Dizziness when lying down goes away when walking or standing

Hello All (female, 34, not overweight, hypothyroid), in the past months I've been experiencing some bouts of dizziness. Sometime the episodes are short (few seconds) but lately the episodes are lasting a few hours.

My symptoms are the following:

1. Dizziness when lying down flat or to the side
2. Dizziness when moving my head forward
3. Dizziness when looking down
4. Started feeling nausea after eating a meal during the episode (which I think it was caused by the dizziness)

The dizziness is less when walking or standing or even sitting (it can be alleviated by moving, which is strange). I can even drive without any problems!

I took my blood pressure and it was on average 100/65 and HR avg 66-80 (Which is normal for me). I've always known to have low blood pressure but with no symptoms. These are my first episodes of dizziness of which lasted a few hours (4 hrs avg). Also I had no headache, no fever, no cold or anything similar.

Any thoughts? Or ideas on why maybe this is happening?

Thanks

[bbxx]

I should clarify. I am not a doctor, I was thinking of Benign Paroxmial Possitional Vertigo (spelling is not right)--anyway-thought of that because you say its when you lay down or move your head in certain positions. I am not familiar with a lot of heart stuff, but your description made me think of this. Something you can try is when you are in the position that makes you dizzy, hold perfectly still (do not move your head at all) and wait about 2 min. If it stops between 30 seconds and 2 min. it probably is this. If not--then I have no idea.

[bbxx]

Sounds like it may be bppv not heart related.

[bbxx]

I should clarify. I am not a doctor, I was thinking of Benign Paroxmial Possitional Vertigo (spelling is not right)--anyway-thought of that because you say its when you lay down or move your head in certain positions. I am not familiar with a lot of heart stuff, but your description made me think of this. Something you can try is when you are in the position that makes you dizzy, hold perfectly still (do not move your head at all) and wait about 2 min. If it stops between 30 seconds and 2 min. it probably is this. If not--then I have no idea.

[dinyworld]

Thanks for the reply.

[yarrow]

There are a LOT of different causes of dizziness, and not that many of them are associated with the heart or blood pressure.  What happens when you're horizontal vs vertical or when you move your head forwards or back are good clues, but this is the province of the neurologist.  Chances are that you will also be seeing an ear specialist, too, believe it or not, for an evaluation of your inner ear or vestibular apparatus.

I'd suggest you make an appt with a neuro guy for an evaluation to start off with.

[Mom2four85]

are you experiencing dizziness; vertigo, or maybe both?  

Vertigo to me is a spinning, whirling type of feeling - sometimes when I turn over in bed my head feels like it's on a merry go round...but dizziness ugh it's horrible I get light headed, nauseous, cold sweats type feeling and then I am sick for a few hours after each episode - alot of pre-syncope feelings like I'm going to pass out which I don't get that with strictly vertigo.

Depends on which it is what it could be...infection, neurological, heart, ANS, your bp could be too high or too low, could be from an injury in the spinal cord or inner ear etc etc; best jot down your symptoms, times dates etc and take them to your doctor and let them send you to a specialist if needed.

[dinyworld]

Hi there, I am experiencing both, since when lying down or to the side I start feeling the room is spinning and as soon I stand up or sit down it goes away in a few seconds-minutes and comes back if I move the head quickly or if I lay down again.

I noticed if I move my head forward, look up or lay flat I will start feeling the vertigo.

[curmudgen]

bbxx "diagnosis" of PPVP seems right on - see this web page for more info -

http://www.ehow.com/about_6500549_causes-dizziness-lying-down_.html

[Jannie411]

Sounds like vertigo to me.  See your primary care physician - there is a prescription medication (meclizine) that will alleviate your symptoms, it will take a few days to feel better but it does work.  There are also positional exercises that will help and your doctor can provide instruction on how to do them correctly.   Feel better soon!

[CFS56]

bbxx probably hit the nail on the head, that is definitely what it sounds like to me.  I had the same thing...only lasted a few days and went away.  You can go to your doctor and get the meclizine and as Jannie411 said there are some exercises you can do.  Seriously doubt it's your heart or anything like that.

[Madge270]

About ten years ago, I had bouts of this too.  I went to an ear-nose-throat doctor and after testing he found I had a form of vertigo.  He felt it could be caused by a virus that affects the inner ear, and he said it would probably last about 18 months, gradually getting less and less severe.  That is exactly what happened.  Since that time, I sometimes have it rfor 8 or 9 hours at a time, maybe two or three times a year. The virus destroyed some of my hearing, my ear now pounds with my heartbeat and I hear a high-pitched ringing besides.  I've just learned to deal with it all and get on with my life.  (Usually can't do anything on days like that except sit quietly in a chair.) Meclizine didn't help the kind of dizziness I get.

For me, the vertigo (sometimes with nausea, sometimes without) is often a type of whirling feeling inside my head. At other times, the room spins around me and I feel as if I'm on board a ship and the deck is pitching up and down under my feet.  Definitely an awful feeling. Lying down is the worst...can't stand it. I often can't walk either, so I crawl. But if I sit in a chair, very still, and watch TV or listen to the radio, it gradually (over a period of hours) goes away.  Then I can go quite a long time before it happens again.  There are worse things than this, so I try not to let it bother me.  One thing though...I can't fly anymore.  If we take a trip, it's by car. I may try Amtrak soon for a trip to see my brother in Colorado.

It will take you awhile to figure out what this is all about.  Sometimes a person can get a 24-hour virus that will attack the inner ear and then just go away.  Maybe that will be all yours is.

[CFS56]

What you are describing sounds like Meniere's disease, an inner ear disorder.  Has anybody said that to you?  There are medications that will help with that...I have had it for years and years.  Diurectics can  help prevent those attacks, thank god I haven't had one for a long time.