down to him for now

Good, I'm glad you got your DP lined up to support. I really really hope you find a solution to this.

Please PM me anytime if you want to ask further questions.

Grockle - thanks so much As I said, definately not driving til I'm 100%. didn't even think about invalidating the insurance

Morebeta - thanks so much for the support, it's much appreciated

I have had bpv since a head injury 5yrs ago. The advice I have had recently is that I should not avoid the movements that set it off (looking up for me) but that I have to train myself to overcome the dizziness. Think of it as sort of like a ballerinas training so that they don't get dizzy anymore when they dance.

I am doing gaze adaptation exercises. Will look for a link for you

My ENT dr said the same thing - that your body has to learn how to adjust. They also said to only take stemetil in an emergency - my GP has me on it 3x a day but the ENT said my body would never overcome the dizziness if you rely on stemetil