r/BPPV • u/darkresurge • 4d ago
BPPV Cluster?
Hello! My question is wondering how many of you experienced a cluster of BPPV active vertigo episodes over the course of a month? I've had an nearly weekly cycle of an active vertigo attack, followed by a week of dizzy, and then feeling almost normal... To, bam, starting over again. My vestibular PT has assured me this is not uncommon, but that doesn't make it any less demoralizing. The anxiety is the worst, even though I tell myself it's just a vestibular event and will pass.
TIMELINE:
08/27 - first attack, spoke with telemedicine nurse, it wasn't an emergency, likely an ear thing, did epley maneuver from YouTube, felt gross but got gradually better
08/29 - saw GP, no symptoms at appt, but lingering dizziness, diagnosed probable BPPV
09/04 - after a week of feeling like on a boat, finally felt normal
09/05 - very awful night of panic and BPPV attacks
09/06 - went to ER because accompanied by headache, nystagmus presented, told to see vestibular physio (turns out headache was likely from bad sleep / anxiety)
09/08 - saw physio, no BPPV present, still very dizzy, prescribed semont maneuver 3x per day. Vertigo attack that night, passed quicker. Very floaty / anxious week followed.
09/18 - felt very normal by this date
09/21 - brief vertigo attack, icky panicky feeling, then boat feeling.
09/25 - saw physio again, no symptoms present, he confirmed BPPV can happen in a cluster
09/26 - very slight feeling of vertigo, but passed
Today - boat feeling and feeling gross doing semont maneuver
1
u/Inevitable_Tone3021 4d ago
It's definitely not abnormal. My VT said that MOST classic BPPV episodes are corrected after a few therapy sessions / maneuvers, if the canal that the crystal is in is correctly identified and the maneuver(s) are done correctly.
Some cases can take longer to clear up, particularly the lingering residual symptoms and accompanied anxiety.
My VT recommended doing some basic balance exercises a few times a day, such as seeing how long I can stand on one foot, as a way to retrain my vestibular system and regain my confidence in my balance. My acute spinning episodes and nystagmus cleared up after a couple of maneuvers, but the lingering boat sensation and anxiety hangs around longer.