I do enjoy a Jimmy Stewart film [but I think Tom Hanks has taken over his role as Hollywood's genuine Mr Nice Guy] Do you remember this one?
Perhaps my blood sugar is low? I ate a hearty breakfast. Sunday it happened again, but fortunately to a much lesser degree and I was fine by the time I needed to be running the children's activity at church.
If it happens tomorrow, I shall ring the GP, I said. Then I vaguely remembered Fat Dormouse mentioning vertigo on her blog a few weeks back. It all sounded very familiar. Monday I was Very Giddy again - but the GP gave me an appointment for 3pm. It seems that I have BPPV
"It is not uncommon past the age of 60" I was told. Oh the joys of getting old!!
Glad that the tablets have helped. Take care, best wishes Isabel
ReplyDeleteThanks Isabel
DeleteOh no!!! That's not fair!! Kx
ReplyDeleteIt's OK Kezzie - I'm learning to manage it - and it could have been something much worse.
DeleteGlad the tablets are working. Dizziness is not a nice feeling, especially if its for no apparent reason.
ReplyDeleteIt is a horrid feeling, I agree.
DeleteI found it helps to sleep with one more pillow than you usually have. It took some getting used to but I persevered and it has helped enormously.,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this suggestion. Until quite recently, I slept with two pillows, then swapped to one [I cannot remember exactly why] I shall go back to two again.
DeleteI too suffer from Vertigo/BPPV/Menieres type of dizziness. There is a technique called the Epley manouvere (videos on YouTube) which I use when mine is bad and it does really help. I'm not saying it will work for everyone but might be worth a look. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI think FD uses that technique too. Will check out the video. Thank you
DeleteFD here. I'll send you a link to the exercises I do when I'm at my computer tomorrow. It's not the Epley but it's something else. It almost always works for me.
DeleteThanks FD!
DeleteSorry I keep forgetting!! Fdxx
DeleteOh Ang, I do sympathise, as I have had this once or twice, one time much worse than others. It can make you nauseous and my Dr has given me some 'Buccal' tablets which helps that. It is very frightening . I hope it doesnt happen again.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Although I was not very dizzy this morning, I did feel nauseous. Hoping this is just a temporary thing.
DeleteNext time it happens try the Eply Manouvre,it worked for me.
ReplyDeleteI think FD uses that technique too. Will definitely check out the video. Thank you
DeleteVertigo is terrible! I've experienced it before though not for as many days as you did. Thankful that the tablets are working!
ReplyDeleteVery thankful!
DeleteI've heard that this is fairly common after 60 and both me and husband have both had this occasionally, it's a nuisance but thankfully not usually serious - as you mentioned already. My mum used to keep the tablets by her bed in case she woke up feeling dizzy!
ReplyDeleteHope yours sorts itself out soon
Alison in Wales x
Thanks Alison
DeleteI'm also going to recommend that you try the Epley manoeuvre, it relieves my vertigo attacks wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteHave Bob close to you, ready to grab you, just in case your balance goes 'off' whilst you're 'manoeuvring' yourself!
My vertigo doesn't make the world seem to spin, it tilts the world from side to side, like a see-saw, it's a seriously weird sensation!
Hope you feel much better soon! X
Thanks Col. Everyone has been so kind and encouraging (especially regarding the Epley manoeuvre)
ReplyDeleteHi, longtime lurker here.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your vertigo, such an unpleasant ailment, I can also vouch for the Eply manoeuver. It's also worth searching online for Cawthorne Cooksey exercises which help at the onset of an attack, and also ameliorate muscular problems which tend to arise from the automatic keeping of head, neck and shoulders still to minimise the dreaded vertigo. A physio gave them to me & they do work.
I'm hoping this will publish OK, I usually blog read on my phone these days & for reasons unknown it won't publish comments - back on the old, slow PC to comment today - fingers crossed. VeeKnits
Thankyou Veeknits - I looked up the CC exercises and I can see how they might help with the problems caused by trying to keep the head still. I appreciate you taking the trouble to get this comment published.
DeleteI have had severe vertigo, accompanied by vomiting, and quite often the only thing that would stop it was lying down and sleeping for several hours. It seemed to reset my brain. However this went on for 18 months, intermittently, and I was unable to drive, or go anywhere without plastic bags or a braising. I was told I had BPPV. However, eventually my doctor had a lightbulb moment, when he considered that my way of recovery was sleeping. I have been correctly diagnosed as having Silent Migraine. And put on 2 medications, Prochlorperazine and a low 10mg dose of Amitriptyline. And I’m really happy to say that after a getting used to the medication period of about a month, I have not had an attack since last May. I hope my experience may be of some use to you. Best wishes Ann
ReplyDeleteThank you Ann - I am so sorry to hear that your illness was so much more complex that BPPV. Having suffered with occasional migraine attacks earlier in my life, I know how debilitating they can be. It is good to know your GP spotted the root cause and that you are now enjoying a much better quality of life.
DeleteI'm sorry about the problems with comments - I am afraid I had to stop 'automatic posts' because I was having some unpleasant remarks from trolls. I try and check throughout the day if I can, to ensure all the genuine comments get published.
Please keep reading the blog - and more importantly, please keep well! 😊 💓
I'll add that sitting on the side of the bed for a few minutes before standing may help also. Will have to look up the Epley manouver.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
My Mum had blood pressure issues, and always sat on the side of the bed each morning for a full minute before getting up.
DeleteI also find that the Epley resolves my BBPV attacks very well, with no medication. I will say that I had trouble learning to do it correctly on my own, and my doctor sent me to a vestibular physical therapist who taught me the proper method. SB
ReplyDeleteThank you SB - what a thoughtful GP you have.
Deletemy dad had a bad case of vertigo last year thought he was having a stroke. Turned out his ear crystals were out (?) He had some sort of physio thing that got them back into position. Now he has panic attacks about the whole thing. Granted he is 80, but I do agree that vertigo is a thing and not a good thing!
ReplyDeleteThat must have been so confusing for him.
DeleteSo sorry to hear that you're experiencing vertigo! It's good that you were able to see the doctor so quickly and the pills seem to be working! Hope you don't get any more spells of vertigo after this!
ReplyDeleteThank you Bless!
DeleteSame here! Was diagnosed with BPPV just before first lockdown by an audiologist but after my last appointment with my stomach consultant, he advised that I should have been referred to ENT!(my GP thought that my stomach meds were perhaps at fault and causing the dizziness but stomach doc disagrees).Been told can be up to a year's waiting time for ENT appointment. In the meantime, sleeping with a 'V' pillow that my son bought for me and avoiding bending down, tilting head sideways,etc.Already cancelled dentist twice because lying back flat is not doable at mo.
ReplyDeleteYour situation sounds really bad - I hope an ENT appointment comes through soon.
DeleteSo sorry to hear this, Ang. I had one attack of BPPV a few years ago. I felt so dreadful, as if I had to lie perfectly still or I would fall off the edge of the world. It passed but I have never forgotten it. Glad you are finding a way to manage it.
ReplyDeleteNicky K
That is a superb description of how it feels. I'm glad you only had the one attack
DeleteSo sorry that you have had this experience which is so disturbing! I'm glad you have a doctor who knows how to deal with it. My first experience was like yours, getting out of bed and wondering what on earth was happening. I needed the bathroom and crawled on hands and knees! DH was up early and had wandered outside, and I phoned our emergency number. DH was able to direct the paramedics upstairs and they gave me an injection for the nausea and I was taken not to the local but the regional hospital who deal with strokes (diagnosis was uncertain for the paramedics so it was a wise move). I recovered and went home, had another serious attack a few years later, and from time to time I have a slight dizziness when I lay down at night. I shall ask my doctor about tablets if it gets to be a problem. I hope you don't have any more of this!
ReplyDeleteIt's particularly disturbing when such things happen at night. At least DH was there for you
DeleteHi, long time lurker Val AKA VeeKnits here - again. In my enthusiasm to pass on the info about Cawthorne Cooksey exercises & the Eply manoeuvre coupled with my problems posting a reply I didn't mention a couple of facts. So am posting them now!
ReplyDeleteThe Eply maneouvre is only useful for vertigo caused by crystals in the ear, it can be used in a shorter / faster form to diagnose which ear is affected - extreme dizziness will result on turning to that side. Then the longer version can be used to move the crystal/s and balance is then restored.
The CC exercises start with eye movements, and then head movements, these should be done as fast as possible & help to re-educate the brain to cope with the dizziness - often improving or getting rid of symptoms. The balance elements of the CC mean that if dizziness does strike at any time the body is much better able to cope with it, and falls or stumbles can be minimised or avoided - we all know about the potential for falls to cause breakages.
Yes, I'm a convert to both Eply & CC. I had vertigo a number of years ago that was so unpleasant I felt as though I was continously falling even when lying down perfectly still, when your intelligence tells you you are perfectly safe and motionless, but your body is telling you different. This was not diagnosed at first, but put down to high BP - more meds prescribed with the pharmacist saying " These meds may make you feel dizzy" each time. This continued for some time until a young GP said "I see my colleague is treating you for high BP, lets see what's causing it." Thank goodness for him. It took months to completely clear the vertigo, I had to relearn how to walk in a stright line, walking past fences and hedges caused dizziness, as did traveling in a car, bending down - and a good many other movements. For a non life threatening ailment it was totally life disrupting. Now I know the initial symptoms I restart CC exercises straight away, and continue with the balance elements almost daily.
Sorry, that's a long and somewhat belated post.
I hope you recover very soon, it's good to know that the meds are helping. Val
I missed your post, but will just add I agree with others - that the Epley maneuver works wonders for me. Easy and safe.
ReplyDeleteTHank you Celie. Easy and Safe are such important words of recommendation!
Delete