Vertigo

[biggestmexi]

Vertigo!?!

I get it. It is not very fun. About a few times a month for the past SEVERAL years. Some cases are severe but never vomit inducing. I once had to pull over when driving home. I also occasionally get a ringing in my ear. I talked to my physician and only received a prescription for Mecklazine.

I never documented the "attacks" to see if there is any type of correlation to the seasons but I do know its not from certain movements. I could be standing and it would hit me.

Should I probably begin to take this medicine once a day? It really does no good if i have the attack then take it.

It just get very aggravating to have to deal with it so much. Especially having a 21mnth old.

My diet I would consider normal not high in sodium, I do watch my intake of it.

Any news would be good news.

[Dr Steve]

Vertigo!?!

I get it. It is not very fun. About a few times a month for the past SEVERAL years. Some cases are severe but never vomit inducing. I once had to pull over when driving home. I also occasionally get a ringing in my ear. I talked to my physician and only received a prescription for Mecklazine.

I never documented the "attacks" to see if there is any type of correlation to the seasons but I do know its not from certain movements. I could be standing and it would hit me.

Should I probably begin to take this medicine once a day? It really does no good if i have the attack then take it.

It just get very aggravating to have to deal with it so much. Especially having a 21mnth old.

My diet I would consider normal not high in sodium, I do watch my intake of it.

Any news would be good news.

Vertigo (a sensation of the "world spinning"...as opposed to "lightheadedness" which is associated with fainting or low blood pressure) is caused by abnormal signals coming from the labyrinthine canals in the inner ear. These canals sense movement in three dimensions...the inertial flow of fluid through the canals is responsible for "dizziness" when you spin round and round; the fluid keeps spinning after you stop and you feel like the world is spinning around you.

Vertigo can be caused by a virus, and is then called "viral labyrinthitis". Viral vertigo usually lasts just a few days/weeks and then resolves.

Recurrent vertigo, as you have, can be a thing called "Benign Positional Vertigo" and may sometimes be caused by crystals in the labyrinth that have broken loose and are floating around wreaking havoc on your balance system. This can sometimes be fixed with a special maneuver done in the doctor's office...an ear nose and throat MD (ENT), or a sharp osteopath, family doc, or internist can do this trick:

http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/images/1134815-1158940-179.jpg

There are other things that can cause recurrent vertigo, and since you drive and vomit and stuff when you have an attack, you need to get this checked out. There's a thing called Meniere's disease that can cause vertigo, but people generally have ringing in their ears or hearing loss too, so it's probably not that. I mention it only to illustrate that there are things that need to be ruled out that can't be diagnosed except in a doctor's office.

You hate to take medicine every day for something that only affects you a few times a year, but your "attacks" sound pretty severe so please see someone and let us know what they find. An ENT is a great place to start; they have all the toys that can make the diagnosis quickly.


your pal,


steve

[biggestmexi]

Hey your on air.

FYI, went to and ENT and have been diagnosed with Meniers Syndrome.

Thanks for the advice. Went through all the test, not sure which ones.

But the doctor never really figured anything out thought. Just put me on a water pill and told me to eat bananas(due to the pill) and not eat any caffeine.

Needless to say I do none of that.

The results are the same. Also I don't like a DOC wearing jeans. Doesn't seem pro.

[Dr Steve]

Hey your on air.

FYI, went to and ENT and have been diagnosed with Meniers Syndrome.

Thanks for the advice. Went through all the test, not sure which ones.

But the doctor never really figured anything out thought. Just put me on a water pill and told me to eat bananas(due to the pill) and not eat any caffeine.

Needless to say I do none of that.

The results are the same. Also I don't like a DOC wearing jeans. Doesn't seem pro.


yeah, the Meniere's disease is a disorder of salt movement in the inner ear...the "water pill" (diuretic, probably a thing called hydrochlorothiazide or HCTZ) helps to regain salt balance. At the same time, it can deplete potassium in your bloodstream which is why he told you to eat bananas (a dietary source of potassium).

if it doesn't work, give him a chance to make good. sometimes we doctors don't explain very well how our thinking works...if something we try doesn't work, often it will help us to narrow down the diagnosis. Giving the doc a second or third try will allow him to focus on what's most likely going on. Often they'll treat the simple things first, and delve deeper if first-line therapy is ineffective.

Good luck with it, my friend, and let me know if I can help in any way.


your pal,


steve