<p>I have been suffering from dizziness especially during yoga classes ( lying flat and twisting) for about 6 months. Went to the doctor this week and she thinks I have BPV. I have instructions for exercises to do for the next few weeks. I did the canalith repositioning maneuver this morning. Wow- did the room spin. Feeling pretty icky now. Have to go back in a few weeks and if no improvement she will refer to an ENT. She also xrayed my cervical spine as I have stiffness/ pain in my neck.</p>
<p>Wondering if anyone else has experienced this? looking for cc words of wisdom.</p>
<p>I started suffering a few years ago and saw an ENT who also gave me “exercises”. Mine would happen when I would roll onto my left side when I slept. Twice a day I would lye on my side and stay in that position until the spinning stopped on its own, then I would hold that spot for an additional minute. Next I would turn my head in the other direction and hold for a minute and then roll my whole body to the opposite side and hold. It was pretty horrible to do because it made me very dizzy and nauseas, but within a week I found it more and more difficult to get my head in a position that would make the room spin, and within three weeks my symptoms were gone. It’s been years now, and every once in a while I will feel the vertigo starting and I will repeat the “exercises” and it will stop. Good Luck</p>
<p>Been there, had one bad episode and did the brandt-daroff exercises and it subsided within a day. Over few yrs haven’t had anything nearly as frightening as that. It’s amazing that something so simple could throw you off so much. Take it easy!!</p>
<p>I experienced BPV about 15 years ago and it resolved on its own but it sometimes comes back when I’m lying in bed and tilt my head a certain way. Sometimes I can “catch” myself and move my head back before a big spin begins and it will stop.</p>
<p>Things were fine for a long time until I started yoga classes in February, when certain positions would start my head spinning again. I stopped yoga and it got better but it’s not 100% gone yet – I still experience some vertigo when I sleep on my side. I’m going to try the Epley maneuver, which sounds like the exercises njblue mentioned.</p>
<p>Sally, that doesn’t sound like any fun. Because it’s spring, I wonder if this could be allergy and sinus related (messing with inner ear pressure?). And since it’s exercise related, my other thought would be fuel level. Are you eating enough to carry you through class? Third thought because of the neck soreness is, of course, whether something is pinching and causing a problem. Hope it resolves soon.</p>
<p>My husband had something like this after he was hit by a car and badly concussed. He did the exercises and things cleared up in a few weeks. That was two years ago and he is recovered. </p>
<p>The guy that hit him is about to be sentenced …</p>
<p>Yes, I’ve had it too and the Epley’s Maneuver worked for me. I know it’s an awful feeling so keep trying this - it really does work. Let us know if it helps.</p>
<p>Yes. I’ve had several bouts of it. Maybe once a year or so. It resolves itself in a week or two, but I have to lay off certain exercises until it does. Laying on a stability ball looking up at the ceiling? No good. Turkish Get Ups? No good.</p>
<p>I’ve tried the self-administered exercises and gotten the room to spin 100mph. I don’t know if the exercises helped “cure” it any faster or not. And, I haven’t had a bout in over a year now.</p>
<p>As I understand it, it’s the result of little crystalline “balls” in the inner ear getting positioned in the wrong place. The self-administered exercises are intended to reposition those things – to jog roll them back into place.</p>
<p>DeboarahT-
The doctor checked my ears, nose etc and looked clear. I take a zyrtec daily at this time of year, live in the south and we have green pollen every where ( except this year as the rain is washing it away). I eat breakfast before I exercise and make sure I hydrate well.</p>
<p>In hindsight I suspect the pain in my neck is due to me " holding" my head still to avoid moving it and initiating the spinning. </p>
<p>Patsmom
I really don’t want to stop my yoga class- I love it. Last year I lost 30 pounds and started walking/ exercising again. I am enjoying my more active life style. My yoga teacher is aware of my probs. She really encouraged me to have it checked out. Yesterday, we adapted some of the poses and I sat up while the others were lying flat on the mat.</p>
<p>Thanks for the other responses- happy to hear that you have managed to resolve this.</p>
<p>The only exercises I had to stop for a while were those that had me lying on my back looking up at the ceiling and moving. I was still able to workout, I just had to do stuff that was standing or sitting, not horizontal.</p>
<p>interestdad- that is exactly when the spinning is the worst!</p>
<p>The handout the doc gave me instructed no strenuous exercise for 2 weeks and to sleep upright in a recliner tonight. Not looking forward to that! When I watched the video I wonder if I did the maneuver correctly. H read the instructions and I did what he said. I think he was shocked at my reaction when the room started to spin. He had no idea it was that bad.</p>
<p>Had it. Had MRI, CTscan, etc. etc., running up those in insurance bills. Since I had my firsr bout in India, they tested me for every known tropical disease. Then went to ENT guy, we did the roll-around thing for five minutes, never had it again. </p>
<p>Thing is - why didn’t the docs try the roll-around thing first? Well…</p>
<p>The first time I had it, I was able to track down what the problem was in 30 minutes of googling. Once I had read a bit, I was able to pinpoint exactly the movement that triggered it. I could then trigger the room-spinning on demand, or better yet, avoid those specific movements.</p>
<p>Even when I had it the worst, I could still walk. If I recall, I did probably skip a few regular workouts in favor of nice relaxing walks at a nearby state park.</p>
<p>When I did the cure-it maneuver properly, the room started spinning so violently that I really thought I might blow lunch.</p>
<p>I’ve had vertigo though I’m not sure what type. After looking it up, I would assume it was BPPV. Best solution for me was meclizine when needed and to learn how to live with it. I’m a bit bad on my feet at times (I tend to roll my ankle a lot), but I’m fine after a year and a half. Also, be careful not to move too fast when sitting up or anything. It can send your head spinning. I still get vertigo occasionally but it’s nowhere near as bad as a year ago.</p>
<p>Oh, and don’t go on a boat. Boats are a bad idea.</p>
<p>I am prone to vertigo. The first time I had it, it was like i was drunk a3xcept I’ve never been so drunk I was bumping into the walls as I staggered to the bathroom. Had mile attacks after that, then a really bad one after I had the flu very badly and was prescribe tamiflu - now see the tamiflu ads say it can cause vertigo. No idea why I get it and what might trigger it, I try ad keep meclizine on hand at all times as it does really help. No more scuba diving for me any more though.</p>
<p>Sister-in-law is a physical therapist who was trained in the Epley maneuver several years ago before most doctors or PTs had heard about it. Patients who had suffered for years were so grateful when their symptoms abated. It seemed truly miraculous to them. </p>
<p>So about two years ago, her older dog was stumbling occasionally and seemed to be dizzy. She put the darn thing on an examining table, did the maneuver and lo and behold it worked. </p>
<p>By the way, she would say that although you can do the exercises yourself, it helps to have someone else perform them. I suppose you may be a little conservative in the maneuver as you start to feel the room spinning. </p>
<p>DD has had about three episodes. She performed the moves on herself, but since she had someone else perform it on her, there has not been a reoccurrence.</p>
<p>First task in fixing your BPPV is to identify the side with the problem.
Start by sitting up in bed. Turn head to the right and lie down fast onto your back with your head still turned, either completely flat or even with your head a little bit over the edge. Wait for a minute. If you are very dizzy that is the side with the problem.
If you are not dizzy, sit up, wait a minute or two, turn your head to the left and repeat step 1 to the left.</p>
<p>If it is BPPV, ONE SIDE should be a lot worse than the other.</p>
<p>Now that you know the side, the maneuver is easy. You can even start from the lying down position above, or repeat it. Wait a minute or two and the dizziness will pass. Keep your head back flat or a little over the edge and slowly turn it towards the good ear. Roll onto your good side so your nose ends up pointed towards the floor. Wait a minute or two. Tuck your chin towards your chest and slowly sit up. Wait a few minutes before trying to walk.</p>
<p>You can repeat the maneuver. If it does not work after two tries, go to the website vestibular.org and click on “find a provider” and look for a physical therapist in your area who lists themselves “performs Epley maneuver.” PTs at this point are a lot more informed about this than most MDs, but that is slowly changing.</p>
<p>The above instructions with diagrams are listed on the Cleveland Clinic patient information website under BPPV. The American Academy of Neurology also has a movie on its website that shows how to do this. </p>
<p>BPPV can come back, so keep the instructions in a drawer for future use. About 30% of people get it at some point in their lives, it is more common in older adults or after head trauma, and the recurrence rate is 15% per year.</p>
<p>I have something similar, not caused by otoliths in my case. Also discovered it in yoga class, when I was the only one who couldn’t physically tolerate doing an inversion (it made me want to throw up)–much to my surprise. If I lean back and look at the ceiling and then put my head straight, the whole room swims; it’s done that since I was in my late teens (I’m now 57). Saw a doctor who was kind enough to tell me “oh, if you’ve had it since you were 18, I don’t think we need to test for a brain tumor.” Good news.</p>