Vertigo / Dizzy spell while sleeping?

[frostedpink]

I had a strange thing happen last night. Occasionally I will get a quick dizzy spell here or there during the day, lasting no more than a few seconds. I've had these on and off for several years.

However, last night in my sleep (during a dream) I woke up in the midst of a full-on dizzy spell/vertigo episode. It took probably 30 seconds for the room to stop spinning. I felt very nauseous afterwards. I was afraid to go back to sleep! And I feel icky today.

Has anyone else ever had this happen? The only odd thing was that our large dog was sleeping on the bed with us and he was laying perpendicular across my side of the bed, right where my feet would go. Because of this I was sleeping very scrunched up with my legs not in a normal comfortable position. I wonder if the blood pooled funny and caused this. It was scary!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I went to the doctor several years ago because I would get dizzy anytime I laid on my right side. She said it was called "positional vertigo." You have little crystals in your inner ear that can shift when you change positions. That shifting can cause dizziness. I still get it occasionally. The doctor told me to take meclizine (sold over the counter as Bonine and a few other brands) when I felt it happening.

 

[Magpie]

Yep! I had a bout of that last summer. It came on all of a sudden while we were visiting Universal, Orlando, got worse over the next several days to the point where I'd get vertigo just by looking up.

Apparently, those little crystals in my inner ear had got knocked out of position somehow and every time I moved my head or changed position, it'd trigger vertigo.

It was very unpleasant. But, it gradually got better over the course of the next couple months, and I'm fine now. I didn't have to see a doctor for it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Have you been diagnosed? It could be from a drop in blood pressure?

 

[frostedpink]

I did see a neurologist years ago and had an MRI and general exam to rule out something like a tumor or MS. Everything was normal. He suggested the dizzy spells were a form of a migraine headache....without the headache part. ??

This was the first time I've ever had it happen while I was sleeping. I made an appointment with my doc.

I like the Dremamine idea...I might try that. I still feel a little woozy today.

 

[nkereina]

Yep, agree with PPs on the crystals. I had a bout with vertigo out of nowhere a few years ago. When I got up in the morning, it was the worst. Definitely worse when laying down or changing positions. Somehow the "inner ear crystals" that help our balance became dislodged which causes them to float around the ear canal, throwing off our equilibrium. I went to an ENT Specialist and he performed the Epley maneuver to get the crystals back into their proper channel and out of my ear canal. It was a series of poses and position changes with my head to move them around. We did this in his office, and then he told me to look on YouTube for how to do it because there was a chance I'd need to do it again. I had to do it one more time at home with the help of a YouTube video but was fine after that! Haven't had a bout since, just that one and only time. But I think the epley maneuver is worth a try in your case! Good luck!

 

[MIGrandma]

Yes, I had several bouts of it a few years ago, so unpleasant. Vomited once after the nausea was so severe. My doctor doubled my dose of hydrochlorothiazide, he said sometimes it's caused by the blood pressure in your ears. I haven't had any problems since he doubled it. My husband helped me with the epley maneuver several times before I saw my doctor, it didn't help.

 

[A. Mara Ziwadie]

I went to the doctor several years ago because I would get dizzy anytime I laid on my right side. She said it was called "positional vertigo." You have little crystals in your inner ear that can shift when you change positions. That shifting can cause dizziness. I still get it occasionally. The doctor told me to take meclizine (sold over the counter as Bonine and a few other brands) when I felt it happening.

Meclizine is now available without a prescription? Do you experience any side effects from it?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Meclizine is now available without a prescription? Do you experience any side effects from it?

Yes. It's the main ingredient in Bonine, one type of Dramamine, and a few other brands. The only side effect for me is drowsiness. I take it before flying and usually end up dozing off during the flight, which is fine. I recall feeling dizzy and a bit nauseous last summer before going into a training class. I took a meclizine and wish I hadn't. I could hardly keep my eyes open for the next few hours. It does take care of the dizziness, though.

 

[AuntieMe3]

I have vertigo and only have "dizzy spells" when I'm laying down on my left side. If I wake up on my left and get up, I'm bouncing from side to side down the hallway. Ugh!

 

[bellebud]

I used Bonine when I travel. 1 pill at bedtime about a day before I leave. they're supposed to last 24 hours. Bonine is supposed to be non-drowsy, but I take it at night just in case.

 

[Allison]

Meclizine is now available without a prescription? Do you experience any side effects from it?

I have purchased it for years without a prescrìption and it is what is in all the brand name otc drugs.

 

[scrhsa]

I've had it but I guess my was pretty tame. All I had to do were some exercises. Lay a certain way, tilt your head another way. All to get the crystals back into place. Easy peasy for me Hope it goes easy peasy for you too

 

[bookgirl]

Happens to me all the time. I have allergies and even when I don't feel like I'm congested I often have fluid in my ears. Funny thing is I never get nauseous or fall when I'm standing (sometimes a little bit of a ringing or having to reorient my self) and I don't get motion sickness in vehicles or boats or on rides, but I get the spinning out of control feeling in my head when I'm lying down or changing position and have to freeze and close my eyes.

 

[AuntieMe3]

Happens to me all the time. I have allergies and even when I don't feel like I'm congested I often have fluid in my ears. Funny thing is I never get nauseous or fall when I'm standing (sometimes a little bit of a ringing or having to reorient my self) and I don't get motion sickness in vehicles or boats or on rides, but I get the spinning out of control feeling in my head when I'm lying down or changing position and have to freeze and close my eyes.

Same...

 

[DLgal]

Yep, agree with PPs on the crystals. I had a bout with vertigo out of nowhere a few years ago. When I got up in the morning, it was the worst. Definitely worse when laying down or changing positions. Somehow the "inner ear crystals" that help our balance became dislodged which causes them to float around the ear canal, throwing off our equilibrium. I went to an ENT Specialist and he performed the Epley maneuver to get the crystals back into their proper channel and out of my ear canal. It was a series of poses and position changes with my head to move them around. We did this in his office, and then he told me to look on YouTube for how to do it because there was a chance I'd need to do it again. I had to do it one more time at home with the help of a YouTube video but was fine after that! Haven't had a bout since, just that one and only time. But I think the epley maneuver is worth a try in your case! Good luck!

This literally just happened to me last month. I was getting SO dizzy when I would lie down and get back up, and when I would stop moving after walking (like, as soon as I would sit down.)

I went to my doctor, she did this maneuver in her office, instructed me to NOT lay down horizontal for 24 hours, and it totally worked. No dizzy spells since. It was so weird. I had never heard of this.

And yes, I did wake up several times in the middle of a dizzy/nausea spell. Probably because I rolled over in my sleep.