Other than the odd passing sickness and disorientated feelings we all get sometimes, I never really understood what it was like to suffer from vertigo. Like many, I thought it was describing a fear of heights. In truth, it is the unpleasant sensation of spinning.
For many years I had suffered from migraines since a teenager. I have since learnt to identify when I am at risk of a migraine developing and then take measures to prevent it.
A few weeks ago, I unexpectedly and out of know where woke with vertigo. Quickly realising some was wrong. In the dark and attempting to get to the toilet, I was spinning. The room would not settle and any small movement in any direction made it worse. I needed to get to the toilet and was bumping into walls and felt sick. It felt worse than coming off a fairground ride and I also broke into a massive sweat and I was dripping. I wasn’t sure at first what was happening, was I having a major medical episode like a stroke or perhaps a really severe migraine at a next level.
It was a work day and I would be due into work in a matter of hours. Having never suffered from this before, I felt so ill and was nauseous. I had to wake my wife at 4 in the morning as it also left me quite weak. I needed to be helped even with the simple act of drinking water and getting to the bathroom. I couldn’t do anything and ended up in bed for about 2 days. It took a good three days before some normality returned and was able to work. I needed a doctor’s guidance after the weekend and booked a phone appointment.
The doctor prescribed medication (prochlorperazine) for future attacks and talked me through some exercises to ease the symptoms. I was a bit sceptical at first as to whether this would really help, but it did. About a week later, I was nearly back to normal.
I had to follow the Brandt-Daroff exercises. These are a series of movements you can do unsupervised at home.
Your GP will need to teach you how to do the exercises. You repeat them three or four times a day for two days in a row. Your symptoms may improve for up to two weeks.
I was able to carry them out at the end of a bed. Certainly at the beginning I did need to be watched and then once receiving, was good to go solo.
Thankfully for me, a relative also suffers from vertigo and was able to give me guidance and advice.
Since the initial attack, I do have a repeat of the symptoms currently. It felt like a migraine was building this time in advance. Therefore, I have started the exercises again and carry them out three times a day. I will now likely carry them on for a lot longer. Hopefully I will be able to eliminate the issue permanently rather than having to live with it.
The NHS has an excellent article on what causes vertigo, the symptoms and how you can deal with it. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/ears-nose-and-throat/vertigo/#:~:text=Vertigo%20is%20commonly%20caused%20by,migraines%20–%20severe%20headaches
Please do comment if you can share any experiences.
