Are you on any medications for OTHER purposes? I was taking Lyrica for a while and all of a sudden I started having a bit of dizziness. I googled all the names of medications I was taking, and found out dizziness was a frequent side effect of Lyrica. My doctor changed to something else and it solved the problem. My DH had a similar problem with a different medication. Investigate and then talk to your doctor if you find a possible cause.

Honestly, it doesn't have to cramp your style. I suffer from Vertigo at times... but I cycle, ride horses, hike, climb on ladders, chase the grandkids and more without any difficulty.

I just do those "exercises" where you lay down and turn your head to about 45 degrees, sit up, do the other side etc. when I have an attack.

The rest of the time, I just live like always.

Thanks, everybody. I've checked my medications and nothing indicates dizziness. I am going to try OklaMoni's exercise and also ravencajun's suggestion about Epley's maneuvers. I don't feel safe driving right now but I do everything else except walking outside or biking.

Years ago, I had a severe case of vertigo. Went to the doctor, and there was an excessive amount of ear wax in one ear--he cleaned it out and I've never had another problem with it.

Dex, I do the whole series 5 times, holding each position for 30 seconds. That's the whole reason I have a timex watch with a continues timer on it. I set it, and hold each position, and only need to count how many times I start over.

Usually, when I get a queasy feeling I do them, and all goes away. Queasiness in my case is always a vertigo attack.

Moni

They are the same, that is the Epley maneuver "exercise "
It has helped thousands to get on with their lives.
I would suggest also looking into the possibility of having Menieres.

I had terrible vertigo about every 3 days for 9 months or so. Fine one minute, flat on the floor out of the blue the next. It would last 6+ hours and was awful. Valium and dramamine helped some....prescribed by ear doctor. I had all the tests and treatments including an MRI and nothing showed up. My mom (72) kept digging for an answer. She was having crazy side affects from lipitor. Anyway we kept reading and reading. Finally read the entire phamplet on pills I was taking for Crohns. It was not listed as a side effect, but on the back side of this huge leaflet, towards the bottom, it mentioned toxicity and vertigo. I was taking 9-12 pills a day for the Crohns. The pills base is a Salicylate, which is aspirin. I stopped taking the pills and in a few days started feeling better. I have not taken any more of the pills and have not had vertigo since. Once in awhile I get a light spacey feeling, but nothing like the vertigo. It was awful. I'm sorry you have to go through this. You might check the toxicity part on your medications. You never know. I am so thanful for my mom pushing to find an answer for me. Who would have thought....aspirin!

I used to have vertigo off and on. My doc called it Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)and gave me a print out of the exercises, and a Rx for Meclizine. If I feel an attack coming on I take a pill and it goes away. Haven't needed the pills for quite awhile. Sure is a creepy feeling when it hits you.

Sue

I had dizzy spells so bad I fell and broke my arm in 3 places, a spiral break. A few months later I woke up dizzy and sick to my stomach and I tossed the little bone shaped pillow in the trash. No more serious dizzy spells, just minor and rare. I think it was pressing against the arteries in my neck and slowing down the flow = less oygen.

Hubby had a severe attack early the morning of our son's wedding rehearsal. We had flown 1700 miles from home for the wedding and the emergicare doctor that I took him to thought it was a combination of stress, change in air pressure and jumping out of bed to his phone alarm in the middle of the night (he forgot to change the time setting). They gave him a shot in the butt and told me he'd sleep for 4 or 5 hours and the problem should be gone. Fortunately it was over for the day. However, the vertigo comes back every so often. Hubby also has tinnitus. Right now he's on Meclizine and doing the exercises OklaMoni posted. Not fun. I also think it has to do with with him falling asleep in his chair at night and the way his head rests and possibly dislodges calcium deposits.

I have vertigo off and on caused by fluid build up in my ears which also cause thick wax. The exercises Moni posted do work. I also have pills on hand just in case and have taken diuretics most of my life for fluid retention. When I go to the my Doctor for vertigo he cleans the wax out of my ears and then has me do the exercises. Vertigo is the worse feeling ever. I hope you get some relief. I have had it last for over a week. Some people have chronic vertigo which must be hell.

Anne

mother had me get her otc meds for car sickness? seemed to work for her...

now i know my 1/2sis had inner ear problems, which she ultimately had surgery (lost some of her hearing)

The double-edged part about Meniere's disease.

My father-in-law developed meniere's disease as he became older. He was a Minister of the Gosple and on day while on a business trip, an attack hit him while he was at the airport. The security guards, knowing nothing about this disease, locked him up in the drunk tank. He was let go after they checked with family members and a medical source, but insisted that his wife retrieve him. They did not want hin to drive for awhile. That event convinced my FIL to retire early. He retired a couple of years afterward.

His heariing began to fail and the doc said, "Cheer up. There is an upside." The effect of Meniere's disease diminishes as one goes deaf. I could have cured you some time ago by destroying your hearing, but there was a chance that may not have worked well.

I had it hit me for the first time several years ago. Scared the crap out of me, had no idea what was wrong. A friend had a prescription for meclizine so DH went to pharmacy to ask if there's anything over the counter to compare to that. He came home w/Bonine. I think it's also for car sickness?

Anyhow, it worked. I can actually sort of tell when it's coming on, just feel like quick split second woozies but if not addressed a big one hits within a few days.

I have to keep pressure on my head from allergies/sinus problems under control or it hits. Also, flashy, moving things on tv, like camera shots that aren't still (hope that makes sense) make me dizzy. Also, you know when you're driving down a tree lined street on a sunny day, all the shadows from trees, shadow, sun, shadow, sun, that drives me nuts. Have to squint my eyes to be able to drive through that.

Hmmmmmm, I need a new head and things would be great! haha