Hi all I have just had my second vertigo attack in 11 months and have been referred to a ENT doctor as they are not sure if it is BPPV or Meniere's so was wondering if anyone else has been in this situation. I had a bad attack the other morning where i could not move as spinning so bad i was sick with the smallest movement. This lasted for nearly 2 hours before i could move again but i still feel very out of sorts. Off and on vertigo with nausea, ringing ears with pressure in them and muffled sound off an on with slight neckache. My doctor thinks it BPPV but I was told you dont get attacks that last that long with it so wasnt sure if anyone else has any advice out there. Its been 5 days since the attack and still finding it difficult to do normal day things.
Thanks
Hi..yes my BPPV attacks can last for a week or more. I have had 3 separate episodes over the period of 6 years. They are always terrifying. Your ENT will do an Epley maneuver to relieve this. Since I know what they are now I do the half-somersault maneuver at home myself when I get them.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mQR6b7CAiqk
log, yes. It can last, and keep you sick for a few days.
You can test it yourself by doing the special exercises, the link above.
Take care and good luck!
Thanks Jackie I hope they can do something as I really dont want to have these reoccurring. I never though I would get another so fast after the last one.
Hi Kellie .....I have Menieres so they tell me ..had my really bad attack in January....got over that then got another attack in May ..and I've been off work since. ....I have been to an ENT Specialist who wasn't very good. Had an MRI Scan ( my third) and was told I have an ananoid cyst which may or may not be causing my dizziness. ...saw a Neurologist and am waiting to see if they can do anything....it's a long process and I'm anxious all the time scared of going out in case I have another (wobble ) I call my episodes that ....so I can understand what you're going through .....so you will have to go through the process to find out what it is......I gave been on Betahistine, prochlorperazine and even Amitriptyline. ...at the moment I'm not taking anything. I feel okay but still have a slight wobble which I can deal with
If it makes you feel any better I have only had 3 attacks EVER. It will go away after the Epley, but will take a couple of days.
Menieres is different from BPPV so hopefully that is NOT what she has. I've never had to take medication for BPPV.
Hi Kellie,
I've had BPPV twice - once in each ear, the last time being at the beginning of this year. I have to say your problem doesn't sound like BPPV to me. You're right - the periods of actual spinning last only seconds with BPPV and only come on when you move your head into the wrong position, although there's a low-level feeling of "sea-sickness" and instability all the time. I didn't get tinnitus, feelings of pressure in my ears or any change in my hearing.
It's true that the first day the recent attack started I did suffer the same symptoms as you. I vomited on and off all day, had almost constant spinning even without moving my head, couldn't stand up and was reduced to crawling to the toilet on my hands and knees. However, it had settled down to classic BPPV symptoms by the following morning.
The physiotherapist who fixed me two months after the onset of symptoms said the problem I'd had on the first day was probably because the wayward crystals had got into the lateral canal on their way to the more usual displacement in the posterior canal. He said this could sometimes happen, but always righted itself - or rather converted to posterior BPPV - after lying flat for a few hours, which was what happened to me. I don't know if this conversion period can extend to five days, but I suspect not from what the physio said.
I hope you soon get the appointment with the ENT doctor. Just a word of warning, though: some people on these boards have had good experiences with ENT doctors but it seems the majority didn't. I certainly didn't back in January when I saw an ENT. He looked in my ears, declared there was a plug of wax in one, which his nurse syringed out, and had me do a hearing test (which was OK). When I asked him what about the vertigo he said: "The consultation is over"! In my case it clearly was BPPV, as I recognised the symptoms from my other attack 25 years earlier, so my GP then referred me to a vestibular physiotherapist who cured me in a few minutes.
If you don't get any joy with the ENT, you should try and get yourself referred to a neurotologist or a specialist vertigo clinic. I hope you'll soon be feeling better.
Thanks Jacqueline I have been put on Bethahistine which i started yesterday so hoping it helps to some degree. Its the feeling spaced out and dizziness which is now not all the time that gets you down. You think maybe its starting to die off but then you get a bout again. I can deal with ear pressure and slight muffled sound and ringing. I hope they can get to the bottom of it for you.
Wishing you the best. I don;t think you should take meds for BPPV though?
So do I Kellie I'm so fed up now and like you said you think it's gone....then shows itself again. ...if I didn't have to work I suppose I could deal with it
Thank you Lily it's good to hear from someone else. A few things didn't match for BPPV so I am kinda questioning that because of how I am still feeling but that is what my doctor said so I will have to wait and see once I get an appointment with a specialist.
I was told they would help with the vertigo as I am off balance and dizzy still. It's a constant feeling of being off balance.
I have had a similar experience. 2 attacks in 7 months and other times of feeling like an attack was coming on but so far no 3rd attack. I was diagnosed, after tons of different tests, with vestibular neuritis. I was told at first that it was BPPV but after the 2nd attack and a constant feeling of being "out of it" for several months, that it couldn't have been BPPV then. After both attacks it took me a week or more before I could begin to function normally, and really it was a couple months before I felt closer to 100%, although I am still not there yet. If you have had the more serious things ruled out I'd see a specialists and ask about vestibular neuritis. Seems like BPPV is most common so most doctors use that diagnoses first but if you are having multiple attacks it could be something different like VN or meiere's. Hope this helps.. good luck
Thanks for that something to look into for sure. I'm not convinced it is BPPV so will see what happens when I see a specialist.
I'm not convinced either Kellie! I really hope you don't have to wait too long for that specialist appointment. Vertigo, whatever the cause, is really no fun at all.
Hi Kellie So glad in a way to know that other people have similar symptoms as I do, you and Lilly have written of symptoms I have, I have had two very bad episodes where I could not get out of bed for about 2 hours just as described by Lillie and I have been told I have BPPV. The crazy thing is there is no warning but always the fear that it is going to happen. I cannot offer any advice except that I try to not move my head quickly, sleep on one side and get out of bed slowly. I use peppermint oil on my neck/ear - don't know whether that is doing any good but makes me think it is! Good luck.
Just wondering, what lead you to start the peppermint oil and why do you think it has helped? Wondering because I might want to try! Thanks!
Valda, have you tried doing the Dix-Hallpike test? You can google it. It might be useful for Kellie too. If you read the instructions carefully it's absolutely definitive for BPPV (or not, as the case may be), and you can't harm yourself by doing it. No need to hang your head over the edge of the bed like it says, just throw yourself down flat twice with your head turned first to one side then the other.
If it does turn out to be BPPV, some people do the Epley manoeuvre themselves (also on line). However, there is a risk that if you don't do it correctly you can send the crystals into the lateral semi-circular canal, which can make you feel terrible for the rest of the day. I decided not to risk it myself, although I knew for certain I had BPPV, and sought professional help instead. Some swear by the half-somersault manoeuvre (again, google it) which I tried without success while waiting for the physiotherapist appointment. It didn't work for me, and left me feeling very nauseated, but only for a few minutes each time, so no harm done.
I will have to google those things you said Lily and try the Dix-Hallpike test. Dizziness not constant seems to be worse at night now and then on off during the day but if not moving to much then its ok. Still got pressure in the ear and some ringing but hopfully each day goes by it will be a bit less!!