Vertigo

Is that the same as vestibular labrynthitis?

Sorry to hear you were so unwell.

Hi fancy that, I dont know, but have a doctors appointment next week.

I did a few months ago but the cause was known and I started on Stemetil which sorted it within 48 hours then I developed a rash so end of Stemetil.

I couldn't stand or do anything so a friend called an ambulance, and I spent the entire day in a bed in A&E.

Good luck

Thank you, its the most horrible feeling, I couldn't even lift my head. Was in A&E for 10 hours, but I am sure it's my arthritis and the way I sleep at night.

I had it really bad the first time, about 6 years ago.

Since then, I learn to get up slowly, when I wake up, after resting in bed to make sure all is well.
I then further do things slowly for about 1 hour, before properly getting going.
That normally then sorts me out for the rest of the day.

I dont dare go on any roller coaster type things! Or anything spinny. And used not to be able to even watch on tv, anything that spins.

That's great advice, I will try and take it slower in the morning. Thank you

i've had vertigo for most of my adult life but i can go years between bouts.
last time i had it i was dignosed with bppv - benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, an inner ear disorder - which occurred when i went to bed and lay on my right side.
after visiting the doctor where they performed the epley manoevre it started to go fortunately.
but it's horrible when it happens and stemetil is not as effective as it could be.

I have had Meniere's Disease for over 20 years. I'm prescribed Betahistine but think it might be for MD. I also had Stemetil but don't take it any more. I do take Stugeron if I feel an attack brewing and find it helps a lot but does make me sleep heavily so try to take at night. It can be bought over the counter but you need to say it's for travel sickness as they aren't allowed to sell for vertigo, apparently.

Yes - I know someone who had it exactly as you described but they don’t have arthritis. They were prescribed something but I don’t know what until they got well again, I got it once after a knock massage - never again!

I have to ask, what is a knock massage please

I have been diagnosed with vestibular labyrinthitis in the past. But last month I woke up walked to the bathroom, and the room just started spinning and I felt my legs go and I blacked out, it happens three times that morning so my husband called an ambulance. My blood pressure was over 200 and every time I stood up, I fell over so they took me to hospital. They said it is vertigo that was causing my blood pressure to raise. They prescribed betahistine dihydrochloride and thankfully it’s stopped happening. I think they call it BVV and I have an appointment with the ENT specialist on Monday.

I was diagnosed with Mernieres last year after terrible vertigo, vomiting, dizziness, blocked ear. I went to a specialist physio who gave me exercises to do daily. She told me I had to walk but look left and right as well as straight forward. I take Betahistine and have not had an attack since January 2024. Try not to get over tired, keep hydrated, do exercises to make the left and right side of your brain working.
It can be fright and debilitating but, if diagnosed correctly, you can manage it.Good luck

Thank you for all your replies, they have been very helpful. Like most of you they come in bouts, I am going to see my Gp next week and asking for further tests.

i have had BPPV - a problem with the balance mechanism in the ear - and it is truly horrible. The Epley Manoeuvre cures it - for some people they never get it again, but for 20% of people with BPPV, it can come back. That includes me. But I am grateful for Dr Epley's help - the manoeuvre is not pleasant BUT it only takes 3 or 4 minutes and is so very worth doing. I know this is one of several causes of vertigo and I send lots of good wishes and understanding to everyone who gets vertigo.

Peggypatch

Hi everyone, I dont know if anybody has any advise. I suffer from really bad vertigo, arthritis of the neck, I can feel fab all day, go to bed and wham ! I was taken to hospital Monday by ambulance, couldn't even lift my head, sickness, pjs wrenched with sweat, it was really frightening. Anybody else have it this bad.

To Peggypatch, I have suffered from this in varying degrees for many years following a bout of labrynthitis. As other posters have said, I have to sit on the edge of the bed for a minute when rising in the morning to let things settle. I have to manage the condition by restricting head movements - painting a ceiling or even car washing can send me into a head spin after bending too quickly. I hope your symptoms settle down, I can manage normally by taking things slowly but occasionally do have extreme dizziness which causes vomiting if I overdo things but nothing compared to the labrynthitis which was horrendous. With that, I had to crawl from bed to bathroom as walking (staggering) was unsafe & impossible.

It sounds very similar to mine. I was diagnosed in 2019 with vestibular migraines, even though there's no headache type migraine involved. Like you, I can go to bed feeling fine, then I'm woken up in the early hours with the spinning sensation, vomiting, no balance etc. It's brutal and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Once it kicks in and after the vomiting and loss of balance has eased slightly, (usually after about two hours), I can usually sleep it off in 4-5 hours, if I lay perfectly still. The Epley Manoeuvre helps with everyday BPPV, but it didn't make any difference for me, for these severe attacks. The only treatment offered to me was for beta blockers, which I can't take unfortunately. Good luck with the doctor and hope they can help.

I had sickness, dizziness, fireworks behind my eyes etc for my first attack and felt no better sitting up or laid flat. The doctor who came said the brain was panicking because my ears were saying I was spinning. Such a good explanation. He also said to move slowly, inch by inch. The Epley Manoeuvre didn’t cure it but it did make me feel calmer. Get a doctor to show you how to do it. Now I manage signs of oncoming attacks by sleeping and and drinking lots of water. Look online for the triggers or symptoms for vertigo. There’s a list somewhere of over 20 and I recognise most of them. Try to avoid them if at all possible, eg flashing lights, looking/bending up and down quickly. It can be managed so feel better soon.

Good friend developed severe vertigo as a side effect of an antibiotic prescribed for a UTI. Epley Manoeuvre made a huge difference - done 1st time by a physio, but she learned to do it for herself.

I have BPPV too. Have a hospital appt coming up soon as the Epley manoeuvre has not worked recently.

BPPV vertigo is extremely distressing and quite disabling. I couldn’t walk across the room when I first had it, made worse by the associated nausea and vomiting.
The crystals in the ear need a reset, for some reason.
I managed eventually to see a physio who was marvellous. It took several sessions for the Epley manoeuvre to work. The physiotherapist showed me how to perform the manoeuvre at home and I occasionally need to repeat the manoeuvre, but it keeps the dreaded vertigo under control. I found that the prescribed tablets stop you vomiting but don’t really improve the vertigo.
You can look up Epley manoeuvre online, but it’s quite complicated to do without some guidance. Good luck.

I had this first after I had flown in an aircraft ... I felt so sick I couldn't leave the plane , I vomited and managed to get home . I saw the GP who did a ' Physical thing with my neck "

Very careful now how I travel ,

Thank you all for you kind replies, as you all know its very horrendous when it happens. I will keep you updated if I get any tests from doctor.

Peggypatch

Thank you, its the most horrible feeling, I couldn't even lift my head. Was in A&E for 10 hours, but I am sure it's my arthritis and the way I sleep at night.

It could just be caused by allergy to either your bed linen, mattress or pillow, as it apparently strikes after you have gone to bed.

Ask your doctor if there could be a connection between your neck problem and vertigo. If he/she is certain there is not, then change your pillow. If that does not help change your washing powder to one that is not perfumed. Although if the washing powder is the cause, it is odd you only have attacks at night.

If you wear glasses, are you sure they are the right strength?

After a couple of mild 'warning' bouts of vertigo while turning over in bed early this morning, I have have just had an attack of it while out on the garden. I had bent to lift a carrot when things began to spin, and although I immediately crouched, put my hands on the ground and braced myself, it threw me out flat on my side on the earth. It was as if someone had pushed me, and I had no control over it whatsoever. I just had to lie there until it subsided, which fortunately was not long.
I hope that none of the neighbours saw me, as they would have assumed that either I was blind drunk or had some sort of fit!

But this sounds nowhere bear as bad as your vertigo, Peggypatch. Whatever the cause, I hope you are free of it again soon.