Comments on: My first experience with severe vertigo. http://vertigoguy.com/my-first-experience-with-severe-vertigo/ My experiences with vertigo, disequilibrium, balance, dizziness and anxiety. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:11:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Karen http://vertigoguy.com/my-first-experience-with-severe-vertigo/comment-page-1/#comment-4549 Karen Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:11:55 +0000 http://vertigoguy.com/?p=4#comment-4549 My first experience happened after having a few drinks in the hot sun with friends one day. We then went out for dinner and while sitting at dinner I suddenly got very hot and super dizzy. I excused myself and went to the restroom but couldn't stop the room from spinning. I felt like i was losing control of myself. It was so scary. I walked straight out the front door of the restaurant and got in my car and started driving home (which in retrospect was the wrong thing to do). Part way home I was so nauseated and dizzy that I had to pull over and vomit. Somehow I made it home but I had to go straight to bed and felt horrible. The spinning was so bad. It has now been 4 months and things have not improved. I feel horrible every day. I have a lot of pressure in my head, a constant feeling of movement all around me, I sometimes feel like I'm falling over when I'm actually sitting still. When I lie down at night the room spins worse than if I'm standing up. I take meclizine for the dizziness which helps a little bit but I always feel like I"m walking around in a fog. I am going to Vestibular Rehab in a few days and am hoping they can do something to give me some relief. I feel as though my quality of life is next to nothing. I have a 3 year little boy and I feel so bad when I have to lie on the couch and tell him I can't do things because "mommy is too dizzy". This is just horrible and nobody seems to understand unless they've experienced it themselves. I'm so glad I found this website! My first experience happened after having a few drinks in the hot sun with friends one day. We then went out for dinner and while sitting at dinner I suddenly got very hot and super dizzy. I excused myself and went to the restroom but couldn’t stop the room from spinning. I felt like i was losing control of myself. It was so scary. I walked straight out the front door of the restaurant and got in my car and started driving home (which in retrospect was the wrong thing to do). Part way home I was so nauseated and dizzy that I had to pull over and vomit. Somehow I made it home but I had to go straight to bed and felt horrible. The spinning was so bad. It has now been 4 months and things have not improved. I feel horrible every day. I have a lot of pressure in my head, a constant feeling of movement all around me, I sometimes feel like I’m falling over when I’m actually sitting still. When I lie down at night the room spins worse than if I’m standing up. I take meclizine for the dizziness which helps a little bit but I always feel like I”m walking around in a fog. I am going to Vestibular Rehab in a few days and am hoping they can do something to give me some relief. I feel as though my quality of life is next to nothing. I have a 3 year little boy and I feel so bad when I have to lie on the couch and tell him I can’t do things because “mommy is too dizzy”. This is just horrible and nobody seems to understand unless they’ve experienced it themselves. I’m so glad I found this website!

]]> By: Heather Greene http://vertigoguy.com/my-first-experience-with-severe-vertigo/comment-page-1/#comment-4516 Heather Greene Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:22:52 +0000 http://vertigoguy.com/?p=4#comment-4516 I have been dizzy / off balance now for over 3 months. I feel like I am on a boat constantly. I had my first real vertigo attack this past Saturday that landed me in the emergency room and they did a CT scan. The can was normal and now I go back to the ENT this afternoon to see where we go from here. Has anyone had severe weakness and shaky legs with vertigo? I feel like my legs are made of jello when I walk, maybe it's from trying to keep myself steady for so long now. When will this ever go away????? I have been dizzy / off balance now for over 3 months. I feel like I am on a boat constantly. I had my first real vertigo attack this past Saturday that landed me in the emergency room and they did a CT scan. The can was normal and now I go back to the ENT this afternoon to see where we go from here. Has anyone had severe weakness and shaky legs with vertigo? I feel like my legs are made of jello when I walk, maybe it’s from trying to keep myself steady for so long now. When will this ever go away?????

]]> By: Laura http://vertigoguy.com/my-first-experience-with-severe-vertigo/comment-page-1/#comment-4274 Laura Sun, 01 Aug 2010 06:41:03 +0000 http://vertigoguy.com/?p=4#comment-4274 Thought I'd give an update.After a few weeks of being on betahistine, I do see a marked improvement, the worst thing is trying to find a cure on the web because there are so many similar things. I have pressure on the left side of my head but I would say my balance is 80% better but some days it's worse than others, I managed to go out without my stick yesterday but I had to walk veryslowly, so it hasn't gone it has slightly improved.I still feel sick and dizzy at times but it comes and goes.Give the betahistine time to work. I'm no where near cured but I can now function. Hope you feel better soon Jayne. Thought I’d give an update.After a few weeks of being on betahistine, I do see a marked improvement, the worst thing is trying to find a cure on the web because there are so many similar things. I have pressure on the left side of my head but I would say my balance is 80% better but some days it’s worse than others, I managed to go out without my stick yesterday but I had to walk veryslowly, so it hasn’t gone it has slightly improved.I still feel sick and dizzy at times but it comes and goes.Give the betahistine time to work. I’m no where near cured but I can now function. Hope you feel better soon Jayne.

]]> By: Jayne http://vertigoguy.com/my-first-experience-with-severe-vertigo/comment-page-1/#comment-4124 Jayne Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:47:44 +0000 http://vertigoguy.com/?p=4#comment-4124 Thank you all for sharing your experience. Mine started 2 years ago. I too was told a viral infection and was put on antibiotics. After that was refered to an ENT. Diagnosed with BPPV. I have not had one day of not feeling uneasy. Unless you have been there you cannot explain how you feel to anyone. Two weeks ago I suddenly woke up at 2 am drenched and so dizzy I could not open my eyes. This was the most severe I had ever experienced. Just my husband laying his hand on the bed starting my vomiting. I was taken by ambulance to the hospital where they did what you all have described, antivert, valium. Helped the first couple of days( maybe you think it is helping because all you do is sleep) but forget it after that. I also have had MRIs CT scans all negative. I just want a miracle drug to stop this. Do any of you feel a pressure in your head, where you just want to put your hands to your head and push to make the pressure stop? At times all I want to do is cry because it is such a horrendous feeling. I just want to be me again. Thank you all for sharing your experience. Mine started 2 years ago. I too was told a viral infection and was put on antibiotics. After that was refered to an ENT. Diagnosed with BPPV. I have not had one day of not feeling uneasy. Unless you have been there you cannot explain how you feel to anyone. Two weeks ago I suddenly woke up at 2 am drenched and so dizzy I could not open my eyes. This was the most severe I had ever experienced. Just my husband laying his hand on the bed starting my vomiting. I was taken by ambulance to the hospital where they did what you all have described, antivert, valium. Helped the first couple of days( maybe you think it is helping because all you do is sleep) but forget it after that. I also have had MRIs CT scans all negative. I just want a miracle drug to stop this. Do any of you feel a pressure in your head, where you just want to put your hands to your head and push to make the pressure stop? At times all I want to do is cry because it is such a horrendous feeling. I just want to be me again.

]]> By: Laura http://vertigoguy.com/my-first-experience-with-severe-vertigo/comment-page-1/#comment-4071 Laura Fri, 02 Jul 2010 06:28:50 +0000 http://vertigoguy.com/?p=4#comment-4071 I am so glad I came across this site as I felt I was on my own and really felt like I was losing it. My first experience was when i got out of bed in the morning and i would stumble and fall into the wall, from there it seemed to get worse and one day i had my 2 year old grand daugher on my knee and we were having a great time spinning around on a big swivel chair, it was then I noticed how dizzy and sick I was feeling, this was not like normal dizziness, I felt ill and panicky, from then it has got to the stage where I can't walk without a stick, I am terrified to go outdoors in case i fall, I stagger about and I'm sure people think I'm drunk.The doctor has referred me to a neurologist and prescribed betahistine tablets , I have only been on them for three days but i feel a slight improvement, I think or maybe its wishful thinking, its all a bit of hope isn't it. I can't do anything, for instance I have just hung out the laundry and when I came back in I felt sick and dizzy , it is a horrible condition. I can go to the shops if i walk very slowly and try and not move my head, which isn't easy. I also went through the thoughts that I had a brain tumour, well I hope everyone does get a bit of relief and I am hoping my betahistine are going to work because this is survival not life. Sarah you say about independence, you are so right I felt like I was losing mine because I had to get my son to go to the shops for me etc. I didn't know other people suffered from this because at one stage i thought it was all in my mind. So thanks for this site and its good to hear everyone else experiences. We just have to keep hoping for some cure for this. I hope you all find some relief soon, even 5 minutes without dizziness would be better than winning the lottery. I am so glad I came across this site as I felt I was on my own and really felt like I was losing it. My first experience was when i got out of bed in the morning and i would stumble and fall into the wall, from there it seemed to get worse and one day i had my 2 year old grand daugher on my knee and we were having a great time spinning around on a big swivel chair, it was then I noticed how dizzy and sick I was feeling, this was not like normal dizziness, I felt ill and panicky, from then it has got to the stage where I can’t walk without a stick, I am terrified to go outdoors in case i fall, I stagger about and I’m sure people think I’m drunk.The doctor has referred me to a neurologist and prescribed betahistine tablets , I have only been on them for three days but i feel a slight improvement, I think or maybe its wishful thinking, its all a bit of hope isn’t it. I can’t do anything, for instance I have just hung out the laundry and when I came back in I felt sick and dizzy , it is a horrible condition. I can go to the shops if i walk very slowly and try and not move my head, which isn’t easy. I also went through the thoughts that I had a brain tumour, well I hope everyone does get a bit of relief and I am hoping my betahistine are going to work because this is survival not life. Sarah you say about independence, you are so right I felt like I was losing mine because I had to get my son to go to the shops for me etc. I didn’t know other people suffered from this because at one stage i thought it was all in my mind. So thanks for this site and its good to hear everyone else experiences.
We just have to keep hoping for some cure for this.
I hope you all find some relief soon, even 5 minutes without dizziness would be better than winning the lottery.

]]> By: Sherri Farr http://vertigoguy.com/my-first-experience-with-severe-vertigo/comment-page-1/#comment-4003 Sherri Farr Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:03:43 +0000 http://vertigoguy.com/?p=4#comment-4003 I had my first horrible rounds of vertigo and spinning 6 years ago while painting my family room. Looking back, I am amazed how few doctors, even ENT's were familiar enough to recognize the specific vestibular disorders. It is such a process to figure things out! For me it was a relief to Finally find the right doctor, a balance clinic, education, therapy and especially a specific diagnosis. Even if I know there is nothing else to be done, I know what I am dealing with. It has been a lonely, life-changing thing to live with. You lose so many of your choices and things that you love. I have bilateral vestibular neuritis, and while it has never been as bad as that first year, it is so there in my face, every day, goes up and down, and when it is bad, it is bad. I still get horribly down when my symptoms are up again. I hate it. Part of it is the loneliness. No one really understands, and it goes on and on. I think everyone in my world is ready for me to just get better and rejoin their lives. I think I am the only one who understands that this is now my life. That is the lonely part. That's why I loved stumbling onto your site here, and all you people who know what it is like. It is a great help to read your experiences and thoughts. Thanks! Sherri I had my first horrible rounds of vertigo and spinning 6 years ago while painting my family room. Looking back, I am amazed how few doctors, even ENT’s were familiar enough to recognize the specific vestibular disorders. It is such a process to figure things out! For me it was a relief to Finally find the right doctor, a balance clinic, education, therapy and especially a specific diagnosis. Even if I know there is nothing else to be done, I know what I am dealing with. It has been a lonely, life-changing thing to live with. You lose so many of your choices and things that you love. I have bilateral vestibular neuritis, and while it has never been as bad as that first year, it is so there in my face, every day, goes up and down, and when it is bad, it is bad. I still get horribly down when my symptoms are up again. I hate it. Part of it is the loneliness. No one really understands, and it goes on and on. I think everyone in my world is ready for me to just get better and rejoin their lives. I think I am the only one who understands that this is now my life. That is the lonely part. That’s why I loved stumbling onto your site here, and all you people who know what it is like. It is a great help to read your experiences and thoughts. Thanks!
Sherri

]]> By: sarah http://vertigoguy.com/my-first-experience-with-severe-vertigo/comment-page-1/#comment-3966 sarah Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:39:17 +0000 http://vertigoguy.com/?p=4#comment-3966 Hi all, I had a bad day today with vertigo/dizziness,i had my kids in the car after picking them up from school and had a dizzy turn and lucky for me i had a lane to pull into to sit until it subside. Ive been battling vertigo now for nearly 10 years,it has been constant with no relief.Ive learnt to live with it as no medications worked for me. I had to change jobs as bright lights make my vertigo worse and i cant do shopping,i havent been to a shopping mall for 9 years.It is difficult with kids as we have to work around my vertigo when we plan things. And Bernadette your b/f sounds so much like how i am,for the first 4 years of having my vertigo i wouldnt leave the house or walk far,I had 2 babies as well to care for which i had to have alot of help from my family ,We didnt go out anywhere ,i guess my ex got fed up with the burden of me and he decided to walk out. I do hope and pray that oneday i will wake up and feel great like i did b4 i got this horrible illness,But after having it for 10 years i dont think thats going to happen sadly,i just do the best i can each day and i do push myself to live close to a normal life. I wish you guys goodluck and Bernadette just be patient with him and get him to take little steps at a time ,i couldnt drive for 5 years and then i just started driving down the end of the street and back and then drove a little further and a little further each day and finally i got the courage to drive again,although its uncomfortable, its a good feeling to at least have some independence. I wish you guys all the best :) Sarah Hi all,
I had a bad day today with vertigo/dizziness,i had my kids in the car after picking them up from school and had a dizzy turn and lucky for me i had a lane to pull into to sit until it subside.
Ive been battling vertigo now for nearly 10 years,it has been constant with no relief.Ive learnt to live with it as no medications worked for me.
I had to change jobs as bright lights make my vertigo worse and i cant do shopping,i havent been to a shopping mall for 9 years.It is difficult with kids as we have to work around my vertigo when we plan things.
And Bernadette your b/f sounds so much like how i am,for the first 4 years of having my vertigo i wouldnt leave the house or walk far,I had 2 babies as well to care for which i had to have alot of help from my family ,We didnt go out anywhere ,i guess my ex got fed up with the burden of me and he decided to walk out.
I do hope and pray that oneday i will wake up and feel great like i did b4 i got this horrible illness,But after having it for 10 years i dont think thats going to happen sadly,i just do the best i can each day and i do push myself to live close to a normal life.
I wish you guys goodluck and Bernadette just be patient with him and get him to take little steps at a time ,i couldnt drive for 5 years and then i just started driving down the end of the street and back and then drove a little further and a little further each day and finally i got the courage to drive again,although its uncomfortable, its a good feeling to at least have some independence.
I wish you guys all the best :)
Sarah

]]> By: Bernadette http://vertigoguy.com/my-first-experience-with-severe-vertigo/comment-page-1/#comment-3907 Bernadette Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:20:38 +0000 http://vertigoguy.com/?p=4#comment-3907 Hi all just wondering if u could help? My boyfriend has had vertigo for the past 6 months we've been under a great deal of stress this past while bck and it seems his symptoms started around this time. He's been to his G.P several times and to the emergency room a few too he's waiting on a hot and cold test? At the minute but he's terrifered to leave the house he won't walk any where far he says he fine whilst driving but I'm afraid of him taking a dizzy spell while on the road. Is there anything I could do to help him get over his fears I feel bad but it's staging us down cuz he just won't go amy where or do anything wat could ur love ones do to help?? Thanxs B Hi all just wondering if u could help?

My boyfriend has had vertigo for the past 6 months we’ve been under a great deal of stress this past while bck and it seems his symptoms started around this time. He’s been to his G.P several times and to the emergency room a few too he’s waiting on a hot and cold test? At the minute but he’s terrifered to leave the house he won’t walk any where far he says he fine whilst driving but I’m afraid of him taking a dizzy spell while on the road.
Is there anything I could do to help him get over his fears I feel bad but it’s staging us down cuz he just won’t go amy where or do anything wat could ur love ones do to help??

Thanxs
B

]]> By: Lorna Clarke http://vertigoguy.com/my-first-experience-with-severe-vertigo/comment-page-1/#comment-3866 Lorna Clarke Thu, 27 May 2010 20:29:39 +0000 http://vertigoguy.com/?p=4#comment-3866 My first vertigo attack was 8 years ago. I woke up, got myself a cup of tea, and the room started spinning. That episode lasted only that day, but my latest attack was just over a year ago. I literally rolled over in bed to turn off my alarm, and the room started to violently spin. That attack lasted a week. I was prescribed anti-nausea, anti-dizzy and anti-anxiety drugs. Saw a neurologist who told me to stop taking the pills. He says vertigo is an inner ear/brain thing - there is no cure. I had to let my neural pathways reform, and my brain had to learn that my body wasn't actually moving. Everyday, I feel like I'm swaying, especially if I move quickly. I find my anxiety brings on the attacks. My family and I are going to Disney World this summer, and I doubt I'll be able to ride anything fun. I guess I'll keep their spot in the line! Vertigo is a disability - my quality of life is less than it was. I can't play certain things with my kids, or even drive sometimes. Unless you've experienced vertigo, you can't understand. My first vertigo attack was 8 years ago. I woke up, got myself a cup of tea, and the room started spinning. That episode lasted only that day, but my latest attack was just over a year ago. I literally rolled over in bed to turn off my alarm, and the room started to violently spin. That attack lasted a week. I was prescribed anti-nausea, anti-dizzy and anti-anxiety drugs. Saw a neurologist who told me to stop taking the pills. He says vertigo is an inner ear/brain thing – there is no cure. I had to let my neural pathways reform, and my brain had to learn that my body wasn’t actually moving. Everyday, I feel like I’m swaying, especially if I move quickly. I find my anxiety brings on the attacks. My family and I are going to Disney World this summer, and I doubt I’ll be able to ride anything fun. I guess I’ll keep their spot in the line! Vertigo is a disability – my quality of life is less than it was. I can’t play certain things with my kids, or even drive sometimes. Unless you’ve experienced vertigo, you can’t understand.

]]> By: Susie http://vertigoguy.com/my-first-experience-with-severe-vertigo/comment-page-1/#comment-3318 Susie Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:04:38 +0000 http://vertigoguy.com/?p=4#comment-3318 Hi. Just wanted to share with someone who understands since my whole family and friends think I'm insane now. I had my first attack 3 yrs ago, woke up with the room spinning for several hours. When it finally stopped, I was sort of off balance for a couple weeks. Then it finally passed. Since then I've had a couple bouts after reading for long periods but they only lasted a day or so. I always thought it was my eyes, but my eye doc says they're fine, and glasses are fine, so I dismissed that until now. In Oct. I had an attack, and it has never gone away since. I've been to every doctor just like you all, and am told I have an inner ear disorder for which there is no cure. I've tried all the meds, which make me lightheaded so I feel even worse. Gingerale sometimes takes the edge off the nausea but doesn't stop the dizziness. I get pressure in my ears and head, almost a tingling feeling, but no hearing loss. I feel the same as most of you, floor dropping, someone pulling me backward over and over again, a slow churning motion, tilting, depth perception all screwed up. I can't even take stairs anymore. I heard mention of a condition called heterophoria/hyperphoria recently which describes perfectly all of my symptoms and some of yours as well, but it's apparently a new breakthrough treatment, so there are only 2 doctors in the country who treat it properly, one in Birmingham, Mich., and one in Reedley, CA. I contacted them both begging for anyone closer to me who treats it, but they're the only ones. I'm now trying to convince somebody to take me there for the testing and hopefully treatment since Reedley is only 4 hrs from me, but my family and friends think it's all in my head., and I can't drive that far on my own anymore. I'm terrified and all alone, and no one will believe me that it's not a mental condition. I still think it's my eyes, and the heterophoria/hyperphoria is an eye condition. Has anyone been treated for or heard of this? I'm gonna keep trying to convince someone to take me. Maybe I am just losing my mind. Hi. Just wanted to share with someone who understands since my whole family and friends think I’m insane now. I had my first attack 3 yrs ago, woke up with the room spinning for several hours. When it finally stopped, I was sort of off balance for a couple weeks. Then it finally passed. Since then I’ve had a couple bouts after reading for long periods but they only lasted a day or so. I always thought it was my eyes, but my eye doc says they’re fine, and glasses are fine, so I dismissed that until now. In Oct. I had an attack, and it has never gone away since. I’ve been to every doctor just like you all, and am told I have an inner ear disorder for which there is no cure. I’ve tried all the meds, which make me lightheaded so I feel even worse. Gingerale sometimes takes the edge off the nausea but doesn’t stop the dizziness. I get pressure in my ears and head, almost a tingling feeling, but no hearing loss. I feel the same as most of you, floor dropping, someone pulling me backward over and over again, a slow churning motion, tilting, depth perception all screwed up. I can’t even take stairs anymore. I heard mention of a condition called heterophoria/hyperphoria recently which describes perfectly all of my symptoms and some of yours as well, but it’s apparently a new breakthrough treatment, so there are only 2 doctors in the country who treat it properly, one in Birmingham, Mich., and one in Reedley, CA. I contacted them both begging for anyone closer to me who treats it, but they’re the only ones. I’m now trying to convince somebody to take me there for the testing and hopefully treatment since Reedley is only 4 hrs from me, but my family and friends think it’s all in my head., and I can’t drive that far on my own anymore. I’m terrified and all alone, and no one will believe me that it’s not a mental condition. I still think it’s my eyes, and the heterophoria/hyperphoria is an eye condition. Has anyone been treated for or heard of this? I’m gonna keep trying to convince someone to take me. Maybe I am just losing my mind.

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