sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Hi friends, many of you know that I just got out of the hospital, (spent about 2.5 wks there...) for severe vertigo and it's side effects like nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.
So, I'm wondering what are the best treatmtent options for treating severe vertigo?
The vertigo started suddenly a few weeks ago with a really bad GI virus. The GI symptoms (vomiting and diarrhea) went away after about 5 or so days. The vertigo and severe fatigue have remained.
The neurologist at the hospital suspects that I have vestibular neuritis or labrinthitis caused by the virus.
I am supposed to follow-up with an ENT for testing. And get a VNG through the neurologist, scheduled in a couple weeks. I'm also supposed to start vestibular therapy.
I'm not convinced vestibular therapy is truly helpful. PT in the hospital started me on that and all it did was provoke symptoms so that my brain could begin to accommodate.
So back to my original question. I've heard that acupuncture, chiropractic, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy my help relieve my vertigo.
I've done these things before during my Lyme treatment and they've helped me tremendously so I'd be willing to try them again now. I'm just not sure what would be best.
I'm kinda concerned that the virus might still be active because when I saw my PCP yesterday he said that most people recover faster than this after viral infections. He implied that with my immune deficiency that I might still be struggling to fight the virus and that might be causing this symptom. But he said he didn't know what kind of virus it was so he didn't know how to treat me.
In that line of thinking I wonder if HBOT would be the best treatment it might help kill the any lingering virus and help heal my ear nerves.
What do you all think?
I'm pretty desperate to get well.
The vertigo is constant and severe, it's like looking at a kaleidoscope. Walking, sitting up, and standing are difficult. My only relief is when I lay my head back on a pillow and hold still.
Thank you for your thoughts.
Also please forgive typos and stuff, it was hard to sit and write this, thanks. My vision is terrible and bouncy.
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I'd be very concerned about the pressure to the inner / middle ear with HBOT. It could do some serious damage if the vertigo is related to the ear structure (vs. from the brain).
From detail in previous thread of yours:
Did they do that special CT scan to help determine if SCD might be involved?
Have you been assessed for BPV? If so, the Epley Maneuver can be splendid (but only for THAT kind of vertigo).
Vestibular therapy has only so much to offer when infections are involved. You can learn some safety techniques but the kind of progress expected will likely not be found if infections or toxicity are involved. I found this out the hard way.
If you do seek out vestibular rehab, be sure to have a LL therapist as, IME, unless they know about the unique ways lyme (or other stealth infections) can clobber the ears -- and the toxicity connection -
- well, they just can't be a good therapist for YOUR case . . . other than JUST for a few safety hints for walking.
GOING TO therapy can do more harm than good, too, as it's just excruciating to and so exhausting to go out. IF the therapist is LL (or stealth infection literate) . . . see if they can come to your home.
Or see if you can get a DVD for training - though they eyes and touch of a good therapist are vital but if it's just too taxing to go, it can be beyond counterproductive. -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Have you reached the therapeutic dose for GINGER CAPSULES? It can be quite high, actually. I'll see if I can find that detail. -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Do you have access to a RIFE machine? That might be much safer for the ears than HBOT. -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- SCD - Superior Canal Dehiscence
If you might be tested for this, a CT scan is required with extremely specific instructions from the group below. Not just any CT scan can find this, and not even most CT machines will work.
Most doctors have never heard about it. Not even all neurotologists. Get advice from the group below for diagnostics if your LLMD thinks this might need to be explored.
LINKS -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Google: BPV, Epley -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Valium - it can do wonders for some but clobber others. Again, this may depend upon the cause.
I've spoken in person to some who found this to be nearly a miracle.
I tried it several different times and, each time, become much dizzier with weak muscles and falling from the effect on my body.
Worth a try, just be aware that it is very sedating.
Valerian is the herbal "twin" to Valium but I get the same effect from Valerian. But the beauty if that is you can get it in TINCTURE form and try a drop at a time until you might get relief. -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Liver & Kidney stress or dysfunction can also cause vertigo.
Toxicity, for sure, contributes greatly. The ears are the very first "alarm" system for toxin overload in our body.
Certain MEDICINES, too. Be sure none you are taking are OTOTOXIC. So many are.
Google: Neil G. Bauman, ototoxic, vestibulotoxic -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
QUNINOA FLAKES can be be mixed in a mug with boiling water, let steep a couple minutes and will a nutritious gruel. -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- UPLEDGER INSTITUTE
Cranial Sacral Therapy - they have a techique to also reach into the back of the throat and help open the Eustachian Tubes if there is a blockage.
Very gentle, no sudden twists of the neck. Just Google for their site to find those trained in your area (or have a friend refine the connections here for you).
Insurance often covers this, if the professional you find is on your plan. -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- ANTIOXIDANTS? If the ones (which I assume you are taking) are not working as well as you'd like you may need to switch that up. Consider:
ASTAXANTHIN -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- REST - IF you may have a FISTULA, your ears would require a certain number of weeks at a 30 degree angle.
Even now, when you rest, I hope your doctors have told you to be at a 30 degree incline - with head & full torso higher than feet.
This 30 degree angle is the ONLY position in which the ears are not stressed.
You need to keep the head and torso all in proper alignment so be aware of that. -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- This stops nausea and vomiting in its tracks, every time for me.
Although, if a stomach virus or food poisoning, it may not. DO consider food poisoning as a possible cause, even if months ago. If this all started suddenly.
Nearly EVERY naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist will have this in stock.
One vial is the dose. I swallow half and let half melt under my tongue. Seriously, it works within a minute or two. Best if taken at the very first inkling of a "wave" that often precedes vomiting.
It's amazing. A must have, for sure.
-----------------
A couple homeopathics can also help:
Cocculus
&
Tabuccum
back with details but I'm sort of toast right now. -
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Thanks Keebler.
I do NOT have BPV, they ruled that out early on. All the doctors tried the Epley maneuver. It did not work. Instead of provoking symptoms, I felt better as long as they held my head still even when hang off the bed! That freaked them out a bit!!! As soon as they let go of my head, my terrible symptoms came back. They said that my symptoms are not the same as BPV, they are much more severe.
They did an MRI of my head, ears, neck, an MRA, and an LP. They did not do a CT scan to look for SCDS. I looked at your links and I really don't have the symptoms for SCDS so I don't feel like I should ask for it.
I am currently taking Ativan, same class as Valium. Along with Antivert and Zofran to try to "calm" the ear and help reduce the vertigo. It helps a little to prevent some vomiting. If I move too much or sit up too long I still get sick. It really doesn't help much.
Unfortunately there are no LL physical therapists here where I live. There are no LLMD's either. I travel to another state to see mine. Since I'm considered "bedridden" I'm supposed to have home therapy to start with and then transition to outpatient therapy as I improve. This was a compromise to inpatient therapy.
Thankfully my kidney and liver function tests have been good so far. They checked my CBC and CMP every day while in the hospital. My LLMD checks them every 2 wks normally so they are watched closely. I always ask for the results.
I don't currently take ginger, how can and will it help for me? How much should I take and in what form? Do you recommend a brand? Thanks.
I do take curcumin, hope that helps too.
Thanks!
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Sorry it's not BPV, actually but very glad you don't think it's SCD as that's much harder to correct.
Sadly, the medicines that you take just made me worse. But, if you can tell they help you, then glad for that.
I know that bit about having to keep the head very still, even turning it slightly is just too much and starts the whole vertigo cascade over and over with each minor move.
This made any kind of exercise, even stretching, impossible as it's very hard to not move the head one inch. Lately, I can actually move and not fall over and being able to turn my head on the pillow and not barf is sheer joy.
I think what has helped me with that is
BERBERINE. I am better in that regard since taking it where nothing else had as marked effect with this symptom.
I started with GlycoX 250 mg - once a day, increased to now 500 mg 3 x day.
Free samples arrived quickly, too. But call first as the recent storm may have affected them in some way.
This is the brand Marnie suggests - but it may not go with all Rx, so check on that.
BERBERINE � LINKS SET -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Ativan is on the ototoxic list here: P. 135, Ototoxic Drugs Exposed
As for liver function tests, they are not adequate to identify toxicity for drugs that are ototoxic or vestibular toxic. The ears detect that long before the liver but liver support is still essential.
Topic: Does Vestibular Rehab Therapy Supposed to be so Brutal? -
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
Sammy, I can't imagine what you must be going through. I am not sure if the website below was listed on some of Keebler's resources but it was a great help to me when I initially lost hearing and some of my vestibular functioning.
Below is a success story about the controversial use of bioidentical hormones and natural thyroid replacement which reversed a woman's overwhelming vestibular symptoms.(Her symptoms of vertigo were so severe that she was bedridden for months)
I can't remember if I already sent this to you, but my apologies if this is a repeat.
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Don't know what brand of probiotics you take, but there is a definite connection between ear infections and lack of good bacteria. Think there was a book written about childhood ear infections discussing this. It couldn't hurt to increase your good bacteria temporarily and add in some new and different strains to what you usually take to see if that helps any with the dizziness.
I was also wondering about the viral angle. The easiest and cheapest thing to do for that would be to take large doses of vitamin C. Your LLMD could write you a scrip to do it IV or you could just do it orally. There is a challenge test to see how much vitamin C you need -- a google search should bring that up.
You need to be aware that if you have candida a vitamin C flush can flush that out and cause a skin rash. Hubby had this happen the first time he did a vitamin C flush years ago when he was treating mercury toxicity and before he got the tickbite.
And of course increasing your zinc would help viral issues.
If the problem is in the brain then antioxidants such as CoQ10 and pychnogenol (grape seed extract) and resveratrol could all help.
And I think I mentioned B12 before. Very important for balance issues.
I agree that ginger would be worth trying. Hubby just mixed 1/2 teaspoon in a little hot water and took that a couple of times daily. It is a very good anti inflammatory and helps with circulation issues.
Hope something starts working for you soon.
Bea Seibert
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poppy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5355
posted
With all these better informed responses, I am hesitant to add anything. Just want to mention that an ear infection I got while swimming in a YMCA pool resulted in vertigo. I was given antivert but nothing for the infection. This presumably meant they thought it was a virus, and that my system would fight it off. Which it did, but I did not have lyme at the time. And that could affect immune system functioning.
There are anti-viral drugs, however.
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dbpei
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Member # 33574
posted
Poppy's response reminded me... many with Meniere's disease have been helped by the combination of Valtrex (1000 mg 2 x day) and lysine (1000 mg 2 - 3 x day). You need a script for the Valtrex, which is an anti-viral.
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poppy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
I realize you haven't been swimming, but it is possible to get ear infections without doing this.
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MannaMe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33330
posted
Have you tried cranial therapy? The feeling better while holding your head still, makes me wonder if the cranial therapy might be something that could help..
A friend of ours with Lyme was getting cranial therapy twice a week because it helped her head so much. She also started seeing a chiropractor who works on the head only.
He mostly works in the mouth to put the bones in the head back in place. Made a huge difference for her. She's even been able to drive again! She was basically bed/chair/house bound before she started lyme treatment this spring.
She was improving with treatment, but the cranial therapy and cranial chiropractic really made a big change for her.
My husband thinks its not quite fair that she is improving so much faster than he is...... He's been treating at least half a year longer than she is.
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susank
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22150
posted
Quick reply. What about the things that help with sea sickness?
I cannot recall the meds names.
Didn't I hear something years ago about something worn on the wrist? Or something that is placed behind the ear - on the outside?
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