Hi all. I have not been diagnosed with meniaires but waiting for am appointment to see a specialist.
I keep having attacks of severe vertigo and vomiting. To the point I want to die. The attack last about an hour or so but the dizziness continues for about 24 hrs.
The attacks are becoming more frequent and would welcome any advice on the condition and how to cope with it. What would be the best thing to do to prevent these attacks that are making me very down.
Thanks in advance
Paul
Do u have tinnitus? ear pressure....hearing loss at all?...could be many things yes get to a specialist
Hi Paul, sorry to hear about your attacks. The conditions sound similar to mine when I started out with MD. First thing would be to see a specialist as soon as possible so they can diagnose what it is.
For me I was also very down when it started, thinking about all the areas it might effect. For a period I went through very bad vertigo and vomiting until I was put in medication and also started to understand the triggers that would bring on a attack - mainly for me issues with stress, diet and sleep. This undersgandjng takes time to build up and you can see in this forum there are many people who have lived with MD for many years.
Personally for me once a bad attack starts I need to lay down in a dark room and not move my head (it's def not the type of thing you can walk off!). After a while the dizziness and vomiting subsides.
Hope all goes well with your appointment and good luck.
Include a nurologist and an EEG test. Lots of things look like Menires's.
Don't accept the first doctors diagnosis. Hope you get relief soon. Good luck.'
Dan T.
Hi Paul -- I'm sorry to hear about your attacks. I was diagnosed in June after severe hearing loss, tinnitus and bouts of vertigo but have just had the most unbelieveable, frightening attack ever early sunday morning which sounds like what you've described. Uncontrollable vomiting and vertigo so bad I couldn't even lift my head to vomit. I too am very distressed at the moment so I am very empathetic.
How long before your appointment? Even while you wait I'd encourage you to be very very strict on sodium consumption, keep a daily log of symptoms and share with people like those on this site. I sought this place out precisely because I felt so depressed and alone. I can't say i'm totally fine with the whole thing but knowing that I'm not alone and reading about other people's experience has made me a little less frightened.
I'm going to have an electronsytagmogram this friday because my doctor wants me to -- but all I really want is some emergency treatment that will help me in that moment of hell that you describe. I've never been so terrified.
My thoughts are with and remember, you're not alone.
Paul, before I knew I had md, it was very scary not knowing what was going on. I've learned now to take Xanax as soon as I feel dizzy, I have sublingual anti nausea medcation and it also helps for me to look into a mirror, it helps steady myself and can sometimes prevent vomitting. I have a hand held mirror but have also turned the camera around on my phone.
I hope you get some relief soon, see an ent, make sure they take a good history of your symptoms to get an accurate diagnosis.
Deb
You need to see an ENT ASAP
Yes I do 24/7. I was given a hearing aid which did help for a while after fighting for two years. Now it does nothing for me and tinnitus is worse. I did see a consultant who put me on betahistine 16mg three times a day which now don't seem to be working for me.
Waiting for specialist appointment but as NHS in the UK is so slow, that could be a way off. Thanks for replying
Hi, laying down did nothing for me yesterday. I was laying down very sweaty and was violent sick about six times and felt very ill. I had the same thing few weeks ago and went to a+e but they could not find anything wrong with me other than a possible ear infection. Had more time off today as still not right. Thanks for replying
Thank you what are xanax tablets?
Waiting for appointment but going to Gp later today.
Glad u r seeing your GP..he can give you meclizine which is Bonine over the counter to take for vertigo and there are other meds for nausea(phenergan ) until you get to ENT.the best test is really an MRI to rule out major problems then they will determine what is going on
In the meantime in case it is menieres restrict your salt and alcohol ! Diet is what is controlling my symptoms of vertigo(unfortunately I have hearing loss from it but that's another issue )an ENT will check that
Xanax is used for anxiety, it helps me relax until I can get through an attack.
Paul, I too have a hearing aid in my left ear, I did lose hearing in that ear but I have 4 buttons on it so I can hear 'white or pink' noise at varying volumes to mask the tinnitus in that ear and it has helped me from going crazy!
Hi, thanks for your reply. Sorry to hear you are suffering as much as I am. I to wanted to find both a solution to the problem. I am also terrified of when it will happen again and sure it will so. I need to chase my appointment asap as the attacks are becoming more frequent.
I'm sure we all feel alone with this condition and glad I have found people who suffer like us and happy to talk about it.
One thing I have been working on his actually blocking my with an earplug. Works sometimes.
How did you throw up if you couldn't lift your head?
not very well as it turns out -- never in my life have I thrown up in a flat position. The result was a lot of dry heaving which I can only assume was because i couldn't clear the path properly. i was twisted to the side and did have a bucket to my head but just sitting up was impossible so it was sort of a twisted hell that went on for 45 minutes -- i ultimately slipped to the floor trying to find some solid gravity and managed to lift my head slightly which brought up bile. I still don't know if the dry heaving was because I couldn't lift my head or what but it was my worst nightmare. Going to ENT at yale today -- fingers crossed.
You can lift your head, it's just hard at first. Once the head is reposistioned over the trash can, the initial extra spinning from raising head lessens. The best thing is to have a trash can next to your bed and elevate can if needed (on a step or anything solid) so that you can rest your head against the side of trash can during vomiting. Get a can with rounded edges that won't cut into your hands. Dry heaves are just what happens when your stomache has nothing "left" to throw up. Anyway, don't throw up sideways that's uncessessary, possibly dangerous, and weird 