Dealing with BPPV and anxiety

[Bambi1985]

Hey guys,

So after 3 months I'm still dealing with BPPV (vertigo) and honestly I'm getting all kinds of other weird feelings, like this weird buzzing, electrical, pulse feeling in the back of my head and neck, and it's mainly when I lay down. Not knowing what this is has me freaked out and it is making my anxiety sky rocket, I'm so worried about if it's something serious like a brain tumor. ughhhh it's so exhausting spending my days feeling dizzy, sick and worried constantly. The dizziness fuels the anxiety and vice versa, I just feel like I'm stuck in a vicious circle and it's never going to get better even though everybody tells me it will. I also recently moved to Washington state by myself, wasn't supposed to be the plan, but through a turn of events I am now all alone and just trying to get by everyday, I keep trudging on but it's exhausting. I worry if I'm going to be able to keep working, what's going to happen if I can't, I just can't stop with the what if, what if, what if....ughhh. Anybody going through something similar or have any advice?

[Krn210]

I also have BPPV and anxiety. It has gotten better, but some days it’s still there. The physical therapy exercises the doctor gave me help a ton. At first they make me more dizzy but the following day it’s so much better! Like it was almost non-existent but I didn’t keep up with them like I should have. Sea bands are my go to for nausea. Otherwise just reminding myself that it’s all ok and trying to distract myself helps the most. Hang in there.

[Bambi1985 in reply to Krn210]

Really? I hate that you're going through the same thing, but glad that you can relate, I feel like no one can! Yes, physical therapy also gave me exercises to do to realign everything with my brain and I feel like it helps a little bit and yes it does make me more dizzy up front but then gets a little better. But I just feel like the nystagmus (involuntary eye movement) (sure you know that as a fellow BPPVer lol) is not ever going to go away and they say that's what is mainly causing my symptoms. How long have you been having to deal with BPPV? Do you find that your anxiety makes things a thousand times worse?

[Krn210 in reply to Bambi1985]

I have been dealing with BPPV for awhile now. The doctor said that my ears are really scarred and that’s more than likely causing mine. My anxiety can definitely make things worse. Some days it’s easier for me to talk myself down. Other days it’s like it’s all brand new and my anxiety hits.

[Bambi1985 in reply to Krn210]

Yes I can definitely relate. Does bppv scar your ears if left untreated or is your scarring caused by something else? I'm wondering if mine is something more than just residual dizziness because my eyes are still having alot of nystagmus. I'm just so over it, it's exhausting.

[Krn210 in reply to Bambi1985]

I had a lot of recurrent ear infections as a child which caused the scarring she said. I too have the nystagmus. This is weird...but when you look at something patterned does it look like it is moving slightly?

[Bambi1985 in reply to Krn210]

O.m.g. yessssss!! Its so weird looking and makes me feel so off. Stuff around me looks like it's slightly moving and the floor feels unsteady sometimes or sometimes it'll actually feel like I'm shaking back and forth, it does some crazy stuff. I'm sorry to hear that about your ears, that sucks. They told me my crystals fell out and they did the epley maneuver 3 times, then sent me to physical therapy. She said she thinks they're back in but now my brain is just off and needs to be retrained with eye exercises. But I just don't feel like it's helping.

[Krn210 in reply to Bambi1985]

So it’s not just me! Lol! It drives me crazy and makes me feel like I could be sick sometimes. Your crystals fell out?! How does that happen?!! They told me that mine just keep getting caught in the scarring. 🙄 Peppermint oil helps me a little.

[eharvey8]

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this I have migraines so it's different, but I understand the cycle of pain/discomfort and anxiety. Sometimes when I'm worried about the what-ifs I think about how extremely rare it is to have the thing I'm worried about having. Also I think about how if I have a brain tumor or something serious, I would likely have a bunch of other symptoms, not just one or two. I know it's hard to think through the logic of it and trust that over the anxiety thoughts, but sometimes it works for me. Have you gone to a doctor about it? Sometimes it's nice for the peace of mind to know for sure that nothing is wrong (if you are in a financial position to be able to afford a CT scan or something). I hate that you're struggling, but you are not alone! This whole community is here for you and with you. Not sure if you have tried something like this, but I recently joined a spin studio near me and the community there is so strong because they are all positive, strong, like-minded individuals and it makes me feel so much more connected to the community around me. Maybe you could try to find something like that in Washington? I know it will work out because even though are anxiety loves to tell us it won't, it always does. Best of luck and I hope you are feeling better soon!

[Bambi1985 in reply to eharvey8]

Thank you! What a great point of view as far as thinking it through logically, I do try that often but it just gets overwhelmed by the anxiety, it is so good at convincing you that you're literally dying or something horrible. Sometimes, we just need to hear a different perspective and it helps. Yes, I've been to a lot of different doctors, they are figuring it out and said that they have solved the BPPV but now I have residual dizziness left over and they're are trying to realign everything with these exercises that they gave me to do but I just start feeling hopeless after awhile, cause I'm still feeling off. I've had a CT scan and am going to see a neurologist next week and I really hope that they just do an MRI because I think that would make me feel better. I was doing yoga for a bit and that was helping me reach out to get to know some people but then I switched jobs and have not had the time to really join many community things. I am flying home here in a couple of weeks to see family and I'm hoping that will help my anxiety immensely. Thank you for your kind words, you really did make me feel better. I hope you are feeling better as well and thank you for the support!!

[eharvey8 in reply to Bambi1985]

I'm so glad I was able to help! I'm sure the neurologist will be able to put your mind at ease and make sure there is nothing terrible going on! I bet your trip home will be great for your mental health, so that's great you have that to look forward to. I'm sorry you don't have time to do yoga anymore. I'm a student so I have time to do spin class in the summer, but I'm worried for when I get back to school and things get busy that I won't have time anymore. It might be worth it to force the time into your schedule for some kind of community thing whether it's yoga or something else. I know community is the best antidote to my mental health stuff. Hang in there!! Good luck at the neurologist!

[Bambi1985 in reply to eharvey8]

Thank you very much! I hope it helps too! Yeah once I settle into my new job I'm gonna see what I have time for and hopefully be able to fit something in. I hope you find time as well when you start school back. I may be going back to school soon if I can get my life back together. Thank you again for your support.

[deborah27]

Could you get a neck and shoulder massage from somewhere? I had that neck issue when I lay down. It was real tension in my shoulders and neck and when I lay down and muscles started to relax, the sensation was unpleasant. As soon as I remembered not to sit hunched forward and to lower my shoulders and sit well supported and have the right pillow height in bed ( my head was too high ) I really noticed great improvement. Try it and see. There are also great neck exercises online for vertigo, really helpful. Hope you get some relief.

[Bambi1985 in reply to deborah27]

Omg, thank you so much! I've been feeling like I'm going crazy with this feeling, it really freaks me out, no pain or anything just feels like someone is holding an electric toothbrush to the back of my head, weirdest thing I've ever felt. I am waiting to get paid and then am planning on going to get a full massage with them focusing on my neck and shoulders. I know I carry a ton of tension back there from always shrugging and holding my shoulders due to anxiety. And then after they performed the Epley maneuver for the BPPV they put me on neck restrictions like sleeping at an angle and not moving my head around and it really made my neck super stiff and ever since this weird tingly, pulsating feeling has just been getting worse and worse. I keep feeling like it's something extremely serious because I've never experienced it before. I'm going to look up those exercises as well, I'm in physical therapy every week for all of this but it's just once a week and unfortunately throughout the week it gets bad again. Thank you for the info and advice, it was extremely helpful. Hope you're still feeling better as well!

[Hidden]

Have you tried the Epley Maneuver?

Google it.

[Hidden]

I’m glad you did this post I have the same thing it’s driven me mad. I have very weak neck and back. I don’t breathe deep enough in my pelvis. I have acid reflux severe if I rest too long it feels good at first then I pay a price. I’m hoping the psychiatrist gives me meds for once. The feeling especially the eye thing with migraine is maddening. I don’t sleep flat due to the acid reflux I’m betting it’s made things worse. The only exercise I got was extending my arms one at a time on all fours. It’s driven me mad. I’ve lost my hair 60% and in the back it’s the worst from the tension back there.

Don’t let neurologist give you a steroid shot it will be short lived relief like just feels deader and I lost chunk of hair that spot & made my stomach nausea worse long run. It’s not worth the short term relief.

[Blueyes75]

Remind yourself often it's just anxiety this too shall pass and those symptoms should disappear on it's own. Were are own worse enemy. Accepting these feelings acknowledge them then move on should help I know it did for me

[Calm_mama]

Hi Bambi!

I've had BPPV twice. Once in the left, once in the right. Have you tried the Semont maneuver? It's more aggressive than the Epley. I did it 2-3 times a day every day until it was gone. I likely overdid it but hey I wanted to make sure For some people the crystals move back into position on their own. Even after the crystals have moved back to the correct position in the inner ear, there is some serious residual dizziness for a few weeks at least. Everything needs to settle. If you're really fixated on it and worried the dizziness will continue longer because anxiety alone can cause the dizziness. I know it can be scary and it's a bummer. The main thing is keeping your head in one plane while you recover, as you've learned Here's the Semont maneuver for the right:

youtube.com/watch?v=hiP7ifV...(Not working as expected?)

For the left ear, you just do the mirror image of that maneuver. Of course, go see your doc if you're not getting better or if you have any new concerns. Hugs.