Balance problems!

[hpuehler]

Has anyone had inner ear problems? I had an episode in November of vertigo and nausea. When to the Nurse Practitioner and she put me on Antivert and took me off of work for several days. The vertigo was horrible. It went away within three days.

Flash forward...... I have been having problems with nausea for several weeks. I attributed it to the massive antibiotics I was on for my ascessed tooth. Tooth is better, nausea continued. I noticed that several times when rolling over in bed I had severe Vertigo that only lasted several seconds after rolling over. Yesterday morning I woke up feeling nauseated and slightly dizzy. Drove to work and the vertigo came back and I broke out in a sweat. Stopped at work and told them I had to return home. Went to my Dad's who then ushered me to the ER. Diagnosis.... vertigo caused by innner ear. This is the second episode in several months. He would not release me to work or drive until symptom free for two days. If it does not clear up or if I have repeated episodes it may be Meniere's disease and will see an ENT.

I am so frustrated. I need to go to work. I carry the health insurance!

Has anyone on here had experience with this?

 

[Guest]

Has anyone on here had experience with this?

Similar ... but not quite the same.

My Mom has Meniere's, but hasn't had an episode (that I know of, anyway) in quite a long time.

I had some episodes in the mid-1990s ... and not much since. When it first happened, I was en route home from college during a snow storm. I made it into Elgin ... and, as I went to turn left onto our street, the car skidded a bit ... and wouldn't turn. So, I went head to the next street and turned left. At the time, I thought I was just shakey, but when I pulled in the driveway, I was STILL "spinning". Very weird feeling.

Thoughts/prayers coming your way....



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"All of the chaos makes perfect sense" ... Joe Diffie ... 'Third Rock From The Sun'

 

[hpuehler]

Similar ... but not quite the same.

My Mom has Meniere's, but hasn't had an episode (that I know of, anyway) in quite a long time.

I had some episodes in the mid-1990s ... and not much since. When it first happened, I was en route home from college during a snow storm. I made it into Elgin ... and, as I went to turn left onto our street, the car skidded a bit ... and wouldn't turn. So, I went head to the next street and turned left. At the time, I thought I was just shakey, but when I pulled in the driveway, I was STILL "spinning". Very weird feeling.

Thoughts/prayers coming your way....



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"All of the chaos makes perfect sense" ... Joe Diffie ... 'Third Rock From The Sun'

Thanks for your support Knightfan!!!!!!!!

 

[Lisa in Katy]

I've had a couple of inner ear infections and also took Antivert. The first one was the worst-probably because I didn't know what it was. I got out of bed, fell down, and threw up. I remember those days from college, but this time I hadn't had all the fun the night before! I called the doctor and he prescribed Antivert and an antibiotic without seeing me. There is no way I could have made it to his office because I couldn't tell up from down. Fortunately, the medicine cured me and the second episode was about 6 months later. They were both more than 10 years ago and before my surgery. If it happened now, I would probably think it was a TIA or stroke.

 

[hensylee]

might be built up wax. Go see the ENT and get checked out by her.

 

[readsforfun]

Balance Problems

Balance Problems

I have had that same experience at least 4 times that I can vividly remember - extreme vertigo/dizziness accompanied by cold sweat and nausea. I found that mine was most likely attributable to what they call BPV or Benign Positional Vertigo. I didn't know a thing about it, but a nurse was by my side one day when it hit me and she had me sit down and tried to "re-position" my head from one side to another in a series of movements. It seemed to help. Since then I tried to check in out on the internet, and there are certain exercises or movements you can do to eliminate the sensations. If I get it again I will probably seek out an ENT that is aware of this and recognizes how to help. I haven't been bothered with it (knock on wood) in several months.

Hope this helps.

jan

 

[hpuehler]

Thanks Jan,

I am seeing the Dr. today at 1:15. I was fine yesterday afternoon and was ready to resume life and then... I laid down. Vertigo all over again. Today I have felt unbalanced and have enough vertigo that I would not trust myself to go down the stairs and slight nausea. I think I will request an ENT appointment. I had four deaf relatives and Menieres can cause hearing loss.

I'll let you know what they say.

Heather

 

[Lynn-D]

Dizziness

Dizziness

After my heart valve replacement and two by-passes, (following three stents over the years), I went into A-Fib about 6 months later which as explained to me is unusual so long after surgery. Anyway was put on heparin and coumidin while in hospital and then released eight days later with a prescription for only coumidin.
A month later B/P dropped to extreme lows and taken by emergency to the hospital again. This time it seems the coumidin caused me to bleed profusely in the abdomen and blood seeped into my vagina and also some leakage into my colon. I lost a lot of blood; 2 separate transfusions of whole blood and 7 units of plasma were needed to stabilize me.
I tell all this so that you might understand the history leading up to the dizziness and perhaps some of you went through the same thing.
This time when I left the hospital they directed no more coumidin but did put me on 160 mg of sotalol a day and 120 mg of cardizem a day. One a beta blocker and the other a channel blocker. Then I started to suffer drastic spells of dizziness and actually got dizzy in bed just rolling over. No nausea though. Could not get out of a chair without the room spinning. Told cardiologist of this and he tried to adjust other meds but told me he thought probably an inner ear problem. My regular doctor checked and no ear problem. Finally they not only reduced the cardizem but in time took me off it entirely and increased the sotalol. Still need to keep the cardizem handy and take should my heart start racing which at times it has a tendency to do. But the dizziness is now practically gone and only affects me slightly from time to time.
I am very suspicious now each time I am prescribed a new med.
Meds can mimic inner ear problems so both should be examined before one accepts either/or is my non-professional advice.
Lynn-D

 

[hpuehler]

Thank you Lynn,

I will definately take your advise on considering all possibilities. I am on a beta-blocker. In the ER Monday my blood pressure was 120/80 and a pulse of 60 with a normal sinus rythym although I was quite nauseated etc. so maybe I am running lower thatn that normally and under stress was in normal range. I will mention to the Dr.

Heather

 

[Lynn-D]

BP and dizziness

BP and dizziness

Thank you Lynn,

I will definately take your advise on considering all possibilities. I am on a beta-blocker. In the ER Monday my blood pressure was 120/80 and a pulse of 60 with a normal sinus rythym although I was quite nauseated etc. so maybe I am running lower thatn that normally and under stress was in normal range. I will mention to the Dr.

Heather

Hi Heather,

I have a very wide range of BP at times. After valve surgery visiting nurse called ambulance. My urine was stinging and this led to a finding of bladder infection. That from what I have been told is not uncommon. But in my case the BP dropped to 95/49 and that was a worry as well. ER folks put me on an IV of something or other and finally released me once the BP got above 100 and then with hesitation and not helpful I was about to exit anyway.
Now I watch BP very closely and find my range to be fluctuating and often in the 140/50 level and pulse always in the 50 to 60 range. That has to be the areas of our concerns I think. You seem to be holding to normal levels. I particularly watch for the spread between the Sys and the Dias for that provides me with important clues. 120/80 is quite normal and the spread being 40 is great and very normal. Congrats! It is when the spread becomes very wide that we should be on the phone with doctors or 911. That advice came to me from more than one doctor.
Good luck with visit to Dr and I would not worry about the pulse at 60. The beta blocker is designed to keep the heart from racing.... at least with me and mine is Sotalol 80mg twice daily with Cardizem the channel blocker as a back-up. You seem to be doing well in blood pressure and pulse although BP should be higher I would think when under stress or after exertion. Never-the-less wish I could trade places with you.

Lynn-D.........Name actually Diane but Diane already taken so reversed first and middle name so they would let me join.

 

[Marguerite53]

Hi Heather. I had a long, long bout of inner ear infections. It left me allergic to 2 very common antibiotics, and some definite balance issues. I did not have vertigo or nausea per se (maybe a hint). The balance problem was the thing. Over time, it lessened and went away. I was a smoker at the time and consumed a lot of alcohol (hey... I was single and in my late 20's!! ) and obviously that didn't help!!

For the imbalance, I used to have to bend my knees to feel my center of gravity. I hope this may help you. Think of a gymnast who has just gone over the vault. She lands and to correct any unsteadiness, she bends her knees ever so slightly with her arms outstretched. The knee bending thing really really really helped me!! My job required leaning over back and forth a lot then and I was just off balance alot. I still reflex to the knees bending if I lose my balance.

Honestly, I would look into acupuncture. If you have any friends who swear by it, please look into it. I think it is one of their specialties!! Vertigo. Had I known about its successes, I would have certainly used it then.

Good luck!

Marguerite

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your support Knightfan!!!!!!!!

*nods*

You are welcome .


So, how'd the appointment go today?



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"These hands are meant to hold" ... All-American Rejects ... 'Move Along'

 

[hpuehler]

Well I went to my PCP yesterday and he questioned everything. I had recently on 1/15/06 doubled my dose of Wellbutrin. He looked up side eefects to Wellbutrin and they are: dizziness, nausea,etc. He told me to quite taking the second dose just in case. He also took me off of the Antivert and started me on Valium 2mg every 12 hours. He said if this does not work then off to the specialist for some testing for nystigmus, which I already know I have and other tests. The visual part of this is strange. Looking at the carpet in the Dr. office made me dizzy! Turning magazine pages, random stuff. Today I am feeling much better. Olny one episode of slight dizzy when lying down!
Yea! And my husband comes home from being on the road all week. I think it will be a good day!

Thanks to you all for you support!

 

[hpuehler]

As the world turns!

As the world turns!

Well, I am still have dizziness, vertigo and most of all balance issues. This is the second week! The Valium seems to not be taking the symptoms away, but I imagine they would be much worse without it. Had a shot of Zofran yesterday for nausea. When will it all end!!!!!
PCP thinks it is viral and needs to run its course. (There is a girl at work that recently was sick and had the vertigo and nausea but it lasted 4 days for her)I was concerned that it may have been a stroke and I discussed this with him. He said if it were a stroke that I should have other symptoms also. He wants to see me tommorrow and possibly do a CT and send me off to a ENT.

Please keep me in your prayers. I need to get back to work as I am running out of sick time!

 

[marky]

Oh I am sorry.. I was so hoping that getting off the wellbutrin..would relieve the symptoms.

I sure hope that they can get to the bottom of this soon!

 

[Marguerite53]

I would definitely get in to see the ENT ASAP...at least before an expensive CT. The ENT will be able to look with his/her very trained eye and diagnose any inner ear problem. I literally LIVED at the ENT office during my year long problem. Somehow I thought you'd already been there.

At some point, all the changes are going to become indecipherable in terms of trying to decide what is actually making you dizzy. It may be that you never really know for certain......once it actually subsides.

I know your frustration. It's been 25 years since my problems, but they were significant....they really impacted my life. For me, I had had numerous sinus infections, they never really resolved after each little battle and it went into my inner ear. I had a very lengthy inner ear infection which would re-occur each time I got a cold. THEN, I think some environmental factors made it continuous and worse for awhile. I worked in a place where they cleaned the tile floors with a very strong substance. I worked by an open front door which was on a busy street..... exhaust fumes.

With that in mind.... have there been any chemical changes in your environment?? In your home, or at your job?? New carpeting anywhere, new car? fresh oil paint? new "wood" (formaldahyde) cabinets? new laundry soap? I found that ammonia products were devastating to me. These days they make so many things "without smell" that you cannot tell what might be affecting you since you can't smell a difference.

In the meantime, I'm going to ask you to do something somewhat silly. I'm going to ask you to accept this situation. Really accept it. Acknowledge that you are experiencing this and don't fight it. Somewhere in that release you may find a way to cope with it while it is a part of you. That was what I was suggesting with the knee bending thing before. What would you be doing if you suddenly had a cast on your leg or something. You would have to move about your life a little differently. You might have to avoid stairs. You might need crutches. These are things that are obvious. Maybe you can approach this bump in the road the same way. You just aren't going to be able to do things the same way for awhile. Decide that it is a temporary thing (release the worry this is giving you...understandable worry!! dont' get me wrong) and find ways to cope. The stress of the confusion is probably adding to your problems. Try analzying you surroundings. Is flourescent lighting making things any worse?? Don't read any magazines for awhile.....if they make you dizzy......find something that does not make you dizzy and do that most often. Do not look at the floor if it makes you dizzy. I honestly know JUST WHAT YOU MEAN about the carpet making you dizzy. I had totally forgotten that. Our airport had gotten new, zany carpeting and I went to pick up a friend and, well, YOU KNOW....it was very tough!!

I hope you can instill some coping behaviors while all this is going on. It may take awhile to subside. It isn't any fun.

Best wishes. Marguerite

 

[hpuehler]

Marguerite,

Thank you for all of the kind advice! I have decided that sitting and being on the computer are ok. I fI try to walk, move, lie down,etc. It gets worse. I think tommorrow I will try and scrapbook. I need to be off the computer for awhile! I,m seeing the PCP tommorrow and he will refer me to the ENT.

One day at a time! Did you sometimes feel that it was all in your head and then you moved and knew better!

Thanks,Heather

 

[briansmom]

Not sure if this is at all similar, but there was an easy fix so I'll share. I get really dizzy and nauseas after scuba diving. So much so that it would ruin my vacations. I did not get dizzy on the boat or diving, but when I got back on dry land. Finally, last year a fellow diver told me to take Sudafed (not sure if this is ok with heart issue) and my dizziness cleared right up. Obviously mine was an inner ear problem, but I couldn't believe how much of a difference it made.

 

[Marguerite53]

Did you sometimes feel that it was all in your head and then you moved and knew better!

Thanks,Heather

Gosh, Heather....it really was a long time ago. I just remember how it impacted me for so long. I mean, I got over the worst of it fairly quickly, but for years I just wouldn't ever lean over without holding onto something. I guess for me it was so much more of an imbalance thing. Like something was next to me trying to knock me over but it was actually inside me! Very strange. Honestly, my best defense was really focusing on my center of gravity. It was practically magical for me to just think of my torso as something that had to be deliberately brought into balance every time I stood up, or turned around, or leaned over. Maybe by focusing so hard on my inner balance I was able to quell any nausea that should have risen up. I just wouldn't let my visual swimmingness win out. I threw the whole sensation back down inside of me and I'd force the onus back on my own body to be centered. Gee, this sounds like babel, but what the heck. It might make sense to you!

Get in to see that ENT as soon as you can. If they balk about "new patient" stuff and try to make you wait more than a day or two, tell the receptionist that the vertigo is really very bad and since you are a heart patient it's very important to try to isolate what is causing it. (I swear, this makes them all fold up... this OHS stuff.....easy for a seasoned RN like yourself, perhaps, but you mention OHS to most people and they will jump to the rescue).

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread, so good luck!!

Marguerite

 

[Guest]

Did you sometimes feel that it was all in your head and then you moved and knew better!

Heh ... Heather, I know you meant this regarding dizziness, but lemme tell ya ... I know when I'm sick or not feeling well, I can sit at the computer and be OK and think, 'see, it's not that bad'. Then, I get up ... and reality bites me in the butt. He he.


Thoughts/prayers continue coming your way, of course.



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Something's wrong in the world today" ... Aerosmith ... 'Living On The Edge'