Hi chaps ... I have recurring dizzy spells/vertigo/bppv/ or whatever (my GP changes his mind every time I go to see him). They happen every few months and, thankfully, are diminishing in severity to the point where as when I went to bed last night all was normal until I laid back in bed and the room spun - I stayed still and the dizziness went away but I fealt dreadful (as I usually do) even after this very mild incident. I guess I'm asking if after a momentary room spin should I feel quite this bad. I actually cannot really describe the ill feeling ... it's not nausea, maybe a mild dull headache a little anxiety. Any thoughts please ?
The vertigo used to exhaust me. Have you been to any doctor other than your gp? Seeing the right specialist or getting into a balance clinic could help you tremendously.
Hi Roger - I believe what you are dealing with is positional vertigo. It happens to some people that do not have vertigo when standing. I had both. It's a horrible way to wake up in the middle of the night as you turned over! Mine got much better when I started the physical therapy exercises. You can Goggle positional vertigo and see it's a real thing!
You have vertigo, BPPV sounds right. It's what I have and the specialist who diagnosed me did not recommend exercises/manoevers though I'm not quite sure why not, since he does them. I took and stopped meclizine and still suffer from bouts of it, but not anywhere as badly as years ago!
What helped me over the worst of it was accupuncture. Sounds odd, I know, but I was desperate and nothing else was helping. It took a few months, but it worked wonders! Now I take decongestants when it flares up and that, too, makes me dizzy but it's more manageable and never gets like it was. If accupuncture were covered by my medical insurance, I'd go again.
Weather changes can be rough - air-pressure from storms, airplane flights, etc. Yet, like you described, just moving in bed can do me in for a bit. Be sure that it's just vertigo - see an audiologist if you have any changes in your hearing or actual balance/movement issues beyond FEELING like your moving funny when you're not. I saw my GP, a neurologist and an audiologist who specializes in vestibular issues. I went to an audiologist again before going on a cruise, too.
Don't be afraid to see another doctor to accurately diagnose and help you treat this...
Thanks for those comments all. Yes generally in bed but yesterday whilst attaching something in my greenhouse I twisted my head and looked up at an odd angle and everything started spinning (I normally avoid this kind of movement but forgot). The spinning experience I get over in seconds, I just stand still and stare into the distance but the resulting discomfort can last for an hour or more a general feeling of dullness - difficult to describe !
Picking a focal point and staring at it will help you overcome your dizzy spell faster.That was a trick my physical therapist taught me and is good advice. I do think that a good balance clinic is the key. ENT's can be hit or miss and GP's really don't know what to do with a vestibular balance issue. Good luck Roger. It CAN get better and we're here for you