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A tiny accidental flick of the head sends me in a spin

Posted , 6 users are following.

DizzyDarren
DizzyDarren

You’re sat there minding your own business and someone comes into the room and you look up (like you’ve done a zillion times) and you go off into a spin for a minute or two while holding on to your chair for dear life.

It seems that if I purposely look up or look left or or look right, it’s difficult to recreate the sensation but when you make this movement without thinking about it sometimes you get caught out and this spin/ giddiness washes over you.

And I am not talking big head movements here but tiny little ones !!

Does anyone else get that?

0 likes, 28 replies

28 Replies

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  • eileen95512
    eileen95512 DizzyDarren

    Posted

    Hi, that's one of the things that happen to me, my specialist diagnosed it as Benign Postural Vertigo, it's to do with the calcium deposits in the inner ear not going back go where they belong and your eyes and brain getting mixed messages.  I have found that if I keep my head very still and concentrate on the high corner of the room, it helps it to settle.  I find it happens when I lay flat or if my head is at an angle I.e. dentist, x-Ray .  I have had the Epley manoeuvre three times now which is supposed to take you back to square one but it has not worked for me.  I just avoid doing things which I know triggers it off.  Best thing is not to panic.  Hope this is of some help.

     

  • marlene21102
    marlene21102 DizzyDarren

    Posted

    Hi Darren thought you had gone on holiday last week,I'm better if people are at my eye level to speak to,don't like looking up or down speaking to people. Even tiny movements will make me how you were,so I avoid that like the plague. You know what you know makes it worse..right performance to say the least.

     

    • DizzyDarren
      DizzyDarren marlene21102

      Posted

      I'm the same Marlene, For eg I don't like being at the top of stairs talking to someone at the bottom and visa versa. They have to be at my level and in front. Defintely not either side of me. Head twist/ turning and talking don't work for me...urgghh!!
    • marlene21102
      marlene21102 DizzyDarren

      Posted

      How do you manage to work with it ?i know I couldn't, but you youngsters have to work,have you got a standing or sitting job ? I drive but I would still find it difficult to get to it how I am I know my limits to where I go in comfort.

       I live in bungalow ,so no stairs,boy am I lucky there. Me these days I don't care to stand on a chair,my husband does that as I don't like looking up or down it's not hights that's a problem it's the sheer looking is the problem.

         Saw the bit on vit  D will go look at that, be interested your take on vit D .

    • DizzyDarren
      DizzyDarren marlene21102

      Posted

      Marlene, I won’t lie to you but my working life and driving was completely turned upside down. I am a sales manager and most of my job was jumping in and out of my car visiting customers all over the South West. I’ve been driving over 20 years and would drive anything cars, vans or lorries, nothing would phase me, I was as confident as you like.

      And then I was driving along a fast road and then it hit me, I came over all dizzy and from that day forth my driving confidence has never been the same. To begin with, driving was vile, I became over sensitive to all the twists, curves, ups and downs in the road. It’s amazing how uneven our roads are !! Driving for me was like being on a Roller Coaster and it made me feel ill.

      For about a year or so, I worked from home, which basically meant I was avoiding everything I possibly could. I became a bit of recluse. My car became my enemy and I refused to drive anywhere. Even to this day, my wife does all the heavy driving (Long drives on motorways..that sort of thing) because my balance disorder don’t like things whizzing past me at 70 mph.

      About a year later I decided that I needed to make some changes and stop avoiding stuff so instead of working from home I decided to start working from my office and start forming new habits. It was hell to begin with, driving to and from the office made me feel ill and I wouldn’t say it was a bed of roses for a couple of years. I would say that it’s only during the last 6 months or so that I feel better and more confident in the car. I have the odd occasion when I feel a bit off and I still get mild headaches but in the most part, I’m all right. I’ve also worked out that if I can travel on roads that are no faster than 50/ 60 mph, then I know I’ll be OK and not be a danger to myself or others.

      The interesting thing recently for me is that driving seems to soothe my vertigo where as before it used to aggravate it. Now it’s when I’ve stopped or when I am still that, the “not moving” aggravates the vertigo.Sometimes when I leave my office I feel a bit vertigoey but after 5 mins in the car, I seem to balance out...How weird is that? 

      I could probably drive on the motorway but it’s the fear of having another attack while driving that worries me so rather than working myself up to anxious freak, it’s easier for me to avoid it and be grateful that I’ve got this far..or let my wife do it, which she don’t mind doing. What I’ve learned is that anxiety will fuel my vertigo and I try to prevent that at all costs.

      I am actually quite lucky with my job because I can make it as flexible as I need to be which means not only can I avoid what I don’t want to do, I’ve also been able to hide my illness pretty well.

      These days though I don’t hide it as much, because talking about it makes me feel better...oddly..!!  I still don’t visit customers like I used to. My favourite ones know about my illness because I’ve told them. My small team of colleagues know the score and they are all good although they don’t get it hahaha.

      Over all I try not to avoid stuff but I still find myself doing it but if I do have to do things that force me out of my comfort zone (My Office or My Home) then I do so with military precision. I check out where I will be going, when will be the quietest time to go? Is parking an issue? Will I have to do much walking? Will there be plenty of chairs of chairs when I get there? Will I have to do any queuing?

      Great isn’t? hahha…..but I get by !!

    • marlene21102
      marlene21102 DizzyDarren

      Posted

      Hi Darren,what a way to have to live ,and earn a living as well .Really feel for you Darren.i couldn't I know that for definate 100  percent sure.

        Like me I love my car,the only time I don't drive is if my rhinitis hurts my eyes,and face, I tend to frown a lot with the pain of that.so it an at home day.

        Glad you can work at home some days,it's like a back up for bad days for you I suppose,I don't do motorways period,they drive far to fast for my liking

      well over speed limits.never thought how cars speeding past would affect the balance. My oh my.

         Good job your wife drives hey.i drive,but husband doesn't,he loves his Vespa scooter.so by that he nips here and there on that,

        You've still got a long working life ahead of you to,how daunting that must feel,at your young age,my daughters your age I'd be devastated if she was you with our condition,so I can put myself as a mum,into how it's affected your life Darren.i worry now if she gets heavy head cold just in case this condition would trigger a balance problem in her, heaven forbid hey.

        Your work mates sound good bunch,I believe it's healthy,to just tell people you have XYZ problem  whatever it is .Tell people to look it up,it explains to them what a day in your life it's like living with this ,as I often say us today,it could be them tomorrow.so easily.lifes a bitch that's for sure, We who have it can't give into it.,

        I did think the vit d a good read interesting Darren. When I had that virus dr told me my immune system was very low told me I needed a good multivitamin  8 yrs ago,I lost over 4 stone in weight in 4 months from that virus ,it took a nurse not a dr to tell me to get a bottle of Metatone  to get me eating again,took 18 months but it worked.so this Vit D and symptoms do match up.  Also got a book 6 yrs ago called Healing with Vitamins I've gone and got that out to read again 573 pages Rodale Health check it out .

         Better days to you Darren .you push yourself to stay active that's good.

       Tell myself won't always be like this just need the right combo of stuff to get it gone hey xx

  • gillian76726
    gillian76726 DizzyDarren

    Posted

    h Darren,yes i get that, but more from looking down, and as you day doesn't have to be a big movement - am not sure if it's my ears that cvause it or my eyes, probably both.  I sub conciously don;t make sudden movements now, \and guess the reason it happens when you're not thinking about it, is just that - ie you've not prepared yourself for the movement, so your eyes and ears aren't ready for it.  Wonderful condition isn't it?!!!
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