1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

Anyone have vertigo? What causes it?

Posted by mydogsbestfriend @mydogsbestfriend, Nov 20, 2024

7 years ago I had a bad attack of vertigo. No med problems found. This past Saturday at 5 am woke with vertigo. Went to ER at 8:40 pm, they gave me meclizine & ondansetron. Did a CT of my head & neck: negative. MD did eye stuff (?) & said he didn’t think it was a crystal in my ear. Still a bit dizzy. My annual wellness visit was Monday & all my tests were fine. Does anyone have an idea what caused the vertigo? I’m still a bit dizzy but no vertigo.

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ronyd | @ronyd | Nov 22, 2024

Hi, Thanks for the info on the ENT discussion group!. I have had Vestibular Therapy. It has been great and by far has really helped. My husband does the
Epley maneuver, when I have severe flare. I can only sleep with my head up at those times. Sometimes I do notice the dizziness coming on so I slow all my head, neck, & shoulder movements down for a few days or as needed. So far I haven’t had a severe flare in awhile.

REPLY
carol1024 | @carol1024 | Nov 22, 2024
In reply to @mydogsbestfriend "I do have me the meclizine and something for nausea. I don’t think if you’ve had..." + (show)
@mydogsbestfriend

I do have me the meclizine and something for nausea. I don’t think if you’ve had those problems for 40 years you should now be thinking about seeing an audiologist. I had a hearing test a couple of years ago but except for minor hearing loss no problems. I am 77 and this was only my 2nd episode of vertigo. As I child I always got carsick and I still can in certain situations; no boats for me either. I hope you find something to help you

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It never hurts to see an audiologist especially if you've never had hearing problems and needed your hearing checked. I've always gotten car sick. Still do and that's why I have to be in the front seat. I can't go to carnivals or ride the rides at fairs because it's too busy and I get sick on the rides. Back to the Future ride at Universal many years ago had me and sisters leaving because I was near death sick. 🤣
Until I find out for sure what's causing it, it's something I'll have to live with.

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carol1024 | @carol1024 | Nov 22, 2024
In reply to @mydogsbestfriend "I do have me the meclizine and something for nausea. I don’t think if you’ve had..." + (show)
@mydogsbestfriend

I do have me the meclizine and something for nausea. I don’t think if you’ve had those problems for 40 years you should now be thinking about seeing an audiologist. I had a hearing test a couple of years ago but except for minor hearing loss no problems. I am 77 and this was only my 2nd episode of vertigo. As I child I always got carsick and I still can in certain situations; no boats for me either. I hope you find something to help you

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I also could hear a woman's hearing aid 10 yards from my salon while I was blow drying hair. I have very accute hearing.

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mydogsbestfriend | @mydogsbestfriend | Nov 22, 2024
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @ronyd and welcome to Mayo Connect. As one who has dealt with vertigo for several..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @ronyd and welcome to Mayo Connect. As one who has dealt with vertigo for several years, I can empathize with you. This is a difficult-to-treat problem, but some helpful therapies are available. I've also been told to limit the use of meclizine as it can have a rebound effect if it is used often.

Are you aware of Vestibular Therapy? Some physical therapists are specially trained in this vertigo treatment. You might consider asking for a referral for this.

Finally, for you and others in this discussion group, I recommend you view the posts in Connect's ENT discussion group where vertigo is discussed. Here is a link to those posts,
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/ear-nose-throat-conditions/?search=vertigo#discussion-listview
Many posts mention vestibular therapy, including terms like the Epley maneuver. @ronyd, have you discovered any activities that trigger the vertigo symptoms? For me, doing tasks that involve bending, and reaching up and down will activate vertigo. Have you discovered activities that might be a problem?

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My doctor mentioned the vestibular therapy but she ( a PA) said she did not think it would help because you first have to try to find out what caused the vertigo. Keep in mind this is the 2nd occurrence, the first was 7 years ago. No cause I as found. This time I woke up at 5 am to go to the bathroom & the vertigo occurred when I got out of bed. My BP is normal ( I do take Amlodopine but only for 2 years, low dose). I tried the Epley maneuver with YouTube video & my husband helping; it did nothing. Later at night I went to the ER

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mikaylar | @mikaylar | Nov 23, 2024
In reply to @ronyd "I too have vertigo. I went to an ENT and he said to stop the meclizine...." + (show)
@ronyd

I too have vertigo. I went to an ENT and he said to stop the meclizine. Apparently it slows the crystals from flowing back to where they belong.

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Neurologist wants me to try Phenergen for a week. Vestibular PT useless for me.

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Sharon (Used to be Shiver) | @shiver | Nov 24, 2024

Do you get enough fluids? Is your body still able to absorb the electrolytes it needs? When I got older the answers to both of those questions was, NO. I have a problem drinking enough water to stay properly hydrated. Then all of a sudden I get dizzy. Also did they check your Vitamin D-3 level. I was sometimes unable to bend over and come back up without questioning if I was going to pass out. One time, I was bent over and when I stood up I started walking sideways and couldn't stop myself. Since I was on a 2nd tier in my yard with a 3-4 foot drop off, I reached out to try to catch myself on the big oak tree. This was the way my Dad walked when he had a stroke and it scared the devil out of me. I switched doctors and she checked my D-3 level. I'm outside in the sunshine working and walking all the time, but somewhere in my 60's evidently my body no longer absorbed that sunshine vitamin from the sunshine. She put me on 10,000 IU's of Vitamin D-3 daily. When she ran the blood test it registered as "severely low" and taking 10,000 IU's daily took over a year to bring that level up to normal. D-3 also helps to regulate blood pressure and mine was all over the place and the constant drops and increases and the dehydration of my system was causing bouts of vertigo. I have to drink a big bottle of "electrolyte infused water" or Gatorade if I am working outside, or if I haven't been drinking enough. Those electrolytes wreak havoc in our systems if they are low, and I never miss taking my D-3.

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1 reply
mydogsbestfriend | @mydogsbestfriend | Nov 24, 2024
In reply to @shiver "Do you get enough fluids? Is your body still able to absorb the electrolytes it needs?..." + (show)
@shiver

Do you get enough fluids? Is your body still able to absorb the electrolytes it needs? When I got older the answers to both of those questions was, NO. I have a problem drinking enough water to stay properly hydrated. Then all of a sudden I get dizzy. Also did they check your Vitamin D-3 level. I was sometimes unable to bend over and come back up without questioning if I was going to pass out. One time, I was bent over and when I stood up I started walking sideways and couldn't stop myself. Since I was on a 2nd tier in my yard with a 3-4 foot drop off, I reached out to try to catch myself on the big oak tree. This was the way my Dad walked when he had a stroke and it scared the devil out of me. I switched doctors and she checked my D-3 level. I'm outside in the sunshine working and walking all the time, but somewhere in my 60's evidently my body no longer absorbed that sunshine vitamin from the sunshine. She put me on 10,000 IU's of Vitamin D-3 daily. When she ran the blood test it registered as "severely low" and taking 10,000 IU's daily took over a year to bring that level up to normal. D-3 also helps to regulate blood pressure and mine was all over the place and the constant drops and increases and the dehydration of my system was causing bouts of vertigo. I have to drink a big bottle of "electrolyte infused water" or Gatorade if I am working outside, or if I haven't been drinking enough. Those electrolytes wreak havoc in our systems if they are low, and I never miss taking my D-3.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your comments. I do feel I get dehydrated especially in the heat. I have begun forcing myself to drink water, and I do have Gatorade. I don’t like it so I water it down . I take vitamin D every day but was never tested. I am in a low dose of Amlodopine but my BP has never more more than slightly high, it now runs about 130/60. I stopped the meclizine because I don’t want to be dependent on it and the vertigo has gone. I had a bit of dizziness yesterday. Took one Advil and that seems to do away with dizziness.

REPLY
1 reply
Sharon (Used to be Shiver) | @shiver | Nov 24, 2024
In reply to @mydogsbestfriend "Thank you for your comments. I do feel I get dehydrated especially in the heat. I..." + (show)
@mydogsbestfriend

Thank you for your comments. I do feel I get dehydrated especially in the heat. I have begun forcing myself to drink water, and I do have Gatorade. I don’t like it so I water it down . I take vitamin D every day but was never tested. I am in a low dose of Amlodopine but my BP has never more more than slightly high, it now runs about 130/60. I stopped the meclizine because I don’t want to be dependent on it and the vertigo has gone. I had a bit of dizziness yesterday. Took one Advil and that seems to do away with dizziness.

Jump to this post

It's good to hear you are doing well.

REPLY
mydogsbestfriend | @mydogsbestfriend | Nov 26, 2024
In reply to @ronyd "I too have vertigo. I went to an ENT and he said to stop the meclizine...." + (show)
@ronyd

I too have vertigo. I went to an ENT and he said to stop the meclizine. Apparently it slows the crystals from flowing back to where they belong.

Jump to this post

The dizziness subsided somewhat so I stopped the meclizine. Took an Advil (one lasts 8 hours) per the PA’s advice at my wellness visit ( had that 3 days after the ER visit) and that dud the truck, today not much dizziness. Stopped the Advil after 2 pills.

REPLY
mydogsbestfriend | @mydogsbestfriend | Nov 26, 2024
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @ronyd and welcome to Mayo Connect. As one who has dealt with vertigo for several..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @ronyd and welcome to Mayo Connect. As one who has dealt with vertigo for several years, I can empathize with you. This is a difficult-to-treat problem, but some helpful therapies are available. I've also been told to limit the use of meclizine as it can have a rebound effect if it is used often.

Are you aware of Vestibular Therapy? Some physical therapists are specially trained in this vertigo treatment. You might consider asking for a referral for this.

Finally, for you and others in this discussion group, I recommend you view the posts in Connect's ENT discussion group where vertigo is discussed. Here is a link to those posts,
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/ear-nose-throat-conditions/?search=vertigo#discussion-listview
Many posts mention vestibular therapy, including terms like the Epley maneuver. @ronyd, have you discovered any activities that trigger the vertigo symptoms? For me, doing tasks that involve bending, and reaching up and down will activate vertigo. Have you discovered activities that might be a problem?

Jump to this post

No. The only times I’ve had vertigo 7 years ago and 10 days ago) it started while I was in bed sleeping
But I’m being careful moving around too fast or making sudden movements b

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