This article is for parents and caregivers. It's about my diagnosis of vertigo and how I've been managing it.
Back in 2008; I went to an urgent care feeling sick, once there they discovered I had Benign Positional Vertigo (or BPV). What is BPV? Essentially, there are crystals in your inner ear that are aligned and in some instances; those crystals will get out of alignment causing vertigo. Vertigo can manifest in different forms. For me, I feel like I am on a swing that is going back and forth continuously until it finally slows down. I usually get it just in one eye (I know it sounds weird, but that is where I feel it the most) I typically get flares every once in awhile, like if I've been sick, or if I move my head a certain way, or get up too quickly.
This past February, I got a horrible case of vertigo. I couldn't stop it with my normal exercises. It was ongoing and I was nauseous, dizzy and miserable for several days until I finally went back to urgent care. I was referred to a physical therapist; and that was the best thing that has happened! My physical therapist, Mary, at Onondaga Physical Therapy was kind and so helpful. We did Brandt-Daorff exercises, an exercise I call the B exercise, a dot exercise.
Along with physical therapy, I noticed my vision was off with my glasses and I thought maybe a new prescription would help with my vertigo. It did to an extent, but then a new problem related to my eyes emerged. I'm hopeful after all of this, my vertigo will be gone.
I still get small bouts of it, but with the exercises I was taught, drinking more water and trying to rest more (who am I kidding, rest doesn't happen), I am able to fend off the bouts pretty quickly. I also am more aware of what for me triggers the vertigo. So, I steer clear of swings, roller coasters (a huge bummer because I love them), swinging my children around, standing up too quickly, and extending too far.
I wanted to share this with you so if you ever experience it or know someone who does, you can send them this article and maybe it will help a little bit.
