MS & Vertigo: How do you cope?

Ever have a sudden loss of balance or feel like the room is spinning? You're not alone —it's a popular topic in the forum, and vertigo might be to blame. See what other members have shared about their experience with this symptom and how they cope. What's vertigo? Vertigo is the feeling that you, or the space around you, is moving or spinning. It could be barely noticeable or so severe that you find it difficult to keep your balance and do everyday tasks. It can happen suddenly and last anywhere from a few seconds to much longer. With severe vertigo, your symptoms may be constant and last for several days, making normal life difficult. Vertigo-related symptoms may include:

• loss of balance
• nausea or vomiting
• dizziness

What are PatientsLikeMe members saying about vertigo? "I was bumping into walls and chairs, was uncoordinated, and 'dizzy' when I laid down, however, the little dizzy feeling was so pronounced the entire room was spinning with such force I had to hold on to the ground ( palms down) to make sure I wasn't actually moving." "I am spinning counter-clockwise... with a funky little reflective silver spot in my field of vision..." "The sickest I've ever been. Can't even move your head without throwing up. All I could do was lay very still with my eyes closed and with a wastebasket by the side of the bed." How are members coping? Check out these suggestions:

• Ginger: Candy, tea, ginger ale
• Antivert: Used to manage vertigo and prevent and treat symptoms of motion sickness
• Transderm Scop: A small patch you put behind your ear for motion sickness
• Stugeron Forte: An anti-histamine drug, is used to treat balance disorders like vertigo
• Low doses of ativan or valium
• Dramamine
• Vestibular therapy: an exercise-based program to improve balance and reduce dizziness-related problems like vertigo.

Have you experienced vertigo? Join PatientsLikeMe today to see more suggestions from the community, or share your own. Share this post on Twitter and help spread the word.