Dizziness & Vertigo Support Group
Dizziness is the sensation of instability. Vertigo refers to dizziness with a sensation of motion. Vertigo is more likely than other types of dizziness to be associated with nausea, vomiting, or double vision, to occur even when lying down, and to feel better with the eyes closed. If you are a frequent sufferer of dizziness or vertigo, join the group and find support.
I had a weird & disturbed experience the other day while driving in the snow. I'd not driven in snow since the vertigo began almost 3 years ago. It doesn't snow here much. I was okay for a while, until it started coming down really heavily. I had a bout of vertigo earlier that night in the rain and pulled off to the side to calm down. I thought I was alright; apparently not.
The snowstorm was sudden. Visibility dropped quickly, and basically all I could see was the red tail lights of other cars on the Beltway and a wall of snow blobs coming at me. At first, my depth perception kind of flattened out -- like a TV screen, but then it got worse.
Cognitively, I knew I was moving, slow and steady, at the same pace as the other cars. But perceptively, physically, I could not tell what was happening. It was like I wasn't going anywhere. Like I was flying or floating. It felt so unreal. I did not have any landscape cues available to indicate me that I was, in fact, going in a forward motion or how fast.
I started to freak out and I wanted to pull over. But I knew that going off to the shoulder was probably even more dangerous because I could get hit by a truck or some such. So, I just kept going, trying to stop myself from have a total panic attack. I decided I had to let my cognitive reasoning take over, and ignore all of the mismatched sensations and bad signals my body was sending me. Very hard to use the "thinking part" of the brain to gauge and analyze every object while coordinating the steering, the stick shift and the pedals. Normally, most of that happens through some automatic brain processes that, you know, allow me to enjoy to the radio or worry about what to make for dinner while I drive.
It just proves to me how much I've learned to compensate for the missing balance system in my ear. I'm relying on my eyes much more than I realized. Without the visual feedback, my sense of gravity and position is seriously lacking.
Not sure why my vertigo has gotten worse over the past month. I have been grinding my teeth more, and fell back on the soda pop caffeine dependency, and probably sleeping too much because of a cold. It's so hard to get the balance right -- in so many ways. Staying positive is tough when you get clobbered again, isn't it? Chin up, right? Things to do and get done.... Just thought I'd share.
The snowstorm was sudden. Visibility dropped quickly, and basically all I could see was the red tail lights of other cars on the Beltway and a wall of snow blobs coming at me. At first, my depth perception kind of flattened out -- like a TV screen, but then it got worse.
Cognitively, I knew I was moving, slow and steady, at the same pace as the other cars. But perceptively, physically, I could not tell what was happening. It was like I wasn't going anywhere. Like I was flying or floating. It felt so unreal. I did not have any landscape cues available to indicate me that I was, in fact, going in a forward motion or how fast.
I started to freak out and I wanted to pull over. But I knew that going off to the shoulder was probably even more dangerous because I could get hit by a truck or some such. So, I just kept going, trying to stop myself from have a total panic attack. I decided I had to let my cognitive reasoning take over, and ignore all of the mismatched sensations and bad signals my body was sending me. Very hard to use the "thinking part" of the brain to gauge and analyze every object while coordinating the steering, the stick shift and the pedals. Normally, most of that happens through some automatic brain processes that, you know, allow me to enjoy to the radio or worry about what to make for dinner while I drive.
It just proves to me how much I've learned to compensate for the missing balance system in my ear. I'm relying on my eyes much more than I realized. Without the visual feedback, my sense of gravity and position is seriously lacking.
Not sure why my vertigo has gotten worse over the past month. I have been grinding my teeth more, and fell back on the soda pop caffeine dependency, and probably sleeping too much because of a cold. It's so hard to get the balance right -- in so many ways. Staying positive is tough when you get clobbered again, isn't it? Chin up, right? Things to do and get done.... Just thought I'd share.
I am curious what medication if any are you taking for your vertigo?
I'm not really taking any medication for the vertigo itself. (Pretty sure it's mostly jaw-joint induced.) I was given a cabinet full of things to try -- meclizine, anti-depressants, kolonopin, valium -- but they all had horrible side effects &/or knocked me out completely. Better to deal with the vertigo. Hated feeling like a lab rat by people who are getting paid to hand out prescriptions instead of listening and searching for a cause. Anxiety and stress come from the vertigo, not the other way around -- not with me.
I just don't have the wherewithal to fight back or analyze this week. Had a long cold and a bunch of acquaintances passed away. Ugh. The vertigo is already all I can deal with, everything else is short-circuiting my brain. "God won't give you more than you can handle," people like to say. Oh really? ... Alright, enough pity party tonight. Thanks for caring, Caitlyn. It's much appreciated.
Yes, in one year, I did see two different opthamologists plus a neuro-opthamologist. They told me I had very good vision -- "model eyes," one claimed -- better than most people, which left me feeling really bad for most people. (I must have had astonishingly good vision in my youth.) The worst diagnosis they gave me was that I had a refraction error, a little dryness, and a 'prescription" for low-power, over-the-counter reading glasses. At least two of the Dr.'s seemed do a fairly thorough check -- with the dilation drops, and the lights, and the pressure checks, and the charts.
I gave up trying to explain the perception problems and focusing problems I was having with the vertigo.
I did not quite understand the details of your posts, Mary, about pressure on your pituitary and cerebellum. My mom had a common pituitary tumor which messed up her vision. The optic nerves go around that gland apparently.
Are you saying that your diet caused you to have excess brain pressure? Or was there some other cause? And was your cure to get back to "natural" eating and drinking water only? What specifically caused you to have this increased pressure? Did you have an MRI or scan of your brain that showed damage in some way?
I definitely agree that there's stuff in convenience food that has an effect on people that is far greater than they realize. (I don't care what "studies" indicate, MSG/ autolyzed/ hydrolyzed ingredients are my number one enemy. Makes me whacked out -- like with bipolar rage -- after about 4 hours after I eat it.) But, as far as vertigo, the only direct correlation I can figure is caffeine makes my TMJ worse.
A small dose of Klonopin over a period of time resolved the problem. I was off the medication and back to my old self. But I had two extremely bad falls and the first one brought the vertigo back with a vengeance. After fighting with a neurotologist doctor who wanted to perform a 50/50 medial craniotomy my primary gave me a higher dosage of Klonopin and it has helped a great deal but I still have some vertigo and really bad balance.
I guess everyone is different when it comes to what works. I have my good days and really bad days but the am happy for the good ones. One thing I have noticed is extreme stress makes my situation much worse.
I had such high brain pressure that it caused my pituitary to be squashed, by cerebellum herniated, and my bp is way too low, and of course i mentioned my eyes. Yes, i cured myself with the help of my neuro opthamologiist with food and water. We tried Lasix, Topomax, and Diamox. None of them worked, the neuro surgeon wanted to do decompression of the brain and place a shunt, i ran screaming. My neuroo opthamologist and i became excellent patient-Dr partners in health. He advised me well and said none of his other patients were ever willing to do it. I was his crash test dummy, i journaled everything and can describe in detail how food additives make me feel hours within eating them. Had you told me this years ago i would have argued till i was blue in the face.
Lastly, its stil hugely debated what causes mostly females to develop high intracranial pressures, the forsures for now are any of the following to include any combonations, and im sure the unknowns still to come. One of which the government would owe the American public an apology, preservatives and additives.
Birth control
Poly cystic ovarian
Tetracycline antibiotics i also believe clyndamyacin as well
Obesity
Hormone imbalance
Empty sella (this is what i have with flattened pituitary-yet hormones low-normal)
Epidurals gone bad
Malfuntioning cribriform plate
Steroids
Vitamin A overload
Acne meds
List is gettinglonger, i hope you get the picture. My rocking on the boat type imbalance shows up when i eat wrong. I would always suggest to all members here to start food journling on the days your dizzy, look at everything you've eaten and drink the previous two days. You'll begin to see a pattern. I hope ive answered any questions you may had.
Mary
My periods changed from 7 dayer to 1 day. Acne broke out, then psoriasis, then the brain stuff, low blood pressure, low blood sugars, and severe panic attacks. I was researchin my crazy head off, i keep coming back to the same thing, android type body shape/apple shape indicates metabolic syndromes, basically this body change indicates adrenal body type.
The Dr. ran with this info and boy was he excited about it, he said he realizes women with the disease i had have severe hormonal fluctuations that are hard to detect when, where, and why. We looked at everybody type and what food lifestyle works the best, we thought the Paleo lifestyle choice with water only and no nightshade foods. It worked well for me, i included what adrenal body issue is below.
One of the main problems of the Adrenal body type is dealing with cravings and restless sleep. The Adrenal type is in an over-stressed state and starved for natural energy. Their metabolism has been damaged over time and their overall hormone functions are not in balance. The key to increasing the bodys natural energy supply is ensuring this body type is getting the essential nutrition it needs so it doesn't feel "starved". Since "fat" is seen in the body as "potential energy", the less energy the body can extract from healthy hormone functions, the more it craves "other" energy sources (because it is in survival mode). The Adrenal type many not have a tendency to over-eat as often as other types but it has a very difficult time losing weight due to the gross imbalance of glands that can also affect the ovaries, liver, and thyroid. Insufficient sleep combined with "constant thinking" or "stress" leaves the Adrenal type in worsened condition. Not only do their energy levels plunge, but their body begins to accumulate even more toxic fat cells, stored as spongy tissue under the skin. Removing toxins and repairing the adrenal gland health is essential to get this body type to state where they can get results, and keep them.
I have made some comments about homeopathic remedies but have not had too much of a response. A homeopathic doctor could do some tests and provide some remedies. I took a homeopathic remedy for my thyroid and adrenal glands. Also for my sinuses which I bought at a health food store. My sinuses were causing vertigo but the vertigo disappeared after a few days of taking the remedy. Also, eating some extra yogurt suppled healthy bacteria which cleared up the green snot I was having (gross I know). I don't know how much extra yogurt is healthy but I ate two small containers extra instead of one a day. Thought I would put this out there in case it will help someone.
Try to breathe deeply and calm down.
It's also best to avoid watching any television or movies up close. Get as far away from the images as you can - while still being able to understand what's going on.
Bright lights can also be a problem. Blinking bright lights are a menace.
I have been prescribed Pentoxyfilline with Gingko Biloba. it seems to help somewhat but nothing has really helped me get back to normal. I have learned to not expect to read as much as I used to. Not tax my eyes with too much television. Never, never swivel my head around in any exercises or just as a spectator at a sports event.
Ive tried eye exercises - but honestly, gave up after about a month. I know some sufferers are helped.
I am 80 and have made peace with this. Listening to books helps.
Spacing out the necessary tasks that involve typing or writing helps.
If it bad - take a walk - look straight ahead and it always calms down.