Vertigo and nausea after flight two days ago. Please help.

[MrsAlbertaWhisker]

I’m so frustrated by it. Flight two days ago. Upon landing, my ear wouldn’t pop for almost 36 hours. My balance was rubbish whenever I made sudden head movements, things felt like they were spinning.

My ear has now popped but still feels like there is pressure inside. Like something is mildly pressing against my eardrum. No pain or tinnitus. However, the spinning has worsened and nausea has started with it.

Sitting up from lying position is the worst. The spinning is intense and lasts no more than 30 seconds but the nausea doesn’t subside for almost thirty minutes. Bending over and moving my head quickly causes mild spinning too so that I have to stop and close my eyes and hold onto something for a few seconds before it stops.

The NHS website says it would normally go away on its own and only to see the GP if it keeps coming back. Even then, it looks like there are no quick fix treatments.

Can anyone offer any advice? I work with children and am sitting, standing, bending lots through the day. Not sure how I’ll manage!

Hi, my vertigo is different (lasts a day where I cannot move and have to vomit). Because the flight might have caused yours, maybe it means the crystals in your ear moved, and there is a manoeuvre that can be done to get them back into place. I do not know what it is called exactly, but if you search for other vertigo threats here, you should find it quickly. Vertigo is really awful, and I hope you can get rid of it quickly.

See your GP as a matter of urgency if you've never had this before. Could be an ear infection.

Thanks for the advice.

Yes, I’ve been reading about the different types and feel mines fits the benign type bppv quite accurately. I definitely think something has happened during the flight to cause it as that would otherwise be a huge coincidence.

Thanks, I’ll read up on the Manoeuvre and see if it’s something that can be done at home.

Wouldnt an ear infection have pain/affect my hearing? Mine is totally painless but I do still feel a very slight pressure. NHS website says that I’ve only to see the GP if it doesn’t get better on its own. I may give it the weekend and fill out an econsult Monday if no change.

Thank you.

I get this on and off - diagnosed in my case as BPPD. There are exercises on YT to move the crystals (otoconia), though I can't say whether they work.
As per Pp, get checked over to rule out anything more serious (BPPD is a PITA but not dangerous).

Google the Epley manœuver. Should sort it out remarkably quickly.

Sorry yes, BPPV. Just to add, my symptoms started the day after a transatlantic flight. Years ago now. Believe it or not, I hadn't put 2 and 2 together until I read your thread. Let's hope yours soon vanishes for good.

Thanks so much.

Just tried the Epley manoeuvre and it has made me feel so sick. Turning my head the 45 degrees the first time was the worst spinning episode yet. My eyes were all over the place so I had to clamp them shut. Not as bad when I did it the whole manoeuvre second time.

I’ll do this a few times a day and see how I go. It’s the nausea that’s the worst!

I can only sympathise OP. Mine is usually worst when I wake up and turn my head to my left - it spins to my right and nausea churns my stomach.
Then I can magically go days, weeks, months or several years without a hint of it.

The exercises are said to make BPPV worse before it gets better. I admit I have not tried them yet for this reason.

Try taking some Sturgeron for travel sickness.

Just wanted to say wow! I did the Epley manoeuvre three times yesterday.

First time was horrendous and I felt close to vomiting right after. The spinning was crazy and my eyes felt like they were going to ping from their sockets.

Second time a little better and took less time for the spinning to stop in between the different head positions.

Throughout the day, I noticed a big difference in the amount of spinning when I went from sitting to standing but still a little whenever I made sudden head movements.

Did the manoeuvre a third time before bed last night and there was hardly any spinning and NO nausea between head positions.

Got out of bed this morning for a wee, and it wasn’t until I returned to bed that I realised I had managed the walk to the bathroom and back without feeling like the world was spiralling! And no sickness!

I still have a little bit of things moving when I move my head quickly or stand up too quickly, but it’s now more like when you get new glasses and things seems like they’re moving? Absolutely NO nausea.

I will continue to do the Epley manoeuvre and hope any remaining crystals continue moving back to their proper place but this is a huge improvement! I am so happy.

Thanks so much!!

Also, the slight pressure I was feeling in my right ear yesterday seems lighter today though there is still a slightly off sensation in that ear. Still no pain or ringing though and it does seem to be better.

I just remembered I took Ginkgo Boloba which helped when I had vertigo. Glad the excercises are helping.

I’m so pleased for you!

The Epley manoeuvre is amazing. I did the same after some horrendous dizzy spells and it really works.

Epley and Brandt Daroff manoeuvre, both on YouTube and both good.

Hi OP, I get this a lot, I have to fly (or used to pre Covid) a lot for my job, and it always happened. I normally get it when I have a bunged up nose as well IWSIM, like mucus too, so I use Beconaise nose spray to clear that (I think the stuffiness is bought on by a mild dust allergy). Then I always have to do the Epley manoeuvre. Then it takes about three days to settle completely. You also need to know which side/ear if affected but by the sounds of it as you had the flickering eye thingy, you got it right. I take a Kwell and maybe some headache tablets, as I feel rubbish. I would make sure for at least a week you don't lie totally flat and have plumper pillows than you normally would. Also don't make sudden head movements, as you want it to settle down completely. Just normal. Actually I have just had an attack and its now going. I really hate it as the feeling is just awful. Huge sympathies!!