Subs,
I know that you have answered this question dozens and dozens of times but I've gone back to February posts and can't seem to find the answer and panic has taken over so I have to ask.

Question...what do I do? I am in month 10 of recovery from BPPV w/ Menieres like symptoms. Basically I had BPPV but something else going on which was undiagnosed. I haven't had any problems w/ vertigo past the first week of onset. However, this morning when I turned over in bed something was just not right. No spinning but something felt off. I'm in panic mode because I fear the vertigo monster is lurking. Also, both of the episodes I have had with BPPV (first in '04 second in '05) hit me in early spring so I'm really scared since here we are in springtime agaub. The docs tried to find an allergy connection but no luck. I haven't fully recovered from this last episode and now another maybe? I'm at 90% but still dealing with some visual stuff and on and off brain fog. Should I begin doing the MEP now as a precaution or will that do damage? Also, if I don’t know what side is the bad side do I the maneuver on both sides and how many times and how many consecutive days should I do the MEP?

How do you determine which is the bad side? This morning I was laying on my left side and first turned my body to the right followed by my head when I got the weird feeling. Does this mean it's my left side that's bad?

I appreciate your help.

Hi Adrienne,
hope you don't mind me jumping in here, I am sure Subs will respond also.
I know exactly how you feel, this time last year I was in a similar situation, the only difference being that I know which ear is affected. I would say, go and do the MEP right away, but knowing which ear to do it for is probably something that should be determined first.
I don't think you can make anything worse by doing the MEP, even on the wrong side, but I don't think it would be as effective if you did both ears (just guessing on that one). When I had the BPPV initially, but before I discovered the MEP, I could tip my head up and off at 45 degrees to the right and I would get a little "blip" in vision, whereas if I did it on the left nothing would happen. My right ear was affected, which was determined from an ENG from two years previous to this when I had a bad case of labs (73% vestibular function loss in R ear). I surmised that the BPPV must have occured in the damaged ear and was correct.
I think Subs has posted a long time ago some tests you can do, one being a marching on the spot with eyes closed, to determine the affected side...I just don't know how dependable they are.
I really hope you can get to the bottom of this, doing the MEP was a life saver for me and has continued to help when in decomp as I often will do it "just to make sure". I have not had any vertigo or actual spinning since doing the MEP the first time, but have had on occasion a very "off" feeling, like the vertigo could come on at any time, this is when I do the MEP and it helps me to deal with the symptoms, both mentally and physically.
FC

Hey FC,
Of course I don't mind you jumping in. It's always so nice to hear from you. Thanks for the response. I'll give it a go tonight when I get home from work.
By the way...you nailed it when you said its a very "off" feeling when you fear the vertigo could come at anytime. That's exactly it. When I turned over it was like the "swish" feeling that my body/head gets with the vertigo but w/o the spinning. Now, the back of my head feels heavy too which used to be consistent with the vertigo. Hopefully Subs will respond with the exercises to determine which is the bad side. I'm guessing it's my left because my ENG although normal determined that there was a weakness in my left side.
Again, thanks. I'll be in touch.
How are YOU feeling?

adrienne.

Hi Adrienne

Agree with Firechick on the MEP

On determining the side---if the ENG showed a weakness on the left side--then that would normally be the side with the problem

---as for the exercises---think---u maybe thinking about the one where u---march in place---with ur eyes---closed---counting backward---from---100----by "two's"---(make sure ur in a safe place or have someone with u)----u---will normally---turn---to the side---with the problem

----its not 100%---but---lot of doc's use it---during first office visits

---also---when this first happened---if u had---vertigo---when u---laid down on one side---but not the other---then it is the side with that u got the vertigo on---since it would be the ear rocks in that ear---that would cause the vertigo

Remember it---would not be unusual---to have the rocks out---and still feel off on occasion---since---even with the rocks out---u feel that way---occasionally---when u make movements---that ur brain---has not fully compensated for---yet---because---u have not made the movements---during VRT---yet---or often enough---yet

:cool:

Subs,
Thanks for the quick reply.
Do you think it is possible to have BPPV in both ears? Like I said the feeling happend when I turned my body from the left side to the right side and then my head quickly followed. That would mean my right side is bad but the eng showed a 13% unilateral weakness in my left. The ENT said that still qualified as "normal" which I now question. Needless to say I don't see him anymore.
And, if I do the MEP on both sides will it be less effective?
I plan to do the marching in place test tonight once my husband comes home to watch. I did this test when the vertigo first hit last spring and I turned in a complete circle to the left! I was so proud when I finished thinking that I had marched in place then my husband told me what really happened.
Thanks also for the reminder that I can still feel off when making movementnts that my brain has not yet compensated for. Knowing that may help me sleep with less fear tonight.

adrienne.

One other thing...
The Epley video in the stickies...Is video 1 the Semont and video 2 the Epley? Sorry but I am a bit confused.

And another thing...
I just did the march in place test and get this...I moved about 3 feet forward and slightly to the RIGHT about 6 inches. Does that indicate any real problem? Like I said last time back in May I moved 360 degrees to the left. Oh no, now what do I do? Subs, are there any other tests to determine which is the bad ear?

adrienne.

Hi Adrienne

Sounds like---the rocks are---out and compensation is continuing---the ENG(13% weakness) & the previous marching in place indicates a left problem

---Video 2 is the MEP

Sounds like a "blip"---not unusual---for that to happen during the compensation period---even after full compensation---ur going to get a "blip" or two---since it is virtually impossible to---make every movement---the brain needs---to insure no "blips" occur---I'm mean---if the research is correct and it took ur first 12 years to establish it all---stands to reason---that---ur not going to get them all reestablish---in such a relatively short time....

:cool: