Hi Subs
I am in panic mode this morning, weird stuff happening. I had an excellent day yesturday, no symptoms, feeling really close to normal and very happy. I rode my bike to work last night as I was full of energy. I have been able to work through the residual symptoms as my balance is good and I find when I am busy and working I don't notice the symptoms as much. I came home this morning from my night shift and felt pretty tired, (had a quiet night fortunately) and when I got home I jumped into bed with my husband and daughter, as I lay back I felt that horribly familiar feeling and then I actually saw movement. I tipped my head back to the right which is my bad position (bppv is in right ear) and things started to move, not quite violent spinning). So has this come back? I immediately panicked and did an epeley manoeuver, which was okay, no spinning, just the feeling that it might come on in the first position.
So my question to you is, when you said in the last question I posted that you do three sets of three of the EM, how many times a day and how far in between? How many days in a row? I really want to nip this in the bud, and get at it, but don't want to overdo it. I really thought after yesturday things were going to finally clear up.
You said you are a year without symptoms, did you have recurrences prior to that and if so how often did they occur and did the severity lesson or change each time?
I am so frustrated right now, I am trying to deal with the anxiety that accompanies these symptoms. My job is such that I can't have any of these symptoms present, I have to have my wits about me for firefighting and have been very lucky compared to most on this board as I have been able to work again after my intial attacks. I have not had any trouble driving or functioning in some pretty intense situations, so I know I could have this a lot worse, but the thought of having to stop doing what I love scares the life out of me.
Any more of your insight would be much appreciated.
thanks again.

Hi Firechick

...."insight would be much appreciated"......

Well this stuff varies so much from person to person---it is hard to generalize---but---with BPPV---not so much with Lab or VN etc...it does seem to follow a historical trajectory......and my BPPV prob was "right side" only also....so...

Pretty normal BPPV---kind of "blip" sort of thing

---excellent progress---actually---compared to the norm----the fact that you have this---and can function---in the type of job---you have---keeping your wits about you---when---everyone else---is prob losing it---is amazing---that type of--performance---with this junk---would not---even be occurring---if you were not---in the process of dumping this junk.

...."So has this come back?"...

No not really---when we talk/discuss "ear rocks" we & people tend to think of them as one piece---and they can be---but---more then likely---they(rocks) are splinters---prob---one, two, three, etc...(can be one--but the material they are made of/from--argues for fragments)...in any case---just takes time---for them to dissolve/attach---depending on what theory you buy into...plus---depending on your movements---after the MEP---they can drift out---it sounds like---one might have done that...the fix is just to put it back with the MEP---three.....


...."I immediately panicked and did an epeley manoeuver, which was okay, no spinning, just the feeling that it might come on in the first position.".....

That is what you have to do----good sign---no spinning---and---great---on only first postion....your dealing with the "inner ear" which is smaller then the size of a "dime"---has very little capability to heal it self---just have to--stick with it----until rocks stick/dissolve---and for 99.99% of BPPV they do...

...." you said in the last question I posted that you do three sets of three of the EM, how many times a day and how far in between? How many days in a row? "....

After---the 13/14 months---that it took to fully compensate(think it took about 10/12 to dump the rocks) I would do the MEP---if I had a happening---like yours---usually happened after I worked under the car, laying on my back installing something in the house...etc....I would feel strange---knew it was time for MEP---in the beginning of that part of the recovery period---would get a slight spin on first maneuver of the set---but not any of the other maneuvers of that set...so if I did not get anything on the second MEP set---I would do three more sets---over a 24 hour period---and if I did not get anything during those---I would not do any more MEP's---Except for one set---once or twice a week---the purpose of those---were to just double check---to see if the rocks were still out----since if the rocks slipped back---the MEP would show it---with a spin on the first manuver....kind of...continued that routine...until---no matter what movement---I did never resulted in--any strange feeling.....to this day---I continue to do one or two MEP's---a week---just to----keep a check on this junk---but for the past 24 months---nothing has occurred.

..."You said you are a year without symptoms, did you have recurrences prior to that and if so how often did they occur and did the severity lesson or change each time?".....

Think I answered this above---but---it's been two years---yep had recurrences prior to that----depending on---what movements I had made---during time up to the recurrence---maybe once or twice per week---but I'm retired---so with your movements---could be more often

---but---it is important to recognize---that these are not set backs---just---a "blip" and part of the process of dumping this junk---there is no way to speed it up

---and if you were not well along in the process of dumping this junk---we would be having a completely different conversation---since---there would be no "I felt good all day & then when I took this position I.......(fill in the blanks)"..... " I have not had any trouble driving or functioning in some pretty intense situations, so I know I could have this a lot worse,..." etc...

..."but the thought of having to stop doing what I love"scares the life out of me."......

That's not likely to happen at this stage or your recovery----so relax---the probabilities are "it is not likely to happen"--as for--"scared"----reserve that---one---for.......(take your pick---but this ain't one of them---and after 30 years in submarines---that one I got "fully calibrated"---and---.I know you "understand" what I mean.....

Your doing good--continue to use the right stuff for this type of fire---and---stay focused---on winning---fires almost out!!!!!!

:cool:

Subs30 (now I get the name!)
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!...
You have no idea how relieved I am to read your post. I know deep down that I am going to beat this, it is only when in my immediate panic upon feeling that vertigo sensation that I loose my focus.
I will be following though with the EM, (another set in an hour!)
Am feeling much calmer now and have tried to remain active around the house and have no more visual blips upon moving my head, so far so good.
I want to add how supportive you have been and how much appreciated it is. Even though you have not had any of your own symptoms for so long, you still remain active on this board to help others which is so amazing and generous.
Thanks again for helping my put out this fire!

Hi Firechick


...."Thank you!".....

Your welcome---not a problem---glad it helped!

..."immediate panic upon feeling that vertigo sensation that I loose my focus"...

Yep---vertigo---will do a number on you/anybody--your brain--invokes it's survival check list---and says---I'm out of here---ask any F-14/18 Jock---and their in great shape---with special flight suits to prevent it---to boot....never would have guessed there was any thing that was labeled as "benign" by the medical types---that would give you the same effect as pulling "G's" in a "spin"

I forgot to mention in the previous post---just something to keep in mind---in terms of the physics---of the junk---

one of the things that slows/impedes---movement of the junk out of the canal is---that the fluid inside the canal--is quite thick---sort of like "soft soap"---vice "water"---so it takes a little doing and redoing---some times to get those rocks/splinters/fragments---out of there...dispite what the medical types---say---one of the reasons---that some of them--use a vibrator--on the side of your head---as---the do the Epley, whatever....

When you use the term "EP"---I'm taking that to mean "MEP"????

...."no more visual blips upon moving my head, so far so good."....


Excellent----a very good sign---just try to keep in mind----that it is a "two step"----rocks out---then full compensation can happen----oh...almost forgot---when the rocks are out(forever)---for me there was "two phases" to compensation: (all rocks out)

---"first phase of compensation"---slight unbalance--in/with/when--making certain movements---with an associated unpleasant/strange feeling(not spin or anything close)

----"second phase of compensation"----still a very, very very slight unbalance---in certain movements---but---associated feeling was "not" unpleasant/strange---more like---the feeling you get from a ride at an amusement park---sort of---"wow"---where do I get another ticket---LoL!!

Then---it became "history"......for me----not saying---that is the way it will go for you---but---at least you got another "been there done that" data point...

Stay safe!

:cool:

SUBS

----"second phase of compensation"----still a very, very very slight unbalance---in certain movements---but---associated feeling was "not" unpleasant/strange---more like---the feeling you get from a ride at an amusement park---sort of---"wow"---where do I get another ticket---LoL!!

Laughed a lot reading the above. I only hope I get to that point where this disorder is a "thrill" rather than a pain in the ****!!

Good to see you on here.

xxx :wave:

Aww wow Subs your posts are SO informative and helpful.
Thank you :):):)

Keep smiling!!

Katkin xxx

Thank You to Subs for all this information, and for all the good questions on BPPV. :) I have another if you don't mind: Question for Subs or anyone else in recovery, is it normal for a BPPV sufferer to have symptoms increase when looking down? I notice when I do a lot of bending and cleaning that I feel more off, not dizzy but off if you know what I mean? I think the crystals ok, but like Katkin asked in another post how do we really know. I still have slight nystagmus. In my acute stage I could not walk straight but that faded overtime still had dizziness, now still have the nystagmus. Was that one of your final symptoms to go away?

I have been dealing with a vestibular disorder for over a year. Had the epley done in December and things have improved. I still get a lot of brain fog, but I am doing more and I have noticed a coorelation between doing more and the out of it sensations I get. I think it must be the brain compensating as I push it. It seems like a long haul and you start to feel better but some days not so good. I get so worried it will never go away. I feel so strange sometimes. I push it so people around me think I am ok, but I feel pretty messed up still. I have to really remind myself of the progress I have made. Lights don't bother me as much and that is a big improvement!! I can also read more. Crowds don't bother me as much.....I smile more...

Thank to everyone on the board, you are my heroes and inspiration. This inner ear is our everest.

Jade :angel:

Since I posted this message and listened to the great advice, I have been doing the MEP sets religiously and am feeling much much better.
I had a couple of hours yesterday when I looked at my husband and said "I feel normal right now, how can I make this moment last forever!?" It was wonderful and a great indicator that things are going to get better. A little foggy last night but that's probably because I took advantage and did quite a lot (went for a hour long paddle with my husband, began refinishing an old dresser, raked the lawn...). I realize now that there will be "Blips" along the way as Subs mentioned, and the key is not to let them get to you and to keep the anxiety at bay as we all know it only makes our symptoms worse. I am prepared for more bad days, but am so happy that I feel like the fog is lifting.
For Jade, I have never had symptoms when looking down, but do when I come back up again. Is that maybe what you are feeling? I suppose those pesky ear rocks can go just about anywhere and cause different positional problems. Have you been doing the Modified Epeley Manoeuver at home? This is what has helped me through this (and with the help of others on this board!)
Good luck!

Hi Jade

...."normal for a BPPV sufferer to have symptoms increase when looking down?"....

Well----this junk---affects no two people the same way---but---yep---had that---and also when I looked up---called "Top Shelf" vertigo...usually the set of vision VRT's they give you to do---takes care of it---takes a little time....

...."Was that one of your final symptoms to go away?".....

Yep!! in fact---the last!! For me

:cool:

Thanks Subs,

makes me feel better knowing that nystagmust does not just diappear. I am going to keep doing the modified epley as well!!

JAde :angel: