This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Okay, another new symptom has appeared and it is incredibily annoying. I have experienced what I now think is classified as vertigo. I originally described the feeling as "spacey" or the feeling you get with having had one too many glasses of wine without the benefit of having the wine! But I went to the mountains of North Carolina this past weekend and the feeling was much much more pronounced. So then I thought altitude and inner ear issues. When I got back to Florida it had subsided back to the way it was before. When I researched, though, I found MS and vertigo was quite common. Apparently it can have something to do with the locations of the lesions.

Anyone else had to deal with this and what have you done to relieve it. I do not want to do another round of steroids because I just finished Solumedrol and prednisone for double vision.

Any help would be appreciated because this symptom is really really annoying. And I am getting frustrated with going from one thing to another. I feel like all I do is put out fires!

Thank you
Lori

Lori,

I really know how you feel. One thing after the other. I have had this sensation before. I am not sure if what caused mine is the same as what is causing yours though. I had nystagmus in my right eye. This gave me a vertigo like feeling. But it only really happened if I tried to look to the right, or if I was moving and looking stright ahead. The doctor could see the problem by having me look to the far right and/or far left. In nystagmus, your eye will jerk when looking to one side or perhaps the other. You might have someone watch your eye. Just sit still with your head looking straight forward, and then look to your far right and see if the person watching your eyes detects a jerk or a bounce. Then repeat to the left side. At least this might tell you if it is nystagmus or not.

My case resolved after 3 days of solumedrol. I know you said you had already done this recently though.

Brock

Hi Brock
Thanks for your reply. I most recently did the steroid thing for nystagmus. It cleared up for the most part, but not completely. So it very well could be related. I do know the optic nerve itself is ok. But I do not want to do steroids again so soon after I just finished them. Even the doc doesn't want to do that unless it is the last choice, since I've had them so recently. I'm looking for alternatives-one thing I did read was that Klonipin helps. I also would like to see if there are any supplements, vitamins or over the counter meds that would help. I am so sick of drugs!
Lori

Lori--Last year I had a short-lived problem with vertigo. My physician prescribed meclizine 25 mg, 1 tablet 3 times a day as needed. (This is available over-the-counter as Dramamine.)

He must have been right that my problem was probably a viral-caused sinus thing--whatever, the pills helped. I haven't had it since (knock on wood).

Maybe this is a possibility to discuss with your physician.

Thanks Lyndacarol,
Interesting because I've had sinus pressure all day and didn't before this all started. Kind of makes sense because it was much, much worse when I was in the mountains of North Carolina this weekend-about 4000 ft above sea level. May mean something since I live near the ocean! Flying on an airplane doesn't bother me so I didn't think that altitude could be the problem, but maybe it was and caused sinus pressure and equilibrium issues. I don't know-I'm grasping at straws! But it is better today and I'll be back in NC next weekend so I'll see if that is the culprit. I'll also take Dramamine before I go! Thanks so much.

Lori

Loriyas,

Dizziness is one of my most pronounced symptoms. I am so dizzy by 10:00am or so (or earlier if I exert mysself at all) that I have to force feed myself until later when all is done and I can have my MJ. That is the only thing that works for me. I even (almost) had to quit drinking. I really like to drink. I'm a wine collector. I only have about 50 bottles or so, but it's a start! The only reason we have that many is that I have cut back so hard. I will have 1 glass or 1 beer sometimes, but I mostly have to do without since I am so dizzy. It's absolutely one of the most annoying symptoms. I'm usually ok if I'm sitting, but sometimes I'm dizzy even then.

Believe it or not, exercise also really helps. It helps my eyesight too and helps so many things. I liken the mechanism of the exercise to "pushing past the symptoms". What I mean is that my eyesight and vertigo will really be awful while I exercise, but when I'm finished I cool off to a baseline like I have in the morning when I wake up. I've even started taking cold showers in the morning (which sucks) so that I don't make myself dizzy. I then absolutely maw down on some food. They say it's the most important meal. It is for me that's for sure because it's the only non-MJ induced time I feel like eating.

I'm pulling a Bob and posting to one of my own posts . I forgot to sign off. I meant to hit preview and I accidently hit submit. I just wanted to say best of luck. Anyone who has this, and I suspect many of us do from time to time, knows that it's just a royal pain. Anyway, best of luck and I hope you start feeling stable.

Lew

Hi Loril,

Having had vertigo for months on end, I finally figured out that it was brought on by flying. Even though the flight didn't bother me at the time I noticed that the dizziness and nausea always started within a day or two. Now I just take dramamine beforehand and am able to avoid getting vertigo. Aren't the NC mountains beautiful and the weather is perfect for someone with MS. It gets a little too hot occasionally but on the whole is pretty good.
Maggie

Thank you all for your replies. Interestingly, the double vision that I was having trouble with a few months ago has returned. I had a little bit of trouble with it in the evenings for the past several days but that was all. But this morning it started as soon as I got up. It stopped after about 45 minutes. I called the neuro and she wants me to start prednisone again (I hate it but I'll do it). I think that perhaps I didn't have complete resolution from the episode in the spring. So it started up again and when I flew and then had the altitude difference in addition, it sort of put it over the edge. Just my guess, but it makes sense to me. So I will start the steroids tonight and see if that helps to alleviate things. I'll be going back to North Carolina the end of this week-driving this time-so I can see if it helps. If it's not one thing, it's another, huh?

Lori