Vertigo......the end of sailing for me?

[Applescruffs]

It came on Wednesday afternoon in the boatyard, I had just set up the jib on the roller reefing and was feeling good about the coming season. I then began to feel nausious and my head started spinning ,not literally , and I felt like I was going to faint and/or fall over.Managed to get home and Mrs Scruffs took me to the Doc who told me I had 'proper' vertigo and it could take weeks to wear off.

I've spent the last two days in bed lying down and feel as miserable as sin....I've quizzed the symptoms on the internet and it looks like even if you shake it off in reasonable time the chances are it can reoccur without warning.... a bit inconvenient if I'm on my own bobbing about on the Blackwater as I' m prone to do.

I guess that the question is has anybody else out there had this and how has it affected your sailing plans.

I'm guessing that if you are on the forum then you haven't stopped sailing completely...so maybe there's hope yet

PS: flowers and bowls of fresh fruit most welcome.

 

[wully1]

Go see you doctor- I had an inner ear infection a few years back that knocked me over if I moved my head. Scared me lot when it happened. Some antibiotics cured it although the doc did say it would probably come back at some point. Never has- fingers crossed.


I'm shortly going to the pub to get some staggering practice if for if it ever comes back

 

[Lakesailor]

Did you actually read the OP?

Mrs Scruffs took me to the Doc

 

[sailorman]

It came on Wednesday afternoon in the boatyard, I had just set up the jib on the roller reefing and was feeling good about the coming season. I then began to feel nausious and my head started spinning ,not literally , and I felt like I was going to faint and/or fall over.Managed to get home and Mrs Scruffs took me to the Doc who told me I had 'proper' vertigo and it could take weeks to wear off.

I've spent the last two days in bed lying down and feel as miserable as sin....I've quizzed the symptoms on the internet and it looks like even if you shake it off in reasonable time the chances are it can reoccur without warning.... a bit inconvenient if I'm on my own bobbing about on the Blackwater as I' m prone to do.

I guess that the question is has anybody else out there had this and how has it affected your sailing plans.

I'm guessing that if you are on the forum then you haven't stopped sailing completely...so maybe there's hope yet

PS: flowers and bowls of fresh fruit most welcome.

have you tried sturgeron

 

[l'escargot]

SWMBO had vertigo nearly twenty years ago now. For about six weeks she could hardly get out of bed, at it's worst she had to crawl to the bathroom on her hands and knees and couldn't negotiate stairs at all. Then over a couple of weeks it went away again. Since then, apart from a couple of ear infections when she has experienced similar symptoms for a day or too, it hasn't recurred.

 

[Applescruffs]

have you tried sturgeron

Internally or externally ?


I'm intrigued....

The way I feel I'll try just about anything.

Cheers,

 

[sailorman]

Internally or externally ?


I'm intrigued....

The way I feel I'll try just about anything.

Cheers,

vertigo is similar to travel sickness, imbalance of the inner ear

 

[IJL]

Most vertigo is either vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis, in most cases it lasts less than 7 days and the symptoms are reduced by a drug such as Prochlorperazine (Stemetil). I would forget sailing for a week but should be ok for the year. I see a lot of people with vertigo but very few have problems that last beyond 7 days. If it does persist there are some other causes of vertigo and ENT can do various things to reduce its affects

 

[johnalison]

Vertigo is not a disease but a symptom, like headache. For the most part, the causes are pretty benign and sufferers share with those with nosebleeds the distinction of being thoroughly disabled without actually being ill.

Although many cases are not diagnosed, it is often thought that a virus is responsible, which was probably the case when I got "labyrinthitis" 40 yrs ago. It almost always settles in a few days or weeks but some proneness to mild giddiness may persist. There are some simple tests that can be done in the surgery to see if one ear is misbehaving, butprovidingyour health is Ok, such as normal BP, it might be reasonable to leave it a week or two, otherwise specialist referral is necessary, though this is unlikely. There are some serious possible causes, and conditions such as Ménière's disease which will continue to give trouble, so time will be the indicator for concern.

I will stick my neck out and say that you would be unlucky to miss much of the sailing season. There are some implications for driving and you should not drive while the giddiness persists, perhaps discuss with your GP is unsure.

 

[Applescruffs]

Cheers IJL , the doc has prescribed Stemetil , it's to stop me feeling sick....sort of working if I stay in bed and lie down,

Good news that it may only last a week , I don't want to go through what Madame L'Escargot endured.

Still intruiged by the sturgeon though.

 

[Appledore]

I can sympathize with you because I've had severe Vertigo 4 times in the past 8 years. The last time was 14 months ago, and I'm still suffering with a loss of balance. However, it hasn't stopped me from going out on my little boat, and even 3 times to the Channel Islands and once (last year) to France.

I'll stop now, as my tea is read, and wife has already triggered two smoke detectors with the smut, LOL!

Back late.

Geoff

 

[sailorman]

Cheers IJL , the doc has prescribed Stemetil , it's to stop me feeling sick....sort of working if I stay in bed and lie down,

Good news that it may only last a week , I don't want to go through what Madame L'Escargot endured.

Still intruiged by the sturgeon though.

i had vertigo for a w/e o/b i just took to my bunk. discussing later with a sailing doctor he suggested stugeron

 

[Wino]

Another sufferer - first time about 5 yrs ago, now off and on every 4/5 months, but fortunately no where near as bad as first time. I keep prescribed pills handy and they certainly help. It most certainly does not stop me enjoying my boat. I hope you soon recover.
Drinking may not help but can make it pass much quicker!
Chers,
Wino

 

[wully1]

Did you actually read the OP?

Almost all of it- guess what bit I missed?

 

[Appledore]

Right, back again.

My last attack had me in bed for 8 days, and then trying to get my balance back took weeks. So much so that I had to give up my part time job! Previously, I was prescribed Buccastem tablets, which the doctor placed between my gum and lip, either side of my nose. These get absorbed into the bloodstream, and slowly stop the spinning, etc. In all my cases I was violently sick, and therefore could not swallow anything. The first attack went on for three days, and during that time I could neither eat or drink - even a spoonful of liquid.

I do now usually have some indication that 'something' is about to happen, but each attack has been a similar start, but different in outcome. I keep spare Buccastem on me at all times and in the car and on the boat.

As for Stugeron, I was prescribed that (I've taken it in the past to ward off sea sickness, which I actually don't suffer) but found it just made me tired and sleepy, so I never take them.

My biggest fear is that once I get an attack I am disabled, and unable to stand, or move. This wouldn't be good on board, but it's what I have to live with. As I said, usually I get an indication of an attack several hours beforehand, therefore, hopefully, time to call for medical assistance.

Off to Fowey early June, and looking forward to it.

Geoff

 

[oldvarnish]

Go to http://www.patient.co.uk/health/benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo-leaflet and read it.

If it accords with your symptoms, go to YouTube and look for 'epley manoeuvre'.

My doc did this for me and fixed me within five minutes.

 

[Daydream believer]

I have had a few bouts coupled with my migrane. Frightened the life out of me - what would happen if it occurred whilst SH sailing?
Cannot even feel I can turn over in bed, let alone go to the loo etc
I honestly do sympathise with any one who gets it . Not fun at all

 

[Mistroma]

I woke up one morning and turned my head to sit up and get out of bed then everything started to spin. It was weird, the ceiling was moving from left to right and then suddenly resetting to full left and starting again. I couldn't move without being ill and simply falling over. Gravity appeared to be all over the place as soon I attempted to move.

The doctor said that it was benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. I was told that material becomes detached in the ear canals and floats around triggering signals telling the brain that your head is moving around all over the place. It was treated by manipulating my head to let any detritus fall back into a harmless spot (Epley manoeuvre).

You can read about the procedure on the internet and you can also buy devices to help carry out the process.


It happened bout 3 years ago and I was told it was probably age related in my case and I had about 50% chance of it coming back within a year. I did have to stop driving for a few months but was eventually signed of as being fit to drive.

That was about 3 years ago and it's been OK, though I've had the odd brief feeling of being dizzy. We've taken the boat from Scotland to France and Spain without a problem. It is a bit of a worry but plan "B" is for my wife to attempt a fix (following diagrams and written instructions). If that fails, she'll have to manage the boat until I can get ashore and we plan passages with that in mind.

The doctor seemed to think that it was unlikely to happen when upright (so driving OK). If your vertigo had a similar cause then sailing may not be out of the question.

 

[Stork_III]

have you tried sturgeron

Is that made from a fish?

 

[Applescruffs]

Thanks for all the advice and sympathy....vertigo is certainly no joke...

I will try the epley manoeuvre if the symptoms don't clear up within a week...but my main fear is that I will get an attack when I'm out single handed...even with a crew it wouldn't be pleasant .......just the short drive to the docs with Mrs Scruffs had me reaching for the pail !

Grrrrrrrrr....it's really getting me down....

Sorry .......I sound like Marvin !