Anyone ever have Virtigo?
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive September 2007:
Anyone ever have Virtigo?
I went to the ER with it yesterday morning. WOW, What a wicked trip!
I rolled over in bed at 6AM, and then BAM! The room started spinning. I couldn't believe it, I was so dizzy. I couldn't see the clock and I couldn't stand up. I sat still for a minute, and then it settled down, but then I stood up and hit the wall next to my bed. I felt around the room until I got to the door and managed to get to the bathroom to go pee. Then I stood up and had to sit back down. I started to panic, so I started to sweat and my heart was racing. I tried not to move too quickly, and managed to get my son off to school at 7. I sat in my recliner and tried to watch TV, but I couldn't stand the pictures on the TV moving so quickly making me dizzy, so I shut it off and tried to relax. I felt better, so I said to myself, "This is ridiculous. I have to get some dishes done." So I stood up and felt fine, took two steps and fell onto the couch.
My stomach was upset, and I figured maybe I just needed to eat, so I ate half a bowl of mini wheats, which came up about half an hour later. I tried to go back to bed, but when I laid down I REALLY went into another tailspin, so I woke up hubby and told him I needed to go to the doctor. I called the dr and they sent me to ER, since I am also on blood pressure meds.
I haven't been to the hospital since my son was born, so I couldn't remember the way there. It took us a 45 minutes to get there, when it only should have taken us 20 minutes. They got me right in and figured out that it was virtigo. The ER dr made me lie down flat, the world spun out of control again, and then I threw up again. He said it was positional virtigo which comes on when you move too quickly or move in a certain position. The receptors in the inner ear get all confused and make your brain think you are spinning when you are not, and then you get motion sickness. I got an IV of valium and antivert, as well as an Rx for both in pills, which dh kindly stopped by the pharmacy and got them filled for me before we went home. He was about 15 minutes late for work yesterday.
I slept off and on all day yesterday, and each time I woke up, I felt a little better. But this morning, as I tried carefully to lie on my right side, it came back full force again. I sat up on my elbow, grabbed the side of the mattress, and shut my eyes. Then it went away almost as fast as it came on. So I guess I am done sleeping on my right side for a while, my favorite side to sleep on.
I feel pretty much normal today, but just really tired. Must be the meds. They said the virtigo should go away soon.
Wow, sorry to hear you have been unwell. I've had virtigo once but not nearly that bad. I was given antivert and gravol I think. I don't remember how long it lasted.
Hope you feel better soon.
I have never had it, but I know several people that have. My one friend that had it gets motion sickness VERY bad (in cars and everything) and she was so sick that she called the ambulance to take her to the hospital!! She was down for quite a while with it and since then has had repeat episodes of it.
I hope your feeling better soon!
I had vertigo, and I can tell you that the antivert really helps. But it will take time - it's not an instant miracle. Mine was from a mild ear infection that caused blockage. It took about 3 months before it totally cleared up, but after a couple of days on the antivert I was able to do most normal things and drive.
You may find that part of the "tiredness" comes from the valium, and you might want to ask your doctor how long you should take it. I am only guessing, but wonder if the valium is to help you calm down and not feel so upset.
You'll learn very quickly, if you haven't already, how to move to not set off the vertigo.
Sympathy, and a promise that this will pass.
Oh I hope you feel better soon! I was also going to ask if they checked you for an ear infection - or just for fluid behind the eardrum. That can sometimes play havoc with your sense of balance.
Lots of hugs.
Ame
The ER doc said that it was positional virtigo, but he checked my ears just to be sure there was no apparent infection.
I looked on WebMD and one of the reasons valium is prescribed is for hallucinations, which is what virtigo is referred to, an hallucination that you are moving or spinning but you really are not. So I am guessing that's why I have it.
According to what I have read and the way it was explained to me by the ER doc, it sounds like it isn't anything serious, so I am not panicking anymore.  It must have been the way in which I rolled over. You know, you put pressure on your head, neck or shoulders and lift up your buttocks to roll or adjust your position in bed. It was at that point that I started spinning.
He also mentioned that if you go to a loud concert that might have disturbed the receptors in the inner ear. Well, last Saturday dh and I went to watch drag races all day- loud jet cars and nitro funny cars. Although I plugged my ears, it may have had an affect and the virtigo was a delayed symptom.
I plan to see my regular doc when I get done with the meds I have now.
Yikes! I had that once. It was like I'd really tied one on, but I hadn't. I had to call Gary and tell him to pick up Sarah from the daycare, because I knew I couldn't be driving. It did eventually go away.
Lisa, I strongly suggest you go see your regular doctor as soon as you can and not wait until the meds run out. First, you might need to have the prescriptions renewed, and having to wait for a doctor's appointment won't help. Second, your doctor could start any appropriate diagnostic tests now.
Yeah, you're probably right. I would call now, but their office gets really hectic in the afternoon. I'll call tomorrow AM and make an appt.
LOL Dawn! That's what I told the ER doc. I said it's the hangover from heck but I never got drunk!
Better yet, it's like being on a merry-go-round and you can't get off!
Wow, I hope you are feeling better. My mom got vertigo when I was a senior in high school. She would be in bed when I left and in bed when I came home. I finally convinced her to see the doctor. She had vertigo. It was horrifying and scary. They gave her meclizine (sp?) it worked quickly. She could only take half a pill though. She had a lot of other medical problems we didn't find out until 15 years later.
I also got vertigo after my last child. Didn't enjoy it went to the dr. described told the dr. mom had the same would like to try meclizine. Works quickly does not make me sick to stomach.
I also get vertigo with sinus problems. He gave me a prescription to keep on hand because of this.
Did you get into the doctor? How long does one suffer from this or will it come and go?
I have enough Valium to get me through til Monday, and I have an appt with my regular doc Monday morning at 10:30.
Marg, funny you mention sinus problems, too. I have allergies really bad, and we were outside all day Saturday at the drag races. Sunday I had a sinus headache. Monday I felt fine, and then Tuesday I woke up with the virtigo. I wonder if my sinuses had anything to do with it. Something to ask my doctor on Monday.
Mary, I have read that it can vary on how long some people deal with virtigo. It all seems to depend on the cause, of which there can be several. Ginny said that it took her 3 months to get rid of hers. My mom had it for a few weeks when I was a kid (I didn't know about it before I told her yesterday.)
I quit taking the Antivert yesterday (for the nausea) because it was making me so tired, and it says "as needed" on the bottle, and I haven't been nauseous since Tuesday. I feel so much better today. I think I am having a hard time sleeping in my bed, though. I sleep in my recliner for a couple more hours in the mornings after ds goes to school, and I think I sleep better there. It was in bed that I first set off the symptoms, and lying flat sent me into the tailspin.
I didn't tell my son what happened since I didn't want him to worry. He just thinks I have the stomach flu. Yesterday he said, "Mom, are you going to feel better tomorrow?"
The doctor that I currently have said that sinus and allergies does play a role in having vertigo only with many other various things. Something about the drainage within your ear.
I was also told with sinus and allergy drainage that when you think you have a sore throat it is the swelling of glands due to the drainage.
Good luck
When mom had it she said she would lay in bed and the room would just spin. Now that I look back I wish she wouldn't have been alone all day. It took months for them to diagnose, all the test she went through, but this was in the early 80's.
Once she got the medicine and adjusted to her system it only took a week for her to feel better.
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