I am a 49 year old woman who has had this ongoing problem for 25 years. It started by a trip overseas and lasted about 3 weeks. This came on every 5 years or so. My husband and i went on a trip in Jan.2000 south. I got severe spinning on the way home and have suffered every since. This is the worst and longest it has ever lasted. I had an MRI in June 2000. They also were looking for MS but nothing showed up. I have since seen 3 nerologists with 2 saying i have silent migraines. I also have tried all the antivert pills and beta blockers. These seem to make the spinning worse. I have been better lately but still have 4 to 5 days a month real bad. I have returned to work on a part time basis but it is very hard although i am determined to fight this. I have high blood pressure that is now under control. I get extreme fatigued and have vomiting with these spells. I can not turn my head and have to hold on when i walk anywhere. I know this is very frustrating and can only hope someday it will be gone for good or a miracle pill comes out. Good luck to you
Do you have any gas, oil or coal burning appliances in your home?
Hi all, thanks for all your advice and stories. It always helps to know that other people have similar symptoms. Ninety percent of the time I feel like I'm a complete basket case, otherwise. Went to the Otology/Neurotolgy dr. yesterday (after waiting 8 weeks to see him!). I was having a "good" day yesterday, no vertigo or headache. Figures, right? He did the test with the goggles and couldn't trigger the vertigo. (Kind of like when your car makes terrible sounds until you take it to the shop and then it won't make the sound for the mechanic, so he says it's fine.) He says it isn't the positional type of vertigo but could be something to do with scar tissue from the meningitis or Menieres. I have to go in for some more tests which hopefully will provide a diagnosis. I think the test I have next is called a Electronystagmography. He didn't seem to think an MRI was necessary. I guess we'll see what happens with the ENG. I was kind of disappointed that he couldn't pin-point exatly what it was. I guess I live in a fantasy world wherein I was hoping he'd be able to twist my head a few times and make it go away just like magic, or at least give me some kind of pill to take when it happens. No such luck, so I guess it's back to the drawing board.
Thanks again for all the good wishes and shared experiences!
ive had vertigo since june of 2000. it wasnt only vertigo, it was also a bunch of different weird body sensations. it felt like the room was spinning and it felt like i was falling. i still have it, although it has gotten a lot better. this happened after a terrifying incident i had on a lengthy flight back from japan. the plane dropped a lot and i thought it was curtains. then, about 2 weeks later i smoked some marijuana and got a severe panic attack, lasting about 7 hours. ever since, i have been feeling odd sensations. things have gotten a lot better, but whenever i lie down, the room still spins around and feels like its falling, along with objects in the room. i have become so sick of it, because everything is always "in motion" and nothing is ever still. sometimes, in fact, most of the time, when i walk or stand it feels like im weightless/or that the floor is moving up and down. this used to scare me, but now its just plain annoying. it seems like its endless, and i have no idea when it will end. i have had a physician check me out, along with a neurologist and an MRI. they all came back normal, so i have no idea what is causing this, maybe its my panic disorder that i have. so anyways, i feel your pain.
i am 18 by the way
Hi Karen! FYI...I have experienced sporadic veritgo on and off for the past 3 years. As you know it is the most nightmarish experience you can have ever had. It was at the suggestion of my
Osteopath that I visit a physical therapist that had done a lot of study in the treatment of veritgo. This may sound strange but...it seems there are crystals in the ear that SHOULD NOT
be in the ear canal. When they are they cause vertigo. Which I had at the time I visited him. He put special "goggles" over my eyes an induced the vertigo and watched my pupils. This told him what manipulations were needed. Which he then did. I could go on but just let me say my vertigo is gone and if it occurs again I will go back to him for a "tune up"! And this "cure" occured after I spent 4 days in my house carrying a bucket with me wherever I went because I was thowing up all the time. This is also after an MRI, blood tests, ear testing and a neurological exam. With this method...no drugs, no expensive testing...all natural! Just thought I'd pass this along. Maybe this would help you in some way...Not sure how this works but if you want to email me for more info help yourself...and GOD BLESS!
Do not rule out Herpes Virus. The chicken pox and encephalitis means your body carries a herpes virus. I have all your symptoms plus and the only thing that works is massive doses of accyclovyr.
Karen,
I have had similar symptoms in the past, and still continue to have some symtpoms. I was diagnosed with Arnold Chiari malformation (cerebellar tonsil herniation) and a posterior fossa arachnoid cyst. I had surgery more than two years ago and improved dramatically, although I still experience episodic symptoms. Please consult a neurologist and have them specifally look for the malformation or some mass at the base of the brain. Hope this helps.
Dear Karen:
I am sorry to hear about your symptoms. True vertigo can be from different things such as labyrinthitis, Meniere syndrome, waxed filled ear canals, etc. Together with the unilateral headaches and sleep disorders I think this should warrant a visit to the neurologist. The fact that you had an encephalitis is also reason to see a neurologist. I would think that he/she might order an MRI of the brain, do a couple of office visit tests on your vertigo, and some lab work. Your symptoms can be anything from simple labryrinthitis with migraine variant, to seizure activity, or mass in the CP angle. Let us know how things turn out, but be sure and see a neurologist.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD