ILC Stage 3A, 8.5 years out, severe episodes of vertigo

paige-allyson

I rarely come here anymore but here I am. I had a serious but short episode of vertigo on Thursday and have had symptoms at some point every day since, short (2-20 minutes) but intense, like the floor wants to jump up and smack me in the face, Mainly this is when I go from lying down to sitting up. Happened during yoga twice- full on spins- no other symptoms. I hope I'm not f*cked and going to die from this s*it I thought I had maybe beat. I shouldn't drink but I'm drinking. That's how "concerned" I am. Email sent to my medical oncologist at Dana Farber. I just saw him and also just for the first time posted something on Facebook celebrating my survival thus far. Feel like I cursed myself. Not having a good night except for the booze part and the leftover vicodin I took. Go ahead and judge me. This is the least of my worries.

weesa

There are so many reasons for vertigo, and it is hard to diagnose. It could be sign of serious stuff going on, or it could be Benign Positional Vertigo. I have had BPV off and on since I did chemo. It can be frightening and sudden. It is as the name suggestions pretty benign and there is some simple PT exercises to get rid of it. It is caused by something breaking off and floating in the ear canal. It happens to me when I rotate my head to the left. Let me know what it turns out to be--I don't think you are f*ucked! Keep up the imbibing--it has worked for me. Weesa

KBeee

no judging! I understand. Hoping it is just a BO thing. Keep us posted

fizzdon52

No judging at all I would be feeling the same. I had an inner ear infection once and I couldn't even get out of bed. My boss had to go to the Doctor last week because he kept falling over and they said it was some crystals that form in your ear and break off - weird but true!!! Could be lots of things. Good luck and keep us posted.

BarredOwl

Hi:

I had benign paroxysmal positional vertigo last year. It came on suddenly and out of the blue. I just rolled over in bed one morning and the room began to spin. Bending down would cause the floor to rise/tilt, and I almost fell over a few times. That was like what you describe. Tilting my head back was a problem too.. I had an idea what it was or it would have scared the crap out of me. Here is some general info, and exercises to reposition your otoliths. I did the exercise pictured with some skepticism, but it actually worked. I stopped getting the attacks, although I felt odd for a few weeks. Hopefully, it will resolve soon

BPPV:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurg...

Exercise:

Google: "Self-treatment of benign positional vertigo (right)"

The first hit is a pdf illustrating the maneuvers.

BarredOwl

Optimist52

My husband has this disorder and it can be quite debilitating when it happens, however he can go for eight or nine months without it happening. It sounds very much like that's what you have.

RebzAmy

I suffer from some sort of inner ear condition, which occasionally causes these symptoms - as others have said, crystals in the ear which move around and cause severe dizziness and it comes on suddenly. It's really scary and horrible but it does go away so hopefully that's all you have going on. I found that by finding a position where my head was straight, either lying down or standing up, and I didn't move for a while really helped, and also, just walking around with my head held completely still also helped.

paige-allyson

Thank you all for the helpful responses. I didn't know all these things about vertigo . Hopefully it is that-certainly sounds similar .I am probably still going to get an MRI, because this is a symptom of concern in someone who's had cancer. I will definitely keep you posted

Mgrisham

d

During my second time this summer I had vertigo. I would stand up and the world would spin. Had brain mri which was negative.. I just thought ok stress. Mo said I had pots syndrome changed my medicine. No more vertigo. Mo said pots is common with bc and easily overlooked

paige-allyson

Mg- So great to hear it was something else!

BarredOwl- I did the PT maneuver .

It did trigger the spinning the first time I did it. Here's hoping it cures the problem. Thank you again