Please let me whine

[Scarlett]

Last Thursday I suddenly developed vertigo.  If I so much as toss my hair off my shoulder the room spins.  After I get into the bed, the room is spinning.  I stand up and the room spins.  If I move slowly and carefully I can mostly keep it under control.  

I went to the doctor today.  He thinks it is connected to my chronic sinusitis.  I have had constant issues for at least 2 years, with probably 4 infections requiring antibiotic and steroids.  So he has order a ct scan.  And he said something about surgery.  I am freaking out but I am also not going to be able to deal with this spinning indefinitely.

Any experience with this?

Edited to add----the ct scan to address the sinusitis is because it is chronic and I really suffer from it.  And he thinks it could be the underlying cause of my vertigo.  Chronic infections are one of the things that can cause a crystal to dislodge.

 

Edited January 26, 2021 by Scarlett

[retiredHSmom]

15 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

Last Thursday I suddenly developed vertigo.  If I so much as toss my hair off my shoulder the room spins.  After I get into the bed, the room is spinning.  I stand up and the room spins.  If I move slowly and carefully I can mostly keep it under control.  

I went to the doctor today.  He thinks it is connected to my chronic sinusitis.  I have had constant issues for at least 2 years, with probably 4 infections requiring antibiotic and steroids.  So he has order a ct scan.  And he said something about surgery.  I am freaking out but I am also not going to be able to deal with this spinning indefinitely.

Any experience with this?

Yes, long story, but I found an easy solution that worked for me.

I love roller coasters and always go on them all. April 2019 I took my physics class to the amusement park and rode them all. Felt great. Went to bed feeling fine. When I woke up in the morning and got up, the world spun so badly that I almost fell and I threw up three times. I was fine as long as I was sitting, standing or laying but getting up from laying was awful.  

I read that crystals in your inner ear can be dislodged and cause this and a doctor can manipulate them back in to place using exercises.  After three days I was done with it.  I had experienced a sinus infection about three months prior so I took some Benadryl at bedtime and woke up with no vertigo.

In July 2019, I went to the amusement park with my adult kids and the same thing happened again.  Felt great all day, went to bed, woke up with horrible vertigo. Took Benadryl immediately and it fixed it again.

In October I pregamed with Benadryl when riding a roller coaster and never had vertigo so I figured I was good.

In about April this last year, so 2020, I did not ride a roller coaster and woke up one morning with vertigo, not as bad as before but it was there. I took Benadryl and it was gone.  It has not come back since.

I do not have any other signs of a sinus issue and actually my sinuses are not stuffy when it happens, the first time I tried Benadryl it was simple desperation and a wild guess.

Good luck, vertigo sucks. I was afraid to lay down to sleep because I didn't want the vertigo when I woke up.

 

[prairiewindmomma]

I have it right now. It is tied to allergies. You are moving into cedar season, right? Are you south enough in the state for that? If you haven’t tried adding an allergy nose spray and Zyrtec to the mix, do that today.

Second, try these:https://www.webmd.com/brain/home-remedies-vertigo

This should link you to four exercises. The foster one helps me the most.

Also, keep an eye on your blood pressure and eat lower carb for the next few days. I tend to get nauseous from the vertigo and keeping that other stuff in check helps.

[alisoncooks]

My dad swears by Benadryl for his vertigo, as well. 

[easypeasy]

Another suggestion to consider (if the Benadryl doesn't work... def try that first!) -  is to go to an ENT and have them check your ears. My husbands grandmother dealt with a severe bout of vertigo that the drs couldn't sort out until an ENT spotted a speck of dust that had blown into her ear canal and lodged itself somewhere bad. Lol. He removed it (non surgically) and she felt perfect immediately. I thought it was the weirdest thing with such an easy fix.... and a year later the same thing happened to my mother. She went to the ENT quicker than DHs grandma and also felt better instantly. 

Edited January 26, 2021 by easypeasy

[Scarlett]

17 minutes ago, retiredHSmom said:

Yes, long story, but I found an easy solution that worked for me.

I love roller coasters and always go on them all. April 2019 I took my physics class to the amusement park and rode them all. Felt great. Went to bed feeling fine. When I woke up in the morning and got up, the world spun so badly that I almost fell and I threw up three times. I was fine as long as I was sitting, standing or laying but getting up from laying was awful.  

I read that crystals in your inner ear can be dislodged and cause this and a doctor can manipulate them back in to place using exercises.  After three days I was done with it.  I had experienced a sinus infection about three months prior so I took some Benadryl at bedtime and woke up with no vertigo.

In July 2019, I went to the amusement park with my adult kids and the same thing happened again.  Felt great all day, went to bed, woke up with horrible vertigo. Took Benadryl immediately and it fixed it again.

In October I pregamed with Benadryl when riding a roller coaster and never had vertigo so I figured I was good.

In about April this last year, so 2020, I did not ride a roller coaster and woke up one morning with vertigo, not as bad as before but it was there. I took Benadryl and it was gone.  It has not come back since.

I do not have any other signs of a sinus issue and actually my sinuses are not stuffy when it happens, the first time I tried Benadryl it was simple desperation and a wild guess.

Good luck, vertigo sucks. I was afraid to lay down to sleep because I didn't want the vertigo when I woke up.

 

Thank you.  Yes, he explained the dislodged crystals cause the vertigo.  He said chronic sinus issues can cause the crystal to dislodge.  (as well as a trauma to the head or I assume roller coasters) So my underlying cause is the sinus issues. Hopefully the ct will reveal more info.

[Scarlett]

7 minutes ago, prairiewindmomma said:

I have it right now. It is tied to allergies. You are moving into cedar season, right? Are you south enough in the state for that? If you haven’t tried adding an allergy nose spray and Zyrtec to the mix, do that today.

Second, try these:https://www.webmd.com/brain/home-remedies-vertigo

This should link you to four exercises. The foster one helps me the most.

Also, keep an eye on your blood pressure and eat lower carb for the next few days. I tend to get nauseous from the vertigo and keeping that other stuff in check helps.

He gave me a bunch of print outs for home exercises.....I will try them when I get home.  I am already on so much allergy medicine constantly.  I do the nose spray several times a week, sudafed (2 pills per day) and a zyrtec.  And nyquil at night sometimes.  If I don't my symptoms are just horrible.  

[chiguirre]

My dh has crystal related vertigo. He swears by these exercises:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/home-epley-maneuver

[lmrich]

My sister had a prognosis of vertigo caused by crystals (after years of issues) and within a few short exercise sessions she was so much better. So far, they have not come back - three years. My vote is to go to the ENT and get the treatment. 

[kristin0713]

I developed vertigo after riding the Teacups at Disney one year. This saved me — 

 

I had a few more episodes in the next couple months after, and this exercise stopped it.  

[Scarlett]

 I am encouraged by how many people were helped with the exercises. 

[Ali in OR]

I think the benign positional vertigo is the most common (the crystals), but that wasn't it for dh. We eventually had to take him to a specialist while he was having a spell and it was clear to the specialist it wasn't benign positional. The specialist thinks it's inner ear stuff--like Meniere's. Dh would have a few spells a year--certainly under stress or messed up sleep. He hasn't had any in over a year and I thought it was just less stress working from home now, but he says he noticed a correlation with a favorite vice, eating dark chocolate. He gave up chocolate (well, he'll eat chocolate chip cookies occasionally, but no straight dark chocolate anymore) and he hasn't had an attack since. Hope you can find a treatment that works for you.

[katilac]

6 hours ago, Scarlett said:

He gave me a bunch of print outs for home exercises.....I will try them when I get home.  I am already on so much allergy medicine constantly.  I do the nose spray several times a week, sudafed (2 pills per day) and a zyrtec.  And nyquil at night sometimes.  If I don't my symptoms are just horrible.  

Have you tried upping the Zyrtec? Our dose goes up and down with the seasons, lol (the allergy seasons, that is). My doctor is fine with this and says antihistamines are very safe even at higher doses, you just have to know whether they make you sleepy or not. I take mine at night regardless. He thinks the added medicine is a safer bet than constantly having sinus issues or getting bronchitis. Life is certainly more pleasant. 

[popmom]

6 hours ago, Scarlett said:

He gave me a bunch of print outs for home exercises.....I will try them when I get home.  I am already on so much allergy medicine constantly.  I do the nose spray several times a week, sudafed (2 pills per day) and a zyrtec.  And nyquil at night sometimes.  If I don't my symptoms are just horrible.  

First, I am so sorry you are suffering with this. My dh had this for awhile a few years ago, and it made him pretty miserable.

Is allergy testing/immunotherapy a possibility? I mean to help with the sinus issues. zyrtec makes me feel miserable. My mother can't take it either. 

In any case I sincerely wish you a speedy recovery.

[rebcoola]

So sorry.  My mom recently developed vertigo.  After having ears checked, ct scans, sinus etc.  She was prescribed physical therapy apparently their is a muscle that can pull on one of the ear bones and cause problems.

[Scarlett]

7 hours ago, katilac said:

Have you tried upping the Zyrtec? Our dose goes up and down with the seasons, lol (the allergy seasons, that is). My doctor is fine with this and says antihistamines are very safe even at higher doses, you just have to know whether they make you sleepy or not. I take mine at night regardless. He thinks the added medicine is a safer bet than constantly having sinus issues or getting bronchitis. Life is certainly more pleasant. 

Do you mean in place of the Sudafed? Or in addition?  I wish I could find the right combination.  I don’t like taking the Sudafed because I have this fear it is making my AFib worse.  But if I skip it and take only Zyrtec I start to get all congested in the back of my throat.  It doesn’t seem to affect my nose....just a feeling of not being able to clear my throat and it will then go up into my head.  So who knows maybe there is an obstruction somewhere.  My boss says he has known 5 people who had the surgery and all bad outcomes.  He is very against it.  But I at least want to see what the ct scan shows.  

[katilac]

2 hours ago, Scarlett said:

Do you mean in place of the Sudafed? Or in addition?  I wish I could find the right combination.  I don’t like taking the Sudafed because I have this fear it is making my AFib worse.  But if I skip it and take only Zyrtec I start to get all congested in the back of my throat.  It doesn’t seem to affect my nose....just a feeling of not being able to clear my throat and it will then go up into my head.   

I would probably take it in addition for a few days, and then try not taking the Sudafed. 

50 minutes ago, Seasider too said:

Have you tried mucinex instead of the Sudafed, in combination with the Zyrtec?

This makes sense to me as well. 

[Laura Corin]

Husband and I both had success with the manoeuvres to reposition crystals.

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

You might have a case similar to mine.  I started developing BPPV- benign periodic positional vertigo- in my mid-20s.  I have to say, going to the ENT and having him literally grab me by the head and throw me around the exam table caused me to start laughing uncontrollably, which caused him to go into hysterics.  Did I mention I was wearing these giant goggles to magnify my eye motions so he could check for signs of dizziness?  It goes down as my by-far favorite ER visit EVER!  

Anyway, since then I've been able to self-treat the BPPV.  

In the mean time...

My chronic allergies/stuffiness was getting more and more bothersome, and I was beginning to have multiple sinus infections each year requiring antibiotics.  Went to an ENT, had CT scan... very deviated septum.  I hesitated for nearly two years before finally agreeing to a septum repair surgery.  BEST THING I EVER DID.  I no longer snore.  I'm no longer a mouth breather.  I no longer get sinus infections.  When I blow my nose... it actually works.  I still have allergies, but they are a fraction of what they used to be.  And while I had not connected it to the BPPV, I have not had an episode for a long, long time, so I'm willing to consider the septoplasty might have fixed that as well.  Oh, he also did a turbinate reduction, whatever that is!

Find a doctor you trust.  Septoplasties seem to either get rave reviews or very negative reviews.  My doc said about 70% of people feel better after a repair.  He was very upfront and honest about it not being a miracle for everyone.  That is part of why I waited so long.  But for me, it was the right choice.  

If you do discover you have a deviated septum and end up doing a repair, first learn to use and love a neti pot.  My doc said he'd never seen such an easy recovery.  Basically, after he took the packing out, I used the neti pot 2-3x a day with sterilized saline solution.  No nose blowing during recovery, but you can very gently breathe out through your nose to clear any remaining saline/gunk.

[Scarlett]

6 hours ago, Seasider too said:

Have you tried mucinex instead of the Sudafed, in combination with the Zyrtec?

 

5 hours ago, katilac said:

I would probably take it in addition for a few days, and then try not taking the Sudafed. 

This makes sense to me as well. 

Oh I forgot about Mucinex.  I have taken it before with some success.  Thanks for reminding me.

 

[Scarlett]

3 hours ago, Monica_in_Switzerland said:

You might have a case similar to mine.  I started developing BPPV- benign periodic positional vertigo- in my mid-20s.  I have to say, going to the ENT and having him literally grab me by the head and throw me around the exam table caused me to start laughing uncontrollably, which caused him to go into hysterics.  Did I mention I was wearing these giant goggles to magnify my eye motions so he could check for signs of dizziness?  It goes down as my by-far favorite ER visit EVER!  

Anyway, since then I've been able to self-treat the BPPV.  

In the mean time...

My chronic allergies/stuffiness was getting more and more bothersome, and I was beginning to have multiple sinus infections each year requiring antibiotics.  Went to an ENT, had CT scan... very deviated septum.  I hesitated for nearly two years before finally agreeing to a septum repair surgery.  BEST THING I EVER DID.  I no longer snore.  I'm no longer a mouth breather.  I no longer get sinus infections.  When I blow my nose... it actually works.  I still have allergies, but they are a fraction of what they used to be.  And while I had not connected it to the BPPV, I have not had an episode for a long, long time, so I'm willing to consider the septoplasty might have fixed that as well.  Oh, he also did a turbinate reduction, whatever that is!

Find a doctor you trust.  Septoplasties seem to either get rave reviews or very negative reviews.  My doc said about 70% of people feel better after a repair.  He was very upfront and honest about it not being a miracle for everyone.  That is part of why I waited so long.  But for me, it was the right choice.  

If you do discover you have a deviated septum and end up doing a repair, first learn to use and love a neti pot.  My doc said he'd never seen such an easy recovery.  Basically, after he took the packing out, I used the neti pot 2-3x a day with sterilized saline solution.  No nose blowing during recovery, but you can very gently breathe out through your nose to clear any remaining saline/gunk.

It is weird....I definitely have a deviated septum...and I breath through my mouth at night....but I feel like I can breathe through my nose just fine.  I wonder if I don't even know what it is suppose to feel like. 

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

9 hours ago, Scarlett said:

It is weird....I definitely have a deviated septum...and I breath through my mouth at night....but I feel like I can breathe through my nose just fine.  I wonder if I don't even know what it is suppose to feel like. 

There is a range of severity for deviation... mine was pretty bad.  I could only breathe through my nose if I was lying perfectly still in bed and concentrating on it.  If I even rolled over or changed position, I'd have to open my mouth.  Now, I can easily breathe through my nose and even ran 5k with my mouth shut about 3 months after the surgery just to see if I could.  (Yes, slowly)

I think the standard treatment is to attempt to treat with medication, but fix the septum if meds don't work.  I was getting very concerned about needing antibiotics 2x or more a year, and occasionally my sinus infections were requiring multiple rounds of abx because they stubbornly wouldn't go away, so I decided to have surgery.