I was diagnosed with it last week after a 1.5 mos of random dizzy spells that lasted from 2-5 mins. I was put on meds that I take 1-2 pills 4x/day for a week, then off for a day to see if it is still there, if so take another week, off for a day. Until either it works, or a month-and go back to see dr. It doesn't seem to be working at all so far. Since about a week before going to the drs, I haven't had any full spells, it's different now in the sense that I feel like the sensation is always there. If I tilt my head up I get dizzy, or move my head side to side. Anyone else have Vertigo?
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UPDATE: Dr ordered an MRI of the brain which I had on Friday. Dr called me today to say that looked fine with the exception of "severe chronic sinusitus". He doesn't think that is causing the dizziness however, but needs to be treated. Prescribed an antbiotic, and steroid nasal spray. Wants me to continue on the meds for vertigo, and come back in a month, if still there he will refer me to EMT or Neurologist. I had the worst migraine of my life (only ever having maybe 5 in my life) the night before the MRI which sent everything spinning, I was still dizzy during the MRI at 8 the next morning.

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i do at times a few years ago it got so bad i went to the emergency room then made my sit up and fall over to my sides in a fast motion they said something like a tiny sand size grain gets stuck somewhere
and that movement helps move it out they had a long medical name for it. the medicine they gave me started with a m i cant remember it. i still get dizzy at times when i stand up or move my head i guess i learned to live with it cause no doctor seemed worried when i told them.

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My Grandmother has this. She has had it for about 4yrs now. It is getting worse to the point that she is passing out now... They are trying dizzy patches on her.

Hopefully yours clears up. Hers will not.

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I've dealt with dizzy spells since childhood (I'm 50 now). I don't get too many of them any more-thank GOD!!!! I don't know the name of what the other poster is talking about but I know what it is. I believe there are exercises or special movements you can do if that is the cause of the dizziness. i try to work thorugh anything I might get becauase the med 'antivert' makes me so groggy that I am totally worthless for 24 hours on just one dose. Being dizzy is just horrible. Good luck!

I had an ear infection that permanently did some damage to my inner ear. I had vertigo badly as my body learned to adjust it's balance and still have slight dizziness at times, esp when im sick, congested, or even just stressed.

my ENT prescribed very low level valium on a daily basis and it has been awesome. i take an extra one any time i feel dizzy as well. it has made a night and day type difference.

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Yes, I get it on and off. It happens at times when I change positions. Basically, this what happens in the ear. In the inner ear their is a shelllike part. I forgot the scientific name something with a c. Inside this part is fluid. It is what keeps your balance. For example, when you spin that fluid spin with you to keep you balanced. When you stop spinning the fluid continues to spin for a short time after and that is why people are dizzy after spinning. For some people little bits of the wall of this part falls into the fluid and causes you to feel dizzy. That bit either has to go back to the wall or get with the spinning of the fluid. What works for me are the exercises. I also don't go on spinning type rides or things to prevent it from happening.

I had it for awhile until they found out my thyroid was overproducing. Maybe you should get it checked with a simple blood test. Better than being dizzy all the time lol

Ironically enough I have a 3.9 cm colloid nodule that has formed on my thryoid. According to the tests I had done late last year all of my levels are normal though. Definitely something to keep in mind.

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Yes, I've been suffering for years from Vertigo. And I mean suffering. It got to the point that I couldn't roll over in bed without getting dizzy. It is called Benign Positional Vertigo. As the other poster stated, it is due to that particle getting dislodged. The only thing that really works for me (besides keeping my head straight at all times) is the technique performed by my physical therapist. It is a series of movements that shakes the particle back into place. It sounds and looks a bit like quakery, but it really works. I've been on the anivert and that also knocks me out for a day.

YES THAT IS WHAT IT IS CALLED BENIGN POSITIONAL VERTIGO. THE ONLY THING THAT HELPS ME ARE THE EXERCISES.

To hear you all say that you suffer from it still after diagnosis is confusing to me. My dr said that noone should have to live with vertigo, so I thought it was easily treatable when he said that. I originally went in thinking there is no way I have vertigo because there are two ladies at work that have it, similiar to most of you, and when they have a spell of it, they take their prescribed med, and it knocks them out for the entire day. That when theirs kicks in it is so bad it makes them sick, and lasts all day. What I've had so far is nothing like that..mine originally were quick 5 mins at most, and the only sick feeling I got was from freaking out when it wouldn't stop. Then it's gone, and I am completely normal. Now however the sensation is there all the time, and I get the dizzyness whenever I look up, or turn my head back and forth. This happens with, or without the meds.

I did call my dr to let him know that it didn't seem like the meds were working, and I just wanted to update him with how it is now. (Can't even look up without it kicking in), so he is putting in an order for a cat scan of the head just to be sure.

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YES.
But I do not take a prescribed med.
The ER dr told me to take over the counter Dramamine.
Dramamine shrinks swollen inner ears.
Inner ears control balance and when they swell the room spins fast and there is no up or down!
Things seem to move when they shouldn't be moving!

I call it "Going tilt!"

Mine swell as an allergic reaction to breathing petrolium based fumes, like, gas, oil or paint.
Also from breathing heavy ink fumes, rubber fumes as well as man-made scents.
'Tis a problem, since you never know when you're gonna run into these scents etc.
I can feel them when they begin to swell. There is suddenly not enough room in there behind my ears and I have a desire to open my jaw wide. Very quickly after that the dizziness will start in earnest.
So I keep Dramamine handy in my purse so I can nip the problem in the bud immediately after breathing the wrong thing.

The Dramaine does work for me.
Makes me sleepy but that is fine since I can't drive in that condition anyway.

The worst experience with it was a 2 week bout of getting the inner ears unswollen again.

Mine happens once or twice a year. It last only a few seconds. It is when I left my chin. I do the exercises and it is better.

I get this quite a bit with my CFIDS/FIBRO..... sometimes the room spins so badly that even with my eyes closed I can "feel the wind on my cheeks" if you will. So far I haven't found much that helps except lying down and waiting for it to pass - and accupuncture. Of course if it flares up between my weekly scheduled accupuncture appointments I'm out of luck till the next session.

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I used to close my eyes when I would get an episode. I finally learned from the physical therapist that you should not close your eyes when you get dizzy. Keep your eyes open and focus on a point across the room until the dizziness goes away.

"The only thing that really works for me (besides keeping my head straight at all times) is the technique performed by my physical therapist. It is a series of movements that shakes the particle back into place."


I have not personally had vertigo. My sister had it so bad she had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance. She was on medicine and the quote above sounds like the manuever they used on her. So.......... I think maybe it can take more than just medicine to get over it. She also was unable to work for several months until it improved.

Trish

My gran lives with it everyday. The dr. says that it is caused by poor circulation in the arteries in the back of her head... As she is getting older (75) it is getting worse... She takes prescription meds for it also. Nothing seems to get rid of it completely....

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Little follow up at top if anyone wants to know.

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Thank you for the update.
It's great that the MRI didn't find any terrible problems.
it's always a relief to know the brain is OK.
I do hope you get the problem under control.

I have vertigo and take valium as needed for the dizziness. If I'm really congested, I find I need to take more. It really does take the dizziness away.

I'm so glad you posted about your thyroid! DH has been complaining for years about getting dizzy at different times. I never really thought too much about it because it only happens about once a month or so and I just assumed he was standing up too quickly. The other night it happened again and he had to lay down because it didn't pass for quite a while. He said he still felt dizzy even when he was laying down.

After reading your post, I called to make DH an appointment with our doctor for a complete physical asking that they especially check his thyroid. DH has a family history of thyroid problems and he actually used to be on thyroid medication himself (although he hasn't taken any medication in the 12 years I have known him - he hasn't had a physical since I've known him either). If it wouldn't have been for your post, I wouldn't have known that problems with your thyroid can cause dizziness. DH's appointment is tomorrow and hopefully we'll get the results from his blood test within a week or two and we'll know if he needs to start up on thyroid medication again. Thank you!