Hi Electric Frank

We have chatted before and you have been helpful. Typed in vertigo in the search button and saw a reply you had to someone last year. I just had an attack and it is scary. Glad there was a wall to hang onto. And didn't miss it! Certainly a different feeling than lightheaded or dizzy. It really is like getting off a merry go round amusement ride. Just wondered if you have them often? Since this is my first, is it likely it will be a recurring thing.My HR was fine, my blood pressure after sitting down and trying to relax was 117/68. I thought it would be really high because it scared me so much. I was struggling at the time to put on a jacket over a bulky sweater. Do you find that any particular event causes your spells. Looking forward to hearing from you. Makes me afraid to go outside.

6 Comments

Vertigo

by ElectricFrank - 2013-02-10 01:02:59

Just looked at your profile and see you were born in 1930, the same as me.

You have it right about being the same as getting off an amusement ride (or twirling around as we use to do as kids). The whole thing is positional, and relates to our inner ear. There are microhair like nerve structures in our inner ear that sense the movement of the fluid. Our brain uses this feedback to help us maintain balance. As we age the fluid tends to thicken and form tiny crystals which can lodge in the hairs. As we move they stimulate the hairs giving false movement information to our brain.

Unusual movements like putting on the jacket, or for me lying on my back and moving my head to look up and to the right will cause a wild ride.After things settle down moving back to straight ahead or getting up can cause another wild ride only in the opposite direction.

None of this indicates anything serious other than the symptoms. The worst problem is the loss of balance and chance of falling. The other can be motion sickness. Our brain has a problem with having our inner inner ear and our eyes giving conflicting information. Fortunately, I've never had a problem with motion sickness, and with my background as a pilot am used to crazy sensations.

There is a treatment that has now been recognized by neurologists that uses a simple series of head movements to dislodge the crystals, and is effective. Check the following web site for some good info on it. I've also found that drinking plenty of water helps as well. Winter is the worst where the cool temperatures don't trigger thirst like in the summer.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080526171412.htm

If I can help any further drop me a note.

frank

Good to know

by magenniskeith - 2013-02-11 03:02:33

Thanks for all the great replies about the vertigo.Yesterday I penned a long reply but it got lost. I usually blame the people inside my computer for losing things but this time forgot to click submit. Have not been hydrating as much as usual and will now pay more attention to my liquid amounts. Know I have a schwanomma (sp) that caused a brief period of dizziness a couple of years ago but it hasn't grown and have not had repeat symptoms. Hope the vertigo was a "perfect Storm" situation, dehydrated, hot room, quick movement and congestion. Going to take the attitude it won't happen again......until it does.
Two months to the day since PM inplant. Have seen gradual improvement but hope adjustment appointment at end of month will help even more. Sleep mode on from 11:30 to 8:30 seems fine, during the day chores rate gets the job done. Rate response is on but when climbing stairs, on incline, carrying groceries HR in high 70s, low 80s. Before implant, no matter the exertion HR never out of 60s so I guess that too is an improvement. My bad time of day is around dinner from 6 until about 10,something is not right. Someone described the sensation as a tight or falling feeling in the stomach. You can tell, technical minded I am not. But discuss literature or plays, better at that kind of thing. Am hoping the cause can be determined. Any ideas Electric Frank?
Had PM because of 30s and pauses when asleep. But didn't know it and fatigue on exertion has been a factor since childhood. Didn't worry me. But on my good times, I felt 40 again. Now since implant, not so much. Since 83rd birthday, maybe have to settle for 50ish feelings. If that could happen, that's ok. As always, look forward to replies.

hi just lost the whole message

by jessie - 2013-02-11 12:02:39

years ago i had labrynthitus and i was so dizzy i walked in to walls. for those that do not know it is an inner ear thing which causes dizziness and nausea. i took antivert but it did not help. it lasted 3 months and i worked as well. i must have looked odd walking in to walls and walking in to patients rooms. i also could not lie down as the dizziness would get worse so i slept in a chair. i was told it might reacurr but it has not. i was told by my dr. leave it to you to get this as if i asked for it. those were the days when women were not treated very well..lol

As usual

by jeanlancour - 2013-02-11 12:02:43

ElectricFrank is right. I just want to add the movements work, you can easly learn them and do them as necessary, For me work every time. Jean

Strange feelings

by ElectricFrank - 2013-02-12 02:02:33

Rate response is tricky to get right. No matter how sophisticated the pacer it never does it like the natural one. One place where it falls short is in anticipating a change in activity. I've seen studies where someone wearing a monitor approaches a flight of stairs and their HR starts increasing before they start up.

Because the rate response isn't totally natural it can cause some unfamiliar sensations. After a while we get used to them. You can help by not getting anxious when you feel them. Unless you are having shortness of breath or light headedness the feelings are usually benign.

That age around 82+ seems to be a time when things start catching up with us. I'm coming up on 83 in June and this last year I've noticed my body wearing out for the first time. I've accepted that I won't be 40 forever. In fact it's been a while since I was. LOL

enjoy,

frank

Losing Replies

by ElectricFrank - 2013-02-12 02:02:42

My approach to losing replies is to highlight the whole message, right click, and select copy. Then if something happens when I post it, I can paste it into another reply and send.

The most common problem with long replies is that the forum times out and logs us off while we are composing it. Then when we post it nothing happens.

frank

You know you're wired when...

Friends call you the bionic man.

Member Quotes

The pacer systems are really very reliable. The main problem is the incompetent programming of them. If yours is working well for you, get on with life and enjoy it. You probably are more at risk of problems with a valve job than the pacer.