My first experience with severe vertigo.
I thought a good way to start out here would be to describe my first experience with severe vertigo. It happened 3 years ago, when I was studying in graduate school.
I was under a great deal of stress, in my job, my relationship and at school — with the added pressure that I now was graduating and needed to find a permanent job. When I think back on it now, it was an incredibly difficult period in my life.
At the time, I was drinking what I would say is an above average amount of alcohol to deal with the stress, smoking too much, not to mention eating poorly and not getting any exercise. My lifestyle had really hit rock bottom, and I was rewarded with an upper respiratory infection that lasted over a month.
I quit smoking during the respiratory infection (I was far too sick to smoke), but kept going to work and started drinking again as soon as I was feeling somewhat better (although I knew I should have gotten back to 100% before drinking again).
After making what I thought was a complete recovery from the respiratory infection, I went through about a week where I was drinking more than usual and consistently not getting enough sleep. On the Friday of that week, I went out for a beer with a friend.
After one sip of my first beer, I started feeling that something was not quite right. I felt like the room was spinning, and that the feeling was getting rapidly worse. My friend quickly paid the tab and we left the pub, but by this time I was barely able to walk.
I went home and the vertigo became much worse — to the point where I couldn’t get up off the bed. My girlfriend at the time called an ambulance, and I went to the hospital, where the doctor told me I had simply been drinking too much that week and to go home.
I went home, and started to feel fine for several hours. Then the second wave of vertigo hit me — and it was worse than the first. I went back to hospital, and was again sent home, since the doctor could find nothing seriously wrong with me.
The third wave of vertigo then hit, and was the worst of all. I didn’t go back to the hospital, since I thought I would simply get sent home again.
This round of vertigo was accompanied by severely blurred vision, vomiting and profuse sweating for around twelve hours (which if anyone experiences, I would highly, highly suggest ensuring that you go back to hospital).
Months later, i had an ear, nose and throat doctor tell me that what I most likely had was vestibular neuritis, which as usual, I’ll give you the Wikipedia definition of:
Vestibular Neuronitis, also called Vestibular neuritis, can be a paroxysmal, single attack of vertigo, a series of attacks, or a persistent condition which diminishes over two weeks. It may be associated with nausea, vomiting, and previous upper respiratory tract infections. It generally has no auditory symptoms, unlike labyrinthitis. Vestibular neuronitis may also be associated with eye nystagmus. It is caused by inflammation of the vestibular nerve, the nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain.
All in all, it was a terrifying experience from which I feel I’ve never fully recovered, and one of the major reasons for this site. I think getting out how I feel about this experience will perhaps provide me with some kind of closure.
6 Comments, Comment or Ping
Tyson
I have had almost an exact duplication of what you had, less any precursor of illness, I too was going through a stressful time, girlfriend, new job…but never was sick. I am a very healthy individual, I eat right and work out right…So…I decided to go out and party 2 days after my girlfriend decided to move out…it was devastating, and I went out and I drank, and drank pretty hard…fell asleep, woke up with what I thought was a headache…tried to just deal with it, it just never went away. My Vertigo was continuous, it never stopped from the time it started till about 4 weeks. My GP thought I had had a stroke or a brain stem tumor because of the duration and severity of the vertigo. After MRI/CT were clear I went to an ENT who said he “thought” I had uncompensated Vestibular Neuritis..but wasn’t sure.. It’s been 5 months now…and still battle this every day, I’m better through BVRT, but I feel I’ll never be the same…I feel your pain brother..
May 22nd, 2008
Vertigo Guy
I’m always sorry to hear that someone else had to go through this horrible experience — as I’ve said before, I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone. It’s a devastating thing to go through that is hard for anyone who hasn’t experienced it to understand.
Alcohol does seem to play some kind of role in bringing on the illness — I don’t know if it just weakens your immune system so that a virus/bacterium can take hold, or what the exact cause is (I’m not a doctor, of course), but it seems to be a relatively consistent factor in the onset of severe vertigo.
However, don’t lose hope Tyson. I remember for months after the first episode of vertigo, my ENT told me I would be recovered in a few weeks — and then I’d wait months, and not feel any better. The ‘brain fog’ was paralyzing and I felt completely unable to function. I too went through the ‘do I have a brain tumor’ experience, and the same as you, I had an MRI that was negative of any tumors or damage.
However, 3 years later, as bad as I feel some days, I feel a hell of a lot better than I did then. I still can’t push myself too hard — and I need to moderate stressful and demanding activities, get enough sleep, not skip meals, etc.
One thing I would strongly suggest is seeing a neurotologist. They deal with balance and hearing issues all the time, and they are the best equipped to help you (good that you were doing VRT). I’m still hoping they can help me with the issues I’m still going through.
Hang in there — we’ll get through this.
May 22nd, 2008
Tyson
Dude, I’m more active than ever, I work out 6 days a week, run, do stairs, eat like I’m a monk…as crappy as I feel I don’t let it get me down…it’s all in our heads anyway right…fight the Diz mate…
T
May 22nd, 2008
Vertigo Guy
Being active and eating right is a great thing to do — vertigo or not. When I got the vertigo the first time, I was definitely not exercising or eating properly, and I think both of those things didn’t help when I actually got hit with the vertigo.
Good to hear you’re fighting the good fight with this thing.
May 26th, 2008
Hicksy
Hi
Yep an almost identical set of events. The onset came on in three waves (on the same afternoon three years ago). The third attack was severe. EXTREME dizziness, vomiting etc etc. Confined to bed for about a week. The severe dizziness went away after about 3 weeks but ever since everything seems somewhat “askew” (everything is a bit disjointed and sometimes you feel you’re Not quite really there). I have had some more acute dizziness since, most notably when I’ve had a throat infection, cold or flu. However without a doubt tiredness and alcohol have a profound effect on how I feel on a daily basis thus I have knocked bozzing on the head as much as I can. As to exercise one of the accounts above is SO accurate to my experience. I can feel dizzy, go for a run and feel peculiar on the run and then feel great for ages after it. Don’t let the dizziness get you down too much; I did the London Marathon this year as a bit of a challenge and got through it fine. In others’ experience how long do the “after effects” of vestibular nueritus last for? I have heard references to “several years”. Yuk !!!
All the best to all
Hicksy
Nov 6th, 2008
Vertigo Guy
Hicksy,
I want to thank you very much for sharing your story here. It sounds like we’ve been through a very similar ordeal — and after over 3 years, it’s still (unfortunately) a day-to-day problem for me as well.
Exercise certainly helps, and I’ve been trying to keep up with that, as well as eat healthy and refrain from alcohol. Great to hear that you did the London Marathon! That would be tough to do even without any dizziness…
Nov 8th, 2008
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