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six weeks "vertigo" experience to share

Posted , 6 users are following.

jimmy97411
jimmy97411

Hello all, I believe this is an amazing forum which makes me feel good when having the vertigo symtom, I'd like to share and help other patients with my experience too, which makes me feel even better.

Six week ago one day I laid down to do an AB exercise, it triggered my BPPV Vertigo. I tried twice, finally managed to stand up and go to work with a heavy head. Next day, I had 45 mins walk under the sun, and tried to fix my toilet at night. When I laid my head on my pillow to sleep, it triggered my Vertigo again. The next day, I couldn't get up because of dizziness.

During this six weeks, BPPV came and went a few times. Then it went away. Now I can tilt my head up, down, left and right. I don't know if it is because of the EPley exercise I have done.

HOWEVER, the sense of unbalance and lighthead kicks in, accompanied by exausted fatigue. On 15th of March, I called Ambulance due to a panic attack (suddenly increased heart rate, panic, short breath). The hospital told me that it is BPPV Vertigo and my panic attack could come from anxiety.

I have done Brian CT, neck CT, full blood count, chest Xray, ECG for my heart, all negative.

Now I get confused. Is it a Vertigo now or a BPPV vertigo? Or it is changed to a Chronic Fatigue Syndrom?

Am I the only one experiencing it? I wish someone can share something similar smile Thank you.

0 likes, 35 replies

35 Replies

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  • anne05147
    anne05147 jimmy97411

    Posted

    Hi Jimmy, No you are not the only one.  Mine started with BPPV, out of the blue, Sept 2013.  Whilst waiting for that to resolve had another BPPV, whilst waiting for that to resolve had severe balance problems, falling to the floor as though my left side had a stroke,  eventually, after 19 months balance issues are much milder now, but i think that once your inner ear gets messed, regardless of whether it's BPPV or labyrintitis or whatever  it can recover at different levels of speed for different people or remain a long term problem due to it becoming a weakness in that area.  We are very finely tuned and our balance is like another sixth sense that we take for granted until it becomes a problem.    I also had the epley manouver twice with limited effect and then bought a dizzy fix cap off the internet which supposedly can help you do the manouver independently,  made everything much worse and ENT consultant told me never to use it again.  The fatigue may be caused by trying to keep our balance and compensate.
  • donna40025
    donna40025 jimmy97411

    Posted

    hi Jimmy I know exactly what you and the others are going through- after multiable tests and scans I'm travelling to Sydney from Country Queensland to seek help at the Balance Clinic at the RPA in Sydney ! I'm awaiting for my appointment and would fly across Australia to have my old life back!  BPPV is not fun and after my 3rd specialist he recommended Dr Mariam Welgampolla without a doubt he said you will be back on track - fingers crossed! 
    • christine42810
      christine42810 donna40025

      Posted

      Hi Donna, I see Miriam Welgampola, she is brilliant, I took me weeks to get to her wrong BPPV diagnosis and shrugged of and patronised by ENT guy, but when I got to her she put me through a barrage of tests and came up with vestibular neuritis, sent me to a specialist vestibular physio  and got me started on vestibular rehab exercises.mim still not "cured" but certainly improved though I just recently had a setback. I have a visit scheduled with Miriam tomorrow just to see how far the most recent attack set me back!  

      Good luck. You will definitely be on track once you've seen her.  Christine

  • donna40025
    donna40025 jimmy97411

    Posted

    Christine that's great news but sadly it can come back - I just want it to go away forever! 3 months now unable to work or walk into a shopping centre- yes the specialist that misdiagnose you to finally being taken seriously ! I would travel across Australia to get this fixed - bundaberg to sydney is a big enough distance I should think! Big thanks for the reply as we need all the support we can get as its a lonely world out there! 
    • christine42810
      christine42810 donna40025

      Posted

      Hi  Donna, yes it can come back, or go in waves. I don't think anyone can give you a guarantee that it won't, not even Miriam Welgampola. She has always said to me when I have expressed the views you have just done, that it will get better in its own time, and everyone is different.   I have gradually got more used to dealing with these waves of imbalance and fortunately I am not working at the moment so I feel for anyone who has to deal with that as well.  

      Anyway good luck, 

    • christine42810
      christine42810 donna40025

      Posted

      Just thought I'd add that I've had to give up an overseas trip later this year because I don't feel confident travelling by myself and not knowing when I might get this vertigo back. I guess that those of us who have been struck with this condition have to learn to deal with its consequences in our different ways. I have realised over the months that the more I stress and get anxious about it the worse it becomes. 
    • wendy96880
      wendy96880 christine42810

      Posted

      Hi Christine, I was just wondering how long your symptoms took to resolve, I have had this for 6 weeks now and saw you old posts, so figured you could shed some light regarding duration.
    • christine42810
      christine42810 wendy96880

      Posted

      Hi Wendy, it's hard to give you any accurate answer on this. I think they have resolved now, 18 months down the track and the last testing I had a couple of months ago said, definitely my brain has mostly compensated. I still feel lightheaded and a little off balance on days when I'm tired, anxious or stressed but most days all goes well. The only thing I can really stress is to do some form of exercise, walk, swim, tai chi, balance etc? Whatever is your choice. And yes you will be tired some days but it will pass. Good luck. Christine
    • wendy96880
      wendy96880 christine42810

      Posted

      Hi Christine, thank you ever so much for your prompt reply. I think I have a long road ahead of me, but I will try and keep active. The fact that you are feeling so much better gives me tremendous encouragement. Just curious as to whether you found the vestibular rehab exercises helped.

      Many thanks! Wendy 

    • christine42810
      christine42810 wendy96880

      Posted

      Hi Wendy, to be honest I didn't find them much help at all. Maybe because I was well into it before they were given to me, I just don't know, but I made my own exercise program up and just adjusted as I went along. The most beneficial to me was deep water aqua aerobics and swimming, though with the swimming it too a while before I felt comfortable with freestyle breathing from side to side but ok now. Christine
    • wendy96880
      wendy96880 christine42810

      Posted

      Thanks again, Christine, I am in my forties, have two children in primary school and they need their mum to get better asap. I will give swimming a try too! I'm so grateful to have found these posts as even as though I a registered nurse myself, I find the medical profession quite dismissive, but we all know our own bodies better than anyone. After reading Kathleen's post too, it does seem that it has to run its course.
    • kathleen65757
      kathleen65757 wendy96880

      Posted

      I was not allowed in the pool in the early stages as my doctor said i would not be able to get out. I did go in when it had resolved into just some dizziness but much less intense than earlier on. I think you know when it is safe to go in.
    • wendy96880
      wendy96880 kathleen65757

      Posted

      Hi Kathleen, thanks for that, I might wait until the lightheadedness and imbalance settles a bit before I go to the pool as it is quite horrendous at the moment.
  • kathleen65757
    kathleen65757 jimmy97411

    Posted

    I suffered with this condition for eight months last year and in hindsight I believe it is a waiting game. It eventually went and along the way it gradually reduced in severity.

    As I am an older lady I took precautions not to fall.

    • christine42810
      christine42810 kathleen65757

      Posted

      I totally agree with the fact it's a waiting game. My specialist said that it will resolve when it resolves, and that everyone is different. You just have to get on with your life and live with it. I am an older person too, fortunately very fit before this occurred and also very aware of balance issues as you get older. I say inform yourself as much as you can and don't stress toouch - it makes it worse. Once I realised that I was halfway there.
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