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.
Hey, all. Been a while since I had to complain about the vertigo. It has come back to clobber me every day since the Spring Semester started. It is not as bad as it was 3 years ago, but it is a hefty reminder of how much it messes up people's lives.
Right now, I'm having problems typing again, and spelling, my sense of space and time, and my memory is shot. OK, I am approaching late 40s, but I know it's the vertigo clouding up all my thoughts. My vision is so weird and I've got head sensations that I'm used to, but not comfortable with.
I figured out after the third year of dealing with this, that my problem had to do with my jaw -- I grind my teeth a lot, unconsciously at night; and I used to chew on stuff like plastic pens and markers a lot. My dentist had done some work -- another crown and replaced some old metal fillings. He had told me I grind my teeth and that's why my gums were receding, too. Anyway, the dental work made my issues far worse because a small gap exists on the left side between the teeth, and my jaw pulls down harder on that side to clench and grind at night. All of that messes with the nerves in and around the ear, where the jaw joint spins around. My jaw pops a lot.
I paid for two different types of mouthguards. The first was like a plastic mold around the top teeth, and it was hard to deal with because it had to be heated every time I took it out and wanted to put it back in. And it was impossible to talk with. Then I bought a second one that looks more like a retainer post-braces. It's much easier to deal with, and does as good a job as the molded kind.
My vertigo cleared up for a long while -- not 100% by any means, but significantly improved. I was able to relax and enjoy life again. I still had to be careful and expect that I'd be woozy if I walked long distances or went shopping; but it was manageable. I was close to content with life.
But my job situation did not get better, it got worse; far worse. And I have been struggling financially. I took some side work to try and stop the bleeding of my bank account. I had also decided I wanted to take 6 classes and get a second Associates Degree.
I was doing okay. Stressed out, but the vertigo had not come back fully. I had become comfortable enough that I slacked off on putting the mouthguard in. And I got away with it for a while.
Then the end of the year came -- first finals, then deadlines from both of the jobs, then my father in-law died, and my dog got super sick. I had a big argument with my old mom and then school started again. I started compensating heavily with my only vice -- caffeine by way of diet sodas. And, between the stress and caffeine, I started grinding my teeth really badly at night.
I'd wake up and my teeth were near numb, and I could tell I was doing it. But I was out of the habit of wearing the mouthguard. I finally started putting it in a month ago in February. My teeth aren't numb now, but the whole side of my head is MESSED UP. I have constant facial ticks and tremors, especially in and around my eyes. Everything around my left temporomandibular joint is worn out and weary.And the vertigo is such a bitch. My brain is so foggy, I feel like I have dementia. It's frightening. And I've had a series of minor panic attacks again -- which makes me feel like Death squeezing the life out of my heart. And I feel like I'm gonna crap my pants while driving. Caffeine overload, for sure; but I think there's a definite link between vertigo and panic attacks, too.
I don't know which dental specialist(s) to see, and I don't have any cash to pay them at this point anyway. I can scrounge up a few thousand dollars, but will it help? Will it make it worse? I don't want to spend what little I've got coming in unless I know it will work. It's a bad situation, and for all of you in similar straits, I feel your pain and am so sorry you have to be like this.
I've still got hope that I'll get back on track again, but this period of suffering and slow recovery is difficult to bear. And, knowing what I know -- technically, I'm doing causing my own problems -- voluntarily or not. So, that's another kick in the pants. I've never been good at long-term maintenance. I get things done in spits and spurts, not on a regimented schedule. So, that's it ... that's all I can say. I'm not mad at my doctors anymore for not knowing for those first years. But now, I'm just kind of stuck in this going-nowhere situation. I'll get through school by years end, but the money ... so stressful; and that just feeds back into making my jaw and vertigo problems worse. [shrug.]
Right now, I'm having problems typing again, and spelling, my sense of space and time, and my memory is shot. OK, I am approaching late 40s, but I know it's the vertigo clouding up all my thoughts. My vision is so weird and I've got head sensations that I'm used to, but not comfortable with.
I figured out after the third year of dealing with this, that my problem had to do with my jaw -- I grind my teeth a lot, unconsciously at night; and I used to chew on stuff like plastic pens and markers a lot. My dentist had done some work -- another crown and replaced some old metal fillings. He had told me I grind my teeth and that's why my gums were receding, too. Anyway, the dental work made my issues far worse because a small gap exists on the left side between the teeth, and my jaw pulls down harder on that side to clench and grind at night. All of that messes with the nerves in and around the ear, where the jaw joint spins around. My jaw pops a lot.
I paid for two different types of mouthguards. The first was like a plastic mold around the top teeth, and it was hard to deal with because it had to be heated every time I took it out and wanted to put it back in. And it was impossible to talk with. Then I bought a second one that looks more like a retainer post-braces. It's much easier to deal with, and does as good a job as the molded kind.
My vertigo cleared up for a long while -- not 100% by any means, but significantly improved. I was able to relax and enjoy life again. I still had to be careful and expect that I'd be woozy if I walked long distances or went shopping; but it was manageable. I was close to content with life.
But my job situation did not get better, it got worse; far worse. And I have been struggling financially. I took some side work to try and stop the bleeding of my bank account. I had also decided I wanted to take 6 classes and get a second Associates Degree.
I was doing okay. Stressed out, but the vertigo had not come back fully. I had become comfortable enough that I slacked off on putting the mouthguard in. And I got away with it for a while.
Then the end of the year came -- first finals, then deadlines from both of the jobs, then my father in-law died, and my dog got super sick. I had a big argument with my old mom and then school started again. I started compensating heavily with my only vice -- caffeine by way of diet sodas. And, between the stress and caffeine, I started grinding my teeth really badly at night.
I'd wake up and my teeth were near numb, and I could tell I was doing it. But I was out of the habit of wearing the mouthguard. I finally started putting it in a month ago in February. My teeth aren't numb now, but the whole side of my head is MESSED UP. I have constant facial ticks and tremors, especially in and around my eyes. Everything around my left temporomandibular joint is worn out and weary.And the vertigo is such a bitch. My brain is so foggy, I feel like I have dementia. It's frightening. And I've had a series of minor panic attacks again -- which makes me feel like Death squeezing the life out of my heart. And I feel like I'm gonna crap my pants while driving. Caffeine overload, for sure; but I think there's a definite link between vertigo and panic attacks, too.
I don't know which dental specialist(s) to see, and I don't have any cash to pay them at this point anyway. I can scrounge up a few thousand dollars, but will it help? Will it make it worse? I don't want to spend what little I've got coming in unless I know it will work. It's a bad situation, and for all of you in similar straits, I feel your pain and am so sorry you have to be like this.
I've still got hope that I'll get back on track again, but this period of suffering and slow recovery is difficult to bear. And, knowing what I know -- technically, I'm doing causing my own problems -- voluntarily or not. So, that's another kick in the pants. I've never been good at long-term maintenance. I get things done in spits and spurts, not on a regimented schedule. So, that's it ... that's all I can say. I'm not mad at my doctors anymore for not knowing for those first years. But now, I'm just kind of stuck in this going-nowhere situation. I'll get through school by years end, but the money ... so stressful; and that just feeds back into making my jaw and vertigo problems worse. [shrug.]
Have you tried any alternative doctors? A homeopathic doctor prescribed some remedies for me some time ago and the vertigo went away after a day or two. Also, when my sinuses are bad I get a homeopathic remedy from the health food store which clears up the vertigo very quickly.