Vertigo is hitting me hard
 

I finally called the doctor yesterday and I am going to sit down with her on Thursday.

Vertigo is hitting me harder than it ever has. I had a really hard time last week when I was trying to drive. Being in the house I need to go out and be in the open space to help me.

I started taking Dramamine on Sunday but is that something I can take daily? It does help for a little while when I am here at the house.

Oh, carp, Lambchop! Vertigo is the worst.

Save yourself some money and buy meclazine in larger bottles that cost less. It's the same thing as the brand Antivert and it helps me a lot. When you talk to the doc, ask how much you can safely take in a day.

When the vertigo is really hard on you, you may start vomiting and need to take it again. It's brutal, I sure hope you can learn to control it for yourself.

Please be extremely careful driving! :hug:

Hey hun. Do they sell Serc in your area? I've heard from some that Serc is only available through compounding pharmacies in the USA :confused:

Reason I ask is because Serc is EXTREMELY easy to tolerate, and when I had severe vertigo twice, it was the only drug that helped me. It cut my vertigo by 70-80%, and I had intense vertical vertigo (up and down, not the room spin).

http://www.medbroadcast.com/drug_inf...d_name_id=1333

I was able to find info about it on a .com. It does have a couple warnings, but from researching it when I was on it, it seemed like a very mild medication for vertigo.

In contrast, Dramamine appears to be Gravol, which is over the counter in Canada at least. Which unfortunately did nothing for my cases of vertigo.

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

I've not heard of any issues in taking Gravol (I'm not sure if Dramamine is entirely the same drug) daily. If it's helping, all the more power to you, but a pharmacist should be able to confirm if it's safe to take daily.

yeah I know about the vommiting aspect of it AMN - already hit me! Last week when I was driving & trying to read my directions (which is NOT a good idea when vertigo is already bothering you) I lost my gutt in a rest area in MA.....

I have been trying some breathing exercises to help me get through the stomach thing...... it helps but gosh even looking at this puter gives me the spins!

Thanks Laura - I will investigate that here in the states!

Sorry you're dealing with this, Char. http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...lies/11680.gif

Whenever I experience vertigo I have to be inside, not outside, as big open spaces make it worse for me. I try to lay down and keep the room as cool and dark as possible. Sort of like treating a migraine.

I had Antivert once and it helped but made me sleepy. Which I guess is a good thing because being up made me sick.

I cannot imagine having to drive with vertigo....please be careful if you do. I hope you're better soon. Don't push yourself too hard. :hug:

NP :)

Now when I have that vertigo I literally walk into the doctor's office...

"My vertigo's back, please give me Serc".

I've actually heard doctors and pharmacists discuss it, and say it's so mild that really it could be sold over the counter here.

I can't remember the exact reason why it's hard to obtain in the US. Something about them not being able to prove it's use or effectiveness as I recall?

Well, I'm a walking example of someone who it did help, dramatically.

no advice Char just a :hug: and hope you get to feeling better real soon

Kelly - I feel better when I can look out into the horizon.... I don't know why, someone told me that the first time I got it? When I am in confined places or something fast goes in front of me is when it seems to bother the most.

I was feeling better today until I headed to school and it started pouring - the windshield wipers put me into a spin!!! NOT good. I ended up pulling over on the side of the road!

Oh Char that is too bad! I have only had it a couple of times so I can't really help you out any. So I will send you some hugs instead :hug::hug::hug:

Wow Char, vertigo is horrible. On days when I have it I take dramamine...Doc says its just as effective as Antivert. I've had days when I had to pull off the road into someones driveway or into a parking lot. Hope you feel better soon.

I have prescription strength Meclizine. It's 25mg a pill. The instructions on the bottle say that I can take one pill three times a day.

If you're taking the OTC Meclizine (Antivert?) ask a pharmacist how much you can take. Or, ask your doctor for Rx strength Meclizine, or see if they can give you a Rx for some Serc. (I've never taken Serc, so I dont know how effective it is)

Vertigo is the one symptom that I get that my neuro wont even ask me to come in for. He just calls in a Rx to the pharmacy for the Meclizine. He's almost given me steroids for it once or twice, but I've refused the steroids when he's offered them because I'd rather be spinning than spinning and having the annoying and irritating side effects of the steroids.

Sorry about that Char. :hug:

I finally broke down and went to the doc yesterday for the same thing. I'm better than last week (when I couldn't get out of bed cuz the room wouldn't hold still!)

The doc basically told me to NOT do whatever it was that made me dizzy and gave me a script for Meclizine.

I haven't tried it yet.

As long as I don't get up, sit down, or bend over I'm fine. :confused:

So, no grabbing clothes from the washer to transfer wet things to the dryer. No reaching back into the depths of the fridge for the peach jam.

*note to self: Learn to pee standing up.*

Good luck to you, wittle Yabbit.

Why havent you tried the Meclizine yet?

Try taking it when you go to bed (it'll probably make you sleepy anyways) it might help hold back some of the spinnies.

I got nothin' but hugs for ya, Yabbit! :hug::hug::hug:

When I had that awful vertigo I used to just patch my bad eye and it would stop. I also found that stress and being tired and heat would bring it on so I tried to avoid all of those, but movement would set it off too and that was when the patch came out!

I hope it clears up soon! We have to make it up the tower before they close!!!!

Hey Char, I have had horrible bouts with vertigo!! One of the things that has helped me is my doc gave me a perscription for Trans Derm Scop, little round patches you stick behind your ear.

I hope it goes away soon and STAYS away, Char. Yeeks, I've never had vertigo and I don't WANT it! *shudder*

AWWW sorry to hear that, Char. I had a bout of the dreaded vertigo a while back and I did the same thing RW did~~ covered my bad eye up w/a gauze patch, went to my dark bedroom and lied completely flat.

No bending or quick moves or I would have tossed my cookies.

Hope tomorrow is a better day for you. No stress!! No Stress and lots of rest!

Poor Lambchop! :hug:

I've had mild vertigo in the past, and it sure isn't fun. :( I hope you'll feel better soon!

I agree with Kelly that a dark room is easiest, but do keep a single, small source of light like a clock or something that you can see from the lying position, focusing on that still object helps immensely in stopping the psycho movements sensation.

I have to sleep in the recliner when the V hits, I bolster my head into a still position with pillows. It makes a huge difference!

How you doing today, Lambchop??:hug:

That must be the most awful feeling! :( Sending you good and steady vibes.

Feel Better Char..:hug:

sorry to hear that vertigo is so bad for you char.
i hope it will pass soon.
hope you feel better.

How are you today, Lambchop? Please let us know how your doc appointment goes today.:hug:

I'm waiting to hear as well. I do hope things have improved!

Well......???????

Doc gave me a prescript for Meclizine said you can't buy it over the counter but said it causes drowsiness - I don't need that, can do that all on my own! She said it would be better to take Dramine if it doesn't make me sleepy.

As long as I take the Dramine 2x a day I seem to be able to tollerate the Vertigo, I think it is getting better as long as I don't drive when it is raining, don't look out the side window while in the passenger seat, don't sit on the back porch swing and swing, don't use the Smilies that make fast movement, and so on and so on.... you get my drift don't ya!

Lambchop, honey, your doc is behind the times, it's been available OTC for at least a few years. You can get 100 units of 25mg for about $5, way better deal than Rx. When I need it, drowziness is the least of my worries!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw...lizine&x=0&y=0

Thanks for that link, Cin. I guess my doctor's behind the times, too, cause he gave me a prescription for it!! It was only $8.95 so that wasn't too bad. I had no idea you could get it OTC...:o

Hope your feeling better Char. I have no advice but can offer a hug. :hug:

Thanks for the link too, Cindy - Kelly glad I wasn't the only one that had a doctor tell them it wasn't OTC! :eek:

I'm just glad you're able to cope a bit better now with the medication!

Just last week my doc handed me a prescription, too! The lady at the pharmacy gave me the heads-up on no prescription needed. Maybe he just didn't want me to forget to buy it. :confused:

Hang in there Char, I've had horrible bouts of vertigo so I do know what you're going through. Almost like your day is one big miserable amusement park ride that you can't get off of!:hug:

I should of gone into town today get some but I was just to darn lazy and still have a couple of Dramamine left so I wasn't to worried about it.

Some times you just have to have a lazy day and today was mine! :wink:

Ouch! The windshield wipers! That would do a number on any one with the slightest dizziness. I learned here that there are 2 kinds of vertigo: the 'up and down' ...and the 'spinning room'. I had the spinning room twice: after a bad cold and after a boat ride... The first time I had to take something similar to Dramamine and it lasted a few weeks.

I do hope you start feeling better. I suppose we should all take a break now and then, lift our heads and stare at the horizon. Aaahhhh! :sunchair: