OMG...Extreme dizziness! :(

[CAJ1]

I posted before about getting dizzy when I got out of bed first thing in the morning, I was literally walking into the wall lol. I am now getting dizzy when I'm lying down in bed and move my head or turn over, I feel like the room is violently spinning and I am falling. Going to the doctors next week about it, any tips on preventing it in the meantime because it is horrible.

TIA

[emmie]

yes, but it depends, because have same thing, been told various things, but mostly its vertigo, and an imbalance in the inner ear.
Try to do this, when you wake, don't jump out of bed, sit on edge of bed, keep your eyes focused straight ahead, keep there for a few minutes, it allows everything to fall back into place. Whilst in bed don't turn from side to side, this will make the dizzyness worse, i get it a lot, and there is no effective medicine for it, i have tried. If it is vertigo, and suggest that it is, it is horrible, but with exercises that the doctor or ear nose throat doctors can devise to lessen the symptoms. It might not be all those things, but mention this to the doctor and see if he agrees. I won't ask personal details age, but it affects women over a certain age, and men.

[emmie]

look up vertigo on the net, its not what many associate as fear of heights, but there is alot of info out there, i know how you feel.

[CAJ1]

Thanks em10, will try that out. Its awful isn't it? I have ezcema in one of my ears which never clears up so I'm wondering if that is maybe causing the problem. I'm female and in my mid 20's

[emmie]

doubt the eczema is connected, it might not be vertigo, but going on what you have described its pretty much what i get. I know others who have it too, and plays havoc with your balance. Look up Labyrinthtis as well, and any ear imbalance data you can find, it might give a clue. Do you get colds, flu on a regular basis, or recently, as this can bring it on as well. Very unpleasant i must say.

[Sqad]

You are describing true vertigo and this does indeed need investigating as em10 said by an ENT surgeon.
Two things come to mind:
Benign Paroxysmal Vertigo and Meniere's Disease...the former being the most likely.

Google "Cooksey Cawthorne Exercises" and keep us informed.

[Sqad]

P.S your eczema is in no way associated with your dizziness.

[CAJ1]

I used to get loads of colds etc but had my tonsils taken out over 2 years ago and not been sick with flu or cold since then. I think I read that if anything goes down your ear canal it can brush against the fine hairs in your ear and throw off your balance etc so I was thinking maybe wee bits of dry skin might have gone down there (disgusting I know lol). I agree though, from what I've read on the internet it does sound like vertigo. Will report back once I've been to the doctors

[emmie]

sqad, i have cooksey exercises to do to keep it at bay, its a devil though, not meniere disease according to the doc, but they keep changing their minds, five years and counting.

[CAJ1]

Hi sqad, hope you're well :)

Thanks for the advice, will go and google that now. Wil let you know how docs goes.

[Sqad]

CAJ...me? I'm fine,thanks.

em10 I know that you live in London, but which ENT surgeon did you see and at which hospital?

[emmie]

as sqad has said unlikely to be connected to ezcema, but it does come and go, and with exercises given by the ENT consultants lessens chances of it keep going.

[pastafreak]

I agree with sqad......I have had it on and off since I was in my late 20's-mostly off the last ten years or so.
Do as em said....get up *gently* in the morning. You may find turning your head in one direction worse than others. After a while,your body develops coping strategies.
Have a look here-there is a lot of useful information... http://www.vestibular...ic-disorders/bppv.php

[emmie]

sqad sorry rather not say, but a decent enough hospital, but have associated difficulties, not least some hearing loss, tinnitus, maddening that is, and they have an effect too. It abates for a time, have done the exercises and endless balance tests, a relative has it and we compare notes, not a good thing.

[Sqad]

em10...fair enough.

With a hearing loss then Meniere's Disease is the most likely, as one doesn't get this with BPV. Also the tinnitus makes Meniere's more likely.

You will have had an MRI scan.

[emmie]

No MRI, can't do it, claustrophobic too, badly.

[Sqad]

em10...OK then you would have had X-Rays on your Temporal bones.

[carmalee]

em10 - I sympathise with your aversion to MRI scans however, there are open scanners which you can request - you may have to wait a little longer and possibly travel a bit but they are perfectly fine and in no way claustrophobic - I've used one and it was not a problem at all.

[CAJ1]

Pleased to hear it sqad. :)

Just discovered it gets worse if I bend over and stand up again.

Em10 this sounds like its a right pain in the arse! :-s

[Eve]

Em, sounds similar to me with the vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss and I have menieres. My mum has it as well.

It's horible CAJ, I've adjusted to it a lot over time but I found some meditation classes gave me some ideas which helped. Partly making yourself feel grounded like sitting with your feet flat on the ground (depending on the state of dizziness) and focus on that connection. I also don't let my eyes move around, focus on something - picking a spot to focus on which is close to you like the end of your nose too while concentrating on your breathing.

Similarly, make sure you are somewhere quiet and away from bright lights and noise and stuff moving around which could disorientate you.

I can't lie, nothing helps it much but it you get yourself at least relatively comfortable then it helps you feel a little more control and I've found it's helped me when I feel an attack coming on.

[beso]

It may be benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. There is a lot about it online.

You could try the special sequence of movements that can reset the position of the grains in the semicircular canals that are responsible for the sense of balance and rotation.

They worked for me. I had experiences like simply laying down and having the sense of somersaulting four times then laying there spinning horizontally. Also getting out of bed and walking into the wall.