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BPPV and Vitamin D deficiency?

Posted , 10 users are following.

samanthasamson
samanthasamson

On Memorial Day 2013 I got my first Vertigo attack when I woke up and about 4 hours later when Iducked my head to put on a bathing suit. I went to an emergency clinic and was lucky to find a doctor who knew how to do the Epley Maneuver and knew that I had BPPV. I went to 2 ENTs and a dizziness specialist after that and they all said the same thing. I had BPPV and there was nothing I could do. All three doctors did the Epley on me and my eyes went wild and I had vertigo attacks and unfortunately residual dizziness that was so severe, I could not really work or do much but watch tv and do my balance exercises. I was really loosing it everyday having panic attacks that lasted all day for weeks until finally after 4 weeks I noticed that the dizziness was getting better. 2 weeks after that it was manageable and I was back at work. 2 weeks after that I had another attack. I ofcouse lost it. The vertigo came back full force with 6 weeks of residual dizziness. The first day I called the doctors again and went to all the appointments. The doctors said I had to wait it out. Frantic my family and I went back on line for answers and luckily my husband found the answer!!!! http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23245911 It was Vitamin D deficiency! I knew I had been deficient for years but always thought it was no biggie. I immediately read all there is on Vit D and went for a blood test. I was at deficient at 20ng so I began to take 5000iu and to lay out 30 min a day. I took Vit test every 30 days to make sure I was going up until I got to 50ng and now Im trying to figure out how to stay steady. I have not had any more vertigo attacks. And after the 6 weeks of residual dizziness went away I have not had any more. I hope this helps some people. I promised that I would go on as many blogs and forums I could find if I found something. I lived on these forums looking for answers. Please get tested for VIt D. Please do your research on line. Check out that scientific study and be your own doctor. Good luck friends. I know how horrible this journey is but there is light at the end of this tunnel.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • gillian76726
    gillian76726 samanthasamson

    Posted

    Hi, am glad to hear you found an answer at last - but what annoys me is that doctors don't even look (let alone think) about this.  I do take Vit D and have done for quite a while but unfortunately, for me, it has not made any difference, but my vertigo is a bit different as in it doesn't come in 'attacks' t is pretty much permanent.  ~Better to deal with earlier in the day, but gets worse as day goes on.  It is is 'silent' illness and because you don't look ill as such, gp's etc dont take it seriously, but it has impacted on my life terribly, and despite telling my gp this, he or she does nothing!!
    • laura4949
      laura4949 gillian76726

      Posted

      Hi there Gillian, Im not sure if you even use this website anymore but your comment caught my eye. I to have vertigo that is constant and does not just come in attacks. I am wondering if you still live with this condition or if it has gotten any better. I have been to countless doctors and I feel like I am baffling medical professionals with my explanation. No one understands the "constant" part of it where I just live my life feeling dizzy all day, everyday. I tell my GP as well and they do not do anything! Has anything changed with this or have you gotten any other help that has been good? Thanks so much! You are the first person to say the word "constant" that Ive seen and I could relate right away!
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 laura4949

      Posted

      Hi,,I am Starting again after having typed a long reply only for it to disappear!! very annoying!  yes I still have it and it is still constant like yours. agree that Drs are baffled too if they would,admit it!!  I am going to a Nerological hospital in London everym8 weeks for Vrt but it,s not helpful.  I also did 8 weeks of CBT which was also pretty useless, but I did pick up some bits and pieces for helping to,cope which I can share with you on  a PM.  Like you GP,s are even less knowledgeable about this I find. And unless you have a definitive diagnosis (mine is "Chronic Disequilibrium "! Very broad! ) I have even said to my physiology , when she says,,the exercises will bring on your symptoms, and I say,but they,re already there!  I actually had to cancel my last visit as I had had what I call a "relapse" due to some over exertion I had done in my gardening, whereby the next day infect really bad, but thought it would pass off after a couple,of days.  although it took a week,to calm down a bit, I am now worse than I was before this happened.  when I called to cancel my appointment I asked her why this would,cause it, and she really didn't,t give me an answer.  just said, "go back to your VRT exercise you were doing in the beginning"!!  so,I give up!!
  • HUGHGRANT
    HUGHGRANT samanthasamson

    Posted

    Hi Sam and Gillian

    I'm from Scotland but live in Australia (where i mostly keep out of the sun). I've had dizziness for about 10 weeks now and its getting worse each day (usually worse as day goes on). I thought it may be related to my impacted wisdom teeth - which I had removed last week but the dizziness is still there (together with a broken jaw which the surgeon managed to break during the op!)   My vitamin D level is 44 nmol//L. I am on antacids for acid reflux which apparently reduce the body's ability to absorb/create vitamin D. Are there any particular vitamin D supplements you'd recommend?    

  • HUGHGRANT
    HUGHGRANT samanthasamson

    Posted

    Hello all

    Just a quick update. I have been taking Vitamin D drops for the past 4 weeks, and the dizziness is not as bad. I still have some dizziness, but nowhere near the extent that I had. Perhaps Vitamin D deficiency was the cause or a contributory factor?

     

    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 HUGHGRANT

      Posted

      Yes Vit d is good, been taking it for years, also b12 helps.  Not sure that a deficiency would cause it as such, but it,s good to take it.
  • iamapple
    iamapple samanthasamson

    Posted

    Does Centrum already have Vitamin D? Or do I have to take a separate Vitamin D supplement?
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 iamapple

      Posted

      The best type of Vit D to take is a liquid spray. Go on site and Google it and you,ll see different ones. You,absorb it much better this way, and it last ages too as only need one spray a day.
  • Erie_Liver
    Erie_Liver samanthasamson

    Posted

    I've been told I have a low Vit. D, so thanks so much for the post.  I stumbled accross this while searching for ways to avoid getting BPPV attacks.  I am in the US and I thought I would post that here BPPV is best treated by a physical therapist that has experience in the treatment.  The doctor of physical therapy see numerous different types of BPPV patients to the random one a general doctor sees.  The general physician can not be an expert in everything.  Thought I would suggest for those who stumble accross this like me and are suffering with thier gp telling them to wait it out.
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