Horrible vertigo during the night.

thankful4life

Last night (well, early this morning, around 4 a.m.), I woke up with horrible vertigo. I felt like I was going to fall off the bed. I could literally see the walls spinning around and around. I called out to my husband and asked him to hold me, because I truly felt like I was falling. This went on for several  hours. I finally fell back asleep. When I got up this morning, I still feel a little "off," like I can't turn my head quickly because I get dizzy. But the horrible vertigo is gone.

Do you think I should call my oncologist about this? I know that if I do, she will probably order some tests (maybe a brain scan?), and I really don't think it is anything to worry about.

But I've also been having fevers again for a couple of weeks. I was hospitalized last summer with sepsis, and so I guess I get scared any time I start having fevers again. My temp. normally runs about 97.5, and the last couple of weeks in the afternoons it gets to 99.6 or so. But then it goes back down at night. Weird, huh?

Also (isn't there ALWAYS another also) I found another lump, this time on my right rib. I had a lipoma removed from my left rib in March, and it was benign. But I guess I'm not far enough out from this to not be scared when I find something new. I'm meeting with the surgeon on Monday, and I'm thinking that we'll be scheduling surgery to remove this lump.

 But, anyway, what do you think about the vertigo? Or do you think I'm just going crazy? Some days that's what I think. Thanks.

Moderators

You poor thing! You probably should call your doctor, as it could also be a side-effect to a medication.Also, you'll want your doctor to check for any inner-ear problems, migraines, etc.....   Regardless, definitely contact your physicians, as it must be such a scary and uncomfortable feeling!

redsox

Definitely call a doctor, although I would probably start with my PCP.  There are medications that can help with vertigo.  You need an assessment and treatment recommendations.  But remember, it may very well have nothing to do with cancer.

reesie

I think you should call your PCP. I had that happen years ago (way before BC) and it was an inner ear infection.



With a fever it sounds like it could be some kind of viral or bacterial infection.



If your PCP thinks you need to see the Onc, he'll let you know.

lovetosail

I've had vertigo like that and it turned out to be Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)- google it.  Your PCP should be able to dx this and treatment is simple - the Eply manuever works really well.  Good luck!

pennylane

I agree with Lovetosail...Sounds like you have positional vertigo...a really common problem...I've had it off and on for years...before bc and even when I was relatively young...It is really scarey when it firsts happens (often, like you, in bed after waking up)...and just a really unsettling feeling...Besides the epley manuever there are a lot of little things you can do to tweak thie symptoms of this problem...What really works for me is to sleep raised up on two pillows and to always fall asleep on my back (ha, like a corpse)...Even if you need to roll to your side, make sure to get on your back for the real sleep...When you wake up, if you feel unsteady, try to get to a sitting position and slowly get your head down between yours knees...get a nice blood rush to your head...When you are walking, kind of focus on the farthest point..and if you have to turn use your eyes first and then follow with your head and neck...It can take a while for the little crystals in your ear to get back in place (that is what they think causes this)...be patient and have faith that it will get better and that you can work with it till then...good luck...P....

thankful4life

Thanks, all. It's been happening again today. A few minutes ago I almost fell in the shower. I called my PCP, and I wasn't going to be able to get in until next week, so I said I'd call back.



This morning when I first woke up it happened, but then got better for awhile. I really thought I was falling over in the shower. The rest of the time in there I didn't look down.



It seems like us cancer patients should be immune to other crappy problems, doesn't it?



And in the back of my mind, of course, I'm thinking "brain tumor or brain mets," but so far I have kept myself from googling about that.