Hi all. Been lurking every now and then. As I've read on some posts, I've had to stop reading so often and get on with my life-work on getting better.

I am doing so much better (was Dx with BPPV then MAV). I am on citalopram (Celexa), was on 20mg's and going down for the last week or two-just taking a small bit off the end and staying there for another few weeks. Slow and steady.

I posted a few months ago that I am trying an "alternative" method for this dizzy business. I had a prescription in hand for propanolol (sp?) and the next day met with a chiropractic neurologist. I figured if this neurologist didn't work, then I had the propanolol as my back up plan. (I never used the prescription) The c.neurologist knows a LOT about dizziness, BPPV, VN etc. It was nice talking to a doctor that was personable, funny and actually KNOWLEDGEABLE about vertigo and its reasons for being.
The c.neurologist has me on some basic supplements, omega 3's, antioxidants, probiotics; a gluten free diet (I was resistant at first and now am 99.9% gluten free); does some adjustments to my neck and back.
At first he was giving me oxygen while he spun me in the chair VERY slowly. Then had me focusing on an object while he spun me, again VERY slowly.
After a few weeks of visits, then he had me lay down while he poured warm water in my ear. I was TOTALLY scared that he'd make me dizzy doing this, but he assured me that I wouldn't be. I guess the temp was not too drastic to cause dizziness. It was totally fine, never a spec of vertigo doing this.

I also have a computer program where I follow a red dot with my eyes only-it takes about 5 min/day and helps my eye tracking.
Now I am going only 1x/month and he just does the basic neck/spine adjustments, staying on the supplements, eye exercises, and gluten free diet. I am exercising again which was what I missed most.

He mentioned that my adrenals were fatigued from all the stress I was under with all the dizziness and it was all a vicious cycle.
He felt my right brain was not firing like my left brain was and that was causing the dizziness. This resulting from a car accident I was in years ago. During my evaluation (where he did some things like I did at vestibular testing) he told me about this left brain/right brain thing and told me he could tell me how long I've had this injury. I didn't tell him how long ago the car accident was (it was 16years ago). He told me I had had it about 15-17 years.

I needed to rest my eyes/brain with a visor hat (baseball cap) and sunglasses when it was really light or fluorescent lights. I wore the hat religiously for a couple of months and now only wear it when I'm especially tired (or have a bad hair day!!)
I am hoping to be either really low or off the citalopram by the end of the summer; and have my right brain as strong as the left. I just went today for an adjustment, and my progress has been significant.


I know this isn't the route for everyone but it has worked for me. Thanks for reading. I wish everyone well. I am just really pleased to be enjoying life again.

Lovely post. Great day for me to pop in here and see how well you are doing. I'm glad you took action and are finding relief from the Chiro. My sister goes to one as she has a slipped disc in her back from an injury years ago. She swears by him. I get a lot of neck and arm pain and have thought about going to one, but am lost as to how to go about finding a good one and then there is that fear of them causing more pain. That is an interesting approach he took with you. Good for you with the gluten-free diet; that is so hard to do. I bet you've even lost some weight from it (something I could stand to do after the past 3 years).

Good for you; thanks so much for posting. I'd love to know how you are doing months down the line after coming off the Celexa.

Take care,
Gloria

It's great that you are doing well, isn't it likely that the citalopram is doing the job though? As gloria said it will be interesting to see if things continue to get better without it.

I had never actually heard of a 'chiropractic neurologist' before as it sounds like an oxymoron. From reading it appears they are chiropractors with no formal training in neurology - but use the neurologist term to lend credibility to what they do. Just thought people should know this before thinking they are qualified neurologists, as I didnt know myself either.

Adam,
the research that I have done (internet) seems to show that chiro neurologists have additional neurology training as well as taking an exam to be able to call it their specialty.
The guy that I see has taught seminars to MD neurologists and in my limited knowledge, seems to know his stuff-at least in my mind he appears to be knowledgeable enough for me to trust him.

I too, am eager to see if it's the citalopram or the chiropractor that is helping me. Either way, I know it is something that may not be for everyone-but I am willing to find out for myself.
It just seems that the dizziness has really improved after treatments; and at least my stomach and digestive system is a lot happier.

The training is not neurology training that an MD would do though, which takes many years (at least here - 3 years minimum but up to 6 years in addition to the MD study and training).

From the ACNB site

The population of certificants shall be Doctors of Chiropractic who have completed specialist level training in neurology from a chiropractic college, university, institution, foundation or agency whose program is approved by the continuing education committee of the Commission for the Accreditation of Graduate Education in Neurology of a minimum of 300 credit hours and who have demonstrated competency in both written and practical examinations administered by the Board in the specialty of neurology.

sure, it's not an MD training, but they're not claiming to be an MD
They do not do surgery or prescribe drugs. They just have a deeper understanding of neurology than the typical chiropractor.
All I can say is in my experience I am pleased. The treatment I get from him has been a good balance (pardon the pun!) for me between your typical MD neurologist and a "regular" chiropractor.

Hi Wannarun,

I also see a chiro and feel that the neck adjustments help me as well - whether it is because it just loosens things up in the upper cervical region and makes this dizzy thing less likely to go off (perhaps the adjustments take the pressure off the nerves) I don't know but it seems to work - or maybe it's all placebo. Also I'm on citalopram as well and for me it was very powerful in cleaning up this dizzy, migrainous mess. Without it, I doubt anything would have changed much for me ... it would have got far worse if anything.

So on that note and from what we all know through hard facts in the science literature, (don't mean to be a wet blanket) I would suggest that you really pay close attention to the SSRI reduction first and foremost and watch how you're coping as you reduce the dose. I'm glad that you feel well looked after by your chiro as that in itself is very helpful knowing there is someone in a professional position who can give you support. But take this thing with your right and left brain not working equally with a very large grain of salt even though he says he has some sort of neurological training. I've never come across anything to suggest that this ever occurs or would account for dizziness. I would say your entire brain is working equally hard to sort out the dizziness.

Did he give you any specific reason for avoiding gluten? The whole "avoid wheat" thing always throws up a red flag for me. Drives me crazy how most alternative therapists treat it like some sort of evil protein (sugar is usually second on their hit list). As far as I know, it is only a problem if you have confirmed coeliac disease - a condition that can be tested for. Just be a shame if your missing out on gluten-containing foods for no reason. Are you avoiding the classic and well-known migraine triggers?

Anyway, hope you keep feeling better and better. Keep me up-to-date on your SSRI reduction. I've been doing the same thing but it's been no smooth trip that's for sure.

Best ... Scott :cool:

Scott,
Thanks for the reply.
I am very aware of the woahs of chiropractors. I am cautiously optimistic and am absolutely nervous about the citalopram reduction. I can only hope that the chiro thing is working and really have nothing to lose by trying it. At least my insurance covers the visits, and I am getting some good quality supplements out of it!
The gluten thing was very difficult for me to go for...so I started small with cutting the bread and cereal...I was having diarrhea every single day for over 6 months. Once I started cutting the gluten, it started going away. I've even tested myself, and when I eat the gluten, the stomach starts up again.
I totally understand the skepticism I get from most people, and believe me, I have a healthy dose of it too. But I'd really rather have chiropractic visits than taking yet another drug (propanolol) with all it's side effects (which I am highly sensitive to).
The citalopram absolutely helped me get on my feet...literally. The valium and ativan that other docs threw at me had me so sick in bed for a week, it took me all summer to get strong again. I credit the citalopram for helping me out with that.
I am also on a high dose of omega 3's, which after a month of taking them, really calmed my brain down. I used to feel decent, but still always had my mind racing and not able to think straight. After about 3 weeks of taking the omega 3's, my brain feels calmer and more able to think things through. I have read great things about omega 3's and anxiety. I'm hoping that by being on these, and reducing the citalopram slowly, that I'll be OK in that department. I started the omega 3's just about 6 weeks ago.
Hope all goes well for you. I keep all you guys in my thoughts as I go through this, and hope you all find the right thing that works for you.

propranolol is a rough drug.. no doubt about that.. makes you feel like you're barely alive :)

I've had to stop reading so often and get on with my life-work on getting better

Best thing you can do is to continue getting on with your life and not dwell on this junk too much. It doesn't matter if it is the med or the chiro that has got you to where you are as long as you stay there and continue to follow this path. Don't over analyze it too much. Continue to concentrate on the fact that you are better.

FYI - Just because you test negative for gluten doesn't mean you don't have a gluten sensitivity. Many of the ways that it is tested are not done accurately. The only way to detect a sensitivity is to check for antibodies in your blood which is not typically done correctly by doctors.

Take care,
Gloria

Gloria,
Thanks for the perspective. It's easy to get lost in the "what if" scenarios.
You are absolutely right-who cares what it is, just keep going and get on with life!

I wish that for you all!
Thanks.