Dear Doctor,
I have (quite) the same symptoms described by " Anonymous" entitled
"Vertigo Symptoms" and posted on 25/11/96 on this HUB.
Everything started on Sunday morning(why always on sunday?) waking up and
seeing the room swirling around me....I layed down again and it swirled
again !!
I had some light instability symptoms few times(2,3) distributed in some
months, no collateral, no consequences, always waking up but only for few
seconds and only instability, not swirling rooms. Immediately forgotten.
In the last month I was constantly attending at a fitness club where I
could frequently get a blow in the ears or wind shots, here it is very
cold.
Other symptoms are difficulty to follow with eyes quich images, bothered
by strong light, little swirling moving into the bed from left to right
and back, hardly staying supine, light nausea, no headache, no fever, no
reduced eyepower,sometimes it gets worse moving the head up and down,
sometimes not. I feel better standing up than sitting or laying down. I
consulted the housedoctor that suggested me to see the EarNoseThroat
Specialist. I did it and he visited me two times, confirming vertigo on
some specific position (the head down and than back again).Strong vertigo
stays for three seconds than it goes away, just leaving me with a big
head and collateral symptoms. At the end the ENT specialist declared I
have nothing to the Ear and Nose and suggested me to see An orthopedic
Specialist because(he told me) could be the cervical bone (???). Tomorrow
I will see this specialist but I am going to become very nervous on the
matter. I am (I was) what phisycians call "healthy guy", so I am even
unable to cope with such a long desease, now it is 10 days long, even if
the worst syptoms are gone.
I am taking antibiotics (Aulin) and some aerosol antibiotic(fluimicil).
Nevertheless the specialsit told me "you ears are OK", I often(when lay
down) fill my ears closed. I am 43 and just few months ago (as a routine
control) I checked my eyes and the ocular basis and everything seemed to
be OK. I made also a check up on july 96 and it was quite OK too.
Thanks to help a scared guy !!
Best regards
Reply: ------------------
While it is not possible to actually diagnose your condition via this type of communication, it is possible that your symptoms are related to an inner ear problem known as benign positional vertigo or cupulolithiasis. It is an inner ear condition that results in momentary episodes of whirling vertigo which are brief in duration (few seconds to minutes) and are induced by certain changes in head position. There usually are no associated auditory symptoms (ringing in the ears nor hearing loss). The condition is usually self-limited but may last for 4-6 weeks before resolving. Treatment is dependent on the severity and duration of symptoms. Many people require no treatment other than reassurance after confirmation of the diagnosis by an ENT physician. Others may benefit from certain types of physical manipulations of the inner ear or a type of physical therapy known as vestibular habituation therapy. Medicines are usually of little benefit.
--
Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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