BPPV or spinning/vertigo

[Dignan]

Anyone have any experience with this?

I normally don't have dizziness outside of the typical swimmy feeling or instability from meds, but not room spinning type stuff. Well, the last two nights I have woken up crazy early before the alarm clock and it literally felt like the room was spinning. I would rub my eyes and it would go away after 20 or 30 seconds.

I did some online research, including this site, and it sounded like BPPV. Of course, I immediately start wondering if it was somehow related to my E, but spinning/vertigo has never been a symptom of my particular auras or seizures. At least not like this.

Anyway, this is a new thing for me, and like I say, I was fine until two nights ago. It doesnt seem to happen unless I am waking up in bed and rolling over (which is what made me think it is BPPV).

It sounds pretty harmless, but I still thought I'd get some opinions on if this is anything to be concerned about.

Thanks to you all.

 

[Nakamova]

BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) is usually pretty easy to diagnose and treat. So it would be good to see your GP and get it taken care of. If it's not BPPV, best to find out sooner rather than later.

 

[Dignan]

What I read online was that if it recurred for over a week to go ahead and call the doc.

I think I'll give it one more day, since there haven't really been any other symptoms, just rolling over first thing after wakeup and being dizzy.

Does it sound like something else to you, Nak?

 

[masterjen]

Hi, Dignan;
BPPV, as you've read, is dizziness that comes on after changes in head and/or body position. Most often it is the same movements that will trigger it (for examples: head movements to the left but not to the right, or tilting the head back and turning the head to right, but not looking down or to the left). The dizziness is generally brief (seconds) and can be suppressed by fixating vision on a single point as well as returning the head to a non-triggering neutral head position.

Even more minor causes of dizziness of the type you describe are excess wax in one or both ears or middle ear fluid (not necessarily an infection, so can be painless).

More serious forms of dizziness are an inner ear "infection" (a misnomer as it cannot be treated with antibiotics like a middle ear infection caused by bacteria) and Meniere's Disease. Dizziness resulting from these conditions may or may not be influenced by head/body positioning, generally last several minutes to hours during an attack, are often accompanied by nausea/vomiting, and may be associated with tinnitus and/or hearing loss.

Regardless, I'd encourage you to ask your family doctor for a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. In the same way we wouldn't trust epilepsy diagnosis and treatment to a GP, nor should we expect a GP to handle the complexities of dizziness.

An important note to everyone here, esp. if you do not typically suffer from middle ear infections: If you notice sudden onset of hearing loss, get yourself to an ENT specialist ASAP. Often GPs will diagnose "just" a middle ear infection when really it is inner ear. There is often but not always associated dizziness. There is a small window of treatment time when there is hope that the hearing loss does not become permanent.

 

[Nakamova]

Does it sound like something else to you, Nak?

Dizziness is a fairly broad symptom so best left to the specialists to diagnose. BPPV can come on suddenly, and in many cases it's first noticed when a person rolls over in bed at night, so that jibes with your description. BPPV can have several different causes (or be idiopathic), which is another reason to get it checked out sooner rather than later. As masterjen notes, your GP can refer you to an ENT for a more precise diagnosis.

 

[Dignan]

Just an update:

I saw my GP yesterday and, after telling him what was going on with the morning vertigo, he looked in my ears and my nose, and he said it simply looked like sinus congestion and some fluid in my middle ear that was throwing off my equilibrium.

He didnt think it was related to anything to do with E, and he said it is actually quite common. He recommended I simply take something like Sudafed, but then stopped himself when he recalled that I try not to take Sudafed due to potential issues for those with seizures.

So, he ultimately said my issue was mild and to keep using Flonase and it should sort itself out.

Does anyone know if there is some other product that might be more effective (i.e., quicker) at drying up any excess fluid than just doing the Flonase thing, but that is also safe for those of use with E?

I've never had springtime allergies as an issue before, but this year has been pretty intense with pollen, and I suppose I'm getting older and the allergy thing may be changing for me.

 

[seagull]

Could be simple like arthritis in neck as you turning over head on a pillow.That was mine effects blood supply to ears the balance.I had it few times X-ray showed that.Bit shock when first happens I thought on first rung of ladder to next world..It has worn off abit now and I well use to it.

 

[Nakamova]

Does anyone know if there is some other product that might be more effective (i.e., quicker) at drying up any excess fluid than just doing the Flonase thing, but that is also safe for those of use with E?

Have you tried a neti pot? It's a little messy, but it can help clear out the sinuses.

 

[Dignan]

I've not tried one of those yet. To be honest... I've sort of avoided them.. Sounds like a wee version of waterboarding yourself.

 

[Nakamova]

It's not as bad as that! I made a version of one using a bulb syringe that I fill with warm water with a pinch of salt and baking soda. It helps when I have a cold but don't want to be blowing my nose every 5 minutes (if I'm at a party for instance, or trying to fall asleep). One "nose rinse" and I'm good for several hours.

 

[Janus]

Yes nakamova. That's what works best for me when ear, nose, throat, or or any sinus issues. But I have a Virgo issue when do any deep relaxation. It seems to start seizure activity.. at the Buddhist temple, starting meditation I seized and ambulance came as it continued for 15 min. It's always been a deep relaxation and I love it too slip into a deep relax. But not letting that happen any more. Fear of it starting a seize. Mmj is very helpful.

 

[Nakamova]

Janus, why do you call a "Virgo" issue?

 

[seagull]

Yes nakamova. That's what works best for me when ear, nose, throat, or or any sinus issues. But I have a Virgo issue when do any deep relaxation. It seems to start seizure activity.. at the Buddhist temple, starting meditation I seized and ambulance came as it continued for 15 min. It's always been a deep relaxation and I love it too slip into a deep relax. But not letting that happen any more. Fear of it starting a seize. Mmj is very helpful.

Could you be over breathing when you relax if so paper bag on head will help.
You Buddhist do you lay down or cross legged when relaxed.
lovely philosophy Buddhism

 

[Dignan]

Well, its back. It had gone away for a few days, and I thought it was over. But, when I woke up this morning I had the vertigo again. It wasn't full spinning, but I felt unstable and it lasted much of the morning, which was different.

The other thing is I woke up after only a few hours of sleep again too. So, being wide awake, I got up and started watching TV at 5 am, but the floating head/vertigo thing stayed with me.

This seems to occur in companion with the weak sleeping. I don't sleep well, or only very lightly and am easily wakened, and then I wake up feeling the vertigo thing.

No other auras or seizure type symptoms, but it just feels like my head is floating around. The GP and neuro agreed a few weeks ago when it first started that it was allergy related and fluid in ear (though the neuro didn't actually see me, just listened on the phone). But, I don't feel like my ears are full right now, so I don't know what this is all about.

I do know that I am sick of it.

 

[Dignan]

Another question I thought of, regarding balance. I know that when I go to see my neuro, he has me walk in a straight line with my eyes closed, putting one foot directy in front of another. I always assumed this was to test balance and possible drug affects on that part of my brain.

Could what I've been experiencing these past few weeks be some sort of med damage done to my balance center in my brain? Would it come on that suddenly as I described in my original post?

I've tried the straight line, heel to toe walking thing with my eyes closed, and I find myself falling out of line.

I guess this could just be related to some sort of allergy thing still, but now I am wondering about meds and damage. Anyone have thoughts?

 

[Nakamova]

Seizure meds can affect balance, usually in two ways:

1. Short-term side effect: Your dose is too high. Reducing the dose or switching meds solves the problem.
2. Long-term side effect: Dilantin can cause cerebellar syndrome which features coordination and balance problems. This occurs when the dosage is high for a prolonged period of time (we're talking 15 years and up) and patients who are taking multiple meds are more vulnerable.

Unless either of those scenarios apply to you, it's unlikely that your recent balance and dizziness issues are med-related. But if you're worried go ahead and check in with your neuro. You might also ask for a referral to an ENT to rule in or out the allergy/fluid issues that your other docs have identified as a probable cause.

BTW, the "eyes-closed straight-line walk" is one of several tests (Coordination, Gait and Rhomberg tests) many neuros will perform routinely at every office visit. The neuro isn't necessarily looking for anything in particular, but if a patient displays noticeable weakness or coordination issues, then that would be considered a red flag.

 

[Dignan]

Thanks Nak.

I took Dilantin for 17 years, but that ended 7 years ago now. So, I don't know if that would still apply to me as a risk factor.

I called the neuro, and his assistant called me back and said the doc thought my GP was probably correct, but that was a few weeks ago now, and then it was only in the morning. Now, my eyes feel like they are floating in a bowl of water for much of the day.

I don't mind the allergy/fluid diagnosis, but I want someone to give me some options other than just go home and wait. I feel like going to an ENT would just have them confirm the diagnosis or not (which could be helpful), but my experience with them before is one where they can't tell you if it is med related or not. My inability (at home) to do the "closed eye straight line walk" I guess could be a "red flag" or could be just because of allergy dizziness.

 

[seagull]

They make you cross legs because if balance problem due to brain then either right or left you not keep balance.you won't feel balance when he asks you to do that you just will go to trip

 

[gnault]

MasterJen,
I have found since switching to Vimpat last October, coincidence or not, I quite often have issues with dizziness/light headiness when changing position while working out (usually lower positions (push ups, etc) to standing, while using the washroom, a few times while sitting at my desk. I had a cardiac stress test recently which I'm still waiting to hear back from. My heart rate monitor on my fitness device while resting/sitting can easily can go into the 50's. I don't recall any of this while on lamotrigine. Not overly familiar with the BPPV issue. I see my neurologist next Monday as a bit of a six month follow up for the switch over to Vimpat.

Gilles

"Hi, Dignan;
BPPV, as you've read, is dizziness that comes on after changes in head and/or body position. Most often it is the same movements that will trigger it (for examples: head movements to the left but not to the right, or tilting the head back and turning the head to right, but not looking down or to the left). The dizziness is generally brief (seconds) and can be suppressed by fixating vision on a single point as well as returning the head to a non-triggering neutral head position.

Even more minor causes of dizziness of the type you describe are excess wax in one or both ears or middle ear fluid (not necessarily an infection, so can be painless).

More serious forms of dizziness are an inner ear "infection" (a misnomer as it cannot be treated with antibiotics like a middle ear infection caused by bacteria) and Meniere's Disease. Dizziness resulting from these conditions may or may not be influenced by head/body positioning, generally last several minutes to hours during an attack, are often accompanied by nausea/vomiting, and may be associated with tinnitus and/or hearing loss.

Regardless, I'd encourage you to ask your family doctor for a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. In the same way we wouldn't trust epilepsy diagnosis and treatment to a GP, nor should we expect a GP to handle the complexities of dizziness.

An important note to everyone here, esp. if you do not typically suffer from middle ear infections: If you notice sudden onset of hearing loss, get yourself to an ENT specialist ASAP. Often GPs will diagnose "just" a middle ear infection when really it is inner ear. There is often but not always associated dizziness. There is a small window of treatment time when there is hope that the hearing loss does not become permanent."

 

[Janus]

Sorry. My typos are all over the place. I meant vertigo.