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Vertigo - some questions for anyone who has experienced it.

12 replies

ThisMustBeMyDream · 14/06/2019 07:55

I've woken up this morning with what appears to be vertigo. I've never had it before however.
I've read the NHS advice which is that it should settle without any treatment or need to see a GP.
My questions are; is this likely to re-occur? I start a new job in 2 weeks, and as I've had to ring in sick today, I am obviously worrying about having time off in a new job!
Does it genuinely just settle of it's own accord?
Is there anything I can do to lessen symptoms or prevent re-occurance.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Titsywoo · 14/06/2019 08:01

I get it sometimes and it tends to go after a few days. I only get it when I turn over fast in bed or look up a certain way. If you've got it all the time it's unlikely to be vertigo. More like labryinthitis. If it is vertigo then there are exercises you can do which help.

PeachesandPie · 14/06/2019 08:05

There are some exercises you can do where you hang your head off the bed, Google it. That should help a bit if its vertigo, you might have to do it a few times. Good luck, it's horrible.

prampushingdownthehighst · 14/06/2019 08:07

I had severe vertigo a few years back and couldn't walk for about a week.It did settle eventually but mine later found out that it was caused by an inner ear infection so the exercises wouldn't help anyway.
I took the prescribed medication for the maximum amount of time and found after that that stugeron travel sickness tablets helped.

IWantMyHatBack · 14/06/2019 08:08

I was just about to start a similar thread. Same here, last few days. Off to the GP this morning (as I have other symptoms). It's a very strange sensation.

AutumnCrow · 14/06/2019 08:11

I get it occasionally.

What I find effective is focusing on an object in the room, like a detail in a picture, and staring at it for a minute. Stops the spinning.

MrsBertBibby · 14/06/2019 08:22

There are all kinds of different possibilities. You should go to the GP unless it settles in a day or so.

My first bout was from an ear infection and lasted about 3 weeks.

Years later, it returned, far worse, and for no obvious reason. I was incapacitated. Months off work (got fired) months of no driving. I couldn't sit up in a chair without swaying in circles, I couldn't concentrate. It was fucking terrifying.

The consultant I finally saw said what had probably happened was that the first infection had damaged the nerves in my inner ear. My brain, being then younger, had automatically figured out that my ear was talking bollocks, and learned to ignore it, and compensate with visual cues. So the later bout was caused by a sudden failure of that compensation, probably due to a combination of age, stress, and other factors.

Physio was effective for me and I was back on the road and in work, but it took a long time.

There are other causes. Meniere's disease is one. There's a thing with loose buts of crap in your ear canals which is treated by manipulations that put the bits back in place.

The GP won't refer you straight to a specialist, but you need to start asking. If you have private healthcare, use it to get that referral.

SmokeAndBone · 14/06/2019 08:22

Long term vertigo sufferer here.
It does depend what's causing the vertigo, so might be worth a GP check.
Mine started with a very severe episode which left me bed bound and unable to move for several days.
After that I had recurrences regularly, but never as severe.
I have BPPV, which is exacerbated by certain movements and can be helped with Epley manoeuvre and Brandt-Daroff Exercise.
So my experience is now short episodes of vertigo which pass very quickly.
Hope you feel better soon and good luck with the new job.

MrsBertBibby · 14/06/2019 08:29

BPPV
Ah that's the one. Loose bits of crap!

Really hope you're better soon, OP. And good luck with the new job.

ThisMustBeMyDream · 14/06/2019 14:35

Thank you for the replies. I went and lay down in a dark room, slept. Woke around 12. Still there. Took paracetomol before and after sleep. No real difference.
I've searched those manoeuvres, so that is my next plan.
It's such a strange experience. It's difficult to explain. I suspect it is minor in terms if your experiences, as I can move around and sit up, albeit with care. I do have a flare up of sinusitis type symptoms at present (allergies related). So it could be infection related - although I don't feel infected as such. I'll see the GP if it hasn't cleared by sunday. Hopefully it will bugger off soon. It's a very disconcerting experience!

OP posts:
BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 14/06/2019 14:41

My DH gets it after flights sometimes, he takes seasickness tablets and it usually clears itself after a few days.

I get it as one of my hay fever symptoms, I have to drink loads of fluids to loosen everything up as dehydration makes it much worse. I get really severe travel sickness so I need to drink loads at the first sign of vertigo otherwise it's hard to keep the fluids down if I'm throwing up every time I move.

PrincessButtockUp · 14/06/2019 14:42

Is it definitely vertigo? Could it be labyrinthitis? I get that occasionally and it's debilitating. GP once prescribed Stemetil to mitigate the nausea, which helped. I suffer when I've been burning the candle at both ends. Hope you feel better soon.

mrspep · 14/06/2019 14:42

I had what was diagnosed as BPPV by GP and they sent me to ENT who confirmed it and did the Epley manoeuvre which cured it at first but it's gradually come back. It's nowhere near as bad as it was and the same things trigger it so I know to avoid (laying on a low bed/sofa, looking up quickly).

I was diagnosed with labyrinthitus at first and given medication but after a few bouts (all spaced out) they then diagnosed the BPPV

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