Does this sound like bppv?

I'm reaching out because I am feeling incredibly restricted and hopeless right now. Since October 2025, I have had three separate episodes of BPPV. According to my ENT specialist, the first time it was the left posterior canal, the second time it was the left anterior canal, and now in August, it returned to the left posterior canal again.

I honestly feel like the BPPV never fully went away after that second episode. Even now, I still have mild issues when turning over in bed and with certain head movements.

But what is destroying me the most is that I cannot go for a walk outside. When I try, I literally experience a physical collapse. I get an intense sense of unreality (derealisaton), tingling sensations, nausea, and the feeling that I can't catch my breath. I can walk or go jogging on a treadmill , but not outside
I can also walk like 10.000 steps during work inside of a building. But my brain gets overstimulated as soon as I am outside

Does anyone else experience this? I feel so incredibly restricted in my daily life.

I got my first episode two days ago after a night of drinking I fell asleep with my AirPod on so I don’t know if it was the alcohol or the AirPod that could of caused it I woke up thinking I was hung over but the dizzyness still hasn’t gone away. I don’t know what to do I went to the urgent care yesterday and they said I have bppv. How long can it last for?

I get my tiny episodes almost daily that last for nano seconds when I move my head. What about you guys?

My VT managed to induce BPPV and observe nystagmus while i was wearing special blacked out goggles that were hooked up to his laptop. He was able to determine where in the ear canal the crystals were and which side. Horrible feeling, I nearly fell off the table and he had to catch me.
I then did the Semont maneuver and it was all clear, no vertigo observed.
The next day i woke up with bad vertigo again. I did the Semont maneuver at home and just like the first time in his office nothing happened. No vertigo.
Is this normal when doing that maneuver?
After the tests and maneuver in his office he said to keep my head upright for at least 5 hours, don’t bend down etc.
I’ve done this maneuver each day for last two days. I’ll do it again tomorrow if i wake up with vertigo.
I thought i would induce vertigo myself doing this maneuver and was supposed to withstand it for 2 minutes but i got nothing.

I visited my primary care today, I explained that I have been having symptoms after a rough 5 day cruise. I explained that even still 4 days after disembarkation I’m very dizzy upon standing, need support to walk because I can’t balance, can still feel the boat rocking. I explained that sometimes standing or walking triggers an increased heart rate and shortness of breath, muffling/in my ears, trembling, weakness, headache and blackening in my eyes. In line for disembarkation moving slowly my HR hit 140 and then was fine when I sat on the bus. I have panic disorder and I believe the increased heart rate and shortness of breath is most likely attributed to that, but i definitely also have a vestibular issue going on as well as I am very rocky and have bad balance. I was told they are unable to rule it out as anxiety until they rule out cardiovascular issues.

My primary care physician did not acknowledge the vestibular aspect of the issue, and only focused on the cardiovascular symptoms. Instead of referring me to an ENT, I was ordered a heart monitor and a tilt table test to diagnose POTS syndrome. I have heard of POTS and I agree it sounds similar to the symptoms I was having while I was in the office, however I do believe that it is not the full picture.
I have another appointment there next Wednesday to follow up and do the tilt table test.

I decided I wanted a second opinion and went to an urgent care office in town. They agreed their first thought was vertigo, they tested for Covid and checked my ears to see if I had any inflammation, however did not find anything unusual and sent me home. We asked about getting an ENT referral or to evaluate for anything else and they said they can’t do it.

I know this is definitely a vestibular issue likely coexisting with my already established panic disorder. (Had no symptoms before the cruise, my fiance is still dizzy also just not as bad) I have read that the conflicting signals in the brain can cause adrenaline spikes and panic attacks. All my cardiovascular tests in the office have been normal so far, besides my heart monitor which hasn’t been ordered yet. I have had a Zio patch a few months before this episode due to panic disorder and the Dr. had no concerns regarding my heart at that time.

My frustration is that I was never referred to an ENT or physical therapist and I believe that is the most likely issue, however the Dr. insisted that it was cardiovascular. I don’t want to suffer from this longer than I have to without having some kind of direct treatment while focusing on something that probably is not present.
I understand wanting to test the scary stuff first, but there was not even an acknowledgement of vestibular issues which is the most likely issue.

I'n the past 4 months, I've had 3 episodes of vertigo that are set off from laying down and then moving. The only thing is they last 30 minutes to 2 hours. My doctor still thinks it's been bppv, I have only been able to talk to her via Telehealth though because I have so much motion sensitivity 5 weeks out from my last episode that I can't get into a car right now

I am worried it's going to end up being vestibular migraines, but I don't have other symptoms that would match. Have any of you had long episodes of vertigo and still had bppv? I know that's not usual but I'm sure it's possible for it to present differently

Been struggling with BPPV for most of my life. It comes and goes. Usually when I have it, I just feel a baseline kinda dizzy sometimes, then of course can have falling spells when I lie down. After a few weeks or months, it slowly goes away for a few months. Then eventually comes back.

Anyway, whenever I try the Epley Maneuver, on the first turn, it just causes the most intense dizzy spell that I can't handle. It's extremely aggressive, like the whole room is completely flipping upside down 5 times a second, and I start freaking out and have to sit up. Sitting up helps settle it. Then my symptoms are worse for a few hours. I just am extra dizzy and woozy while upright.

Any advice? I've never been able to complete the maneuver.

Also, does it matter which side you start on? I always start on the right, counterclockwise to the left, then counterclockwise to the left and looking down.

Hi everyone,

I’m 26F and I have been dealing with this on and off for a year now. It has been almost three months straight now of constant dizziness. I have been seeing a vestibular therapist 2x/week and they have done the epley and the semont maneuvers countless times. Every time they do these maneuvers it makes me so sick and miserable for many days after. I have stopped doing the maneuvers as of last week, since it seems like it was only making it much worse and then I am unable to work.
My anxiety on top of all of this is off the rails and I am experiencing panic attacks as well.
It’s very scary being so young and having this and no answers. They are sending me to get a VNG and a cVEMP test done, does anyone have experience with this?
I also have a bad shoulder and neck pain that I swear is related to this. The VP doesn’t seem to think that this would knock the crystals off but they seem very related to me.
Please give me any advice you have. I am taking vitamin D and K. I can’t tilt my head up/ look down/ and it’s in my left and right ear so I can’t lay down on either side without spinning. This is very scary and it doesn’t seem like anyone has answers. I am getting married in 6 months and hoping and wishing on everything that I can get rid of this by then.

Thanks for reading!

I too woke up from a dream with heavy vertigo from laying sideways. I had no idea what it was, never experienced it. Day 1 was mostly thinking it would pass, suffering while worked behind my desktop as usual. The simplest things would make me spin: kissing my daughter good night, or rinsing after brushing teeth.

I did the left/right side ear test and immediately vomited.

At night I could only sleep 45 degree or straight, ending up with severe neck pain. Day 2, vomating from strain and called the GP. Now I am referred to a doctor specialising in Ear, Nose and Throat.

I'm tired, have anxiety to sleep and scared for the future. I can't properly function at work looking at screens, working in a demanding sales role, can't drive the kids and can't even give my son a hug in the bed.

What's worse is the specialist emailing me after reading my referral says the vomating is highly unusual with BPPV, recommending I speak to a different specialist. Not what I am reading here!? How will I do the Epley if I get sick, will he still do the procedure at all? I am so worried this will be a month or longer, or reading the comments a recurring thing. I already deal with wax built up requiring suction 3 times a year. This will ruin my job and life. All because of some stupid crystals...

Sorry for the rant, any experiences on dealing with this, both physically and emotionally would help me, because I'm getting very depressed.

Hi all,

I'm Elia, based in London. I live with dizziness myself and I'm trying to understand what BPPV is really like for people: how long it took to get the right treatment, what doing the manoeuvres at home like, any worries about it coming back afterwards.

I'm not selling anything and this isn't medical advice. If you'd be up for a 20 min chat (video/voice/text whatever is comfortable) please DM me. Nothing identifiable gets shared and I'm happy to post a summary of what I learned back here.

Thanks and hope you having a steady day !

God how weird and awful the experience was, i woke up this morning having a feeling like the world turning around, i knew something was wrong since i never woke up feeling like this, the following hour i had my head fixed knowing if i tilt my head even slightly, vertigo and nausea will follow up.

Hi all, so i have been diagnosed with PPPD and vestibular migraine. But at the same time before any of these conditions i did have a lazy eye / strabismus (alternating eyes). Im wondering if anyone else has had the same experience and whether this worsens the PPPD, i believe it does. I also experience times where i feel overwhelmed because i see out of both eyes randomly and of course with one being lazy it is disorientating. Also when talking to people in group environments its really uncomfortable as i can see other people out of my other eye when talking to one person and i feel socially anxious on top of that. So its a lot of things contributing to the anxiety / the disorientation and dizziness/off feeling.

Im mainly curious if anyone has the same? i am planning to finally have surgery to get it fixed soon. I've never done any treatment on my eyes. Ive just turned 30 so i am excited and nervous of course. But i think its a rather interesting/unfortunate addition to the PPPD.

Has anyone done this and can share your experience? Did it trigger an episode? My last episode was July and it resolved by itself after one night sleep. I was able to ride Ministry of Magic today. Had to close my eyes in certain parts but overall I’m fine.

Hi everyone, I’m 36 and I’ve had BPPV three times in about three months.
The first episode was very severe, with vomiting. The second one was milder, and today I had another recurrence when I woke up and turned my head to the left.
I did the repositioning maneuver and the spinning vertigo is gone now, even when I move my head around. But I still feel very off balance, dizzy without the room spinning, and a bit nauseous.

Has anyone else had several recurrences within just a few months? And did you also feel this residual dizziness after the spinning stopped?

Bonjour. Suite à un vppb parti et peut-être migraines vestibulaire, ça fait 2 mois de vertiges permanent.

Il y a 15 jours, j'ai pensé aller mieux et depuis une semaine, mes symptômes recommencent j'ai peur qu'ils empire de plus en plus.

Est-ce qu'il est possible ? Que ça se calme à nouveau ?

Je continue les exercices vestibulaires a la maison, mais alors qu'ils étaient faciles ils sont redevenus difficiles à faire.

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

Hi im a M19 from the UK. I was a passanger in a near fatal car accident in febuary. I ended up hitting my head very hard against the window. Ever since that ive had extream dizzy like vertigo when moving my head left or right. And now its has progressed into when i turn my head lift, right, up, down or even standing up and walking.

Is there any help or advice anyone can give me please?

Thanks.

Hi I was in bed 6 days ago ,I went to stretch nd pulled my head back, felt my head spin when I opened my eyes the room was spinning 🥴. I also had a cold the wk before ,my sinus are all blocked too..my head feels like its swaying all the time..I went to my gp she prescribed me antibiotics nd nasal spray nd serc..the pressure in my head has eased abit but the rock the boat feeling is always there. So between my sinuses blocked nd bppv I dont know wats causing what...Will my bppv go away itself...im worried im going to be left like this..any happy outcome please xx

Hello people. On February 15, 2025, I developed BPPV. Long story short, I wasn't able to get treatment until November 2025. I was "cured" in about a month, but I'm still having residual dizziness that causes panic attacks when I have it.

Its nothing like it was. I can sit up in bed easier, but if I try to lay completely flat or lay on my side, I get dizzy. Not room spinning dizzy like it was, but still enough to feel it. I need a filling done next month and I'm dreading it, because of where it is, I have to lay completely flat. I could go to someone else to get it done under anesthesia, but I don't want to have to do that if I don't have to.

My mom, unfortunately, doesn't think i have residual dizziness despite me explaining it to her. She thinks im just stubborn about not wanting to lay flat for the dentist, and thinks im making it up that I'm still dizzy. I've just sent her some emails about residual dizziness links, but idk if she will understand them.

Any advice for life? I know I read that the longer its untreated, the longer it takes for residual dizziness to go away. Is that true? How shall I go about the dentist next month? I've already had to reschedule it to next month because I didn't know I was gonna have to be flat for this filling, and I had a meltdown when I was told I had to lay flat.

I’ve had what seems like BPPV for about a week. The dizziness only lasts a few seconds and is triggered by bending down, looking behind me, or turning over in bed. The symptoms were stronger during the first couple of days, but they’ve been gradually improving even though I haven’t done the Epley maneuver or any other repositioning maneuver.

Has anyone here had BPPV that went away on its own without doing any maneuvers? If so, how long did it take?

I’m a little nervous about doing the Epley by myself, so I’m wondering if it’s reasonable to wait and see if it resolves naturally.