For the last three weeks I’ve been getting up in the morning and I’m light-headed and off balance. After an hour or two I start feeling better but always have that off balance feeling. This past weekend I was disassembling my child’s tent and was laying flat on my back with my head up and everything started spinning. As soon as I stood up I started feeling better. Four days ago I went to my dentist and was in the chair for over an hour for a filling. After I got up from the chair I could barely walk to the checkout counter because I was off balance and lightheaded. I was able to drive myself home but it was difficult. After an hour or so I started feeling a little better. I went to my GP two days ago and he’s calling it BPPV. He did what I believe was the Hallpike (sp?) test. Had me lay on my back with my head hanging over the exam table and then tilted my head and lifted me up rapidly. When my head was to the right I could feel the spinning when I was lifted up. I have an appt. next week with an ENT. I hope this ends soon because it’s making me feel bad. I never had the off balance last this long.

It does sound like it's BPPV. To treat BPPV they do a manoeuvre that is called the Epley maneuver. If you want more information on BPPV and the Epley or if you want to try the self-treatment for BPPV (called Modified Epley Maneuver) go to the first thread called "Information archives".

I agree with Mica. As a veteran of the BPV wars, it certainly sounds like what you have. BPV is definitely characterized by "positional vertigo," hence the "PV" part of the equation. I would check with the ENT you're seeing about having them perform the Epley maneuver while you're there in the office. It only takes about 10 minutes and has a high success rate. You may feel a little woozy afterward, and possibly for a few days (everyone responds differently), but you need to get those little crystals that have come loose and fallen into the semi-circular canal of your inner ear out of there, which is what the Epley helps to do.

Good luck!

T

Congratulations on having an "on the ball" doctor.

Dental visits can definitely set them off.

I've had it since 1965 after a severe fall (causing whiplash). They come and go....and if you can learn to treat them yourself...you need never get in the cycle of specialty docs who can only see you when you're nonsymptomatic (definitely sarcastic and life-lesson found out after my awesome doc retired!!!).

Do you know which ear it's in? If so....try the MEP yourself.

quincy