Vertigo/dizziness?

[King Herald]

Tuesday morning I woke up, jumped out of my bed, and nearly fell over, felt like I was drunk. If I moved my head suddenly the room tilted. I saw the medic on my ship and he checked out blood pressure and all, but could see nothing obvious. It seemed to go away after a couple of hours.

Wednesday morning was crew change day, we sailed into port, I got up, felt much the same as the day before. It wore off after a couple of hours again.

We flew home, 36 hours travel, no sleep, dog tired, and then I had a bit of a nap at home and woke up feeling the same dizziness again. If I turn my head quickly I fell like falling over, and when I walk I tend to stagger occasionally or lean to the side.

If I'd drunk 8 beers I'd feel it was normal, but I've been sober for five weeks on my ship when it started.

Of course, I've scared myself stless on Google, and Monday morning I'll be heading to the doctors, but I live in the Philippines so I have no great confidence in finding any sort of specialist.

Somebody please tell me this is just nerves or stress or tiredness and will go away soon.

[Crafty_]

Any fullness of the ear ? tinnitus ? deafness ?

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

[King Herald]

I've had tinnitus for decades, but it hasn't got any worse recently that I recall.

Deafness, hmm, I had some blockage in my ears about four weeks ago, just wax build up, but managed to clear it with olive oil drops and washing out.

I wear ear defenders or ear plugs at work if ever we're doing anything noisy, or in the engine room etc.

I remember the same thing happened last trip offshore, but it was just the one morning, then it faded and I all but forgot about it. I don't ever really get a decent nights sleep on the ship, and the last few nights on board were worse than usual.

Edited by King Herald on Friday 23 August 21:23

[King Herald]

Woke up today and it is gone.

Fingers crossed it don't come back. I spent half an hour scaring myself silly on Google. That was enough.

[jagracer]

My wife gets it quite often, she takes a Stematil and gets on with it. With her vertigo can last a morning or a couple of days.

[Crafty_]

good news OP. I've had some spells due to menieres disease and its not fun, especially when you get to the throwing up bit.

[zetec]

Labyrinthitis?

A friend of mines wife was complaining of the same type of symptoms, she was diagnosed with the above, a sort of inner ear infection.

[King Herald]

Yes, I found Menieres Disease on Google, so I knew I had that for a while.

I sill don't feel 100% 'right', but I'm sure that might be something to do with tiredness and jet lag.

I wonder of too much reading, too much ipad, or the wrong reading glasses might have something to do with it??

[Hoofy]

I was unsurprised when you said you suffered from tinnitus, too. It's a lack of sleep and/or stress that causes it. You can take the likes of betahistine which can reduce the symptoms but getting yourself enough sleep is the better option.

[NDA]

zetec said:

Labyrinthitis?

A friend of mines wife was complaining of the same type of symptoms, she was diagnosed with the above, a sort of inner ear infection.

Almost certainly this. I've had it a couple of times, almost like seasickness.

It can sometimes follow an upper respiratory illness (cold etc).

[williredale]

NDA said:

zetec said:

Labyrinthitis?

A friend of mines wife was complaining of the same type of symptoms, she was diagnosed with the above, a sort of inner ear infection.

Almost certainly this. I've had it a couple of times, almost like seasickness.

It can sometimes follow an upper respiratory illness (cold etc).

I've had it too. It's bloody horrid! Any movement would make my head spin and I'd feel nauseous.