Vertigo

Last Tuesday night I experienced an episode of vertigo where I felt everything was spinning around me. The initial spinning lasted all of about twenty or thirty seconds but it definitely took me by surprise. I started feeling a bit off earlier while still at work. There had been a variety of mishaps for me and one co-worker who stays late with me. I thought it might be the effects of spring pollen at the time as I’d opened windows for fresh air. I was feeling a bit lightheaded at that point but also as though there was a pressure around my head. Anyway, the first spinning episode occurred while I was still awake and I don’t really recall how good my balance was once I finally got up to go to bed.

I didn’t sleep well that night, being awaken numerous times by the spinning sensation. I think this is how I first experienced the vertigo the last time. I wasn’t feeling too badly the next day aside from being tired from lack of sleep. So I went into work where I dragged myself through the afternoon. But late in the day I suddenly felt like the pressure around my head had gone and was feeling good compared to the previous day.

There was no work on Thursday so I spent the day resting and wasn’t feeling too badly by later afternoon. I went off to a tai chi class I’m taking with the Scientist and his mum this term. And I didn’t topple over during the class even though there were a few times early on when it felt like I would.

I assumed the worst of this was over as an episode I had a few months back resolved within a day or two. But Friday I found I was feeling worse the more I moved around and ended up calling in sick as I didn’t think it was worth risking a drive to work. During the evening, I found myself getting nauseous and the vertigo was back so the Scientist insisted I go to bed. I took a Stemzine prescribed for motion/travel sickness problems last year and that seemed to help the nausea. Didn’t fall asleep until late but did do lots of reading on my iPad while in bed.

I found this weekend that I have had little of the vertigo and lots of the nasal congestion I get with spring allergies. This was highlighted when I went outside yesterday morning and found one of my ears had blocked up by the time I came back inside. Which again caused some balance issues…but these I’ve had in the past and don’t worry about quite so much. Today I was feeling improved and I’m hopeful I’ll be fine to drive to an appointment in the morning. Fortunately it’s only a five minute drive so won’t be stranded should any problems occur.