Vertigo? Not the movie

[Canuck750]

Anyone have experience with vertigo?
On Saturday I went out on my Eldorado for a ride and lunch in the countryside, I had a brief dizzy spell at the meet up point after fueling the bike, an hour into the ride nausea came on and it was too much, I headed for home, made it to a suburb near home but could not focus and bad nausea, had to pull into a warehouse district side road. As soon as I got off the bike, more fell off than got off, I was sick and found I could not move my head without getting sick again. After 15 minutes I called my wife who told me to call 911. Just as I got to dispatch a security guard patrolling the area came upon me and called an ambulance. Initially they thought it was a stroke, my blood pressure was through the roof and I got right into emergency at the nearest hospital. After 7 hours and a battery of tests and scans a stroke was ruled out. They think it’s an inner ear infection that they can only treat with gravel and some other meds they gave me. It could take a week or two to resolve. I must just lie still and try not to move too much, or I get sick. My older son picked up my motorcycle and took it to his house. I can’t read for long, walk, watch TV or drive, writing this wears me out so it’s going to get real boring quick.
No improvement yet, anyone experienced this?

[chuck peterson]

Not as big a case as yours..all my x y z axis got scrambled, and still do occasionally. I carry under the tongue zofran like it’s chewing gum.

 Try voice recording your messages, maybe?

Glad you got out of the jam! Hard to stop marching when you’re heading home ASAP

[Frenchfrog]

I had a bout of vertigo earlier in the year...luckily it came on as I was getting up in the morning . Like you it seemed to be caused by my blood pressure which in my case was extremely low ;I'm on BP lowering medication as mine is too high without  , and after a dose of - my doctor guessed that the virus put the clocks back some.I got no further recommendation from her so I take my pressure every day and if too high take the lowering meds.If ok then not.
It's all a bit like mechanical breakdown analysis at this stage : we are all slightly different, so are our lifestyles and the environment we live in so my experience and methodology might not be appropriate !
I really have sympathy anyhow as It really distressed me to go through this .Hope you find a good conclusion !

[RinkRat II]

    Not nearly as severe as you experienced Jim, I've had a couple bouts several years ago when rising in the morning. I learned of the Epley maneuver
and it worked for me.  Get Well Soon!

    Paul B

[MotoKnee]

    Not nearly as severe as you experienced Jim, I've had a couple bouts several years ago when rising in the morning. I learned of the Epley maneuver
and it worked for me.  Get Well Soon!

    Paul B

I also had an experience with BPPV, quite severe symptoms. Epley to the rescue.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo-bppv

[Canuck750]

I also had an experience with BPPV, quite severe symptoms. Epley to the rescue.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo-bppv

Thank you!!!
This explains what the ER Doctor was doing as he had me move my eyes left to right and then had me quickly fall backwards to the bed, he told me there was a reaction in my left eye and this was a symptom of what this article describes. The ER team also suggested I contact a physiotherapist to try manoeuvres to reduce the symptoms. If I don’t move my head I feel somewhat ok but trying to focus with my eyes open or move my head brings on nausea. Gravel helps but only to a degree. I will call a physiotherapist this morning.
This is very reassuring to read, again thank you for the link.

[Caffeineo]

I had vertigo a year or so ago. I had to spend days in the recliner to keep it minimized. Went to see my doc and was told I was the third one that day. Seems it is very common in us older folks. I searched for vertig treatments and found there are a few different maneuvers other than Eply. I found one that seemed to work best and another that made it worse. May want to try a few and find one that works best for you. Best of luck.

[blackcat]

I also had an experience with BPPV, quite severe symptoms. Epley to the rescue.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo-bppv

My wife had Vertigo on and off for awhile until she found out about the Epley maneuver and that solved the problem. That was about 4+ years ago and she has had a couple of relapses but it wasn't as scary as she knew what was happening.

Scary that you were on the bike when this happened.

[Lee Bruns]

I had crippling vertigo two years ago. Now I have to carry pills as an emergency "To get home" plan. Physical therapy was incredibly effective.

[injundave]

I rolled over in bed one morning and the world started spinning and would not stop. I eventually managed to move around and got in touch with my doctor. He gave me some stuff to take and referred me to a physiotherapist who was skilled in treating vertigo.
Apparently vertigo is caused be "rocks in the head". or small crystals forming in the inner ear. The physio can determine which side they are in and will then take you through a series of movements to remove these crystals.
It sure worked for me. Good luck with yours.

[Canuck750]

I saw a physiotherapist this afternoon, after several tests she ruled out BPPV, my problem is left ear, but a different canal, can’t remember which of the three but other manipulations and exercises to do. Basically it’s a problem turning my head left and a horizontal alignment, still dizzy as hell and nauseous but she assured me in a week it will get better. Going back tomorrow for more work, it’s draining and brings on nausea but I will do just about anything to get rid of this.
A viral infection of the left ear is the likely culprit and since I was a kid I am sensitive to spinning motion, I hate amusement park rides. That history coupled with my age apparently makes me a candidate for the crystals in my inner ear canals to become dislodged and cause vertigo until the crystals are realigned to their natural position. Sounds a little voodoo to me but I will go with the professionals.

[glenm64]

I've had 2 bouts of Vertigo, both came on when getting out of bed. First time I couldn't walk for half a day. It was about 3 or 4 days before all symptoms subsided. I went to Dr and got everything checked out and nothing was found. Dr said some times they cant pin point it. I tried the Epley manoeuvre but that didn't help.
Second time it happened was about 2 months later and I started to think about what I had been doing The only common denominator was using active noise cancelling headphones for a long period (2+hrs) the day before. I googled it and results came up in the search indicting dizziness, vertigo and motion sickness can occur but aren't common in most people. I haven't used them since and in the 2 years since it has not returned.
I was recently speaking with an Audiologist about my tinnitus and I mentioned the vertigo and my suspicion on its cause. She said it may be possible the headphones are causing it. She explained tinnitus interferes with the way the brain processing background sound, and the noise cancelling headphones take the background noise away which may confuse the brain.
Just my experience.

[Huzo]

Likely as all hell you have a middle ear infection. The hairs inside your inner ear canals move when you experience accelerations.
You have the canals oriented in such a way as will make sense of accelerations in the X, Y and Z axes. If you make a coffee and look at the swirls in the top, then rotate the cup, you’ll see that the fluid remains stationary as the cup rotates.
This is what the vestibular canals do, they make sense of the motion your body is experiencing by comparing the information from your eyes.
If you go below decks in a ship or look down and read a book while being a passenger in a car, you’ll stand a fair chance of an onset.
I once saw an electron microscope image of the inside of a vestibular canal and it looked like the bed of the river Thames. Over the years contaminants build up and restrict the proper movement of the hairs, such that they send conflicting signals.



It’ll make you spew.

[glenm64]

No infection, all checked and ok. Even did CAT scan because they were worried about brain tumour.
Second time it happened the vertigo passed after 1 day. Lets just say I'm not game to use my headphones on noise cancelling mode ever again.

[JoeB]

Years ago my wife had a minor episode of vertigo and the Epley maneuver took care of it.
Later on down the road while visiting my daughter she had one that led to an ambulance, ER, and concern it was a neurological incidence. Official diagnosis of BPPV given. Went to PT for a few weeks and learned some exercises, including how to do the Epley maneuver, and diagnose eye signs when it's coming on.
After this we went to a clinic where she was examined by several specialist. Options were to work on it at home or a surgery that basically placed a screen in the ears to hold the "rocks" where they should be. We took our time to think about it and found someone who had the surgery done. Sadly for her the surgery left her with a persistent mild vertigo. She said the surgeon told her the good news is that it won't get any worse but the bad news is it won't get any better.
My wife opted to work on it and it took several months for her to feel back to normal.
Has not had an incidence since, at least a decade or so, but routinely does the tests they taught her and has preemptively done the Epley maneuver a few times before it comes on.
That's our story, others milage may vary.

[SIR REAL ED]

Two friends of mine who have Vertigo, and both are doctors say it is a very mysterious disease.

Not knowing anything about it.  But from trials riding, it would seem that consciously working to improve and maintains one's sense of balance as one gets older is a good thing to do.

IMO, while there are biological factors, it is also true that Balance is a skill that can be learned and improved.

Now in my 60's my balance is better than it was in my 40's.

Balance exercises are a great part of any exercise program.  Might not perevent or cure Vertigo, but it won't hurt.

[Dave Swanson]

This sounds quite brutal Jim.  I hope this malady is cured for good. 

[RinkRat II]

[ Sounds a little voodoo to me but I will go with the professionals.
[/quote]
  It is Voodoo but as long as you use a professional, what could go wrong?

     



    Paul B

[John A]

I have a prescription for Meclizine that is a pill that can be chewed or swallowed. Snot supposed to be used while operating a boat or machinery according to the label.I get it from the VA. I keep some with, especially on the bike. It helps with vertigo, a most unpleasant malady that prevents me from getting medical clearance for a pilot certificate.

[tcunnien]

My father suffered from severe vertigo attacks that was later diagnosed as Ménière disease. It was something he just had to learn to live with at the time. It was the main reason he had to give up riding motorcycles in his early sixties. His bike at the time was a Harley XLCR.

[Canuck750]

Day two of physiotherapy, balance exercises and practising eye tracking a pen moving laterally back and forth. Part of the cure is to force myself to do movements that bring on nausea, not fun. Therapist is convinced it’s an inner ear infection and not dislocated crystals but it’s going to take some time and patience to get through it.

[Huzo]

Therapist is convinced it’s an inner ear infection

Sounds like the one Jim…

[Dilliw]

I get mild bouts on occasion and have had bigger episodes maybe 4-5 time in my life.  The Epley usually fixes it but I had one episode knock me down for 4 miserable days. When  riding I don't look up a the birds too much!

[Wayne Orwig]

I have had it maybe four time over about 10 years. Three of them, were in the morning when I tried to get up. I ended up sick most of the day. One of them happened when I was under a house in the crawl space. I turned my head a certain way one too many times and instant vertigo. I had to crawl out with my eyes closed.
I now carry Meclizine with me in my travel bag in case it happens on the road.

[pressureangle]

A friend had an episode of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo;

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo-bppv

He went from fine to slow rising to dizzy to vomiting and finally the tweety birds circling and eyes spinning so bad we all thought he was having a stroke over the course of 48 hours. The ER doctor said "I think I read about this in medical school" took 5 minutes Googling, did some physical manipulations, sitting, laying, rotating the head and 5 minutes later it was gone completely and never came back.

[Canuck750]

A friend had an episode of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo;

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo-bppv

He went from fine to slow rising to dizzy to vomiting and finally the tweety birds circling and eyes spinning so bad we all thought he was having a stroke over the course of 48 hours. The ER doctor said "I think I read about this in medical school" took 5 minutes Googling, did some physical manipulations, sitting, laying, rotating the head and 5 minutes later it was gone completely and never came back.

I wish my vertigo was BPPV, relieved by a series of head movements along with a rapid change in body position. For two days physiotherapy has tried the movements but no luck for me. My inner ear condition is not caused by a misplaced crystal location in one of the three inner ear canals but by inflammation of the horizontal tube causing the microscopic hairs to trigger a movement response when my body is stationary, the same nerve connecting the horizontal canal controls a muscle attached to the eye. My left ear senses movement and my left eye rapidly scans for the movement but I am stationary. As the inflammation subsided the sense of spinning / falling will pass. Slowly feeling a little bit of improvement.