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OT - Omgoodness...what the heck is happening to me?!

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Posted 1/6/2011 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
I am so ready to trade my body in for a newer model! Ever since I was hospitalized in early December, things have been going wonky. As most of you know, I was hospitalized for a "swollen" colon, then two weeks later I had the weird attack in the bathroom where my left hand went numb, I was covered in a cold sweat, my face was tingling and then I blacked out. I am also having a problem with my bp dropping too low at random times so I went for a stress test with an echo and a tilt table test. Of course my bp decided to behave itself and everything came out normal...the lowest my bp went was during the stress test - 100/60(?). Then my gums on my lower right jaw became inflammed and I was in a lot of pain, so the dentist gave me Peridex.

Now the newest thing is, last night I wasn't sure if I was imagining or dreaming it but my world started spinning for no reason. So about 5am I got up to use the bathroom, felt fine, laid back down on my right side and the world started going around and around (vertigo). So then I turned over to my left side and it felt like the bed got pulled out from under me and I still had the vertigo. I got up and just to see, I check my bp but it was normal 115/65. I still have some slight dizziness or maybe it's an off kind of feeling, like my vision is a bit wonky. I looked it up online and it sounds exactly like benign positional vertigo caused possibly by the inner ear.

All these things can't possibly be related or if they are, I don't even know what it means. I feel like I am falling apart! mad
Posted 1/6/2011 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, gosh, Sherry, this is just too weird! You poor thing!
Inner ear was what I was thinking as I was reading your post...... let's hope it's something fairly simple this time!

I don't know what Peridex is..... but could the dental issue be related to the ear......?

Keep us posted.
Posted 1/6/2011 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Peridex is a mouth rinse to help inflammation of the gums due to various reason such as gingivitis. I was having a lot of bleeding and pain with the swollen gums. But, now I wonder if the vertigo COULD be related to this. If it happens again, I will have to go see my doc so she can refer me out to an ENT so I can have my ears checked out. All I know is that I don't want this to ever happen again! I've never had my world spin on me like this and it was freaky and uncomfortable.
Posted 1/6/2011 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Oh no, Sherry! I hope things start getting better soon.
Posted 1/6/2011 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry to hear about all of your recent medical problems. Sometimes it seems like everything happens all at once. I would definitely call your doctor and tell him or her about the vertigo. That sounds awful.
Posted 1/6/2011 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Vertigo sucks. Hey Sherry...my best friend had some dental work done, got infected and developed vertigo from it. Maybe the swollen gums indicate some kind of infection? Did the dentist go poking around? Hmmmm....something to consider. Feel better soon.
Posted 1/6/2011 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherry,

I am so  sorry you are having issues.  I just want to mention something that happened to me a few years ago.  I also had dizzy spells especially when turning over in bed etc....turns out it was something called BPPV(Benign, paroxismal, positional vertigo)  Basically your "ear rocks"  floated in the wrong spot and need to be put back in.  A doctor can perform an epiley manuever and put them back in.  I don't know if that is what is happening to you but if so, it is easy to fix with no medicines and is not dangerous.  You may want to google it and see what you think. 

Good luck!
B

Posted 1/6/2011 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Oh hi Sherry, Just realized you mentioned that as a possibility- the BPPV. If you think that is the issue, you can also try the modified epiley at home and see if that helps. You just have to figure out which ear you think is the problem. I do that by sitting straight up on my bed and turning my head to the right and than lie back quickly (w/ my head still turned to the right and a pillow under my upper back so my head is even more tilted) Do the same thing w/ your head turned to the left. Whichever side causes dizziness....it is that ear. Google "modified epiley" and it will explain how to fix it. I always feel a little "off kilter" for a while after I do it..but it eventually subsides.
Just an idea.
B
Posted 1/6/2011 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
I am worried about you Sherry. I hope you can find some answers. It must be very scary having all these things happen and not being able to find a solution. I've had intense dizzyness in the past due to allergies but I haven't had it in years.
Posted 1/6/2011 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherry....you better push for the medical journal entries.

I've had BPPV since 1966....first in my right ear, then in my left. Both react differently. The right ear..the semont maneuver works well, the left ear, the Epley. You do need to see an ENT and it will be told immediately regarding how your eyes are moving of whether or not you have it, and in which ear.

It can be caused by the otoliths (ear rocks/crystals) or by a sludge...the Epley works really nice for the sludge stuff..I'll find the info/video for you to try if you're up for it. One usually has them in the posterior canal....but if it's in the horizontal or anterior, the epley would be useless and another head position would be required.

If you've had a cold or anything eustachian related, that could bring it into action. have you not had anything like this before?
Did you recently decide to take up running or jumping exercise or trying a trampoline?

Yes, dental work can cause problems, especially if your head's at a certain position for a long time.

There is such a thing as MAV..which is migrane associated vertigo...as well as a LOT of other reasons one will have vertigo...herpes being one.

The other thing...your blood sugar. That could be a cause for many of your symptoms.

I have the same swollen gums...on the right side this time. It changes from side to side. It definitely comes with little ulcers that break, but not with any exudate. I get a painful face...referred pain I guess, on whatever side it's affected. I got the doctor to take a swab test whether or not it's herpes. It seems Herpes doesn't normally affect inside the mouth. who knows. I've read varying info on it...so insisted on a for sure this time so I can at least exclude the herpes angle.

I've been dealing with this for a very long time..since the 76.. the first time it happened was an infected wisdom tooth. I won't find out till March when I see the doc for my physical.

Oh, there are also other viruses that might cause whatever it is you have...A friend of mine last year had an attack of vertigo. A quick taper of pred resolved it. Not bppv, but whatever caused her inflammation in the ear and that's why the pred...because the other treatments did diddly.

I feel for you Sherry....I think you need to insist on an ENT...

Keep us posted.
Posted 1/6/2011 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
My sis had similar weird issues going on all the time, as me as well, so far only thing that helped her to this point was these expensive tinctures from a natural doctor. I am giving it a go myself, but with my luck it won't work for me, the doctor seemed confident it will work though.
He is a local guy who lives up here about 100 miles north of Detroit, just a small little thing he runs out of his house. His methods seem hokey pokey, but somehow he has helped those who couldn't get cured anywhere else. No idea how he does it.
If you feel completely desperate and willing to try anything, I could give you his number.
Posted 1/6/2011 6:29 PM (GMT 0)

Red_34 said...
Peridex is a mouth rinse to help inflammation of the gums due to various reason such as gingivitis. I was having a lot of bleeding and pain with the swollen gums. But, now I wonder if the vertigo COULD be related to this. If it happens again, I will have to go see my doc so she can refer me out to an ENT so I can have my ears checked out. All I know is that I don't want this to ever happen again! I've never had my world spin on me like this and it was freaky and uncomfortable.

weird, i always have gingivitis while in a UC flare. also small ulcers that appear inside my mouth. as a matter of fact it happends right now.

Sherry, I hope you'll find some rest with all those problems.
Posted 1/6/2011 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
I get vertigo from Lexapro. It's quite mild though or maybe it's just that I'm used to getting dizzy that I don't think much of it.

I would think blood pressure would be low, not high, during such episodes. At least, my blood pressure tends to be low during such episodes.

I don't have any inner ear issues.

Post Edited (subdued) : 1/6/2011 11:52:28 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/6/2011 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Sherry, I have no ideas, just wanted to give you some ((hugs))!
Posted 1/6/2011 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
The dentist did poke around a bit but because I have mild MVP, I always use antibiotics for my dental treatments and this time, I used that antibiotic for a few days per my dentist's instructions. But if it was an infection, I would know right? The swelling has gone down and the bleeding stopped. My right jaw muscles hurt a little and I have a strange ache under my right crown now (before it was my lower right crown).

No, I've never had this before. It came out of nowhere. I haven't done anything like exercising, bouncing up and down or things like that. I just did that little test of lying down and turning my head, it seems to be my right ear. It didn't cause a bad vertigo but I felt a bit dizzy; nothing from my left. Does your ear normally hurt or ache or anything? I have a weird feeling in my right ear....or maybe it could be from my jaw.

Zippy, thanks I will keep that in mind.

Btw, I do not believe I am flaring from my Uc. That is the one thing that is behaving! lol

Oh, forgot to mention. When I had the tilt table test last week, as the table was raised my vision started getting weird like and I felt a tad dizzy. She mentioned something about having my ears checked but I forgot all about that until now. I think I will call up my primary and see if she can send me to an ENT just to get it checked out.

Thanks everyone!
Posted 1/6/2011 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
I hope you get some answers soon. (((hugs)))
Posted 1/6/2011 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
Sherry

Your mention of MVP and antibiotics prompt this post as I was diagnosed 20+ years ago with MVP (mitral valve prolapse). I quit antibiotic pre-treatment on my own after UC diagnosis years ago because I was suspicious it wasn't good for me. And a recent visit to a new dentist told me that I was right to do so.

The American Heart Association no longer recommends antibiotic pre-treatment for MVP except for the most severe cases.www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4717.
This of course has nothing to do with treating an infection, just pre-treatment.

Just thought you'd like to know.
Posted 1/7/2011 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Yep, I would definitely see an ENT to rule out ear problems as cause for vertigo. RE Peridex: my dentist says it can stain teeth, also that it contains a molecule of Benzene, a known carcinogen-- so he doesn't favor its use. Sorry that those problems are bugging you. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 1/7/2011 6:01 AM (GMT 0)
good grief Sherry!!! Hope you are feeling like your healthier self soon.

Regarding vertigo, obviously check out the inner ear path, as it seems you will.

My experience with vertigo started with some mild dizziness but thinking maybe I needed glasses because it would happen when I would look up from the computer screen to see a customer coming in our shop.
Things got a little worse over a few days or so and I went to see my Dr. and found out I had viral meningitis. It had to run its course and what a horrible experience that was.
Anyway, just wanted to add another thought you might check out while at the Dr. anyway.

take care my dear!!
Posted 1/7/2011 8:32 AM (GMT 0)
Heart issues can mimic BPPV....the nystagmus would be different, however...so do see a good ENT.

Keep us posted for sure!!!

hekela...viral meningitis!! Did the doc do tests for it??
The eyes and ears are in amazing tandum regarding balance. A few days ago, my husband and I were waiting for a train, and the track was at a slight diagonal moving away from the car. When I looked down to the radio, with the train moving as it was at that slight diagonal, I felt as though I was moving backwards in a curve to the right. It was very creepy feeling that. Nothing was wonky with my ears, but the visual cues...yikes! lol.

I hope you're feeling much better at this point.

I agree with everyone Sherry...you need an ENT.

q
Posted 1/7/2011 11:29 AM (GMT 0)
Ima, yes I heard this too and my dentist told me to get my heart double checked before discontinuing the premed for dental treatments. I believe I can stop the premed because the echo showed no abnormalities other then an additional heartbeat here or there.

Hekela, I'm curious too what sort of tests were performed to determine viral meningitis.

Old Hat, yes I know about the staining. I only used the Peridex once a day for about 4 days, just until the swelling and bleeding went down.

I have a doc appt on Monday to see my primary. I was slightly dizzy off and on all day yesterday and last night, I didn't have the bad vertigo like the night before but I felt a bit off when I would lie on my right side...even just a little dizzy but at least the world wasn't spinning! :)
Posted 1/7/2011 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Good to hear the dizzingess has improved....Looking forward to hearing about your appt on Monday.

q
Posted 1/7/2011 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
I had quite a few episodes of BPPV 3 years ago. So bad that my eyes would jerk back and forth (nystagmus) and I would become nauseous and sweaty. I went to an ENT and they fixed me up the first visit by doing the Eppley maneuver. I had to sleep almost upright the first night afterwards, but I haven't had a problem since! You can look it up on youtube and possibly even do it at home.
Posted 1/7/2011 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
It sure sounds like positional vertigo. I had vertigo about a month ago but the doc thought it sounded like viral vertigo and prescribed
teva-betahistine. Luckily I only had it for about a week but it was terrible! I couldn't even walk unless I dragged myself against the wall!
Scary!!
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