Hi, I'm new to this forum and have just started reading as much as I can around here. I've had vertigo for about 2 years now but I'm still not sure what kind of vertigo it is, whether it's Meniere’s or Positional Vertigo or something else and basically I'm still really trying to figure it all out and try to find some kind of relief or help. I get vertigo at least 1x a month, if not more, but all around the same time of the month and the episodes last only between 3-20 minutes, depending on how stressed I am or where I am. If I can keep myself calm I tend to be able to reduce the length and severity of the episodes. However, recently since I started a new job a few months ago where I've been really stressed and my episodes have gotten worse and more frequent. I had my longest episode, 1 hour, at work where I got sick at my desk and it was embarrassing and I felt horrible, I just wanted to crawl under my desk and lay down or magically just be home but I couldn't even walk to the bathroom. I get pressure in my left ear, basically I really can't hear out of my left ear, and during that 1 hours episode at work the ringing was even louder than normal in that ear, and then I usually have headaches or don't feel great the rest of the day. However, when I'm not having vertigo episodes I have excellent hearing and no ringing in the ears. I've been to two ENTs who have not been of any help, basically one said you are a 'mystery' and sent me home with some info on Meniere’s Disease but wasn't really sure if I had it and the other sent me home with exercises to do before I go to bed when I really wanted to be sent to physical therapy for the exercises. But in June I'm going to see another ENT who supposedly specializes in Vertigo so we'll see how that goes. I also just started going to acupuncture as recommended by someone who had vertigo and the acupuncturist suggested I take the Pycnogenol supplement which I haven’t started taking yet. I have been logging my vertigo episodes in a notebook ever since it started to try and figure out if it is food related or if it is positional but I think I narrowed it down to it being due to Hormonal changes as they tend to occur at least 1x a month and around the same time of the month. I also think it may be a symptom of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) as vertigo is a symptom along with other symptoms I am experiencing for this disorder. My OBGYN thinks I could have PMDD and suggested that I go on a SSRI medication which I can take for only the two weeks out of the month when my hormones change as this medicine has been known to help with the vertigo symptoms associated with PMDD. Also, I found out a couple people I know who have vertigo take Dramamine, meclizine or vertifree (I could be wrong on these medications) as well as allergy medicines so I started taking Sudafed and then got a non-drowsy Dramamine but if you don't have vertigo symptoms every day and you don't know when you'll have one do you take these kind of medications daily just in case? I was also wondering if anyone else has vertigo episodes due to hormonal changes or has even heard of PMDD in regards to Vertigo? Thanks!
Stacy, You sound like you have pretty classic Meniere's symptoms, although your vertigo spells seem awfully short. And yes, your monthly cycle can really mess with things! Most people do not take meclazine (Dramamine) daily, but some take a benzo every day or when they want to avoid a situation that is known trigger. (For example, you could take Adivan when you know your PMDD symptoms will begin.) Some also take a daily diuretic. Study this board, especially the archives of the old forum) and you will find a wealth of information. Acujen