Hi Ladies - I recently posted under a different subject altogether and I briefly mentioned that I have been suffering from Vertigo. All of a sudden people started sharing comments about Vertigo.

So I thought maybe it's time we started talking about it - to see who else is experiencing it right now and what they are doing to cope with this debilitating problem.

I had my first attack about 5 years ago and it would come and go. I went to a couple of ENT's and was diagnosed with BPPV. Then my Vertigo went away for a entire year - I thought it was gone for good and Really enjoyed life again..... . And then Boom - it came back over this past year .

The symptoms have been different and much worse. Not only do I have episodes (or attacks) that last for weeks - now I feel like I am walking on pillows (don't know how else to describe it) I just do not have any balance. My husband or daughter have to help me walk and especially down stairs or uneven ground .

I go to a new specialist next month. I've had to wait 3 months for this appointment. It's been such a difficult problem to deal with and like I mentioned earlier - if any of you are having or have had problems with Vertigo please let us hear from you...

I have been diagnosed with bppv. I had an attack about 4 years ago and didn't know what it was. Thought it was my new glasses. This past spring I had it again. I went to the doctor and he gave me that diagnosis. I had been having ear troubles all winter. I had my worst attack after a visit to a new hairstylist that gave me a head massage. It triggered the loose crystals in my inner ear, I guess.

Anyway, I'm better now. I still have that 'off' feeling of not seeing as well, feeling slightly dizzy, sort of a head rush. I wonder if any of it is related to anxiety.

If it happens again I might search out an ENT doctor to see if anything is related to the problem.

It's not fun, is it......

UGH!!

You're not alone! I've had 3 major bouts of Vertigo over the last 15 years and they are a nightmare for sure. The first one the doc attributed to a viral infection. The second, which happened 2 years ago, I never saw a doc for and self-diagnosed as positional because of the predictability of how the spells came on, (tilting my head to one side when I tried to lay down) The room would stop spinning in about a minute after laying down, as long as I didn't roll over. I was okay in the daytime if I was careful. It lasted for a few weeks.

The last one which happened last fall was the mother of all. I also have panic disorder and the vertigo triggered a non-stop 8 hr panic attack with constant vertigo. It was right up there with one of the worst experiences of my life. I went to an ENT who said it was not BPV, that he wasn't sure what it was but that it could be viral labrynthitis. Viral labrynthitis can also happen while tilting in a certain position. I ended up sleeping propped up on pillows for about 3 weeks and it took a good 3 months to completely recover.

From what I've read Vertigo can be caused from many different sources. The inner ear is usually the first suspect. If it's an ear problem, it could be any number of ear problems ranging from Menere's disease to those little "rocks" that break loose. If it is BPV (little rocks) it will most likely return from time to time as they become dislodged and need to settle back down again into their little quiet space where they belong. If it is viral labrynthitis it could be a single episode or it may be something that one is prone to get again - just like some people are more prone to sinus infections, or bronchitis.

Other sources of vertigo can come from neck problems, anxiety disorders and also from thyroid disorders. Much more rarely, sudden onset of vertigo can be a symptom of a more sinister diagnosis such as stroke or brain tumor - but we won't worry about that unless our doctors give us reason to!! I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, panic/anxiety disorder/ arthrithis in the neck from an old break, and am in menopause. So for me, it's really hard to know what causes it. All I know is I hope it doesn't happen again, but I'm not holding my breath!

The ENT told me that one of the treatments of choice was Xanax, which I already take several times a day. He had me double the dose for a couple of weeks. It didn't go away, but it definitely helped make it more tolerable.

Severe vertigo has got to be one of the most awful things to experience, especially when it's accompanied by panic.

Good luck!
Sierra

I first had an episode of vertigo about eight years ago, the day after having a cervical cone biopsy. I did not experience it again until about five years' later in 2005. Dr. said it was viral labrinthyitis, gave me antivert. The spinning was mostly when changing positions in bed, but my eyes were really bothering me, especially while using the computer. I guess that's the nystagmus. Had it sometime last year, but it didn't last long and I didn't go to the dr. Then last week, it hit so hard, I passed out in the bathroom and fell into the wall, hitting shoulder and head. I had not felt good a few days before, very tired and lots of pressure and pain in my head which I thought was from TMJ. The spinning only lasted a few days and I went back to work, but it was a full week before I felt decent. Then, this past Wednesday, bam! The facial pressure began, then the spinning. Again, two days later, the spinning is gone, but I am tired and feel woozy when I turn my head quickly.

I just had a test for lyme's which was negative, blood work for anemia and thryroid, all within normal ranges. So, I have another dr. appointment next week. I still have some of the head pressure, nystagmus and ear popping, so I am self-diagnosing the possibility of meniere's disease.

Chiropractor has me on a B complex, calcium-magnesium and adrenal support. The first two are supposed to help relieve fluid build-up, which can be the cause of meneire's.

The other possibility is allergy. I have read that allergy can cause meniere's. I have been tested and am allergic to dog and mold. Molds are in the high range right now, and the two days before I just had the spinning, my dog had slept in my bed. I don't know if there is a connection, but it may be possible.

I hope I can find out soon because I am exhausted.

Oh, and my hair is falling out alot for some reason. Frightening!

Bella

We've only heard from a few people about Vertigo. Is there anyone else coping with this problem??? Please let us hear from you..........

I experience vertigo almost daily, with some days being worse and others I can deal with. I get dizzy, lightheaded and nauseous with a feeling of non-reality, like I am not really here - very strange feelings, I also get this way with severe irritable bowel. I can count my good days on one hand and get very discouraged on the bad days, thinking there is something wrong with me, thoughts of doom, etc........I have never been this way in my life until the past couple of years (I am 50 now) and I really don't like the person I have become. I want the old me back NOW!

I had my first vertigo about 12 yrs ago. I was awakened at 4am to the room spinning followed by immediate panic. Had my boyfriend rush me to the hospital and was told I had some fluid in my ear. It subsided a few days later and the antivert and anti-anxiety meds helped me. Recently I have had it a couple of times. A few months ago for about a week always when lying down and turning from one side to another. I researched it on google and found an exercise that really helped me. It went away and stayed away for about 4 weeks and then a few days ago I had it again. I just repeat the exercises and I think that helps. I'm chalking it up to peri. What else can i do?

HI 2sonsmom -

Your symptoms are VERY typical of anxiety. The non-reality, vertigo, dizzy, lightheadedness, nausea, and thoughts of doom are all very classic. My guess is that you may have anxiety resulting from menopause, since you've only experienced it for the last couple of years. There are medications that can treat anxeity until you get your hormones regulated - but it's best to have all of your hormones properly evaluated and corrected too. ie: complete thyroid testing including TSH, T3-4, free T3-4 & Thyroid antibodies. Estradiol levels (should be 90 or better) and testosterone. You don't need to suffer with this.

Good luck,
Sierra

dear christina c:
i have had vertigo all my life . i used 2 take meclazine now nothing as it is not as frequent . i really do not know what triggers meno vertigo besides our hormones . i can deal with almost all except the pals and short of breath , past 3 days have been really hard 4 me . i feel so short of breath doing very little which of course causes anxiety . like u i just want 2 b thru with meno . my oldest daughter her husband and my 2 youngest all together so i have lots of support . i know i could not cope on my own . have a good day .

roxanne

Over the past two years, my vertigo and lightheaded episodes have coincided with Allergy season (which I never experienced until peri struck!) which has been running January through June. I've blamed my thyroid meds... (I'm hypothyroid) my new eye prescription... my meds for allergies. I've been to MD after MD with complaints of lightheadedness. This year the migraines started. Late this spring consulted with an ENT. The good news, I have minimal hearing loss for my age! Hoo-hoo! At the very end of the spring-season, I ended up with labrinthinitis. Holy cow! A whole new level of vertigo. I've been so miserable and no fun at all! So glad to read these posts and feel like I'm not loosing my mind. I've learned these symptoms are all so perimenopausal!!! Thanks to everyone who posts!

Hi

My first expierence with Vertigo happened back in 98 when I had a severe inner ear infection. I had a bad sinus infection that made its way to my inner ear. I remember trying to work not knowing if I would have to hang on to the wall that day.

I went on antibiotics for the sinus infection but because the infection was so severe it did permement damage to my inner ear. SO now I am left with a severed nerve in my inner ear and I am prone to off balance and dizziness at any time. I am taking Antivet 3 times a day for this since 98.

This is how my anxiety attacks started,I would have a dizzy attack and that would being on an anxiety attack. It got soo bad I had to quit work for a while and have someone go grocery shopping for me . I would also get dizzy if I was somewere that there were florecent lights. Then of course in walk peri and all heck breaks loose.

In the beginnig I went for MRIs ,CT scans and ended up going to an ENT who did a test that is so long I will just give you the initials. its called an ENG,what they do is bring on a dizzy spell so they can see if your inner ear is working. Well girls God help you if you ever have to have one of these tests done.

Here is what they do, they take you in and lay you on a table and pour war water in one ear,now if you are having problems with your inner ear pouring warm water in will produce a vertigo. Ok they did the left ear,no problem. then came time for the right ear, well let me tell you I felt like I was on space mountain. I became so dizzy I had to hang on to the table I was laying on.Oh yea and while you are having this dizzy spell caused by the warm water ,they make you go thru the start from A to Z and name names starting with the letter A and so on,I think this is to take your mind off of how dizzy you are.

Anyway the ENT found out the nerve in the left inner ear was severed due to the sinus infection and will never function again. So I will be living with vertigo at any given time for the rest of my life.

I have also noticed when the weather is humid or its going to rain I get very dizzy,for some reason and it must be the barmetric pressure or something I can tell when its going to rain and I know I will be in agony until its does rain.

So thats my story.

Meee tooo!!! I feel just terrible any time it rains... or like right now, a storm is coming in or sometimes, I think something happens with the air pressure in stores, like the mall!! And I've found lighting in some stores really does make me feel off balance.