Hi everyone,

Scotsman and everyone else who is doing MEP for BPPV - I have a question. I've been following the visual vestibular exercises, but I'm not sure that they are working. I keep having set backs, today being nightmarish (I think that I may have a cold coming on which always causes problems :-(...)

However, I came across the postings about the MEP and I wanted to know if anyone can offer me some advice. I have been assessed and they told me that I have left beating nystagmus, and I tend to feel that I am veering to the left when I am walking. If I do have BPPV (I have never tried the MEP and have been suffering from dizzies for over 5 yrs - check my story posting out for the full details), should I be doing the MEP for left ear BPPV (ie starting by turning head to left), or would I have right ear BPPV? If you get the MEP the wrong way around, does that mean it won't work?

Thanks very much!

Dave :wave:

ps by the way - I have cause to celebrate - I have been referred to the neurotology centre where Linda Luxon and Rosalyn Davies are based... and I want to give a massive big thanks to all of you who provide such an amazing bedrock of support.... this is a wondrous community!

Hi Dave,

Fraid I don't know anything about BPPV as fortunately it's one ear problem I've never had, sure someone else will give some info. Did, however, want to say, congrats on your referral, that's fantastic.

best,

Dave

...."should I be doing the MEP for left ear BPPV (ie starting by turning head to left), or would I have right ear BPPV? If you get the MEP the wrong way around, does that mean it won't work?"....

Yep---left ear-----normally---if you do it for the right ear---and you have a left ear prob---it will/should not help.....but with this junk---who knows for sure.

Congrats...on getting into L/L---she and her group---one of the best---in a field where few are........



:cool:

Dizzy Dave:

Where is this specialist located?

Howard

Hi Howie,
They are based in London Queens Square at the National Hospital for Neurology. I was give advice about this clinic from other people on this forum: I'm not entirely sure who is going there, but as far as I know this clinic is meant to be excellent.
Cheers,
Dave

I'm afraid I'm about to make it even more confusing for you Dave :confused:

I developed BPPV just over 4 years ago (violent vertigo when I turned my head to the right when sitting or lying down, could not even attempt to roll on to my right side in bed or even turn my head even ever so slightly in that direction - it would also happen if I tilted my head back to look at something, e.g. a high shelf), so it was pretty obvious I had BPPV in my right ear! Although I didn't know what it was at the time, and the doctors didn't seem interested, just kept telling me it would go away on its own - it wasn't until I did some research on the internet that I realised what was wrong. Anyway, I'm wandering off the main point here! I finally managed to get a referral to an ENT and he diagnosed right ear BPPV, I had right beating nystagmus when undergoing the caloric and other tests. However when I was walking, I always had a strong sensation of veering or being pulled towards the LEFT, never the right, which I always thought was odd . I guess that doesn't help you much though, does it?

Do you notice the vertigo comes on when you turn your head a particular way? I guess a simple way to test at home to see which ear is affected would be to lie down on your back looking straight up at the ceiling, then turn to head to one side and see if that triggers the vertigo, and then try the other side. I was OK lying on my left side and not too bad on my back but as soon as I turned my head past the vertical towards the right, no matter how slight the movement, the violent spinning would start.

I ALWAYS sleep on my left side or my back, never on my right side, I was so petrified of triggering another attack that I trained myself for months with pillows behind my back so I physically could not roll to that side and now I never roll to that side, which is probably really bad for compensation. I have noticed in several recurrent BPPV attacks earlier this year that I would wake up feeling a bit "odd" and then as soon as I tried to roll off my left side or lift my head off the pillow, the violent spinning was there. I could not even lay on my back, lying dead still on my left side was the only way to settle it down. I know a lot of people, doctors included, say that if you remain in the same position that triggered the BPPV attack, that the spinning will stop within 30 seconds to a minute or so. Maybe that's the case for some but not for me unfortunately, the spinning just keeps going and going and going and I have to move out of that position before I throw up! Believe me, I've tried it for as long as I could stand it and the spinning did not stop or even decrease at all.

Having said that, I've found that only happens during an actual vertigo attack. At the times when I've used the MEP or Brandt-Darrof exercises, the spinning will settle down after about 30 seconds or so, you just have to hang in there! So why it will stop in those positions but not during an actual attack, I don't know, because you're doing the same thing in provoking the vertigo. I used to use the Brandt-Darrof (BD) exercises and then I came across the MEP on this site which I used for a while. However, I had 3 severe BPPV attacks in 4 months recently and found that the MEP seemed to be less effective and, in fact, did not really help at all during the last (and worst) attack. The spinning was just as severe each time I tried it and did not decrease at all. I then resorted to the Semont manouevre which is a more "arduous" exercise but it was only then that things seemed to start coming back under control.

Since that time (March 31), I have done the BD exercises every couple of days to see if they work as a "preventative" measure - I hate to say this, in case I jinx myself, but I have not had another BPPV attack since (touch wood). I just have the 24/7 dizziness and visual problems to deal with (secondary diagnosis of possible MAV too). The VRT guy recommended the BD rather than the MEP simply because he said everyone's ear canals are sloped at slightly different angles and if you don't get the angle right when doing the MEP, it won't be very effective. There are a lot of people on the board who have found the MEP extremely helpful for them, so I guess you just have to find what works for you. I guess in my case I just need to do something more "physical" to keep these little buggers at bay!

Anyway, good luck with the referral, hope all goes well.

Julie

Hey there
the MEP saved me, give it a go. based on what you have said, go with the left side down first. Follow the instructions, three times in a 24 hour period every day for a week and just see what happens.
When I was told to do it, by the second time in the first day I noticed the vertigo had changed and on the third time that day there was not a trace of vertigo and hasn't been since!
You have nothing to lose by doing it.
Once you get rid of those ear rocks out of place, you can get on with the healing process. I still felt off, very foggy for a while and slowly was on and off, now more off than on. It has been a year and am hoping to see the tail end of this very soon
Good luck

"Scotsman and everyone else who is doing MEP for BPPV - I have a question. I've been following the visual vestibular exercises, but I'm not sure that they are working. "

hello: new here, think I may have this, but not sure what these exercises are, can someone please explain to me? Thank you :confused:

For Anxiety27
There is great info on the very first thread on this board (sticky post) with all sorts of info for BPPV sufferes including some video links for the Modified Epeley Maneuver (MEP).
Hope this helps!

Thanks. Could anyone tell me if BPPV comes and goes, because mine is for the moment gone! But I get it periodically?

BPPV comes and goes and for some it stays with varying degrees of intensity and symptoms.

I've had it a long time....39 years. Started in my right ear..very basic/classic symptoms which lasted anywhere from a week to months. Then after a bad cold and sinus infection it started in my left ear and I had 2 years of consistent symptoms..some which I never imagined...then a year if intermittent symptoms. It eventually cleared and has mostly come back a bit during colds.

When you get it...do the MEP yourself..or the Semont maneuver (which worked splendidly on my right ear).

Which ear does the BPPV affect?

GREAT to hear you're not symptomatic at this time.

quincy

:) I did some research and found an exercise called Brandt- something- that is supposed to alleviate vertigo symptoms, but couldn't find those that you mentioned, could you please tell me what they are?

Also, does ear fullness and BPPV go together, cause I have that too?

Hi....what exactly do you mean by fullness? like it sounds weird when you talk, like a reverberation (sp)..like you're far away..etc?

You'd have to google semont. It shows you the modified Semont maneuver plus the Modified epley maneuver. I can't post links.

I take 30mg amount of Sudafed every morning. I will admit that I don't have that problem since taking it (unless I have a cold, and I increase the amount).

The feeling would be from the eustachian tubes..I don't think it's directly a part of BPPV, but I think that it might be another dysfunction, or sinus problems, or allergies or immune response..etc. Many people with vestibular problems also complain about sinus/eustachian problems as well.

I have a friend who drinks stinging nettle tea one or two cups a day and he says it's helped his meniere's.

I don't do the brandt-Daroff (sp?) exercises at all. Don't see it as beneficial ...but that's me. I'm sure many see it as very helpful.

Have you been diagnosed yet?

quincy

I have had "fullness" in my ear for a year now. Thats what my ENT calls it. He actually said it is part of my TMJ? Not really sure if I have it, because I dont really get head aches, just jaw joint pain, ear aches, and fullness. It just feels like my ear is stuffy, but doesnt effect my hearing, which I thought it did, until he administered a hearing test. Its driving me nuts though. I can't stand it! Sometimes I get light headed also, not sure if they are linked. But I have been getting some vertigo lately... only when laying down. I have another ENT appt shortly.