Newbie needing advice and support

Ears, nose and throat
1

Hi. Over the years I have had occcasional vertigo,lasting a few mins and usually when turning over in bed, just very mild when experiencing a heavy cold but now experiencing very severe bouts and becoming frustrated learning how to cope on a daily basis. Confused that various medical website offer differing advice/medication/treatments. I believe I have BPPV, can`t tip my head backwards or when lying in bed turn to my right (although sometimes I can). I sleep on my left side all night, so then my shoulder is uncomfortable. I know what has triggered this horrible episode. Four weeks after the death of my mother (she had dementia - I`ve had years of stress being the only child dealing with everything. I was with her when she passed on), I knew there would be a reaction, but I didn`t expect this. My GP prescribed prochloperazine, one tab three times a day initially easing the sudden onset, however 6 weeks on, although not so violent, I have good days and bad. I am trying to take one tablet each morning on waking, but find it take me a few hours to feel relaxed and am light headed, althoug this could be a side effect. Perhaps I should take the tablet at night.  I am hopeful this will eventually fade away as I work through the greiving stages. Ive look at some website that promote the Epley maneuver, which sounds horrible but seems effective. I wonder if I have the courage to have this done?

Are there any tips or advice anyone can give me, as I`m totally out of my depth here.  This whole health issues is making me so down, not only crying through grief, but feeling sorry for myself suffering these horrible sensations - I can cope with a lot of things, but this is.....

Bye for now

Heather

2

I heard that the Epley maneuver is very simple and effective, most GPs can carry it out, my brother had it done and was fine afterwards.

it is worth a try

good Luck

3

Hi Heather

I'm so sorry that you've lost your Mum.

I'm a carer for my Mum and I know how hard it is and the stress of feeling alone with it all is so hard.

Stress is a major contributing factor to dizziness and as with BPPV, it may not be the absolute cause, it certainly makes the sensations worse.

I had it and the epley manoeuvre stopped the rotational vertigo, it didn't totally get rid of all the symptoms but it helps to get you started on the road to recovery.

When my Dr first tried to do the epley the vertigo was awful during it, so bad that he had to stop. I went home and decided that id go back the next day and try again. I went into the surgery telling myself that its not going to be nice but I'll be safe and nothing bad will happen. I tried to relax and it was much better than the first time I tried and it really does work.

I wish you the very best, I know how dreadful it can be but there are lots of use out here who will always lend a sympathetic ear and help when we can.

Take care

Lisa x

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Heather, I feel for you and identify with you. I have what I learned is BPPV three times. Each time I was extremely stressed by deaths of close family. (This time by 2).  My main symptoms are dizzy or vertigo when I look up or turn quickly to the right or left. I've found help from an otalaryngologist (head and neck doc) who prescribed Vestibular Therapy. It's exercises moving your head in prescribed directions and evaluating you thorugh your eyes as well. Some of it is like the Epley Maneuver--which I did for 7 weeks and it helped a lot--at home, myself. My mood was also affected; my lifelong depression kicked in, so I had my meds adjusted. I really recommend this route if you can get the right doctor and therapy center. Please be proactive on this. The BPPV plus the stress and grief have dealt you (and me) a double whammy. We do have what it takes to conquer this. Good luck.

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Thank you all. There is light at the end of the tunnel then.  I`ll research your suggestions further. I have more or less decided to stop the medication, as it makes me too spaced out to function, try to relax and research. I`ll take it only if I wake up really bad.

I`ll let you know how things go.  Thank you so much. Its so comforting to hear I`m not the only one and in marions case triggered by the loss of a much loved relative.

Be in touch soon

Heather x

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Hello Lisa, Ben here,

I would like to ask you about the "surgery" you "went into" in your post to Heather.  I only ask if it had something to do with Vertigo or any of the symptoms.  I have not heard of anyone having surgery for BPPV or VN, that is why I ask.

tnx

Ben

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Hello Heather, Ben here.

After reading your post and the other posts to you this day, I thought I might add that sometimes BPPV, caused by the calcium crystals getting out of place, the followeing:

Inside your ear is a tiny organ called the vestibular labyrinth. It includes three loop-shaped structures (semicircular canals) that contain fluid and fine, hair-like sensors that monitor the rotation of your head.

Other structures (otolith organs) in your ear monitor movements of your head — up and down, right and left, back and forth — and your head's position related to gravity. These otolith organs — the utricle and saccule — contain crystals that make you sensitive to gravity.

For a variety of reasons, these crystals can become dislodged. When they become dislodged, they can move into one of the semicircular canals — especially while you're lying down. This causes the semicircular canal to become sensitive to head position changes it would normally not respond to. As a result, you feel dizzy.

Now with all that said, sometimes we get a "cluster" fo these crystals gathered in one of the canals and the cluster may not respond to the different maneuvers, including Eply, on first try.  Infact, my ENT did several Eply maneuvers on me in an effort to dislodge them.  After that the ENT prescribed physical therapy that incompassed the Eply and many other maneuvers for 6 weeks.  I would be happy to relate the different types of maneuvers they did to me, and I followed up with at home, if you car to know them.  

I want to say something about your sleeping trouble.  I don't have as much understanding of the muscles in our neck that rotates our head, but I have read where it is a very important muscle and can cause problems with dizziness and Migraine headaches, some of which are said to be "silent", which I interpret to mean that you don't feel the usual pain of a headache, but you experience the other effects of the Migraine.  It seems to be associated with the spinal column alignment.  There is a term for this cervical vertebra 3, that I think you might want to know about, so be sure to check that out. 

As far as sleeping on one side or another, I believe it is very important to sleep with your head and spine correctly aligned, and the only way I know of to achieve it is using several pillows.  I currently use 7 pillows to get things exactly right, and when I get it, I sleep so soundly and wake up really rested.

Heather, these are just my own ideas here, but I wanted to let you know about them so you can investigate different ways that dizziness can occur.

Good luck to you and I hope you can find something good on this forum.  Please don't hesitate to ask me if you would like to know what the many different maneuvers were that I used in therapy.

Ben

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Hi Heather,  my problems started with a death also.  Ive had it a long time and have been diagnosed with silent migraine.  The dizziness drives you round the bend plus the other weird symptoms of headache, ears feeling full, ears pulsating, head feeling tight, cheek painful, bad sinuses, allergies, cant stand lights or sounds, and the more stressed you are, the worse it gets.  Obviously its almost impossible to not be stressed at this time but try and calm down as much as you can or get some help from the doc.  I went on anti depressants which helped a lot.  Youre not on your own, weve all got these problems its just very hard to pinpoint exactly what it is as the symptoms are all so similar.  If in doubt, eat cake !!  Hugs.

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I think you've misread the post. I said ' I went into the surgery' as in I walked into the Drs surgery 😊.

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I guess I din't know what surgery means. Sorry, had to look up the  British meaning.