Drop attacks?

Have you discussed with the dr? Not to be taken lightly.

I wouldnt drive or work with dangerous equipment, stand on ladders etc.

 

Yes, I had them. Don't drive.

 

Yes I started having them and no there is no way to stop them except for a surgery . This is one of the reasons I went with the Laby . I believe your doctor has to recommend not driving due to the danger for you and others . I think there are legal implications , but not sure . I would personally get the Laby . It did give me my life back . Good Luck

 

I had 3 drop attacks from Oct - DEC 2015. The first violent…felt like hard push on the L side of body ( L ear is affected) and the table I was sitting at seemed to flip over my head. Fortunately I was sitting but I almost fell out of my chair and did send the soup in front of me flying across the room…. I tried to grab the table for support. It completely freaked me out as I had just driven half my Book club to our retreat! I had another a few weeks later that was different. I was standing on grass and for a spilt second felt funny and then just slumped to the ground. The next, I was lying in bed doing homework with my daughter and it happened. Each one was the same head over heel flip that once the flip was done I had no more vertigo. Only in the first did I feel pushed.

Just a brief history of my vertigo's changes. 2011- violent spins (~ 5 over 6 months would spin so quickly felt like being in the stand up carnival ride , spun in a horizontal plane…so fast that I would not be able to see) then it stopped and went into remission for 4 yrs) Came back in FEb 2015. This time not the violent spinning more noticeable nystagmus ( eyes tick rocking back and forth) but would still make me feel nauseated and threw up. These would happen a couple of times a month until the Oct when drop attacks started. After those 3 which ended in early Dec began what I would call mini drops. I would do one quick little flip and then all would be fine. I was having those a couple of times a week until I began acyclovir in Jan 2016 and within a week and half no more drops, vertigo and now no more tinnitus. I have a slight (seashell ocean sound) in my L ear which Dr. said could be from my hearing lose.

During this period of drops... I stopped driving, wouldn't use knives. EVEN went to the grocery store with my family, wearing a bike helmet. Fortunately we are in a very sporty town so hopefully not as obvious, but still extreme I know. I did meditation tapes trying to relax as much as possible even PBS Sit and BE FIT which seems a funny as I usually love to take my dog out and trail run in the woods. I actually really enjoyed the woman and she is a nurse and talked about the physiology behind the moves and how it is so important to stimulate the proprioreceptors. I did not drive again until this past Fall even though symptoms had completely subsided. The thought of a break through attack at 60 MPH on the freeway was too scary. This Fall, I began as I put it "toodling through town" only going on roads with 30 MPH limit. I'm still only doing that. (I'm trying to convince hubby that what I need is the Tesla!!
Just went to the ENT for my yearly ( just so he will keep giving me my prescription. My hearing remains pretty much the same. He said ( as others here often say) that if MD patients respond to antivirals that they continue to respond so doesn't expect conk out of drug or break through attack. To this date he has not had anyone stop responding to the AV's. Also he said he began giving it a few years ago after a patient asked to try!!! Maybe that patient came from the this board? If so thank you ….you made my path easy with him (BUT I also had given the AV info to my GP in my hometown and he was willing to subscribe after reading the Gacek paper.

I drive all the way to Seattle for my ENT, Alan Langman ( someone mentioned a short while ago they were willing to drive to a good Dr. from Portland. I think you would really like him )

Good luck!

So sorry for the long winded history but I just wanted to be sure to respond because I know that drop attack MD patients are not the usual. I hope in your case that you haven't tried AV"s yet and it could help you as it has me.

 

Bingo


Drop Attacks are dangerous and can kill you if you are not careful. I believe any responsible Doctor knowing that would say enough is enough and recommend the laby just to protect you and as Larry said, it will give you back your life and let you live a normal life.

Best of Luck.

I too am a proud recipient of the Laby and live a normal life, except for my SIL and wife and all their drama!!!

 

Drop attacks are very dangerous and unfortunately there is no way to control or prevent them. They come without any warning. If you are having them i would encourage you to talk to your doctor - and as a couple of people shared, there is a remedy in the form of surgery. Guaranteed to fix it!

 

Although i was able to stop them with antivirals, i would agree that surgery might be the best approach here if you need them to stop quick. See what your doctor says.

 

I had three drop attacks. DR told me I couldn't drive. I opted for laby surgery. I've been symptom free for over three years now. Vertigo is one thing, but drop attacks take the issue to a entirely different level. My DR and I agreed that drop attacks required the more drastic treatment. In my case I know it was the right choice.