Medical question anyone suffered vertigo?

[africajim]

Hello all, I'm just looking for a bit of advice from anyone who may have suffered from symptoms I'm having.

Just to highlight how serious this is, I've been taken from my work to hospital, then home to rest due to an illness I've never suffered before. To say I'm worried is an understatement. In the five years with Gleaner Oils I've never had a single day off and my prior employment, of six yrs had only six days off in total so I'm no malingerer and loathe time off work! I'm just venting my worries and looking for any advice out there, piece of mind etc!

At the weekend I had a couple of dizzy spells, I shugged them off, usual "stood up too quickly" and carried on. Monday morning just before leaving from work, another dizzy episode. (I explain these as feeling drunk). I decided to get an appointment with the local doctor just to be safe. He advised me possible Labrynthitis rather than linked to my heart condition, although my pulse is slower than usual (around 50bpm) blood pressure's 120/80 so normal. So he told me if I get any worse get back in touch, "nothing to worry about", that's not what I thought!
Well, today it got worse alright. I had to get my apprentice to drive the van back from a job to the depot where my manager assisted me off the premises and got Daniel my apprentice to take me to hospital.
I have periods of dizziness and am unstable on my feet. These can last for a minute or two at a time, I feel a bit nauseous but come back to normal soon. Sitting still feels ok, eyes closed even better, so I concur an inner ear problem may be the cause of the dizziness. The doctor today has come up with another possible cause, Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo! This can take weeks, perhaps months to clear up. I've been put on a phenothiazine antipsychotic medicine called prochlorperazine maleate (don't like the sound of antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia!)

So, my questions, and damn, I've got plenty, but my main ones are has anyone suffered dizziness to this degree? And if so,any thoughts on recovery time, etc? My main concern being I'm supposed to be leaving for the Stella Alpina rally on Saturday and if there's no marked improvement I may have to cancel.

P.S.
Am I psychotic? ???? Em,,,,, best not answer that one! LOL!
Thanks for listening.

[Boris]

No idea Jim but whatever it is get well soon.

[HUDDERS]

Bloody hell Jim, hope you get yourself sorted.

[raymo]

Hope it goes as quickly as it came mate,

[Whealie]

Jim,

Sorry to hear this, but it sounds all too familiar. I had Labrynthitis for the first time last year. The first time, I was actually sick. After that, I realised when it was coming on and took it a bit easier. I ended up being able to go to work, albeit sometimes looking like a drunk walking down the road.

I was actually advised that driving a car is quite good for you, because you look a long way ahead of you and that helps you keep your balance. Obviously in a car there is no risk of falling over. Riding a motorbike is completely different.

I found the worst symptoms went away quite quickly but I would not have been able to ride a bike for several days. I am frantically looking round for some wood to touch here, but I have not had it for some time despite having similar feelings in my ear that pre-empted the three attacks I had.

My attacks often followed either a full-blown ear infection or at least rumblings of one, so I have avoided things like swimming.

[wheeliebin]

Yes, I've had big problems with it, caused me to write off a 1200 bandit, going dizzy whilst backed over for a corner !

Was told at the ear, nose & throat clinic that unless it actually feels like the room is spinning around you, it's not an inner ear problem. Mine was more like a fuzzy, close to blackout sort of feeling which you'd have to close your eyes tight and grab hold of something or you'd be on the floor. More like the room had been wrenched away from you rather than spinning, would last between 5 and 30 secs but leave you feeling sick for a good 10 to 30 mins after.

Best advice I can give you is to go private and try and sort as soon as possible, I spent a good 3 years going from pillar to post with the NHS, suffered panic attacks whilst out on the bike (not knowing if it would happen again) and it seriously knocking my confidence (don't have a bike at the moment).

If you can deal with the dizziness without losing your balance you may well risk the Stella, if the dizziness puts you on the floor, it's a definate no, no.

[Windmill John]

Possibly got "Shouldn'thaveboughtatriumph_ee_itus
Or even "Fionashould'vepaidmoreformypanniers_ee_itus
On a more serious note, take a day off, some clear breathing - outside, no pills and see how it goes. I've had reactions to some pills which have made me go down the old fashioned approach of total relaxation, deep breathing and the hardest of all....trying not to worry.
Hope all is well, keep us informed.

[alanvendy]

It sounds like Prenuptualitis (panic before wedding)

On a serious note my other half suffers with mild vertigo as part of her other condition. She has been on stugeron (baisically travel sickness pills) for years to control the dizzyness and sickness.

If your not happy with the diagnosis ask to see another doctor, Gp's are what it says on the box General Practioners, at our local surgery we seem to have doctors who are good with pain relief, another who is good with bones etc.

[africajim]

Thanks for all the replies folks. It's amazing how hearing you're not the only one to suffer from the symptoms and there is light at the end of the tunnel makes things seem better.
It's not been as bad as I've ever fell over, just stagger a bit and hold on to things. I've not had it on the bike, but until today I hadn't been as bad as stop driving the van, but today was a really bad morning which stopped me driving, walking and working.
Hopefully tomorrow will be another day and I will try to continue as normal.
Thanks again folks.

[Jackdaw]

I'm not a doctor But:
You mention a heart condition. Are you on meds to lower your BP? Have you changed your dose recently? 120 over 80 sounds a bit low, combined with low PR. What are the symptoms of low blood pressure?

Whatever it is, hope its sorted soon. Don't ignore what could be a warning signal and bomb off to the Stella unless you're 100%

Good luck