Brief Answer:
BPPV- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Detailed Answer:
Good evening. The symptoms you describe are very consistent with an entity known as BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo). This is when crytals or otoliths break away within the INNER EAR and float down in the solution of the endolymph present in the ear causing a lot of hyperstimulation of a membrane that generally when activated indicates to the brain that the body is in motion on whatever side (right or left) that the otolith falls.

So long as the head STAYS RELATIVELY STILL and you do not suddenly change positions from lying to sitting or standing without giving your body a moment to readjust itself then, you should be relatively OK but if you try moving about too quickly then, the symptoms of the vertigo will take over and you will become absolutely decimated and fatigued from the TREMENDOUS amount of nausea inducing VERTIGO.

But if you move too quickly or change positions of the head then, everything goes round and round until the head comes to a stop again and then, you generally have to wait 30-60 seconds to quiet down.

Diagnosis of this condition is done by clnincal means. A good neurologist or good ENT person should be very capable of making this diagnosis by doing a simple maneuver called a dix-hallpike MANEUVER and I would warn you that lots of people out there will want to put you into spinning chairs and platforms to come up with all sorts of 5 page reports with color printouts from computers that look as if you were planning a Moonshot....but honestly, that's all highly unnecessary. A good clinician can tell you in less than 60 seconds whether or not you have BPPV, exactly which ear is affected, and what the plan is going to be.

Hormonal changes are not directly related to this condition...but age is is....and postmenopausal is a very good time to have these symptoms. Also, young women in the 20's and 30's can also have the condition if they are involved in hard surface running, jumping, pounding, etc.

I would also warn you that a lot of people will try and prescribe MECLIZINE for you or give you a benzodiazepine such as Xanax, Klonopin, or some one from the really old time school will offer you VALIUM. None of those agents are very effective and I would reject them all if I were you......

Eye strain has nothing to do with this condition. Treatment of these symptoms can be successfully done by another clinical bedside maneuver called the Epley maneuver which is where the clinician will "clear out the debris from your head by making some very strategic and gentle movements so that this particles can be ousted from the ear canal where they can be disposed of by the body's vascular or immune systems.

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This query has utilized a total of 19 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.

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Brief Answer:
BPPV can go through some periods of worsening and improving BUT

Detailed Answer:
If you are truly bothered by these symptoms then, my recommendation is that you get it diagnosed and taken care of by a professional. That would be either a Neurologist, Neuro-otologist, or ENT specialist. I would be cautious about the use of medication since most of it has poor efficacy in my opinion and experience. It is much better to take the time and do the Epley or Modified Epley maneuvers after there is confirmation that the condition is actually present.

When treated properly there is a 1st time hit rate of about 50-80% of significant if not complete improvement in symptoms. There is also no need to maintain the neck immobilized after any of these procedures by using a collar or anything like that....those notions went out at the turn of the century!....Literally.....

However, about 50% of people who experience improvement or remission of this condition will get symptoms back within 2-4 weeks at which point a 2nd round of maneuvers is usually done which takes care of another 70-80% of folks who relapsed.....There are some who are not responsive no matter what you do and for those people I would next consider getting an MRI of the head with gadolinium contrast just to be sure something were not present intracranially that could be either contributing or causing the symptoms.

Cleaning impacted or extremely dirty wax from the canal is always recommended before having a doctor look in your ear....but in point of fact, keeping the ear canals free and clear of any and all wax is not a good idea since cerumen that is produced has very beneficial and positive qualities that you lose if you are constantly using Q-tips to keep the canals baby bottom clean..!

Cleaning out wax may improve hearing and give you a less full feeling in the head but as far as these symptoms.....absolutely no relation....BPPV is caused by tiny particles called OTOLITHS that crack off within the inner ear and float down into the solution of the endolymph or cochlear fluid.

Cheers!

If I've provided useful and helpful information to your questions could you do me a huge favor by CLOSING THE QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback along with a 5 STAR rating? Again, many thanks for submitting your inquiry and please let me know how things turn out.

Do not forget to contact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.

This query has utilized a total of 31 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.

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