Vertigo

[gennisis]

Recently I have had a couple of attacks of Vertigo....loss of balance and a feeling of not being with it with my head all woozy.....not alcohol induced !!

The internet tells me it is due to an inbalance in my ears and can be sposmatic or can occur over longer periods.

Anyone had any experience with this?

If it is an ear problem ,can anyone reccomend an ear specialist at any of the hospitals in Chiang Mai.?

[Sheryl]

First thing to check is blood pressure, including changes in blood pressure when you suddenly stand up. Any internist can go this, or if you have a home BP machine you can do it yourself.

Also, just to exclude the obvious: did these attacks occur at a time when you might have been dehydrated or had experienced unusual sweating? (dehydration and/or loss of electrolytes can produce this)

And are you on any medications? Vertigo is a common side effect of many of drugs.

If none of the above are the culprit, problem may be bneurologival or inner ear. If there is any ringing in the ears or change in hearing, consult andENT specialist. Otherwise, suggest you start with a neurologist (altho he/she may refer you to an ENT if they don't find anything).

Afraid I am not familiar with any in Chiang Mai but any major hospital should have some. The "Suan Dok"attached to the government hospital has gotten good reports from some members, if I understand correctly (CM readers please chime in!) it is like a private wing to the major govt hosp where you can access the specialists on staff.

[Tywais]

The "Suan Dok"attached to the government hospital has gotten good reports from some members, if I understand correctly (CM readers please chime in!) it is like a private wing to the major govt hosp where you can access the specialists on staff.

That would be Sriphat special medical clinic located on the Maharaj (Suan Doc) hospital grounds.

[Rodger56]

I have had it a couple of times. Not much you can do about it. The doctor in the USA told me to just keep making my self dizzy and it will correct on its own. Not much fun though.

[guig]

Gennisis,

Do you have any of the following

• You feel dizzy just from moving your head or body.
  
• You occasionally feel nauseous and have vomiting.
  
• You have ringing or rushing noises in your ear.
  
• You have a sudden hearing loss.
  

If so you might have a similar vertigo problem as I have called Viral labyrinthitis. It is characterized by a sudden unilateral loss of vestibular (ear) function and hearing. The acute onset of severe, often incapacitating, vertigo, frequently associated with nausea and vomiting, is characteristic of this disorder. At its most severe you are often bedridden while the symptoms gradually subside. Vertigo eventually resolves after several days to weeks; however, unsteadiness and positional vertigo may persist for several months. Hearing loss is also present and may be the primary presenting symptom.

Until you have sorted out some medicial attention the following might assist you when you have an attack of Vertigo. Lie still in a comfortable position, often flat on your side. Reduce your salt and sugar intake. Avoid chocolate, coffee, and alcohol. Stop smoking if you do smoke. Try to create a low-noise, low-stress environment.

[mark5335]

Gennisis,

Do you have any of the following

• You feel dizzy just from moving your head or body.
  
• You occasionally feel nauseous and have vomiting.
  
• You have ringing or rushing noises in your ear.
  
• You have a sudden hearing loss.
  

If so you might have a similar vertigo problem as I have called Viral labyrinthitis. It is characterized by a sudden unilateral loss of vestibular (ear) function and hearing. The acute onset of severe, often incapacitating, vertigo, frequently associated with nausea and vomiting, is characteristic of this disorder. At its most severe you are often bedridden while the symptoms gradually subside. Vertigo eventually resolves after several days to weeks; however, unsteadiness and positional vertigo may persist for several months. Hearing loss is also present and may be the primary presenting symptom.

Until you have sorted out some medicial attention the following might assist you when you have an attack of Vertigo. Lie still in a comfortable position, often flat on your side. Reduce your salt and sugar intake. Avoid chocolate, coffee, and alcohol. Stop smoking if you do smoke. Try to create a low-noise, low-stress environment.

I experienced this last year and the doctor diagnosed that I had vestibular neuronitus (or inner ear infection). After 3 months I was still fairly unsteady on my legs and continued to have ringing in my ears. Eventually, I had an MRI to check whether anything else was afoot...MRI result was okay. It took about 1 year to regain full balance, & can't get rid of the ear-ringing.

To reduce the vertigo the doctor prescribed merislon (not sure whether I spelt that correctly). This drug is availabel over the counter in Thailand.

[Dakhar]

Wow, all of this information and not a single post suggesting that the OP consult with an audiologist.

Interesting, when one ponders their training, versus any other persont that could possibly help. A neurologist or an ENT-s training is a rather wide scope, where as an audiolofist trains specifically in the area of hearing and balance diagnostics, interpretaion etc etc etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audiologist

The post regarding viral labrynthitis is fairly accurate. But if is the case that you are having a viral atack, you should be medicated within 2 weeks of onset. The medication is usually Acyclovier (sp) and prednisone. If there is hearing loss associated with this viral attack, and you do not get treatment within the 2 week time frame.... a full recovery should not be expected (hearing loss).

As far as which ENT/Neuro you should see in Thailand.... honestly, most physicians hate working with dizzy patients. That is because the ediology and treatment is a "grab bag" of things. So who is the best in Thailand.... I don't know of a single ENT that specialized in the area of balance disorders. I know Lamart (sp) hospital owns some of the most advanced balance testing equipment in the world.... but do they know how to use the equipment is the real question

I wish you luck, and I hope you have a speedy spontaneous recovery.

[SBV9]

Recently I have had a couple of attacks of Vertigo....loss of balance and a feeling of not being with it with my head all woozy.....not alcohol induced !!

The internet tells me it is due to an inbalance in my ears and can be sposmatic or can occur over longer periods.

Anyone had any experience with this?

If it is an ear problem ,can anyone reccomend an ear specialist at any of the hospitals in Chiang Mai.?

You want to check in the Internet for BPPV and the Eppley Maneuver.

[Dakhar]

Recently I have had a couple of attacks of Vertigo....loss of balance and a feeling of not being with it with my head all woozy.....not alcohol induced !!

The internet tells me it is due to an inbalance in my ears and can be sposmatic or can occur over longer periods.

Anyone had any experience with this?

If it is an ear problem ,can anyone reccomend an ear specialist at any of the hospitals in Chiang Mai.?

You want to check in the Internet for BPPV and the Eppley Maneuver.

I doubt there is a single person in Thailand that can perform an Eppley maneruver or would even know when one is called for. I don't perform them, and I am an audiologist.

Balance is a specialized area, and few people want to get involved with it. It is a very complicated field because there are so many different facits to the balamce system.

That said, as the population gets older, demand for balance therapy will get larger.

[londonthai]

for vertigo, before you get a doctor appointment and some diagnosis, you might try SERC (every pharmacy stocks it, 100 tablets about 500 baht). No side effects, one of the rare safe drugs.

[cmsally]

Don't want to go off on a tangent but I had a slight vertigo problem caused by tooth infection. Although it seems rather far fetched, an infected tooth root was giving me balance problems but these were not attacks as such , more consistent.

When the tooth problem was dealt with the balance issue disappeared.

I am a fairly fit person who has never had an issue with heights but when it happened looking long distances down was a no no and I had a severe issue with escalators! It seems the head is a very compact space and everything is well interconnected!!

[stickyrice]

Dizziness is one of the most difficult problems to find a cause. However, I think we are on the wrong path. There are several "types" of dizziness. Vertigo is usually a very disconcerting feeling of actually spinning (people usually say they actually feel like the room is rotating). As opposed to the feeling of very lightheaded or lack of balance or faintness. This is far more common and has innumerable causes. For this you will need to see a general physician (who will not be happy to hear your complaint as the work up is really difficult and most often fruitless).

[THAIPHUKET]

All of your input helped to understand how complex the diagnosis and treatment is.

Here are some people who understand a lot . My question, where in the world would you expect the best diagnosis? Willing to travel far.

In short= about 5 years ago without apparent cause my steps became very unsecure, I felt like walking on foam. No ringing ears, etc.

This has subsided, no foam walking but I lose my balance often. Not dizzy in the head, one picturesque example= walking up to the toilet and not able to stop in time, very funny.

I had my balance checked in Europe with a test where they put water in your ears.

Bumrungrad did many test, MRi of brain, no indication of Parkinson, no explanation but also no new ear test.

Used Serc , no impact.

One possibility seems to be MS.

Where to get a diagnosis??

[Sheryl]

If you seriously mean where in the world, and can afford it, I would suggest the Mayo Cklinic in Cleveland Ohio.

If you want suggestions in Thailand only, I'll have to give it some thought.

[Sheryl]

Could try Dr. Apichart Pisarnpong at Bangkok Hospital and see if he has any ideas.

http://www.bangkokhospital.com/App/doctorp...&Lang=en-US

He is a specialist in movement disorders.

Bring all test results with you to avoid unnecessary repeats and costs.

Good luck.

[THAIPHUKET]

Thanks Sheryl !

I will first try Dr. Apichart. I thought of the Mayo clinic myself, but I want to believe that there are good doctors in Asia too, be it Bkk, KL, Singapore or HongKong.

[Thongkorn]

My friends got vertigo, I jus keep ringing him to say High, sorry had to say it,,