Crystals in my ears.......

This is how I spent the past 24 hours.

 I've been experiencing tiny dizzy spells for the past several months. Little ones that came and went in a mater of seconds and never during the same movements that my body went through during the days or nights.  Then when they came on only when I was laying my head on the pillow, rolled over to the right, the world started spinning.

Not wanting to know something like, "You have a brain tumor" or some ucky thing, I just ignored it for much too long.  Then I gave in and went to my doctor.

After hearing my symptoms he told me "You may have crystals in your ears".  Crystals, what is that?

Benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo (BPPV) is a common type of vertigo. The most typical movements that provoke vertigo are lying back into bed, getting up out of bed, tipping the head back (for example to instill eye drops), and bending over and standing up quickly.
It is caused by inner ear crystals that drift into the back, bottom inner ear semicircular canal (otoconia in the posterior semicircular canal). Viral illness, head injury, stress, tiredness, aging, and other things seem to be correlated with BPPV.
The canalith repositioning maneuver (Epley maneuver) or the Semont's liberatory maneuver almost always resolve the problem. When these measures fail, a careful re-evaluation may reveal a different diagnosis. Commonly, BPPV is accompanied by other balance organ problems that improve with vestibular exercises.

My doctor sent me to Physical Therapy and I went through some maneuvers that put me into positions like a pretzel.  After these maneuvers the Therapist held my head in her hands for two full minutes and looked deep into my eyes to watch them  quiver and diagnosed, Vertigo.  "You have had this for some time", she said.  Yes, for months, I told her.  But then I remember 4 years ago having a horrible bout with Vertigo that had me in the hospital for 3 days.  Then, they simply sent me home with medications.  It went away until now it showed up at a slower pace.

I was told, when she did the third and last treatment (took about an hour), as she gazed into my eyes, "Your eyes are still and I think I got it".  She then put a neck collar on me and told me to "Not move my head for 24 hrs".  Really, make believe your tied to a cross and do not move your head in any way. Do not look up or down or move from side to side.  Also, do not lay down. Sleep in a sitting position."Do not lay down"!

Well, I have 4 hours to go and I can remove the collar.  Then should call her tomorrow to let her know how I'm feeling or if I have any new episodes of dizzy.  And, for the next three days I can not sleep on my right side. 

So far I've not been dizzy, but then I'm not moving  I will go see her one more time and depending on if the dizzy returns, will get one more treatment next week.

I was told I can do the maneuvers at home if it was to return, by doing this exercise. My problem is in the left ear and this is one of the treatments she did for me.

Self-Treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Benign Paroxysmal Positioning Vertigo:

Benign Paroxysmal Positioning Vertigo is caused by loose inner ear crystals in the inner ear that migrate while sleeping to the back-bottom inner ear balance canal, the so-called “posterior semi-circular canal.” The maneuver demonstrated below is the way to reposition the loose crystals so that the symptoms caused by the loose crystals go away. You may have a floating, swaying sense while walking or sitting for a few days after this procedure.

LEFT Ear Treatment:

If vertigo occurs on left side

What I learned from all this is  "If dizzy spells come on, it does not mean some horrible thing is happening to you".  Go get it checked, it could be nothing more than a form of vertigo that comes on many people.

I will continue to do these exercises, on my own, in the future because I sure don't want to get dizzy again.  It was no fun with the kids here this past few weeks.  Walking the big theme parks was a chore with vertigo.

Hopefully this information will help someone out there in blogland.

(((huggss)))

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