Dh has vertigo attacks in the night

[Fettuccinecarbonara]

I am up again as dh is throwing up after another late night/early hours vertigo attack.

He gets them every couple months. Not always at night, sometimes in the day, although nighttime is more common.

Nothing seems to trigger them, and there is very little pattern (though nighttime is often a distinguishing feature). When he is awake he can tell an attack is coming with about a minutes notice (enough time to find and take his tablets)

He has seen a doctor, a consultant, and had MRI scans of his head.

He has medication which helps the attacks pass more quickly but leave him utterly drained.

The doctor/consultant tried to take his driving licence off him saying he was unsafe (despite him having warning any attacks were coming, and being able to pull up onto the side of the road of an attack were happening) which has left him reluctant to go back to the doctors.

Does anyone else get these? Why do they happen? And most importantly, what can we do to lessen them or stop them happening?!

Are they migraine related? I'm suffering from vertigo at the moment and waiting to see a balance specialist. It's no fun. I suspect I have Migraine Assisted Vertigo MAV. Could it be similar?

I suffer from MAV and it's miserable. Mine generally come on at night when I'very been tired or stressed. I also think if I don't drink enough water in the day it can have an effect.

Mine comes on by just simply turning in bed - I then have debilitating dizziness. Doesn't go until I sleep - often takes a day or so to sort. 3 tablets of 300mg aspirin has helped the second I feel the dizziness.

It's utterly miserable though, particularly not knowing when it will happen and knowing it's completely debilitating when it does.

Is it benign positional vertigo? I have this and it sounds similar to your DH. The GP can do the Epley manoeuvre to stop it but I do it myself following a YouTube video. Hope it improves!

www.uhs.nhs.uk/Media/Controlleddocuments/Patientinformation/Earnoseandthroat/Benignparoxysmalpositionalvertigo-patientinformation.pdf

Mine comes on from turning in bed.

The positioning thing is interesting. Though google says those attacks are short lived?

I'm not sure about migraines? There's no other symptoms except the vertigo.

They have been known to occur when he is stressed. Though last night he'd been out for a meal with his club (no alcohol) and didn't seem particularly stressed.

He's sleeping it off now.

I don't always get a raging headache after the dizziness starts to subside. Sometimes it's just the dizziness. I would advocate being really aware of how much water he us drinking. I honestly think making sure I'm hydrated has helped. As has early nights and eating proper meals . None of this guarantees no episodes but the attacks have decreased by living quite a dull existence. I generally don't drink either.

BTW the aspirin doesn't stop an attack but I'vd found lessens the vertigo. Feel for your husband though it is rotten.

I was diagnosed with bpv about 5 years ago. I'm currently going through a bad phase at the moment but before this I was symptom free for 2 years. I don't know what brings it in or triggers it.
The things that help are; cutting down on sugar and caffeine, getting enough sleep (it was really bad when I was suffering sleepless nights with a new baby) and the epley manoeuvre when I get really fed up! I'm fine during the day but it's the nights that tans their toll.