Do any of you have experience with Vertigo?

Im happy everything worked out. sounds like you had a good scare. thats one way to make ya go to the Doc. :laughing:
 
mtejen said:
Thanks guys...I went to doctor yesterday. I was scared enough that I finally went. I feared all of the things listed below, as this wasn't a "regular" dizziness. It was brutal. I feared stroke, brain tumor and other things.

Good news! I have some seriously impacted/clogged sinuses. I can't believe that's all it is, but I'm soooo relieved! He said he was surprised I didn't feel worse (as far as sneezing, coughing, etc.). The pain behind my right eye was what really scared me the most, but sinuses run all over your head. Also the lack of concentration, "mush" brain was so scary. So he gave me some prescription nose spray and said to try it for a few days and if it doesn't help to come back. So we shall see. I'm still hoping that's all it is.

Thanks for the info on Carpal Tunnel and Multiple Myeloma. My friends dad died from MM. What a horrible disease. I had surgery on my other hand about 8 years ago, and now that hand is so weak - they cut something wrong. Turns out when this different doctor did my other hand, he said the nerve that's supposed to go under the carpal band in my hand actually went up and over the band. He had to delicately move it. I'm an anomaly! So he said the other doctor probably cut right through it...as one of the muscles in that thumb doesn't work. Oh well. I will keep the MM in mind.

Thanks for your concern guys, and I'm glad I don't have any bad news :)
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mtejen - so glad to hear it's only sinuses {like that's not painful - but you know what I mean!!!} when I read your OP, I related so much, that that's what I thought it was too!

My Dr gave me a nasal spray too, and it was wonderful - at 1st. When I caught myself HAVING to use it every day {sometimes 3x or more} I realized I was hooked on it, and started using a neti-pot. Now, I only use the spray when I absolutely have to, so my body doesn't get confused and forgets how!!!

Believe me, the relief you'll get from a neti-pot will astound you - they have them at WalMart for less than $20 - a little plastic blue teapot with 50 saline packets :sunny:
 
Thanks Amy, for the info. I haven't been using my spray for about 4 days, and I'm still getting the swaying feeling. This morning I had to grab a wall...still scary. I've never heard of neti pots but I'm willing to try. How do you use them?

The weirdest thing about this is that sometimes when I flip over in bed on my left side and I get the horrible swaying/pulling/dizzy feeling and it just stops me in my tracks. I want to try the neti pots for awhile and if that doesn't work, I'll go see the dr. again.

The nasal spray I have is Nasonex and it says two pumps per nostril PER DAY! Those are the drs. instructions, but on bottle it says to do that TWICE per day. Maybe I should try more than once per day...what do you think? (until I can get the neti pots of course!)
 
Alll the doc gave you was Nasonex? Man, that is *extremely* conservative...He did do a white cell count to see if you had an extensive infection, didn't he? :scratch:

http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/general_health/sinusitis.htm
One or 2 minutes a day spent performing nasal irrigation is often more effective than weeks and weeks of antibiotics, decongestants, and cortisone nasal sprays, and has none of the side effects of these medications. Even if you do require medications or surgery, the improved cleanliness of the sinuses makes it more likely that these treatments will be effective.

How do I irrigate?
First, it is important not to use common table salt to irrigate the nose on a regular basis, because it contains certain chemicals such as iodine and "anti-clumping" additives that can be harmful if used frequently. You can use Kosher salt (found in most groceries right along with the table salt) or sea salt found in health food stores.

With a measuring spoon, add 1 teaspoon of salt to the Neti Pot and fill it with warm tap water. Stir very thoroughly. The salt water usually doesn't sting but the salt particles will if they are not dissolved well. You can use a little less than a teaspoon at first if it feels more comfortable, but after a few days there should be no discomfort at all and you can mix it a little stronger.

Lean over the sink, tilt your head to one side (it should be almost flat-one ear up and one ear down), and put the spout of the Neti Pot into the upper nostril. Pour the salt water slowly into your nose while you continue breathing through your mouth. The water will flow into the upper nostril, turn the corner at the back of the nose, and trickle back out the lower nostril. When the pot is about half empty, stop, turn your head the other way and repeat the process.

Let the water drip out, then gently blow your nose. You will probably need to blow it several times in the next few minutes as your sinuses drain.
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Wow - great information....I really appreciate you taking the time to post this. I will get a Neti Pot and try that. He never said it was specifically a sinus infection, and I don't really feel too stuffed up. I think the term he used was "impacted sinuses" or something like that, so hopefully what you mentioned will work. No, he didn't order a test for white cell count.

I will try these things for a few days and see if there is some improvement. If not, I'm going back! I can't stand this dizziness/pulling thing - it drives me crazy and it's scary.

Thanks again...Merry Christmas to you!
 
mtejen said:
Wow - great information....I really appreciate you taking the time to post this. I will get a Neti Pot and try that. He never said it was specifically a sinus infection, and I don't really feel too stuffed up. I think the term he used was "impacted sinuses" or something like that, so hopefully what you mentioned will work. No, he didn't order a test for white cell count.

I will try these things for a few days and see if there is some improvement. If not, I'm going back! I can't stand this dizziness/pulling thing - it drives me crazy and it's scary.

Thanks again...Merry Christmas to you!
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Red would know better than I, but it sounds like sinusitis? You need a nasal spray that has steroids in it - it will hurt {mostly pressure, but I'm a HUGE pain wimp!!!}, but WOW, you'll find you've only been using like a 10th of your sinus cavities after!!! :laughing:

The use the neti - and all the dust, dander, pollen, etc. will get flushed out and your sinuses won't swell shut on you anymore!!!

I actually just had a vertigo attack the other day - when it hit me when I rolled over, I thought "no fair, I'm laying down dang it!!!" :cussing: :crazytongue:

Anyway, the weather here has been extreme {it freaking SNOWED - in LV - in the VALLEY!!!} and that combined with the wind kicking up all the dust, and me overdoing it, is probably why I had an attack.

Or, it could be I was exposed to the flu, and since I rarely get it, but am a typhoid mary, it may have been that?

All I know is as soon as I could stand, I used the neti, and cleared my ears, and have made sure I've stayed hydrated and flushed my sinuses whenever they feel the slightest bit dry - cold air & heat running will dry them out FAST!!! :nono:
 
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/vertigo/article_em.htm

Vertigo is the feeling that you or your environment is moving or spinning. It differs from dizziness in that vertigo describes an illusion of movement.

When you feel as if you yourself are moving, it's called subjective vertigo, {mine}

and the perception that your surroundings are moving is called objective vertigo.
 
http://www.neurologychannel.com/vertigo/symptoms.shtml

Actually, I think I might have Ménière disease - I do have the other symptoms:

Symptoms of Ménière disease and vestibular neuritis include vertigo, hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and ear pressure that often lasts hours to days

But since they can't do anything about it other than what I already do, I just deal:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/meniere_disease/page6_em.htm#Meniere Disease Treatment

The best way to manage an attack at home is to minimize the symptoms.

* Lie in a quiet room with your eyes closed.

* Try medications prescribed by your doctor: Medications that help decrease anxiety such as diazepam (Valium) or prochlorperazine (Compazine) can be used to help shorten and decrease the severity of the symptoms. Your doctor can prescribe these types of medications and others after a complete evaluation and treatment plan is made.
 
Impacted sinus is a pretty vague dx. Since your symptoms are persisting, additional testing (bloodwork, CT scan) and more medication is certainly warranted. Sometimes there is odd but benign stuff going on in there (polyps,for example, I have a polyp about the size of a grape on one side) Dental issues can affect the sinus...all kinds of things could be happening. The doc needs to sort it out. You may need to see a specialist instead of a PCP.

Amy, here is a cool little non invasive gizmo for treating Menieres you may want to check out
http://www.medtronic.com/menieres/ear_anatomy.html
http://www.meniett.com/device.html
The Meniett device delivers a computer-controlled, complex algorithm of low-pressure pulses that are transmitted to the middle ear, where they act on the round window membrane. It is believed that the energy of the pressure pulses causes a displacement of inner ear fluids, which relieves endolymphatic hydrops and symptoms of Ménière's Disease. In more technical terms, it is thought that the energy of the pressure pulses displaces the perilymphatic fluid, which stimulates the flow of endolymphatic fluid and results in a reduction of endolymphatic fluid.
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I think its covered by tricare.
 
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