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Original poster

Vertigo, bppv, driving.

20 replies

Buffaloskull · 15/02/2021 13:58

Hello.

On Saturday I had an (first ever) attack of vertigo, it was very intense and I had to stay in bed all weekend.
Woke up this morning and symptoms were still there.
Spoke to my gp and he said it sounded like bppv and that I need to do some exercises to reposition the particles inside my inner ear which are causing the vertigo.
I have done these and do feel better although still disoriented and dizzy, but nowhere near as bad as I was on the weekend. Gp said it would go away on its own. Ok, fine.

My issue is, what if this comes back when I'm driving?? It came completely out of the blue (although I did lie down at the time it started so I'm guessing doing so brought on the attack, obviously I wont ever be lieing down when driving..) it was so debilitating, I would be in serious trouble if that happened when I was driving.
Obviously I wont ever drive if I felt that way but the idea that it may come on again in the middle of driving is really scaring me.. I need to drive, my job needs me to and I'm a single parent living in a rural location too.

I've read that bppv can come back. I don't know what to do. I'm confused and really shocked by how much this vertigo episode impacted me, I felt like I was inside a washing machine on a fast cycle.

Anyone else had bppv before and has it come back?? Did you have to stop driving?? I'm not sure if I need to tell the DVLA as this was the first time and obviously I dont know if this is going to be a once off.

Thanks

OP posts:

Spodge · 15/02/2021 18:02

I have had it periodically for about 8 years or so. The first few episodes were horrific and lasted for some days.

I have become very aware of my head positioning now, and I know what movements will set it off, if it's around. Tipping my head back to look up at the sky, lying flat on my back, lying in bed and turning over from one side to the other are all things that can set it off. Sometimes moving my head to look down at my toes can set it off. For me the head movements necessary for driving do not set it off.

Original poster

Buffaloskull · 15/02/2021 18:34

Thanks @Spodge

Did you have to inform the DVLA??
I'm not sure if I need to given that this was (so far) a once off??

OP posts:

Spodge · 15/02/2021 18:52

@Buffaloskull I told my GP who didn't think it was notifiable as my head position when driving does not set it off.

Original poster

Buffaloskull · 15/02/2021 18:56

Oh ok thank you.
I think I'll ring my gp in the morning just to be on the safe side.
I did mention not being able to drive when I spoke to him this morning (when going through what I had been able to do/not do over the weekend) and he never mentioned driving so maybe he didnt see it as a concern either.
I will ring and ask though.

OP posts:

Tanfastic · 15/02/2021 19:27

I've had this for about 15 years and I drive. It's certain head positions that can set it off and like you lying down flat is the worst. I can't do the dentist chair for example. I think you just learn to manage it. I know so many peop,s who have this, it's a lot more common than you think.

I remember when I first got it and I was scared but I do the head exercises about once a month (there's a brill YouTube video which shows you how to do it), it's not the one where you lie down, it's the one where you are in a headstand position. These seem to keep me in check and do really work (although you might not think so at the time as it makes you feel awful!).

Original poster

Buffaloskull · 15/02/2021 19:39

Yes I did those today @Tanfastic!

Cue washing machine spin cycle 😆

I did feel better afterwards though although theres still a slight 'hangover' from it and my eyes feel strained/tired.

Wow it was really something else. I hope I dont get it too often

OP posts:

Original poster

Buffaloskull · 15/02/2021 19:43

I am wondering though, I've been doing yoga recently and when doing a certain position (forward fold, where you're standing up, folded straight over with the top of your parallel to the floor) I kept getting massive head rushes when standing back up, but I just assumed it was from blood flow.
I wonder if all of that has caused it?? I've done a lot of forward folds over the past 4 weeks..

OP posts:

firesidetartan · 15/02/2021 19:47

It's a notifiable condition, you can check the gov website to confirm, so yes, you need to tell them.

Tanfastic · 15/02/2021 21:05

@Buffaloskull

Yes I did those today *@Tanfastic*!

Cue washing machine spin cycle 😆

I did feel better afterwards though although theres still a slight 'hangover' from it and my eyes feel strained/tired.

Wow it was really something else. I hope I dont get it too often

I always find the exercises make me feel awful to begin with but by the next morning I feel absolutely fine.

Original poster

Buffaloskull · 15/02/2021 21:22

Yeah I saw that @firesidetartan but I'm not sure if it is a condition yet or just a once off.. I'll ring my gp just to be sure though, of course it's more important that I'm safe and legal when driving.

OP posts:

Bramblespoint · 15/02/2021 21:29

www.gov.uk/government/publications/diz1-online-confidential-medical-information

firesidetartan · 15/02/2021 21:30

You need to notify them. You had to stay in bed all weekend. That is debilitating.

firesidetartan · 15/02/2021 21:31

*disabling

murbblurb · 15/02/2021 21:36

Had it once - saw gp in person as this was 'before' . Apparently it is easy for a doctor to diagnose with one move as there is a characteristic eye symptom. I did the apley manourvre twice - get someone to read the instructions. That shifted the crystals and job done. For me it only happened lying down so no driving issue , instructions were not to drive until symptoms were gone.

I hope it's the same for you. It's really scary!

Original poster

Buffaloskull · 15/02/2021 21:42

Ok. What's going to happen then will they take my licence away??
Ffs that's all I need right now.

OP posts:

Original poster

Buffaloskull · 15/02/2021 21:44

@murbblurb yeah I had the weird eye movement thing too, I was wondering why it was so hard to focus on anything, it was like my eye kept drifing over to the left then back again. No wonder my eyes are so sore today!

OP posts:

Tanfastic · 15/02/2021 21:53

@Buffaloskull

Ok. What's going to happen then will they take my licence away?? Ffs that's all I need right now.

Possibly.

79andnotout · 15/02/2021 22:08

I had it for a month in September. I did the exercises and it went away, not had it since. Mine was bad enough for me not to drive for a week. I didn't drive during that time. The gp didn't say it needed reporting to the dvla and I've been fine since.

Inforapenny65 · 15/02/2021 22:37

Hey ... I had bppv for 12 years now...for me its worse in the morning... then it calms down a bit...I don't drive my car until it settles...usually by around 11:00 am.... iv had to use ubers to get to work...and to carry out work visits....its a horrible....I can't lie down without it setting off the dizzines ...tried the exercises but they haven't helped.... I describe this as 'being drunk but without the alcohol'.

kaleishorrid · 02/03/2021 12:16

I have had this for the first time. It started on Saturday and I spent most of the weekend in bed. I was also a vomiting.

At first I thought it was just a raging hangover as I had a couple of drinks on Friday night. By the evening of Saturday I felt better but not like I've had a hangover. However on Sunday morning it had come back.

It was still there yesterday and I saw the GP. she diagnosed BPPV after doing some tests.

It's much less severe today although I am still in bed as I am absolutely exhausted. I am also starving but very scared to eat anything in case I am sick again.

I spoke to a GP friend of mine who said that because of the severity at the weekend it was unlikely to have been BPPV then. My friend thought it had probably started as labyrinthitis and now I had BPPV. Whatever it was it does seem to be getting a little bit better and I can't wait for it to be completely better.

I have been recommended the brant derhoff exercises which I can't face at the moment as the very thought of them makes me feel ill. My GP friend said it would be okay to wait until I feel a bit better to start the exercises.

OP – how are you feeling now? Are you all better? I hope that you are.

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