Vertigo, anyone?

I had a rather unpleasant experience over Easter.

Saturday morning, I woke up in the middle of the night. I went to the bathroom and out of the blue, was hit with a massive attack of vertigo. It was full-on room-spinning, brain-frazzling, spinning out of control inability to balance. I literally had to hang on to the door, the cupboard – anything – to make it back to bed.

The room kept spinning even when I lay down. Somehow I got back to sleep. Then, when I woke up in the morning, same thing again. It was absolutely impossible to function.

My mother had vertigo in her 80’s. It ruined her life. In her case it was a side effect from a drug she was prescribed with. It had known, but reportedly rare, side effects. We didn't know about the risk until after the event, sadly. It caused neurological damage that stopped her being able to speak. When you can't communicate and become locked in it is devastating. God knows how it felt for her. It was bloody dreadful for the family. So I was somewhat concerned that I might have some genetic predisposition to vertigo!

Saturday morning: I texted my GP, James. He is a friend first and doctor second and tolerates me asking him about the state of my health when he's on down time. He was good enough to call back immediately. Then from a brief conversation, he concluded that I had probably had BPPV. (Otherwise known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo).

Until then I had never heard of BPPV. It apparently is caused by crystals of calcium carbonate forming in the inner ear and causing the balance system to get out of whack. Once explained things become manageable.

What happened next was interesting.

?My daughter and son-in-law were staying with us over Easter. They arrived back at the house, together with the kids, after a day out, on Saturday evening. They asked how I was. "Feeling better, thanks". Then Dave, my son-in-law, said he had had a bout of vertigo six months ago too…. And his mother… and his aunt...

The following day, Robyn, my wife, went to a birthday party. She came back home with the news that three of the other people at the lunch had had vertigo attacks, out of the blue, during the last 12 months, none with any history.

What I found intriguing at this point was that vertigo, as a common complaint, was not on any of our radar. Perhaps it is because it’s a complaint that doesn’t warrant discussion. But it suddenly felt like it should be!

So… I started trying to find out whether any medical research might be taking place into BPPV and found something interesting. This looks like it is a belated Covid vaccine after effect. (By the way I have had all the recommended shots).?

It appears that there have been quite a few studies. In one study that took place in Germany the results indicated that enduring vestibular problems – i.e. vertigo – post vaccine, showed up in 72 of 4317 patients.

In another study in the UK the researchers noted the incidence of vestibular problems and commented that it was sufficiently low numerically that the use of the vaccine should not be discouraged.

However, I think it begs the question of whether vestibular problems may take long periods of time before they present.

If you have experienced BPPV and have also been vaccinated I would be interested to hear whether you had connected the dots. Please let me know. But at minimum, you will now be aware in the event that it happens to you.

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