Most of you will be aware that I ended up in hospital about a month ago. Thank you again for all the good wishes. So what happened?
I came home one evening and sat down to look at my phone as it had received a few messages in the previous few minutes. When I looked at the phone I had a bit of trouble focussing and felt slightly dizzy. My first thought was that I had overdone it a bit and decided to go for a lay down. However, things rapidly worsened as the dizziness became vertigo with the room starting to move around and spin. I quickly checked my BG (blood glucose) and BP. Whilst my BG was fine my BP was off the scale for me. Anyway I initially rang 111 but while I was talking to them (it was painfully slow) I started vomiting. I then put the phone down and rang 999 who after a few questions sent an ambulance. It arrived within half-an-hour, probably less. After checking my BG again and BP (both virtually identical to my results), and then ran an ECG. Then it was off to hospital. They popped me in a foldable wheelchair as I could not walk as the vertigo was such that I did not know what was upright (a truly awful sensation). In A&E they reran the ECG and put on a heart monitor. They then carried out the Dix-Hallpike test used to test for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). I responded with a huge technicolour yawn! The test was positive but as it has come on so quickly I was taken for a CT scan in case I had suffered a TIA or stroke. When they asked me to lay back I said I did not think I could do it. I was asked to try and another technicolour yawn. Eventually the scan was done. After about seven hours I got a bed in the assessment ward. I finally dosed off and got about two hours sleep as so much was going on. Fortunately during the days the bouts of vertigo/dizziness started decreasing and in the afternoon I managed a few trips to the loo and some food. I was then transferred to a surgical ward which was a calmer environment. Next day I was seen by an ENT (ear, nose and throat) consultant who explained that whilst a CT could confirm an event had occurred it could not do the opposite and he wanted to run an MRI. This happened later in the day and I was discharged next morning.
I did not write anything up straightaway as his assistant told me everything looked clear on the initial review but they would contact me for a follow up in outpatients. In fact I had two outpatient appointments a few days apart. The first was an annual cardiac review which was fine apart from my weight had crept up 7lbs! I blame the weather! The next was the follow up. This was quite through with checks on limb strength, grip, coordination (both limb and eyes) and field of vision. Everything was fine and I was discharged. I hope that it never happens again. One of the results that was out of range was my white call count which was well up. Yesterday I spoke to a friend I had not met up with for over a year and he had had the same thing although he was not hospitalised. So BPPV or an infection? I will probably never know but what I do know is that I hope I never experience anything like it again!
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MichaelJH
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Getting there. I still feel that my energy levels are a bit lacking. Also for the first week I had a few spells of slight dizziness although there was always a trigger like sitting sideways on the bus or jerky filming on the TV!
Thanks for the update, glad your fine now. A friend suffers from vertigo, very unsettling especially when people think he's had a few too many and he doesn't even drink!
Michael. Glad you’re feeling better again. I remember having a migraine many years ago and had a similar feeling. I’ll never forget the feeling that I was falling over when in fact I was sitting up - I even threw my arm out to break the fall! Very scary. Hope you’re relaxing now.
That sounds really unpleasant.I had an awful case of vertigo and nausea before my high bp was discovered .I didn't think about my bp at the time as I thought it was a bug.I hope it is a thing of the past now for you.Thanks for sharing.
No! I went through A&E by myself. My sister was going to visit but every time she rang they said I was being discharged. She lives a little way away and has a horrible journey via the M25! We did lunch a week later!🍷
Hi, glad you are home safe what a terrible experience, please pamper yourself and recoup. Try and watch something on tv that makes you laugh like only fools and horses or Dads army it usually works for most people. Take care, Sue.
Good that it has all settled down. Not knowing which way was up a big concern for you. Soundss like they were very thorough and always a relief to get off admissions ward!
No where near as bad but I had similar after taking a co codamol. Gp said could have been coincidental but reluctant to try again!!
Sounds awful! I’m pleased you are home and recovering well now. Hospital stays are always un-nerving yet reassuring at the same time...now there’s an oxymoron we all couldn’t do without 😉
Hi Michael. I have suffered from this for a number of years. Then, about nine years ago, I flew to Norway for a cruise. On the cruise we met up with someone who had the worst cold (we thought). I caught the ‘cold’. I was eventually diagnosed with vestibular neuritis. I have permanent damage which means difficulty with balance and 30% hearing loss in my left ear. Over the years I have developed different ways of dealing with it. Using 3 pillows helps. Take care Michael. Try not to sleep flat.
I used to sleep flat. It now I can’t. I don’t think I’ve had a decent night’s sleep since. When I want to go to bathroom I have to sit at side of bed till the room stops spinning. You get used to being extra careful. I can’t watch 3D films though. I went to see Avatar and my husband had to almost carry me back to the car. He couldn’t get me back into the car because I said it kept moving away from me. Funny now looking back but I’m not going to chance it again. 😂
Wow Miicheal, I was thinking it was bad because you went off grid. I have meniers disease and hate the way it makes me feel. Never been hospitalized and don't want to be it's the worst feeling!! Best wishes and glad your feeling better mate. X Sheena
I had this experience years ago. Both times it awoke me from sleep. It's the most frightening feeling, the room spinning .. calmed down during course of the day and I managed a visit to GP. She asked if Id had a cold or anything recently as this can be caused by a previous viral infection.I did have a cold that past week or so. Second time was worse,bed for 3 days, vomiting, basin at side of bed and a bottle of good ole Irn Bru to combat dehydration. Thank God it's never returned, so scary, though 2nd time I knew what it was. Hope your experience doesnt re occur Michael.
Glad you’re feeling much better and hope it doesn’t happen again
Glad you are on the road to recovery, I have had very similar occurrences to yourself. Initially a possible TIA and since then a further five episodes of varying dizziness, sickness etc. I am interested as to what medication you may be on. Although I am not yet fully clear of symptoms, my GP feels that in my own case it may be an adverse reaction to the Bisoprolol that I have been taking, even though I am only on the minimum dose of 1.25mg. Just something to consider.
Your symptoms sound exactly the same as what happened to me years ago but without taking bp and bg, I literally couldn’t focus on anything, was throwing up and found it really difficult to stand because the room was spinning so badly, a bit like being really drunk. My GP did a home visit and diagnosed me with labyrinthitis which I suffered with for quite a few years after that (at least 6 years) it finally subsided and became less and less as the years went on, I was given a drug called stemetil which I carried everywhere with me just in case.
Such a frightening experience Michael. A few years ago I had an episode of bppv. One of our gps treated me by tipping me back very suddenly and twisting my head back and forth! I then had to sleep in a chair for two weeks.
Michael, thank you for the update. How unutterably horrible for you. I wish you full speed to your normal self.
Hi Michael,
compared to your experience of PPV mine was very minor. Talked to my Daughter (Physio) and she suggested it might be PPV. I found the link below to carry out the test/correction method (which you can do yourself) and no problems since. Given your much more severe episode you may find it useful to redo for residual bouts of dizziness. youtube.com/watch?v=PcINJ7p...
Wow, all I can say is if it happens again ask for further tests at ENT as the ears are very complex organs. I have Meniere's disease and it sounds very similar to your symptoms especially the vomitting as well. Glad you are straightened back up and fully focused again. There is nothing worse than having the room spinning..🤮
Thank you for the full description of that experience, how high was your BP?Thing is when we have heart problems, that’s the first I think about, and they were certainly thorough with you weren’t they? With a high white cell count, sounds as though there was infection somewhere. Glad you are home, think it wise to take it a bit easy for a while, or is that not in your nature ?
That's why I decided on 999 as it is potential stroke level! Most recent was 115/65. I suspect that is why they ran an MRI as well as an initial CT scan..
Wow, thanks for this post Michael. I hope all is going well for you at the moment. It seems I have had virtually the same event as yourself. It was treated as a possible TIA. Over the next few weeks I had recurring symptoms, but each time the severity and frequency of the symptoms has slowly decreased. Other than this single aspect, my general recovery has been remarkable. However you will understand yourself how truly terrifying these episodes can be. I am now just beginning to be tested for tinnitus that I have in my right ear. My GP suspects it may be more likely linked to this than the valve replacement surgery. Good luck in your recovery.
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