PTSD and Vertigo?

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This is also in the Depression group, I didn't know where to put it and I'm feeling paniced . . . I don't see my T until Monday and my pdoc until Thursday . . .

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Has anyone had Vertigo as a result of PTSD? Yesterday I lost two whole hours because my sister wanted me to try a game called "Sherlock." I downloaded the game, installed it, and when I ran it there was a brightly colored screen with bunches and bunches of multi-colored tiles, well something about that wiped me out completely.

One look at that and I felt like I wanted to throw-up, I was dizzy, my heart was pounding in my chest at like 300 miles per hour, I was light headed and I broke out in a cold sweat. Light or movement made the whole feeling much, much worse to the point where I locked up every muscle so tight that today my whole body hurts like I'd been hit by a truck and then run over three or four times. Just thinking about it to write this is making me feel like that again so I have to stop..

I've never really been significantly physically ill in my life, of course since my mind could be a superfund site, my body has always remained in more or less perfect health. I'd never had Vertigo but had it described to me often enough that I suspected that might be it. Honestly I was afraid I was going to die. Which is funny because last week I really wanted to when we found out I needed my meds dosage increased.

What I don't like is earlier that day I was talking to a rep from a company called Allsup, they help with Disability applications, though they won't help me. In any case as I was trying to explain my situation to the rep, and she kept interrupting me, not listening it seemed, which is a trigger for me, I started to get this really physically ill feeling and I had to hang up on her.

So when the game really set me off I started to get really frightened. What do I do if this happens while I'm driving somewhere? I managed to make it to my bedroom and lay down for two hours, in the dark, with everything in the room turned OFF. Laying on the bed clutching my bear (Jesse) for strength I could FEEL the ceiling fan turning above me which was just making me sicker. Has anyone else ever had something like this happen and how do I prevent it in the future. Two hours of agony, two hours of having to be utterly still, two hours I don't EVER want to go through again!!!

Or should I post this in the Depression section? My sister said she's had it, and it seems to have something to do with being so depressed for so long that your system can only handle so much input, when it gets past that you get sick . . . Anyone else ever heard this? I don't usually like to duplicate posts, but I think I'll put this in Depression too . . .

Help???

Big hugs to you, your experience doesn't sound fun at all.

Mention this to your doctor, they can check you over for various possibilities, ears for instance, I don't know specifics but ear infections etc can cause dizziness and vertigo at times.

Computer games and web pages, especially anything moving and flashing, anything with bright colors and contrast etc., can themselves cause what you described.

Migraines can be triggered by light and movement, including what is seen on computer.

I have PTSD along with other challenges, including migraines, and I definitely have to pay attention to how much input I am getting. Sometimes I need to limit any sound and light around me.

A final note on migraines, it is possible to have a migraine episode without actually having head pain, I'll see if I can grab you a reference on that.

Your experience with the insensitive rep certainly did not help any with your stress level.

Sarah

Migraine Info

There are many other, less common types of migraine. One type has an aura that isn't followed by head pain and another type lasts longer than three days.

One reference to migraines without head pain, worth researching further if you think this might be the case. The symptoms you describe sound a lot like what I experience myself as a migraine aura.

I found this on Post-Traumatic Vertigo, you might want to research more via google on that term if it seems to fit your experience:

Post-Traumatic Vertigo

Yeah, I have post traumatic meniere's.

Hi Samantha, is what you're describing possibly an anxiety attack?

I have PTSD and frequently have anxiety attacks along with racing heartbeating. It used to cause dizziness, nausea and generally make me physically ill...doctors had no idea what was wrong. I could barely get up and walk around by the time I was diagnosed with PTSD....these problems have stopped now since I've been taking med.

Before I was diagnosed, I remember wondering if I had vertigo or not. I felt really strange but one of my doctors told me it wasn't vertigo. I hope yours isn't either and I'm sending good thoughts your way.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((Samantha)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

good point flutter, dizziness can be caused by anxiety as we tend to hold breath... vertigo is when the room, outside is swirling around you, not you swirling around in a room

Well I saw my therapist today and I honestly don't know if the news she gave me is good or bad. I described in great detail what I went through, making certain to capture everything.

Her diagnosis, supported by the materials she had there and the additional reading I did online is a very, very severe panic attack. She said she's never heard of one lasting 2 hours, or being that violent but said it made sense considering everything I've been through and am going through.

I told her I took a Xanax, dissolved it under my tongue about half-way through and she said that was a good idea since it probably would have gone on longer if I hadn't. She really knows how to cheer a girl up!

So as if PTSD and Depression aren't enough to deal with, now anxiety like that? What next?

aw (((Hugs)))) you've had anxiety all along, now that you know this, it will be easier to combat.. anxiety is a component of depression... so it isn't like it's a "new" dx... but it can be overwhelming, I know. glad you have meds to help you... and sounds like your T understands too!

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Flutter said:
Hi Samantha, is what you're describing possibly an anxiety attack?

I have PTSD and frequently have anxiety attacks along with racing heartbeating. It used to cause dizziness, nausea and generally make me physically ill...doctors had no idea what was wrong. I could barely get up and walk around by the time I was diagnosed with PTSD....these problems have stopped now since I've been taking med.

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You so got that one right! So, the 64 thousand dollar question is what med are you taking, I'm on Welbutrin now and it's working for the Depression, but isn't doing anything for this . . . I see my pdoc on Thursday, I hate the thought of stopping the Welbutrin, but if something else is going to work better and treat more of the PTSD problems I'm all for it! I just don't want that nasty period of being off one, and waiting for my system to clear enough to start another one if I can avoid it . . .

(((((((((((((Flutter)))))))))))))

Thanks Samantha. For me, anxiety and anxiety attacks are part of PTSD. I call them anxiety attacks because mine last sooooooooo long...the one's that are really intense and last a shorter time (minutes) I call panic attacks. I don't know if this is technically correct, but these descriptions work fine for me and my pdoc in sorting out my different bouts of anxiety.

I'm on Lexapro, which is an anti-depressant, but my pdoc says it's good for people with anxiety disorders, social disorders, etc. It has worked great for me and has really helped. I also wanted to let you know that little violent episodes come with my PTSD...it can be a normal part of PTSD and you're not alone.

Good luck with your pdoc on Thursday with changing medication. Chaning meds can be tough, let us know if you need any support and take good care of yourself during then.

Stacey

Well, I fogot to tell you that I take Ativan for the anxiety or panic attacks when they hit....it works great to calm me down.

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Flutter said:
Thanks Samantha. For me, anxiety and anxiety attacks are part of PTSD. I call them anxiety attacks because mine last sooooooooo long...the one's that are really intense and last a shorter time (minutes) I call panic attacks. I don't know if this is technically correct, but these descriptions work fine for me and my pdoc in sorting out my different bouts of anxiety.

I'm on Lexapro, which is an anti-depressant, but my pdoc says it's good for people with anxiety disorders, social disorders, etc. It has worked great for me and has really helped. I also wanted to let you know that little violent episodes come with my PTSD...it can be a normal part of PTSD and you're not alone.

Good luck with your pdoc on Thursday with changing medication. Chaning meds can be tough, let us know if you need any support and take good care of yourself during then.

Stacey

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(((((((((((((Stacey)))))))))))))

Well my doctor has added Paxil to the Welbutrin, says it is perfectly safe and is especially good at dealing with PTSD and Anxiety . . . Hey at least I do not have to cycle down the Welbutrin which had me terrified. Yes, I have different types of episodes, some short and very, very painful some VERY LONG and VERY, VERY, VERY painful. Flashbacks and triggers lead down the road to making the depression worse by increasing the amount of pain I'm in, and the Panic Attacks, well they just feel like I'm dying and can't stop it. Seems if I "ignore," or try to minimize to much for too long, passing by the warning signs, then whamo my whole body turns against me fairly screaming at me YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME!!! By then, it's far to late, and I spend the next several hours dying in slow motion, because that is exactly what it feels like. . .

So I guess that's my long winded way of saying I can sympathize with you.

Samantha

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Seems if I "ignore," or try to minimize to much for too long, passing by the warning signs, then whamo my whole body turns against me fairly screaming at me YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME!!! By then, it's far to late, and I spend the next several hours dying in slow motion, because that is exactly what it feels like. . .

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post"> oh what a great description for chronic pain too!