HELP! Is there ever an end to this!?!

[centaur1201]

Hi everybody! I was wondering is there ever an end to this dizzy crap? Does it EVER get better? I have been having bouts of vertigo since Oct. "06, I went to a specialist a little over four weeks ago and the Dr. diagnosed me with BPPV (rather hastely, I thought. He asked me very few questions, and shrugged off some of my symptoms.)They did the Epley procedure on me and gave me a sheet with instructions to do it again if I got dizzy. Well, I did get dizzy again, and I have been doing the MEP at least once a day ( because I work I can not do it three times as suggested) for about two weeks now. The thing is I am still feeling woozey (like I'm swaying all the time), and a couple of times the room has tilted away rather violently while I was just walkingdown the isle at work! How long until I feel better? There have been a few days where I feel almost 100% ( and there was a an almost two week stretch with out the "boat" sensation but then it came back one day.)but it always seems to be lurking around the corner waiting to strike at any time for no apparent reason. I've done alot of reading on this site, and am starting to wonder if I have Migrane Associated Vertigo. I have had migranes in the past, so who knows. Does the MEP really lead to correcting this problem. I have heard people talking about a Compensation Period. What is that and what is to be expected fromt hat physically and time wise what am I looking at as far as getting better? I am very impatient to get back to feeling normal!!! I've done so much already and nothing seems to be helping. I've cut way back on the caffine (one cup of chai tea in the A.M. ) Cut out salt, upped the potassium, I'm taking apple cider vinager tablets, and have tried ginger. Nothing seems to take care of this. Any input and answers to my questions would be highly appreciated!!!! (Firechick, Wowwwweeee,& wannarun - are you out there? Your wisdom is great as you all seem to know about what is going on as you've delt with this for some time.) HELP!!!

[wannarun]

I understand your frustration. I have dealt with this on and off for 12 years now. This time it has stuck around Waaaay too long. I usually was fine in a day or two. And I went years without any sign of dizziness. So it was disappointing to have it strike again last July.
The Epley has definitely helped me. I am finding that I do not get the headaches as I was getting before. I sometimes feel a bit off, but certainly not like before.
The compensation thing that is mentioned over and over is, as I understand it, the retraining of your brain to balance itself. So once the particles are back where they belong in your ear, then your brain will say "oh, so this is how I need to stay straight" etc. Some people need to do special exercises to help this along (what you see as VRT or Vestibular Rehab Therapy). Some don't.
If you aren't convinced about your diagnosis, go see another doctor (ENT). If you haven't already, get some vestibular tests done. ENG, rotation chair are two very common ones that will either confirm or change what you've been told. I had them done, and, although not the most pleasant thing to go through, not as bad as I thought it would be.
Being a (working) mom and having all the responsibilities that go along with it is not conducive to being dizzy! Hope you have some help on the homefront that will help the stress level and anxiety this disorder brings on lower than it has to be.

[centaur1201]

Thank you wannarun for your reply.
I've had this sensation happen to me before (i.e. tossing my head and I the room slides sideways with lingering sensation of the room still moving around me lasting for about 15 min to half hour. ) but like youthis time it is hanging around for a long time. I am 37, and am starting to wonder if it is related to hormones. Sometime soon I plan to go to a DR. and get some blood tests to check hormone levels and the like, just to rule out some things that I've been wondering about. Do you ever get a sense of stuffiness in your ear? Any ringing? I have noticed that on a bad day I have these symptoms. I have been sleeping upright and that seems to help me not get that full feeling in my ear. On my days off I have been doing the MEP 3x's a day as recommended. I am willing to do ANYTHING it takes to get better! My husband does not want me on drugs, and I am not big on popping pills, but in this case I think that if it was an option I would do it.

[wannarun]

Centaur1201,
We seem very similar. I too have wondered if my hormones are playing a part in all my symptoms. I am 36 and do get ear stuffiness too. I do not have the ringing (thank goodness). When my ear is stuffy, I feel more off balance that day. I've made some dietary changes from reading the suggested book in other posts for migraine sufferers, Healing your Headaches. I took soy out and have noticed my ear stuffiness seems better. I have also taken dairy out, and it has been REALLY hard. I love cereal for breakfast, and without milk or soy milk, what's a girl to do?? I have not been diagnosed with migraines, but after reading the book, saw that I have a lot of symptoms at least. Also, I recently took myself off b.control pills in case that has been part of my problem. I wondered if I was getting some silent migraines, and agin the book said b.control pills can have a big effect on these headaches. Also, I notice if the weather is cloudy or stormy, I feel more off balance. this has made me wonder if it is migraine related. I think it's too soon to tell if going off the pill has helped (it's only been about a week), but I'm paying attention!
The funny thing is, my testing showed Right ear BPPV, but it's the left ear that gets stuffy and I feel like I'm tilting towards the left. But every doc that has looked in my ears has said they look fine-no fluid buildup or anything.

Anyway, I go see an ENT who is not technically specializing in vestibular stuff, but takes a big interest in it, in a couple of days and I'll ask if hormones have anything to do with this. I'll let you know. Just remind me!

I have to stop searching the internet, though, because every day I diagnose myself with something new!! LOL.

[centaur1201]

wannarun,
That's funny! I'm the same way. Hmmm...maybe it's this...maybe it's that? It will be interested to hear what your Dr. says about the hormones. Before I came to this site, and was researching the vertigo thing I came across this one site in which a Dr. said that one of the main reasons women around our age(premenopausal) got vertigo was because of hormones. So who knows?( In a few years we'll be chatting on the menopause board! ) We DO seem to have a lot in common. I, too, have noticed that on cloudy days I'm more inclined to be "off". I live in Oregon, and the winters here are yucky! Lots of rain and many cloudy days. I have not had any vestibular testing, and you're right, they don't sound like any fun. I have NEVER liked being spun in circles, even as a child, and paying someone to do that to me is...well...pretty much out of the question. When I went to the ENT specialist it was bad enough as the Dr. put an oscillator behind the bad ear as he did the MEP. (OMG!!! I though I was going to die!! It was terrifing.) I also do not have any insurance so going to a lot of different Dr.'s is a difficulty finance wise.
Anyway, good to talk to you!!! Take care and hope all goes well at the Dr.'s!