Question for Those of You with Vertigo or Menierre's

Google Orthostatic Intolerance and see if it means anything to you. I've got a 14 yo daughter with on again off again dizziness/vertigo her entire life without being able to find an explanation. Been to every doc, had every test. Been looking on line for years.....

When's the last time you talked to a new doc about this? Maybe time to pick up the search for the reason?

Feel better (btw, handstands, cartwheels, other tumbling often helps my daughter).

:)

See a neurologist. I had vertigo for very short periods of time before I had a stroke. I didn't realize that was what it was because it would only last a few seconds.

I've NEVER had a spell last for more than 4 hours...

I don't like that you have numbing in your lips and pulsing in your head - since I'm not a doctor - I can't say - but I it sounds like symptoms to a stroke to me...I would call my Dr and find out what he/she wants me to do - I personally would head to the ER...

Not me, but my mom! Before you panic, get to a good upper cervical chiropractor. This could be a simple fix. My mother suffered with vertigo for years in her old age and a few visits to the chiropractor and it disappeared. Chiropractic care works to remove interference so the body can work properly or simply heal itself. If you don't have a chiropractor you trust, go to www.upcspine.com and locate one in your area. Most are reasonable on price and will work with you or your insurance. CLA (Chiropractic Life of America) is a discount program for a network of chiropractors.Cross reference those on the upcspine website and the CLA website.

Vertigo is a common ailment that is remedied often in the chiropractic community.

God bless!
M.

You need to go to the ER. I've had vertigo issues but they've never lasted that long.

Hope you figure out what's going on!

I have only experienced a few spells of vertigo and I know I can thank my chiropractor for that. I have seen others being unnecessarily medicated and over medicated and still suffering with it while nearly everyone I've known to seek chiropractic help for vertigo got real relief without any meds.

But, if you want really good, reliable information from a renowned neurologist on the subject, Google 'The Dizzy Doctor'. Dr. Timothy Hain may be the leading expert on the subject. He has more than one website out there and one of them is full of helpful information and you can order DVDs that will help educate you about the conditions and the best approaches to improvement. He actually recommends Tai Chi and sells a DVD for a specific way to practice it for this.

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/index.html

I read your post with great interest today. I am a 47 year-old woman and have suffered the same symptoms you describe (ongoing vertigo that comes in "spells" as you described--lasting from a few days to 3 months long, numbness and tingling in my lips, tingling/pulsing on my head, walking in a fog...plus many other crazy symptoms)--- all for the past 7 years.

I have had MRI's, a spinal tap, and other neurological exams to try to find the source. After MANY tests, I finally have some answers. I have been told that I do not have neurological issues causing the problem. I do have sleep apnea though and feel the worst when I do not get good rest. However, the latest answer in the past month has been from a vestibular clinic in Kansas City where I saw an Audiologist--a hearing/dizziness specialist who told me that my problems are allergy and migraine related. Interestingly, you and I live only a short distance from each other. I'm in Lenexa, KS. Right now ragweed and allergies are at a very high point.

The doctor explained to me that allergies (which include the brain fog) kick in the migraines (which lip tingling and head tingling are symptoms of a migraine). And that somehow the calcium crystals in our inner ear get knocked out of place and settle in a different tube. Everyone has calcium crystals in their ears that naturally dissolve at a certain rate within days. But when they get knocked out of place, they end up in a lower tube (kind of like the plumbing under the sink that curves) and it takes WEEKS for them to dissolve then. He said that spring and summer are the biggest times for vertigo to hit people. Also, if a person is deficient in vitamin D (which I am) then the calcium crystals take longer to dissolve. He said there is a link between low vitamin D and vertigo.

So I would suggest that you get a referral to see this dr. for yourself if you can. His name is Dr. Samuel Bittel at Associated Audiology by Shawnee Mission Medical Center. Phone number ###-###-####. I am also reading, "Heal Your Headache" by David Buchholz to help me understand migraine-related issues. I would recommend the book to you as well. I "friend-requested" you on this site so perhaps the 2 of us can keep in touch and help each other with more information that we learn. Praying for you today. God is our provider for health and strength each day and He has the answers!

Do you have a ringing in your ears? That's a classic sign of Menierre's. I had no idea it runs in my mother's family and I have an aunt and a cousin with it, and evidently it's popped up in my father's family too. It's usually genetic. I say all of that because I think I also have it, but I haven't seen a doctor for it yet. I have very slight vertigo and "unbalanced" feelings fairly often, and I have ringing in my ears, but no hearing loss. With the frequency and severity of your symptoms, you should see a doctor very soon! I should too, but I haven't had whole days of vertigo or dizziness.

I had exactly what you're describing right after I gave birth to my first child. THE ONLY thing that helped it was more sleep. I do occassionally have vertigo. I believe it's when I sleep wrong. Maybe my head is positioned a weird way and causes me to get up dizzy and have dizzy spells all day long. Again, the ONLY thing to help cure it is sleep.

When you have these sensations, try to take a nap and make sure to drink alot of water.

I agree with the others that maybe this needs to be checked out?

Also... are you by any chance hyperventilating? Breathing in and out too quickly? That can cause the tingling....

When I've had vertigo problems, I can usually stop it with a Benedryl.....

I have been told I may have Meniere's disease and it is not like this at all. I've had it for 8 days straight but not tingling of the mouth, lips, etc. It is a spinning and you get so nauseated you throw up if it's a bad episode. Your ears ring and you just feel like there is not foundation anywhere. This sounds like stroke, or cervical issues to me. I know if you have issues with the neck it can make you dizzy and even cause pain in ears, etc. Not sure if it can cause the ringing though but you really need to get a doctor to check you out.

I don't want to scare you but....Go to the hospital, explain all your symptoms...my husband had tingling in his left arm, face felt numb, vertigo...it was TIA's ~ mild stroke!! Go get it checked out because they TIA's are a warning that something is wrong.

I hope that things work out for you!! Keep us posted.

I have BPPV, benign positional paroxysmal vertigo. I have symptoms the same as you that last for weeks at times. Have you been screened for it? It is fairly common to have it. It's related to the condition of your ear canals. It's been explained to me as debris in my ear canal. In response to Cheryl V, I also have allergies but I wasn't told the two were related. I'll do more experimenting with decongestants. I had that long list of tests and was also told there is not a neurological reason for the dizziness.

Since you've seen the doctor about this, I want to reassure you that your dizziness is very much unlikely to be related to anything life threatening. Although dizziness can be a symptom of a stroke, this has been going on long enough that you couldn't possibly still be suffering from a stroke.

Physical therapy can help with it. However, the exercises that supposedly reduces the dizziness does increase the dizziness for a long time before it works. There is a maneuver, called the Epply Maneuver that has ended my dizziness. It's performed by a physical therapist.

I was referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist. They have a fancy name that I can't remember. I suggest that you get treatment thru a specialist.

I take Ativan for anxiety, as needed. You can still take care of your kids while taking it. If it makes you groggy enough you don't feel safe take a smaller dose. I start with 1/2 mg. I urge you to try the Ativan. If the Ativan takes care of it, I suggest it's the anxiety causing it in which case your anxiety over taking the Ativan is hurting you.

I have vertigo and I do have dizzy spells especially when I am tired. I do not have the numb lips though, that makes me think you should call your doc. Do you have an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor you see? maybe you can call the office and ask the question.
When I have the sleep deprivation feeling, weird, like sleep walking, it is usually because I have taken an allergy med. Have you taken anything lately? I think you might be having a real episode coming on...if I were you, I would go to bed at 7:00 or 7:30 and sleep ALL night, get a GOOD night's sleep if you are able. I try to 'sleep it away' when I feel it coming. About 15 yrs ago I had an episode that lasted about 4 days. Literally I had to sleep sitting up, prop my head up between pillows, no driving, no working, vomited b/c of the dizziness, etc It was VERY bad. They give me valium but really, I am not sure it works. Diazepam seems to be their favorite to prescribe. Sometimes it may be the environment, the atmosphere, etc that is worse than other times. Like allergies, the pressure can mess with your head. Maybe take a Sudafed to ease the pressure in your head then get some good sleep. Good luck, Vertigo stinks!!! I would like any advice or any meds that you have been prescribed and maybe we can switch ideas and suggestions! W.