I have had these episdoes of vertigo for years, they come and go, now they stay longer which is getting distressing. I am taking a yoga class and I can't lay on my back, turn my head, actually any head movement can make me just spin. Anyone taken anything or tried anything that can help with this sympton? It is getting distressing and I even feel kind of lousy when I am not having an episode during the day. Thanks!!

Hello,

Just a quick one to say that inverted postures in yoga are cited as one of the lesser known causes of BPPV. If you're doing yoga regularly and are a BPPV sufferer you might want to avoid any upside down work.

Also, you don't say if you have a definite BPPV diagnosis - if not, route out a neuro otologist - specialists in the ears/brain/dizzies and get yourself checked out in case it's a different ear condition.

best,

hbep

My BPPV started in a yoga class, just lying on my back and turning my head to the right to do a simple twist. The room started to spin violently and was accompanied by nystagmus. That's been almost 2 years ago. Get to a doc, if you really have BPPV, and get the Epley maneuver performed. Inner ear disorder with BPPV means you have crystals (called canaliths) that have fallen into the semi-circular canal. They need to get out of there and the Epley is successful for a huge percentage of people (north of 80%) in getting most of that junk out of there and relieving the spinning symptoms. No amount of "let it subside on its own and you'll get better" will help, and in my case it will probably hurt by causing damage to the inner ear. Run from any doc who tells you (without having had the Epley) that there's nothing you can do. Granted, once you've had the Epley and (hopefully) gotten most of those crystals out of there, you still might have some residual effects that will just take time to resolve.

T

See, Treefarmer, that is where I'm confused. My first ENT told me that I had BPPV and that there was nothing I could do about it. OK. It took me a few months to get an appointment w/ the neurologist and by the time I got there my symptoms had subsided so he thought maybe it was migraine related. I went back to him in march for a check up and my symptoms still were not visible when he did the magnified goggle test. But after about a week I was feeling bad again so I went back and when he did that same test I had nystigmus and spinning when I dropped to the right side. So he confirmed that I had BPPV but did tell me that there were exercises to do at home and the Epley he could do in the office. So I tried the exercises and nothing happened and then I went back for the Epley but I dropped something on the ground when I got home and I must have messed up the procedure when I bent over. STUPID! But eventually it got better so maybe it worked some. My question is this: How did I ever begin feeling better during the months in between the ENT and the neurologist if I had no treatment of BPPV? Do you think it is possible that the canaliths can reposition themselves and then later fall back out of place? I am constantly worried that my violent spinning will come back at any moment. Would my canaliths have to fall back out of place in order for that to happen? Because right now it is only those residual symptoms that are lasting and lasting. Thanks so much for reading.

Hi krisdance, I'm just going to comment here as well. BPPV can be self-limiting and end on its own where the otoliths or when they're in the canal (canaliths) move out of the canal on their own back into the utricle. That could happen with turning over in bed or having the head back and turning or however....but sometimes it clears out on its own. I've had it happen like that without treatment from 1966 till 1976. That's when I had my first treatments for BPPV (and those were exercises, not maneuvers). I then had the Semont maneuver done in the mid 80's when attacks happened but didn't have to do the exercises. I got immediate relief......attacks came back eventually, either months or years later.

What you experienced is normal -- self fixing. It's also normal for it to come back many times....but possibly not for many years. At least you'll have an option with the Epley or possibly the Semont..either to do it yourself at home or to have a doctor or therapist do it for you.
Your anxiety is understandable, I dread the day mine returns as well...but make sure you have options. Call the doctor and see if you'll be able to get an appointment quickly at your next attack? Make sure you clarify it with the person who makes the appointments. The reason I'm suggesting this is because the last specialist I saw since my doc retired stated to come when I was symptomatic. But, the woman making the appointments wouldn't let me get in for 2 weeks. It's just a suggestion for future reassurance (or insurance).

Yoga positions that could exacerbate it probably wouldn't be good if you're prone to BPPV. Maybe you could do modified ones?

Since you're having residual symptoms..would you be up to trying the modified Epley at home? There are some links from Scott or from Subs at the top of the message board.

I hope you feel fully better soon,
quincy

Thanks for reminding me of the epley maneuver. I had this done a couple of years ago at the doctors office, did not know what it was called. I found a site on the internet that shows how to do it at home along with the exercies which I have already started. The first time I did it last night, I was so incredibly dizzy tipping my head back and at an angle, I told my husband he has to be there when I do it again. No place to fall, just a little scary. Thanks again, I feel very encouraged that I can do something to stop this cycle. I usually get this about 1x/year, maybe less, maybe more but the residual lasts for so long, but maybe not this time!!!! Thinbones.....

My question is this: How did I ever begin feeling better during the months in between the ENT and the neurologist if I had no treatment of BPPV? Do you think it is possible that the canaliths can reposition themselves and then later fall back out of place? I am constantly worried that my violent spinning will come back at any moment. Would my canaliths have to fall back out of place in order for that to happen? Because right now it is only those residual symptoms that are lasting and lasting. Thanks so much for reading.[/QUOTE]

Kris,

I agree with quincy's post on this. In my case, there was some subsiding of symptoms after my first episode when I hadn't had the Epley yet and was acting on the "nothing you can do; just let it subside" advice of my GP. BUT, that didn't last long (maybe 6 weeks or so) when the residual effects of brain fog and all the other garbage kicked in. So, in my experience, even though I wasn't violently spinning anymore, there were still issues because the crystals were in there and unresolved. I do think you can probably reposition them or knock a few out (heck why would we do MEPs otherwise?!), but my ENT wisely told me that these crystals are somewhat akin to something even smaller and finer than the finest grains of sand, so the fact that I dislodged enough of them with the Epley to get the spins to go away (and still away after 15 mos., thank you very much), but that I occasionally have that "about to spin" weird sensation when doing the MEP just means there is probably residual junk in there that hasn't been dislodged yet.

As for your canaliths needing to fall back out for another attack to happen, it could also happen again, as mine did 6 mos. later, because some of the original crystals had not been dislodged and I turned my head or something and moved them into a more aggravating position. It didn't concern me though, because (a) I knew what it was and that it wasn't going to kill me, and (b) that I could go back to my ENT for the Epley, which is what I did. But it is true that the nature of BPPV as a diagnosis means crystals have fallen into the canal, so if you have BPPV symptoms, either more of them have fallen into the canal, or the ones you've already gotten in there are just moving around and aggravating you. Keep up on the MEPs or see your doc for an Epley if it keeps bothering you.

T

I have tried the Epley at home and the exercises with little relief. Does it take days or should I see my Doc? It is a little better but it has also been a few weeks since first episode. I can handle the vertigo, but my head always feels in a cloud while I have this, just not as sharp or alert(and tired) as I should be, is that common?? Guess this week if I don't have more relief, I will go to Internist. I also have some heart palpatations when I do Epley due to the severe dizziness, does anyone else experience this?? No pain, just feel heart beating fast and a little irregular....

Basically, after the first few weeks of onset passed last year, I have just had the residual symptoms of brain fog, memory loss, confusion, funny vision, lightheadedness, and quick spins. BUT they went away for about 2 months completely and then started up again to what they were WITHOUT ever having another episode of severe spinning. That's what I don't get. How did I get better and then get worse again w/o going thru the signature spinning that starts the episodes of BPPV?

thinbones,

I can relate BIGTIME about the rapid heartrate during the spinning when doing the MEP but, I only get it rarely when I get vertigo from turning in bed or head moving, etc. I think it's because we're making it happen and know what to expect -- anxiety probably.

There's another maneuver called the Gans (I think). It's like a Semont/epley combined, but might be more for the horizontal canal. I can check it out for you, but I can't post links.

The not so sharp or not so alert is common when having attacks or when being symptomatic. Those are classic signs as well when the brain isn't receiving information quickly enough I think. It's like being is super high stimulation mode because it seems that everything is in slow motion and registers a split second afterward. Like seeing things through a strobe light. But it's tiring because the brain is compensating for the loss of information. I can't explain it clinically -- Subs is the one for that.....but what you're having is normal. We call it being "off".

The crystals could be caught on the cupula or in a sludge group moving through the canals. It's possible that there's some stuff still in there. Are you having any sinus problems at this time as well? Is there a lot of low pressure weather where you live? Sometimes that can contribute to symptoms.

I've been vertigo free for almost 2 years. I still get off days, they're never more than one day in a row. I can sometimes get moderate relief from doing the MEP. I also take Sudafed almost daily (30mgs), but on bad days I take 60 mg. I was taking the 60mg tabs for almost the 2 years, but started to halve them last spring. I also find that if I spend lOOOOONG hours sleeping and too much salt definitely contribute to my off days. I've been suffering from a lot of post nasal drip -- we've had so much rain here and I 'm sure the mould count is ten-fold.

The MEP, you can do a few times in a row. Make sure you wait until the vertigo and eye movements have TOTALLY subsided before moving into each position. You should hold each position for at least 30 seconds.

I wouldn't suggest you do them AFTER you feel better.....but that's my personal opinion. I do however, think that eye exercises if they don't have you shaking your head too much the first few days would be good to continue.

I hope you feel better soon.

quincy

krisdance, that's also part of the BPPV -- inner ear/eye connections (unless you've possibly got another problem happening at the same time). Have you tried doing any maneuver yourself at home? That might help clear some of your symptoms.....especially if they're continual rather than sporatically. Anxiety can also be contributing to and/or exacerbating your symptoms as well as tight neck muscles from body compensation and stress from dealing with it.


I can relate to your symptoms as well -- I went through periods like that but only when my left ear was symptomatic (almost 3 years) ....never my right ear -- weird!

There's a book available through VEDA called "BPPV: What you Need to Know" by P.J. Haybach. Tons of great info in there. Worth looking into.

Hope you find relief soon,
quincy

quincy - what eye exercises do you mean?? I am unaware of these, maybe they would help. I live in a VERY humid environment (Gulf coast) and I wonder if that does contribute to this problem. I thought about taking Sudafed. Don't have bad allergies but you never know. Also if you know where I can go on the internet to see about the GAN exercise, I would be interested. Willing to try anything. As I said, I do feel a little better but far from normal. I don't get the rapid HR when I turn over in bed, just with the exercises but this may be anxiety as you said because I know it is going to happen. Again, thanks for your imput, much appreciated!!

Thinbones,

Re the exercises. Go to the first post "Information Archive" and go to the 3rd web link "exercises for BPPV".

They recommend that you do them 3 times a day for one week, one side at a time.