Who has chronic Vertigo and how do you cope with it....

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia about a year ago, but am sure I've had it for several years.  I've suffered from migraines since I was a teenager getting worse as I get older and Sept. 22, 2011 while driving my school bus I all of a sudden ended up getting very dizzy.  Luckily, there were no children on board and I was in a parking lot, so, everyone is safe.  Rushed to the ER and I have been on disability since.  I've been to several doctors and right now my neurologist and family doctor are trying to get this under control.  I have migraines several times a week; this week one started and lasted for 3 days.  I had to go get a Toradol shot from my doctor to relieve it.  My doctors say that my migraines are causing the vertigo.  The first 3-4 months the vertigo was constant, unless I was highly medicated.  Now it comes it episodes several times a day.  I could be walking and all of a sudden everything starts spinning and I fall to the floor.  I can't work and I can't hardly stand riding in the car.  They say my ears are clear, but they constantly feel full.  Weather makes everything worse.  The doctors keep switching my medication trying to get it under control, but I'm just getting so frustrated and broke.  After trying these things for 6 months, I'm exhausted from this situation.  I have had all the tests and they say everything looks normal, they say I don't have Meniere's disease, but have now put me on a water pill and a low sodium diet "just in case".  I feel like we are all just grasping for something to work.  

Luckily, I have a very supportive husband who takes fantastic care of me and our 11 year old daughter, but I feel like life is moving on without me.  Right before this started I went back to college, so, not only am I dealing with this I am also trying to get through my classes.  I drink almost nothing but water and the occassional ginger-ale, ginger is great for nausea and motion sickness.  We cook with fresh ginger to help.

It's nice to know that I'm not alone in this, but at the same time I hate that you are all dealing with this too. 

I dont have it everyday..but I get the after effects of it .. you know like how you feel after a spell.   today is one of those days...  even my eyes are all out of focus and ear is ringing.. ..  all day today I feel like I will have an attack..  sometimes I could feel like this for days and then WHAM it happens..

do you have neck pain that goes into your head too and do you get a burning like feeling on the top of your head. I do..

this is a miserable way to live...   really  I know . I know...

i could take the pain... but I cannot cope with the vertigo..  and I am all alone with it..

havent even been posting much as I am not in a good way right now....    well yu know what I mean

by the way my general doc was the one who said this about the headaches and vertigo..

so I have it from three things the headaches, the menieres and the neck problems stopping the blood flow to the head...

I don't have vertigo, but my best friend (who does not have fibro) does.

Recently he went in for some kind of treatment where the Dr's literally shook his head > violently... on purpose ! {can't imagine how big and bad that Dr. must have been.... my buddy is 450 lbs !} Supposedly, this action (which obviously should only be performed by a Dr) helps to break loose some kind of crystals... or build-up, within the inner ear.

Supposedly, this treatment is often 100% effective, although sometimes, it takes more than one treatment, to completely get rid of the problem....

And admittedly, I'm not sure if this treatment would be even be effective for somebody with FM.

I'll try to get some more info from my buddy.

Peace,

Fish

edit: Talked to my buddy just now, and he said the treatment was actually a type of physical therapy.... and he hadn't mentioned his vertigo for about a month, because apparently, it was completely cured in 1 visit ! He only went back the second time to confirm that the issue was solved. < And this was after suffering with vertigo for nearly 10 years !

We both have another buddy who also suffered from vertigo for many years, then, after only one treatment, his vertigo was also cured.

Granted, I'm the first person to know, that FM can cause all sorts of issues, which are not even visible, let alone treatable..... So maybe that's the case with FM people who have vertigo.

Just wanted to throw this stuff out there.....

Post Edited (Fishchris) : 3/27/2012 4:38:20 PM (GMT-6)

He said he had to lay down on a flat stetcher, and basically, once in the perfect position and angle, he had to do somewhat of a self induced whiplash.

He said the bad thing about it, was the position he needed to be in caused the whole room to spin all over the place, the whole time, until right when he did the neck stretch, and instantly the room stopped ! Pretty amazing really.

And I know my buddy isn't messing with me...

Fish

and all of the rest of the pain. so have not been around.

my vertigo comes from so many reasons. the menieres the arthritis in my neck.. the stress.... 

well I went thru those tests or at least tried and panicked and could not do them and won't do them

my cousins wife did them and it helped for a bit and all of it came back.

my ears are congested today ..the temps are not helping anything going on in me....   went from 86f last week

to cold cold here..

it is 20f here now and snowing and freezing rain...

the last 4 days alot of stress too and that is not helping....

it is very hard to go at it alone ..and I am housebound and terrified of the next attack.

I know it will happen as i get auras for days or more then wham...

I have so much more to say and want to answer all of you  but it will have to wait till later..  really not feeling well and so so tired..

sighhhhhhhhh I am sorry.. a week before my husbands 4th anniv of passing and he was so understanding about my illness.. he knew what do for me when I got this.. and he looked after me so well..   I am just so sad right now too.

I wish we all didnt have to have this really I do...

I will be back.. I promised. as I so want to answer all of you

hugs.

Post Edited (STARRY-EYES) : 3/28/2012 12:27:01 PM (GMT-6)