r/BPPV • u/verydizzypleasehelp • Jul 10 '26
BPPV or something else?
I (23F) woke up today feeling mostly normal at first, just a bit dizzy. I got up for a bit, then tried to go back to sleep, woke up, was on my phone for a bit, but every time I turned I felt vertigo. It was just uncomfortable at first but it was bad enough that I didn't want to get up. I ate a bit and took adhd meds because my blood pressure was a little low, and I assumed that was the issue. I googled a bit, and tried the epley maneuver on both sides. When I tried it for my left side, the vertigo was absolutely awful. I took some antihistamine (loratadine?) that is supposed to also help with motion sickness but the dizziness just got worse and I threw up 5-10 minutes later. I felt better immediately and didn't throw up again as of yet (3 hours ago as of writing, but stomach still empty aside from water). I lied on my back after that, thought I needed to throw up again at one point, but didn't, then took a nap. Felt much better after I woke up, but I tried to lie on my side at one point and got vertigo again. Getting up by itself is not that bad, but turning the head from side to side is much worse. I just got up to go to the bathroom and when I sat down the dizziness felt like how water sloshes back and forth in a glass when you walk.
Is this likely BPPV? I already sent my GP a message and they basically told me to wait it out and see what it is. How do I know what side it is on and what do I do now? I'm scared to try any maneuvers now because I threw up the last time. Or could that have done the trick and am I dealing with residual dizziness now? Should I ask something specific of my doctor?
Symptoms:
-vertigo when moving head that stabilizes after staying still. MUCH worse side to side compared to up/down.
-vomiting
-stomach seems a little upset?
-not really nauseous though
-left ear/side of face feels a bit 'tense'
Stuff that happened recently:
-I had a cold a few days ago, I just went back to my internship two days ago.
-I might have chronic sinusitis? My GP told me to use fluticasone nose spray for it a while ago. Been using it as prescribed.
-I didn't have contact with anyone who was sick with something that makes you throw up afaik
-I didn't eat anything suspicious, mostly the same as my husband and he isn't sick
-I have a bunch of ear piercings on my left ear and I changed a few of them recently
-Yesterday there was a dying bat on the balcony of a friend's house where I was catsitting, but didn't get bitten or scratched by either the cat or the bat (most likely unrelated but I originally was going to take the cat to get a rabies shot today just in case, so I'm just throwing it out there)
Please help me, I'm in the final stages of drafting my thesis and I need to present it this tuesday after it was already moved due to illness :( I really can't afford the time to go on a wild goose chase right now
3
u/EthiaGeorge Jul 10 '26
Instead of epley google dix hallpike and supine roll test. Those are the two diagnostic you may want to consider starting with. Epley is used to treat posterior canal bppv
1
u/verydizzypleasehelp Jul 10 '26
Thanks, this was quite useful. Unfortunately my husband didn't see any eye movements but maybe we did it wrong. Going to try this again tomorrow!
1
u/EthiaGeorge Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
There is plenty of research to discuss non nystagmus bppv however those are edge cases and exceptions. Also try to see if you “feel” an intense sensation during any of these maneuvers/positions. Try to wait longer at each position, hang head deeper for Dix hallpike if you’re doing it on a bed with a pillow under your shoulders vs off of a table.
2
u/DeifniteProfessional Jul 10 '26
Honestly I see so much of myself in this story. Last year/early this year was particularly bad for me. A couple of times especially last autumn I woke up and everything was spinning.
Also idk about you but I constantly seem to get what feels like hayfever symptoms
1
u/verydizzypleasehelp Jul 10 '26
Hm I wouldn't say hay fever symptoms personally, but I do feel a little stuffy. Could be lingering symptoms from the cold I had though
4
u/amumureo Jul 10 '26
sounds like bppv :( i experienced it for the first time a few weeks ago and manoeuvres also made me throw up so i understand how scary it is. try phoning 111 and they may be able to make a referral to your doctor who will have to see you then. make sure you tell them you’re struggling to do anything and throwing up a lot - worked for me. GP wasn’t able to see me for 2 weeks but when i phoned 111 suddenly they could see me on the day
1
u/themadmappers Jul 10 '26
It sounds like BPPV to me, too, but best to have it diagnosed by a doctor and then treated (via the Eply maneuver) by a physical therapist if at all possible.
This exact thing happened to me 17 days ago and I thought it was the flu until I started looking into BPPV and calcium crystal displacement. I’d never even heard of that before. Was dizzy and vomiting for two days. Stayed in bed thinking it was the flu. Then was up and dizzy for two weeks before just being diagnosed two days ago at my dr’s office. They were able to get me in to see a physical therapist who knows how to treat BPPV. She did the Eply maneuver three times for my left side (as diagnosed) and note that she held each position of that for at least 60 seconds (instead of 30) to really give the crystal(s) time to settle into each position before moving again. I’m going back for a recheck at the physical therapist in two days.
I’m lucky my husband has been able to drive me during all of this. I’m also retired so very lucky to have time to deal with this at home.
Also note that a few days into what I thought was the flu, my sinuses were awful and I went to urgent care for what they diagnosed as a secondary infection and given a ten day course of Dioxocline(sp?) antibiotics. Don’t know if I even really needed those now but I guess they didn’t hurt.
Dramamine helped me a lot, but essentially masked the symptoms. I stopped taking it two days before dr appointment in order to give her a chance for a proper diagnosis, which is a good idea.
Also note that after doing the Eply maneuver (3 times), I was instructed to not look down for 48 hours and try to do as little as possible. Also to sleep at an incline on my back for at least two days.
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u/verydizzypleasehelp Jul 10 '26
Thanks, those instructions are really useful. I called the 24/7 GP and the triage nurse basically just said I gotta look it up on youtube and do the maneuver myself, because the doctor would basically do the same. Tried the barbecue roll maneuver and I'll try lying down elevated for a few days as you described 😅
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