[**guest**]

Went to the doc on the 15th. It seems that I lost my marbles. LOL.
There are tiny 'crytals' (or stones as the doc put it) in the cochlea in the middle ear. Sometimes, crystals may break off and will float around in the fluid. If the crytals bump against the nerves, it tells the brain that something is very wrong and vertigo begins. If the crystals lodge themselves against the nerves, constant vertigo sets in along with vomiting. Then, the person has to get rushed to the hospital and be admitted. An iv with meds will inserted and the person will basically have to be put in an induced coma until they can fix the problem. That could take WEEKS.

So, I'm a nervous wreck.

I have to begin physical therapy with a vertigo specialist but couldn't get an appt until the 24th!! They do a series of head movements to try to get the crystals to go back into their original chamber. It could take just one visit. It could take 10 or more. I'm not supposed to drive but I HAVE to because there's no one else that can bring me to these appointments. Plus, Anton will be starting preschool/therapy soon.

This stinks. I feel like i'm drunk (room spinning drunk). It's awful. If I turn my head, the whole room follows. It's not constant but it's much of the day (to different degrees).

Ugh.
Anyone ever hear of such a thing??
It's called: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

 

[Ann-Marita]

Wow, that sounds like an amusement park ride! One that you CAN'T get off!

I sure hope that the therapy works. And works the first time! Good luck!

 

[Clarinet]

Once in my life, about three or four months ago, I had a bout of vertigo. It only lasted the day, with sort of residual dizziness the day after. I HATED IT! My husband didn't get the seriousness and thought I was overreacting so I spent the day alone with a three year old and the baby was 9 or 10 months old. We lounged on the floor most of the time and

: I put the baby is disposable diapers so I wouldn't have to worry if I couldn't change her right away.

I've never heard of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo but I'd be comforted seeing the word "benign" in it. Hope it goes away with one session!

 

[**guest**]

I've had this vertigo for almost 2 weeks now.

Oh, benign means that it's not a tumor or anything and that the problem itself won't kill ya. However, if surgery is needed, anything can happen.

 

[mama_kass]

No I've never heard of this. It sounds very scary and irritating. I hope you feel better soon.

How will they treat it? Can it be cured? What caused it?

 

[CallMeMommy]

Yep, heard of it, and type the PT notes. There's a pretty good success rate (at least at our clinic), not necessarily a 100% cure but enough to where you can function and feel at least halfway normal. It's mostly head movements and some adjustments, and be prepared to have to sleep sitting up for a few days afterwards.

 

[CookieMonsterMommy]

OTJ, sweetie...that's not a misaligned crystal making you feel drunk.

That's love, baby.

Never heard of it-but I know vertigo sucks (well, not the movie--I hear that was good). Can I kiss it and make it better?

 

[**guest**]

You can kiss it but it may take LOTS of kisses before it gets better. rofl.

 

[jassyp101]

I had a bout of this while I was pregnant - no fun at all!! It lasted about 2 days with some mild residual stuff that lasted about 2 weeks. I just stayed really still for those 2 days and didn't move my head much. If it didn't get better, I was going to try the head positional therapy...but luckily it got better on its own with me staying really still.

I do hope you're feeling better soon!

s

 

[quantumleap]

Oh, mama! I feel for you. Whoa. I had vertigo brought on by illness that lasted for about a month, and I seriously wanted to die. May I advise no fort building with your dc? My mother also ended up with your exact type of vertigo and it first came on when she was in a blanket fort with my 11 month old brother. She says she was vaguely aware of his little body under hers and him saying "Mummy, up!", but couldn't for the life of her figure out where "up" was. I'm sure not knowing where up is is a familiar sensation for you. We both had success with the pt for this, although it did take several sessions for me (just one for my mama). Have they told you to keep your eyes open when the world goes round and round? Try it, it seems entirely counter-intuitive, but it does seem to get things stable a bit faster. You have to just keep them open and try really, really hard to focus on an object, any object.
Good luck, and I hope your crystals go back to where they're supposed to be pronto!
Katia

 

[**guest**]

Omg, one of my greatest fears is me collapsing when I'm all alone with ds. As a single mom, days can go by before anyone (even ds's father) calls.

 

[quantumleap]

OdetoJoy - So sorry, should have thought more before sharing that story. Way to go me, scaring people. However, I see in your sig line that you son is three, so chances are, he'd be able to get out from under you, in the unlikely situation that something like that happens. (my brother was fine, much to our relief) Children are hardy folk. Also, do you have a phone that you can pre-program? If not, perhaps this would be a good investment? It's illegal to pre-program 911, but maybe you could speak to a friend, neighbour or relative and program their number into the speed dial. Your son would only have to know to push 1, or whatever number he likes and recognizes. Or, you could program the friend's number to all the numbers, that way your little guy would only have to push any number. If your friend knew to either call or come over anytime she/he received a call, whether or not your son could verbalize the problem, help could be there quickly.
Try not to stress too much - vertigo "fits" (or whatever they are called) do pass, and faster than you think while you're trying to get your world to stand still again. Chances are that your little guy will be fine.
Again, so sorry to have scared you.
Katia

 

[**guest**]

Actually, if the stones lodge themselves against the nerves, the vertigo will NOT subside and I would have to be rushed to the hospital. I would have to get an iv with anti vertigo meds and then I'd have to be put to sleep (induced coma) until they can solve the problem (which could take days or even weeks!). BPPV can be quite the scary thing.

My son is on the autism spectrum and would not understand if I tried to explain to him about pressing a number on the phone if he couldn't wake me up or if I was extremely ill or hurt.

 

[supakitty]

I have it! I have it! It's driving me insane. Just figured I'd commiserate with you. Have you taken meclizine? It's makes me so sleepy the next day I can't function.

-Laura

 

[**guest**]

Doc gave me a script for it but I haven't filled it because there's no way I can take that stuff. I'm alone with ds all the time and that stuff knocks me out.
Are you going for physical therapy for your vertigo?

 

[MaryLang]

I've had veritgo, when my dd was 4mnths old, I was so worried I'd drop her, I remember crashing into the wall in the hallway, even though I was taking it slow. I went to the ER, but they never figured out for sure what it was. My healthfoodstore lady told be to put Wally's Ear Oil in-I think 4x a day. I took care of it after about two days, but it sounds like you have something different with the crystals and all.