Home > Ailments > Meniere's Disease > Meniere's Disease Q&A > Need Help for Mum in Sweden With Severe Vertigo
Need Help for Mum in Sweden With Severe VertigoPosted By Lolo (Far away) on 07/17/2022
My mother lives in Sweden and patients there are treated like products in a factory while doctors are factory workers. My mother has severe vertigo and cannot even get up out of the bed since the room is spinning. Epley manoeuvre has made it WORSE. The episodes are not really stopping EVER, she has to have help to even walk to the bathroom. Every movement is causing severe vertigo and dizziness and she throws up, room spinning. They keep insisting it is crystals in her ears (BPPV) despite the name itself even suggesting it’s temporary and coming and going. Hers is present all the time and worse with movement and getting worse by the day but they won’t give her anything at all and tell her to keep doing exercises that are making it worse. She has complained for a while that her ears feel full after washing her hair. They claim it has nothing to do with her ears or nerves and won’t even check let alone prescribe something.
I have told her all the remedies found here but nothing helps. No exercise helps, ginger, silver.. She doesn’t have any ginkgo Bilbao but has tried most others. She sleeps all day and can’t even get up to eat without needing help. She is only 60 and works but has now had this for 4 days. She has had un upset stomach for some weeks to but doubtful if it is connected. She eats but has no appetite.
A suggestion or different possible diagnosis is wellcome. There are no private clinics in small towns in Sweden and tests can only be done if doctors agree and they keep claiming it’s just Crystals and won’t check her head, nerves, spine or anything. They claim no ear infection. I am so far away and wish I could help. I would really be grateful for advice!
Replied by Rob (Kentucky) on 07/17/2022
Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate) Over-The-Counter; Dimenhydrinate, sold under the brand name Dramamine among others, is an over-the-counter drug used to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness. Dimenhydrinate is in a class of medications called antihistamines. It works by preventing problems with body balance.
Also
Putting a glob amount of Vicks Vapor-Rub (or generic) on a cotton wool ball and sticking it into your ear over-nite will help to ease an earache. Also, put vicks around the outer ear, followed by a heating pad over the earache. Do this for 3 nights in a row. The ingredients in Vicks act to dry up congestion in the lungs. It will do the same in the ear for congestion (fluid) behind the ear drum (inner ear).
Note: Viral infections are a common reason among others for hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction. Viruses known to cause audiovestibular dysfunction include SAR COV-2 Covid19, members of the Herpesviridae (cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus), Paramyxoviridae (parainfluenza viruses, mumps virus, measles virus), polio virus, hepatitis viruses, human immunodeficiency virus, rubella virus, and influenza viruses1. Presumed mechanisms of virally induced sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), tinnitus, vertigo, dizziness, or imbalance include: direct invasion and damage of inner ear structures, including the organ of Corti (OC) and the vestibulocochlear nerve2; immune-mediated damage and inflammation, including neuroinflammation3, 4; and reactivation of latent virus within the inner ear5. In addition, viruses can infect the middle ear and typically cause conductive hearing loss due to a middle ear effusion. While coronaviruses are a common cause of middle ear infection6, their role in inner ear infection has not been systematically studied.
If she shows progress after the above treatments, I suggest doing hot steam inhalation a few times a day with a small amount of Frair’s Balsam. This will clear out any gunk in the sinuses and Eustachian Tubes causing the blockage.
Replied by Lolo (Far away) on 07/17/2022
Doctors diagnosed her with BPPA and would not subscribe anything, antihistamines nor other medicine given for vertigo. They just said that she needs keep doing Epley manoeuvre which makes her throw up and feel worse. She is progressively getting worse and is essentially bed ridden. No medicine prescribes and no CT preformed. Blood work shows no elevated values re inflammation or viral load. Ears look ok and they claim no ear related problems. No otitis. She has no ear ache, only slightly strange sensation in the left ear. Dramamine is not sold in Sweden but she got a friend to prescribe (nothing over counter in Sweden, even NAC is controlled and vitamins regulated) similar which had no effect. I will ask her to do some steaming if she is able to but no balm available there. Her only symptoms are debilitating vertigo to the point she does not function and extreme sleepiness.. Thank youReplied by Windsor (Destin) on 07/18/2022
High potassium? Maybe see if adding a little salt to her diet helps? Or drinking caffeine which may theoretically cause lower potassium?Replied by Arlene (Lehigh Acres, Fl) on 07/21/2022
So sorry to hear about your mother. I get dizzy occasionally and a lot of the problem is stress. Make sure she drinks plenty of water-dehydration causes dizziness. There are several doctors on you tube that I subscribe to and watch. From exercises to acupressure points helps. One video from Dr Eric Berg on the Bohr Effect and how it causes anxiety and panic attacks. Also Dr Russell Blaylock and excitotoxins from certain foods like artificial sweeteners and maltodextrin cause brain problems. I have talked to several people that get deathly ill from perfume, scented laundry detergent, dryer sheets and harsh cleaning products. Limit or stop caffeine and sugar. 60yrs old is young. I'm 65 and rely on myself. Doctors don't care and in many cases make things worse. Try also homeopathic remedies as well. Calms Forte will help her relax. Many relaxing guided meditations on you tube also. I wish you and mother well.Replied by Maureen (MD) on 07/23/2022
Have her B12 level checked. B12 deficiency causes a lot of physical problems and dizziness is one of them. If you can, get her a B12 shot, not oral supplements because as we age our ability to absorb B12 diminishes. A shot puts it right into the body. If she is B12 deficient she will need loading doses and monthly shots for the rest of her life.
