Vertigo/feeling off balance

[balkanscot]

Hello,

I have experienced bouts of quite bad vertigo since yesterday morning (Sunday) - it happened all of a sudden while lying in bed, as I was lugging myself from right to left side: an almighty spinning sensation which really frightened me. Same thing happened again when I tried to change from left to right side. Ever since then I have been feeling off balance, like being slightly drunk and on a boat.

Today I couldn't go to work as I was feeling all over the place with this (like being on a boat) and made an emergency appointment with a GP from my surgery - she said it is most probably some grit in my inner ear tube (had a bad cold 3 weeks ago with a very runny nose) + it's just one of these things that can happen in late pregnancy (32 weeks tomorrow) with baby sucking absolutely everything out of you.

Everything else seems fine: blood pressure, blood/urine tests, eyes, ears, baby seems to be OK, too. She said to just wait and see and she would rather not prescribe me any tablets at the moment. So, I am back to square one: just sitting around hoping it will pass. I have had no other symptoms such as nausea, vomitting, headache, blurred vision.

It is literally just this feeling of spinning/off balance. Seems to somehow get worse when I am lying on my side in bed, it kind of eases off when I am sitting upright.

Thanks for reading the above ramble. Has anyone else experienced similar sensation(s) while pregnant? I am not that frightened anymore but nonetheless, I am a bit confused and don't quite know how long it will last. I have already missed quite a few days of work due to various ailments indirectly connected with pregnancy (chest infection, cold, feeling sick, etc.) and am kind of hoping that HR won't pull me aside for a "friendly" chat on absenteeism - I only need to last 4 more weeks before going off on annual and then maternity leave. Then I can collapse in a big heap waiting for the big day.

Sorry you're feeling like this, can't be pleasant.

I can't be a huge help but I do remember getting vertigo early on in one of my pregnancies, felt like I was on a boat on choppy seas. I remember being told it was due to a virus. I did get some medication but can't remember what it was. The symptoms wore off after a couple of unpleasant days. The bother of it is though, that I don't think I've ever got completely back to normal. I'm hopeless on trampolines, rollercoasters, even lifts and escalators make me go a tiny bit funny. Another rubbish side effect of pregnancy. Never had the full-on vertigo again though.

Hope you feel better soon.

I had a vestibular inner ear problem (can't remember the exact name I'm afraid) a few years ago (I wasn't pregnant though!). It had the exact symptoms you describe and they put me on a drug that is a very mild version of something they use for schizophrenia which sounded worrying but did the trick very quickly. Probably not something you want to take while PG but to be honest the doctor said my body was as likely to have cleared up the problem by itself, he just gave me the medication to be certain, since there was no reason not to.

I was fine again within about 3 days.

One tip I have is don't walk about near any stairwells or roads - I nearly fell down stairs going for a wee in the night when I had it. I was completely convinced I was going STRAIGHT from my room to the loo (about 3 yards) but lurched off to the left and almost fell down the stairs. Also nearly walked out into the road en route to the GP. Luckily a friend came with me just in case of exactly this happening and grabbed me in time!

I have to say, before I knew I was pregnant, I was convinced I had a problem with my ear. I felt exactly as you've described, and have had inner ear issues before that left me feeling the same way. It was the doctor who told me I didn't in fact have an ear situation, but a pregnancy one For me, as soon as the morning sickness wore off at about 12 weeks I suppose, the vertigo feeling also disappeared but it was brutal while it lasted. If it's that bad, don't hesitate to get signed off. I know I was in danger a few times of falling over, which at 7 weeks doesn;t really matter, it's a bit different in the third trimester though. I hope you feel better soon :)

Ah funchum, yes I;ve had that medication too- was most confused to read it was a medicine for treating schizophrenia on the instructions. I had it prescribed for labyrinthitis, is that what you're thinking of? That made me feel like the world was moving beneath my feet, absolutely horrible sensation.

I've suffered from laberynthesis ( spelling?) which is an inner ear disorder and can cause dizziness. I was prescribed stematil.. I 'm not sure if it can be used in pregnancy.

Google the epley manoeuvre and get a friend (or your gp) to help you do it. Its a simple series of movements designed to clear your semi circular canals (the balance organs in the ears). Hope it helps!

Google the epley manoeuvre and get a friend (or your gp) to help you do it. Its a simple series of movements designed to clear your semi circular canals (the balance organs in the ears). Hope it helps!

Thanks, everyone. The consensus today from the GP was that it was probably viral and that she thinks it will clear itself. Although judging by how my immune system has abandoned me during this pregnancy I am a bit sceptical. However, will see what happens over the next few days. I have an appointment with the MW on Friday anyway so will see what her view on this is.

Check blood pressure too- I had low blood pressure when pg with DD and it made me very dizzy indeed.

Could be low blood pressure, Or low blood sugar, Could also be anemia, All of these cause dizziness.

Have you had a head injury recently by any chance? Vetigo can be caused by a head injury. GP's aren't ENT specialists, If you have vertigo you should ask for a referal to an specialist.

I haven't had any head injuries for quite some time. However, it seems to have calmed down today, I am not feeling so "drunk" and "on the boat" as I was yesterday, although I am still not 100%. Blood pressure was fine yesterday, 128/78. So, it probably is a virus/grit in my inner ear canal.

I have just had a phone call from the surgery, the doctor said the levels of protein and leukocytes in my urine was slightly higher but I told her that that's what my previous urine test showed (at my last MW appointment about 4 weeks ago). Apparently this Friday at my next MW appointment I should ask for my blood test results (the blood that was drawn out yesterday) and if need be they will prescribe me something.

Something like this just shows you how much of your health you take for granted (like just walking in a straight line).