Unexplained dizziness

hi I woke up early hours of this morning ( needing the loo ) I could not even get out of my bed it felt like the whole room was spinning this carried on for about 2 minutes got back to sleep woke up at 6 am still feeling dizzy , the dizziness has been on and of all day now I feel nauseous ,still dizzy when I move my head or lay down and now got headache is this what vertigo is like ? 

That is Vertigo.... that's how mine happened.  Woke up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and BAM!  

If it doesn't go away after today, I would make an appt with a doctor to get the Epley Manauver done. 

Hi Paula. Have you recently had any sort of ear, nose or throat infection? It sounds like the onset of vestibular neuritis which is caused by the virus getting into your inner ear. I've had two attacks with the first one lasting only a week but the second one, 6 months later, is still with me after over two months of suffering. You can get the doctor to prescribe you some anti sickness tablets but there is no magical cure for the spinning room, lightheaded ness or dizzy periods. As far as I have discovered the symptoms stay with some people for a long time, possibly over a year! It can be quite depressing as there are lots of side effects e.g. Extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, inability to sleep, ear noises (tinnitus) and inability to shop in large stores: the lights, noise and lots of people makes you feel worse. I hope you feel better soon. I had to stay in bed for nearly 2 weeks as I just couldn't function with the room spinning every time I moved. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply I have had no infection that I know of my son on his way round because I just fell down the stairs lol it's horrid feels like you are spinning and falling but your not but you react like you are and that makes you fall 

Prayers for both of you...from other people's stories, i gather the most severe episode is the first 2 days..the "somersault" exercise did help me. There is a vid of Dr. Carol Foster explaining how to do this. Pretty simple..Still...I have days that are fine, and then I'll unexpectedly start reeling...hate it..honestly, if i can get out for a long walk (soft ground), that helps immensely. .Might also get your neck checked--Sometimes just an adjustment can help tremendously...Hoping to hear you both are better!!

Thank you for your reply. May I ask how long you have been suffering with this. I, too, have some good days where I feel only lightheaded but then, for no apparent reason, the next day is awful with the room spinning if I lift or lower my head too far. I can't peg out the washing today as every time I stretched up I felt like I was going to keel over.

Hi Paula - yes the room spinning is vertigo.  If you dont actually spin but feel unsteady then its dizziness.  Ive had vertigo on a few occasions but its always gone with betahistine.  Now Im dizzy, didnt have vertigo just started with this, and had it three years.  You need to see GP and then if it doesnt go, see an ENT and have a scan to rule out anything dangerous.  Usually they wont be able to fix it and you might need to see a neurologist or some other consultant depending upon what they think it is.  I hope yours is short lived and goes with some medication,  Mine has been diagnosed as silent migraine but I dont think it is.  I think mine is connected to my neck. But up to now no one knows. 

Yes Christine you are right there is no magical cure.  I didn't realize why I am sometimes so exhausted, loss of appetite & the inability to shop in large stores!!!   I experienced that all yesterday while shopping.

I had a very good week & was feeling very confident.  We traveled to shop about 30 something miles away & was having a great time with my girlfriend.  Then I started to feel terrible in my head & felt very anxious.  We ate lunch & then I did start to improve but was so tired.

I wonder what causes the fatigue & loss of appetite??? Does anyone know??   So sorry for all of you with this "crap".

A year to date since my first attack, two subsequent attacks, each after I have had a virus.  I was recommended to take vitamin B complex and it has helped a little, although every day is a lottery!  Good luck.

Paula I would say yes when the room is spinning that is vertigo.  The only thing to prop yourself up & try not go move.  Do you have a doctor you could call & get something for the symptoms?  I feel awful for you - it is an ugly experience.  Take care if you can.

Mildly since an injury in 1993---Cleared totally with a good chiropractor...then severely last Dec..Dr. advised nasal rinses to move ear tubes, and that worked very well, and quickly..I also ceased using ear buds to listen to audio books..as that can also trigger dizziness....then July 3, I had your experience..i know how terrible you and the others on this forum feel..It has been up and down for a month..i really understand you not being able to hand out clothes!...i had a renter downstairs who suffered migraines and dizziness..He said the migraines were from a small hole in the heart...I'm hoping he didn't also carry a virus...We only shared laundry space..but who knows? Please remember a bad neck can also affect stability...I pray for you good days ahead!

Hi Paula, I'm sorry to hear of your symptoms. A variation of a theme I'm afraid that may take different forms regarding diagnosis. Seven weeks ago, I awoke at 6:00am and was violently ill having made the treachorous trip from my spinning bedroom to the loo. Eight hours later I was over the nausia, but total unsteadiness and spinning continued; this was my second bout in two years (fully recovered after 8 weeks) and I knew pretty much what to expect, so I didn't call for an ambulance this time, just slept for the rest of the day.  I improve slightly every day and am able to walk some 5 kilometres most days although I still seem to be able to find the occasional pothole and must look like the local drunk to those nearby. I hope to get back to my daily 8 kilometre run soon and am doing my weight training at home most days although some days I still feel totally wooly headed. My message to you is that my diagnosis of Vestibular Neuritis was made by a young intern at my local, large public hosipital. He of course sought specialist advice and proved pretty correct. The young ambulance paramedic diagnosed me on the way in and said that it was pretty common although she just thought that it was vertigo (half right I guess, but not the cause). So, I recommend you go to your local GP who may, or may not know about  of this condition, and mention what you have read in my and other tales. It would seem that there are some medications out there that help should the nausia continue, I preferred to go Cold Turkey. I wish you good health soon Paula, Jon

Hi Jon, you have described almost exactly what happened to me last August, except mine started at night and not the morning, including the intern diagnosis and the ambulance paramedic diagnosis,  Saw an ENT specialist who was next to useless, until I got to the correct person, a neuro ontologist.  But there's only so much you can do after diagnosis,  rehab exercises for the brain and keep exercising.

I have pretty much been doing the same recovery as you too, keeping up with the gym, weights and walking up to 10 ks when I'm not in the gym. Swimming is less successful as I turn my head to the right to breathe (my affected side) and am most uncomfortable with the sensation. Trying to learn to breathe to my left is not an option. I've tried for years, just doesn't happen, so I mainly do breaststroke these days (badly) and backstroke (rather better as I don't have to turn my head). I had some improvement and then a setback, some more improvement and just recently another setback.  Just gotta keep keeping on, that's all you can do,  

Good luck to everyone out there suffering with this. It is so prevalent I can't believe I only heard about it when I got it!

Hope we all feel better soon. Christine

Hi Paula I started with symptoms just over a month ago but it down to my migraines being bad but the dizziness got worse just been diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo waiting to see if Epley manoeuvre will help it's awful and I feel for you and everyone who suffers from this I too have fallen and it can be scarey I just got told by my doctor to be extra careful and try not go out alone because of the vertigo I hope you get help soon take care xx

Morning all,

I am confused by the variety of diagnoses which seem to be given to people who all have very similar symptoms to mine.

I was told in october 2013 that I have Labyrinthits. I have since only had a few weeks when I had anything like a normal life. Mostly, like today, I am too dizzy to go out.

I have tried meds, excercises and neck massage but no great result

Has anyone had a revised diagnosis because I feel mine may be wrong and I am so sick of not getting any better.

One thing that does help is to read all your stories. I don't feel so alone.

Better health to all.

Lindy

I know Lindy it is so frustrating. I have had mri of brain, head & neck. Back in November.  This started for me in October!!  I do have much degeneration in my neck.  The neuro-surgeon says the dizziness is not neck related.  I believe him to a point.  Dizziness for me sometimes my head feels weird.  Then I get a headache & the anxiety causes my shoulders to be tense.  I seen the ENT guy twice, and a neurologist.  No diagnosis!  I have been doing much better.

If I get unnerved by something I feel worse.  Connection maybe?

It is awful I know.  Hopefully it will pass --get all the info you can & do something to keep the anxiety at bay.  For me, not easy.  Good luck.

Hi all thanks for all the replays I have got , I have been to see my GP he has referred me to the hospital got a very quick response I am there next Friday I think it's because I had a major op 4 months ago for ovarian cancer and the doctor is scared I fall again and do some damage he has also booked me of work again lol I only been back for 4 weeks , he said not to worry but take it easy and don't go anywhere by myself hope you are all in good health and I will update later thanks again x

Hi Paula..Hope your trip to the hospital shows good news..Is it possible the dizziness is from the surgery (drugs or trauma)?Wow, ovarian cancer..you've really walked a rough road!! Take care, and we'll look forward to your update. God's keeping.

Hi all---It sounds like all of us have some issue or another.  Paula I am sorry for your troubles.  I do believe chronic dizziness is the worse outside of having a fatal disease.  This weekend I am grounded by (I think) a virus thing.  Afraid to leave the house.  Being a human being isn't always easy is it?

Hi Paula,

I have been plagued by constant vertigo for the last 5 years. I've been diagnosed with migraine induced vertigo. Which text book says that you will experience vertigo before and during a headache. However because mine plagues me whether I have a headache or not I don't think this is an accurate diagnosis. However I think you were a classic migraine induced vertigo case. As trivial as it may sound physical therapy to reset your inner ear should help. Talk to your doctor about exercises and be sure to include ALL descriptions of the event. My ears buzz and sound like old TV tubes are on, is a big tip off. Sit down or steady yourself against a wall until it passes. Good luck.