Friday, March 10, 2017

BPPV

I forgot I had this blog until I googled into it by accident.  What a surprise.

Today I will pontificate upon BPPV.  Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.  The name means that it's not going to directly kill you, but that the motion-induced dizziness will ruin your life until you get it under control.

This is just a satellite issue that has come up in our long medical journey.  Without warning, some days when my "patient" would turn his head or adjust his position in bed, his whole world would spin.  This is supposedly caused by little "crystals" shifting around irregularly in your inner ear canals.  This makes your brain think you are spinning.  

If you have this and desire to fix it, please get a trash can now.  With a liner.

The good news is that there are a few simple moves to fix this.  My favorite YouTube videos are by Peter Johns.  Search for Epley maneuver or BPPV.  You do this crazy hokey-pokey maneuver on the side of a bed, and if you have done it correctly, you sit up at the end, throw up into a waiting trash can in a last burst of nausea, and then go about your life... after being very careful not to tip your head for the next 24 to 48 hours.  

If YouTube doesn't cut it for you, try your friendly local ENT (ear-nose-throat) specialist or audiologist.  But please, call first.  Some of these people have no clue what they are doing with BPPV treatment.

Best wishes in walking a straight line.

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