vertigo is taking me out big time

[Sky King]

Okay, Looking for more suggestions. Woke up 5 days ago thinking I was on a tilt a whirl, spent the day throwing up and holding onto the walls and the bed. Had the DH do the Epley Maneuver,which has helped tremendously and I also escaped the forest fire smoke and spent the weekend with the GF's in McCall Idaho. In addition I am using both a steroid and non steroid nasal spray, taking a ton of decongestant but still am not "up to speed" Supposed to head to John Day on Friday to do a 3 day 130 mile self supported bike tour. Debating calling my ear nose and throat but not sure they could add anything to the mix.

Any other ideas for a rabid cure to get me back on the bike?

thanks, right now I just want to go back to bed ;(

[OakLeaf]

Ugh, feel better soon. Only suggestion I have, beyond what you're already doing, is moist heat right behind the ear, and postural drainage (lying on your side with the heat pack on your head). I would avoid the neti pot, in my experience that can force stuff deeper into your middle ears. Most ear infections are viral, so they probably won't (and shouldn't) consider an antibiotic unless it goes on for several more days. Hope it doesn't come to that.

[zoom-zoom]

I would try adding Dramamine II to that regimen. Or even just Benadryl. I get vertigo from time-to-time, too...totally out of the blue. Generally doesn't last more than 48 hours, though. But even that feels endless. It's horrid. I hope you have relief really soon.

[Wahine]

You may want to see a doc or Naturopath. Acupuncture can be helpful too.

[ridebikeme]

Like many others have already mentioned, I would visit a DR or Naturopath first and foremost. I work part time in a cardiac rehab facility,(outside the shop) and have a couple of patients that have been recommended by their Dr to use "sea sick' medication. (ther are many brand names)While that may not be a good solution for you, your Naturopath or Dr can alert you to what would work best for you.

[soprano]

I had a bout of BPPV last year. Get thee to a doctor and ask for a referral to a physical therapist who specializes in ears. Mine was fixed in 1 visit and never came back. It's just not worth screwing around with given the potential to fall and really hurt yourself.

[shootingstar]

I did have a bad case where I couldn't open eyes without the room whirling around me. I couldn't even crawl from living rm. to bed. My partner had to carry me to there. All of this happened when I was sitting in front of the computer at home!! I had to cancel an art class that day. I stayed at home.

I would not go on that bike ride of that distance since you still want to be in bed. If you REALLY need to bike, then go for a short 10 mile ride on a path somewhere.

I did see an ear, throat specialist. I also went to an audio testing clinic...tests for an hr.

In the end it resolved itself...I can't remember but there is something that can be done....

[Sky King]

just back from the ENT. While the vertigo is much, much better still have "wobble" head. Could be allergy related although I don't have itchy eyes or stuffy nose - which is my normal allergy reaction. Any hows we decided to try 9 days of prednisone, heavy dose that tapers off. He felt I should have only done the Epley Maneuver on one side. He feels that doing both sides can counter act the positive. He also said it isn't unusual to have flu like symptoms for a week after doing the maneuver. Also staying with my steroid nasal spray and a decongestant and a antihistamine. OH BOY for someone who doesn't like to take drugs I am in for a week. The good news is my joints should feel great - HA

So no bike ride for me :( The rest of the gang is being big supporters and will probably delay this trip and go do a shorter ride instead.

[Kalidurga]

He felt I should have only done the Epley Maneuver on one side. He feels that doing both sides can counter act the positive. He also said it isn't unusual to have flu like symptoms for a week after doing the maneuver.

This is true. I have occasional BBPV. Blessedly, my chiropractor knows the Eppley maneuver, but he always does a Dix-Hallpike test first to look for nystagmus and determine which side is affected. My last couple of episodes of vertigo had no accompanying nystagmus, so were apparently allergy-related rather than BBPV. Since there can be multiple causes of vertigo, it's best to try to figure out your symptoms as specifically as possible before you self-treat.