Who Has Vertigo?

[kuntrygirl]

Vertigo is a sensation that everything around you is spinning or moving, which is usually caused by a problem in the inner ear, but can also be caused by vision problems. People with vertigo commonly feel things are moving when they are standing completely still and everything around them is still.

Doctors say that vertigo is more severe than dizziness, which commonly happens when a person stands up and feels light-headed. People with vertigo may find it harder to move around because the spinning sensation tends to affect balance.

What are the symptoms of vertigo?
The patient may feel that his/her surroundings seem to be moving either vertically or horizontally. There may also be a sensation of spinning. Sometimes the feeling may be so slight that it is hardly noticeable. However, for some people the severity of symptoms makes it hard to keep balance and carry out everyday tasks.

A bout of vertigo can last from a few minutes to several days, and sometimes much longer. The following symptoms are possible:

A sensation that everything around you is moving or spinning
Loss of balance
Nausea
Vomiting
Light-headedness
Problems walking properly
Problems standing still properly
Blurred vision
Earache

When did you know something was wrong? How long have you had it? How are you dealing with it?​

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
When did you know something was wrong? How long have you had it? How are you dealing with it?

I have had vertigo since August 2010. I knew something was wrong when I woke up one morning and felt stoned. It was horrible for the first few months. Doctor found lesion in my brain after an MRI. They thought MS, but only one lesion, than they thought depression, now they have no idea. Thankfully it's gotten better this summer

It is an awful feeling. I actually had a hard time reading. I love to read. I found that watching TV on my laptop was the only time I felt regular.

My vertigo actually stopped when I first got chickens. Maybe I was depressed and never knew it.. My chickens are a great stress reliever!

 

[Farmerboy16]

I had a few times in my life. Awful stuff!

I had lost 15 lbs in 6 days from vertigo after I had a cochlea implant surgery. I am a slim type, and someone said when she heard how much weight I had lost, ''You did not have any weight to lose to being with.''
I was born deaf, but able to hear with an aid of cochlea implant when I was 6 on one ear, and got another implant 2 years ago. I can hear on both ears now. I can get vertigo if my head gets shaken, and if I nod a bit to hard.
It took me 3 months or so to walk normally after the surgery, as my brain has to adjust my balance. Not fun.

 

[Chuckles1330]

I have "chronic benign vertigo" which means the Dr's have no idea what causes it, but that it doesn't appear to be a tumor or lesion

I take generic phenagren when I feel like a bout might be coming on - they seem to be influenced heavily by changes in the weather. For me rooms spin and do summersalts. When it gets really bad I end up in bed for a day or two, which makes caring for my feathered and four legged friends difficult, but I'm thankful it is just probably inner ear issues and not something worse

 

[LegginMF12]

Quote:
I was diagnosed with the same thing in 1988. I just woke up one morning at home alone with a 6 day old baby to take care of and had to crawl to get around. I spent years and thousands of dollars trying to find out what was causing it. In 1999 -2003 it began to get so bad that I was questioning whether I wanted to l continue living. (Don't judge unless you have been there). I had very bad reaction to all of the vertigo medications, they actually made it worse. Then at the beginning of 2003 I moved from Hacienda Heights (40 miles from L.A.) To the high desert and since then I have had exactly 4 very short in duration vertigo attacks. I do have some balance problems, if I put my arms out to the side, tilt my head back and close my eyes I "drift", hope i never have to do a sobriety test. I also have problems with not always being aware of where my body is in relation to objects around me so I am forever smacking my head or bumping into stuff.

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
I was diagnosed with the same thing in 1988. I just woke up one morning at home alone with a 6 day old baby to take care of and had to crawl to get around. I spent years and thousands of dollars trying to find out what was causing it. In 1999 -2003 it began to get so bad that I was questioning whether I wanted to l continue living. (Don't judge unless you have been there). I had very bad reaction to all of the vertigo medications, they actually made it worse. Then at the beginning of 2003 I moved from Hacienda Heights (40 miles from L.A.) To the high desert and since then I have had exactly 4 very short in duration vertigo attacks. I do have some balance problems, if I put my arms out to the side, tilt my head back and close my eyes I "drift", hope i never have to do a sobriety test. I also have problems with not always being aware of where my body is in relation to objects around me so I am forever smacking my head or bumping into stuff.

This sounds so much like me!

I fell down the stairs a few times/tripped over things in the house that I thought were further away than they seemed. So many bruises, you would think I had an abusive partner.

 

[yadaguhtoo]

I have had vertigo "attacks" a couple of times and they are no fun! With me it seemed to be after I had a bad cold once and the other time while dealing with bad allergies. My worst time was at night when rolling over in bed, I would roll over once but it would feel like about 10 times, it also effected my walking and then I also got to where I did not want to drive anymore. After going to the Dr. and getting meds that did not seem to work she suggested I go to physical therapy and gave me exercises to do at home. Well the day before my phys. therapy I woke up really bad to the point I only made it to the couch and then within about 3 hours it was all gone...just like that! I was sooooo happy I do have dizzy days now and then but at least I know what it is now and it doesn't scare me like it did originally. I must admit I was starting to get really depressed at the worst point. I do not wish vertigo on anyone, a lot of people think "oh it is no big deal" but for me it was taking my independence away and that was the worst!

 

[Chuckles1330]

Glad you mentioned the physical therapy - I forgot that I do what I call my "falling down" exercises. Dr doesn't know why they help, but they really do. Hesitate to go into detail here about them, since I can't be certain of getting them correct, but they entail sitting on the edge of the bed and falling first to one side and then to the other.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Vertigo Exercises

 

[bgelber]

I have Meniere's in both ears which causes vertigo. I was first diagnosed in 2003, mine also seems to be weather and stress related. I take meclizine and a anti nausea medicine that I can't remember the name but it melts in your mouth.

After my first attack I actually had to go through therapy to learn to walk straight and to re-train my eyes to focus. I have done balance therapy and have to keep a cane near me, it helps with balance.

If I feel a attack coming on I have to take my meds and go to bed, nothing else will work.