HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

vertigo

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/16/2018 11:10 AM (GMT 0)
I am sure it is not related to my PC journey but just in case anyone experience vertigo. The last two days, particularly when I get out of bed, I have pretty severe vertigo? I found this morning if I sit up slowly and sit on the edge of the bed for a couple of minutes it passes. Had my blood pressure checked yesterday and it is fine.
Posted 9/16/2018 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
This is one of those things where you need to go see your doctor but you will probably know ahead of time what he will say and what he will do. The most common cause of the sort of vertigo you describe is the accumulation of small crystals in the fluid in the inner ear. It causes (usually) brief attacks of vertigo, usually triggered by certain movements of the head. It is called Benign Positional Vertigo, or Benign Paroxysmal Vertigo, or Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo. If that's what you've got (which you do but you need a doctor to tell you that) it is easily treated with something called the Epley maneuver which your doctor can teach you. Basically it's a series of movements of the head designed to relocate the crystals somewhere else in the spiral in you inner ear where they won't cause trouble.
Posted 9/16/2018 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
My wife has vertigo, is fine as long as she does not consume more than the RDA of table salt. Otherwise, dizziness which leads to a 3- 4 day migraine headache which leads to her vomiting for hours. No salt at our table, none in my cooking either. wink
Posted 9/16/2018 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
I once had a reaction to flexeril, at least I suspect it was from that drug, coupled with very hot weather. I think I was taking it for back pain, I had severe enough vertigo that I ended up in the ER.

Are you taking any meds that have dizziness as a possible side effect?
Posted 9/16/2018 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
I must agree with our Forum Moderator. My diagnosis was "Top Shelf" vertigo that led to maneuvers that were tough to take at first but eventually did the trick. See your MD for the proper call and the correct maneuvers.
Posted 9/16/2018 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
I had it for years about 10 years ago diagnose as such...not debilitating...but quite annoying...it...so far...has self resolved...I was not aware of so many "fixes" since...which is a good thing...the many "fixes"...i.e..hang in there...
Posted 9/16/2018 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all. My plan is to see doc. I just have to remember when I wake up in the middle of the night to go slow exiting the bed or else! None of my meds have dizziness as a stated SE.
Posted 9/16/2018 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
I saw my neighbor sitting on her porch the other morning. she said she was waiting for a ride to work. I asked her why she didn't drive her car. she said she had vertigo as a side effect of the flu.
Posted 9/17/2018 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
I had a short vertigo episode about 35 years ago which cleared up fine.

Then, right after my RALP I experienced it again. It occurred 2-3 days after the surgery while I was staying in a hotel. I looked at the floor and it seemed to be moving to the right. It lasted for a couple hours and then subsided. A day or two later it happened again. I had a few more incidents after returning home and, like before, it subsided on its own.

My guess was that it was related to the daily injection of exoxaparin (heparin) injections I took for about 3 weeks following the surgery. "Dizziness" and "lightheadedness" are some of the listed side effects.
Posted 9/18/2018 10:25 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks all, it has diminished to just when I first try to get out of bed but if I sit for a minute or two it passes quickly. Going to doc today.
Posted 9/18/2018 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
Vince,

It could also be a side effect of your surgery. During robotic surgery they basically hang the patient upside down so gravity helps to pull the other organs away to make a bit of room. That's quite a bit of upside-down time and it could easily give the particulate matter in you inner ear time to drift down somewhere where it causes more trouble.

Oh, and that "floor seemed to be moving to the right" thing is a classic. When you have vertigo you eye tries to track with the perceived motion giving a motion something like a typewriter platten, gradually moving one way then zipping back to the other side to start again. A doctor looking at your eye can tell which of your inner ears is causing the problem by noting whether you eye tracks right to left or left to right. The eye motion is called nystagmus if you like weird words.
Posted 9/18/2018 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
PeterDisAbelard, that sounds about right. The only other thing I noticed the last time I experienced it was that my blood pressure was really low, about 85/55. I take low dose of lisinopril daily so low BP is a real rarity for me. The upside down thing makes sense.
Posted 9/18/2018 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
Saw medic looked like a 16-year-old APRN. Blood pressure fine ears clear. Said to try Bonine, antihistamine and see my doc in two weeks. If I lay on my back and pick my head up the room starts spinning. I think I will need the head manipulation they do.
Posted 9/18/2018 8:57 PM (GMT 0)

Subdenis said...
I think I will need the head manipulation they do.

I have a little list. You're not on it.

...

OK, your not near the top, anyway.
Posted 9/19/2018 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
Try this method. It really works: /www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VWyPgfMuvM
Posted 9/19/2018 5:37 AM (GMT 0)
Mtnwife,

Thanks for the video. It gives a good explanation of what's going on. I'm a little bit vague about how, exactly you know which ear you are treating by turning your head one way or the other but I seem to recall hearing that if you throw up that's a good sign.

The part at the end where she shows herself holding a patients head and peering into his/her eyes shows her watching their nystagmus (the involuntary eye movements.)
Posted 9/19/2018 8:53 AM (GMT 0)
I also am unsure of which ear but will try the maneuver and just do right side and see if that brings relief. I just tried it and no spinning but I took a Bonine, as prescribed by doc today. Again thanks, I am convinced this is the issue. I will try to get a referral to a PT. Thanks Mtnwife
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply