Author Topic: Vertigo (Read 1253 times)

halimi · « **on:** September 17, 2007, 05:56:59 PM »

Just to share my unlucky stint with Vertigo...

On the recent trip to Perhentian (Project AWARE Underwater Cleanup 31 Aug - 2 Sept 2007), I was unlucky enough to had a bacterial inner-ear infection leading to what the ENT specialist described as a "rotary vertigo" when back on land!

What happened was, during one of the dives in Perhentian I felt really woozy. I thot it was just due to irregular breathing pattern as I was going here and there, up and down taking pictures of the divers doing the underwater cleanups. As soon as I surfaced, the vomiting started. Up on the boat, the vomiting became worse. I've never had this experience in all 10 years of diving. I felt that the whole world around me was spinning around and that induced one vomit session after the other. I know it was definitely not seasickness and suspected maybe a DCS. However, back on land and a few hours later, the tell-tale sign of DCS (numbness and tingling at the joints) did not appear. The world continued to spin around. The only way to lessen the effect was to lie down on my back. The vomiting session continued until there's nothing more that came out, haha.

Back in KL, I went to see an ENT specialist who put a scope into my ear (he charged RM50 just to use that piece of equipment, haha) and showed me a really nasty bacterial infection on the walls of the inner ear. I guess the infection (only on one ear) affected the way my body perceive balance which caused the whole world to spin around. Antibiotics were prescribed and a few days later the infection went away.

It was a really nasty experience, my first in 10 years of diving and also my first vertigo experience. When we dive, salt water inevitable gets into the ears and unfortunately, sometimes they carry enough bacteria to cause a nasty infection. Coupled with the fact that my body was tired and stressed out during that weekend probably meant that the body's defense mechanism wasn't up to the mark that day and bacteria won that day.

I survived

Mephisto the Heretic · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2007, 06:03:14 PM »

did your doctor recommend any procedure or steps that should be taken to avoid such problems in the future?

jgshuwei · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2007, 06:09:12 PM »

I think I'm having ear infection as well.

tristen · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2007, 06:15:45 PM »

The "vertigo" I had was on top of a Bayan Tree Hotel in Bangkok...fine dining place. It was kinda like Lunar bar here...hehehe...

tulip · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2007, 06:35:31 PM »

Quote from: tristen on September 17, 2007, 06:15:45 PM

The "vertigo" I had was on top of a Bayan Tree Hotel in Bangkok...fine dining place. It was kinda like Lunar bar here...hehehe...

cehh..

Nitrogen addict · « **Reply #5 on:** September 18, 2007, 12:07:39 AM »

please do your ear check up at least once a year... just like you have to service your equipment. So take care....

Scorpenesub · « **Reply #6 on:** September 18, 2007, 12:17:36 AM »

Happy to hear that you have fully recovered halimi. Thanks for posting your experience for the benefit of MUW members.

avidiver · « **Reply #7 on:** September 18, 2007, 12:18:55 AM »

Hi Halimi,

Good to hear that you are well already and thanks for sharing your experience. I too noticed that you were not feeling good after the morning dive, I thought I had "transferred" some seasickness to you........with me and husband taking turns to vomit on board

On a serious note, I felt on several occasion during diving that some sea water seeps into my ear too...... and I did felt a little pain and problem in equalising during the last few dive at Perhentian, but am ok now. Hmmm..........like what Nitrogen Addict says, I'd better go for ear check up before it's too late

Nitrogen addict · « **Reply #8 on:** September 18, 2007, 12:31:50 AM »

yup he is fully recovered and he was in Tenggol with his Advanced students....

dp · « **Reply #9 on:** September 18, 2007, 02:06:27 AM »

Good to hear that you have recovered from your bout, bro.

Had the same problems before as well, tho not as severe as you. But the feeling of having the world turn upside down (underwater at that) os no fun.

Didnt go to an ENT specialist, but a chinese sensei. Was told that i had severe buildup of 'things' in the ear canal which caused the imbalance.

A few candle waxes later, problem ceased.

And hopefully, never to return.

Ery · « **Reply #10 on:** September 18, 2007, 03:14:29 AM »

Quote from: deepblu on September 18, 2007, 02:06:27 AM

Good to hear that you have recovered from your bout, bro.

Had the same problems before as well, tho not as severe as you. But the feeling of having the world turn upside down (underwater at that) os no fun.

Didnt go to an ENT specialist, but a chinese sensei. Was told that i had severe buildup of 'things' in the ear canal which caused the imbalance.

A few candle waxes later, problem ceased.

And hopefully, never to return.

chinese sensei? where about bro? care to share?
it's good to know traditional treatment still reliable..

bijan · « **Reply #11 on:** September 18, 2007, 04:39:10 AM »

Erm, how much does it cost to have our ears checked? range of price will do..

sorry to hear on the incident, halimi..thanks for sharing with us

Cripple Diver · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2007, 05:14:54 AM »

Halimi, thanks for the heads up.

I would like to share my experience too.A colleague of mine kept vomiting when he first started flying & was later sent to an ENT specialist for a through medical check up.He was later diagnosed to have a cochlear imbalance, whereby the 2 signals sent to the brain are contradictory, thus causing him to be dizzy & air sick.Unfortunately, it wasn't treatable as he was born with the problem.

Haven't heard from him, but I don't believe he picked up diving.

ironore · « **Reply #13 on:** September 18, 2007, 10:16:54 AM »

yo bro Halimi...

thank you for sharing... glad you are a ok now..

hope to dive with you in the future.

cookoodiver · « **Reply #14 on:** September 18, 2007, 10:36:59 AM »

thanx for the info mate!!!
i had learned something today

Nitrogen addict · « **Reply #15 on:** September 18, 2007, 09:50:40 PM »

the fees roughly less than RM150 for standard ear check.

halimi · « **Reply #16 on:** September 20, 2007, 02:01:14 AM »

Quote from: mephisto FIN on September 17, 2007, 06:03:14 PM

did your doctor recommend any procedure or steps that should be taken to avoid such problems in the future?

No la bro. He just said I just got unlucky. Or it's just God tellin me I'm no superman.

halimi · « **Reply #17 on:** September 20, 2007, 02:04:03 AM »

Quote from: avidiver on September 18, 2007, 12:18:55 AM

Hi Halimi,

Good to hear that you are well already and thanks for sharing your experience. I too noticed that you were not feeling good after the morning dive, I thought I had "transferred" some seasickness to you........with me and husband taking turns to vomit on board

On a serious note, I felt on several occasion during diving that some sea water seeps into my ear too...... and I did felt a little pain and problem in equalising during the last few dive at Perhentian, but am ok now. Hmmm..........like what Nitrogen Addict says, I'd better go for ear check up before it's too late

Yep, just go and do a checkup. I'm glad I did. At least the doc showed me how the inside of my ear looks like and I'm happy to see that things are still in place after 10 years of diving

.

halimi · « **Reply #18 on:** September 20, 2007, 02:08:25 AM »

Quote from: SesameFIN on September 18, 2007, 04:39:10 AM

Erm, how much does it cost to have our ears checked? range of price will do..

sorry to hear on the incident, halimi..thanks for sharing with us

The ENT specialist (Dr CC Ong in Ampang) took away RM187 of my precious ringgits

. RM50 for using the probe to um, probe into my ears, throat & nose (he really went all the way up

), RM55 more for his consultation and the rest for the antibiotics. The infection went away in about 3 days so I guess it's worth the money.

LaraCroft · « **Reply #19 on:** September 20, 2007, 06:18:33 AM »

Quote from: halimi on September 17, 2007, 05:56:59 PM

Just to share my unlucky stint with Vertigo...

On the recent trip to Perhentian (Project AWARE Underwater Cleanup 31 Aug - 2 Sept 2007), I was unlucky enough to had a bacterial inner-ear infection leading to what the ENT specialist described as a "rotary vertigo" when back on land!

What happened was, during one of the dives in Perhentian I felt really woozy. I thot it was just due to irregular breathing pattern as I was going here and there, up and down taking pictures of the divers doing the underwater cleanups. As soon as I surfaced, the vomiting started. Up on the boat, the vomiting became worse. I've never had this experience in all 10 years of diving. I felt that the whole world around me was spinning around and that induced one vomit session after the other. I know it was definitely not seasickness and suspected maybe a DCS. However, back on land and a few hours later, the tell-tale sign of DCS (numbness and tingling at the joints) did not appear. The world continued to spin around. The only way to lessen the effect was to lie down on my back. The vomiting session continued until there's nothing more that came out, haha.

Back in KL, I went to see an ENT specialist who put a scope into my ear (he charged RM50 just to use that piece of equipment, haha) and showed me a really nasty bacterial infection on the walls of the inner ear. I guess the infection (only on one ear) affected the way my body perceive balance which caused the whole world to spin around. Antibiotics were prescribed and a few days later the infection went away.

It was a really nasty experience, my first in 10 years of diving and also my first vertigo experience. When we dive, salt water inevitable gets into the ears and unfortunately, sometimes they carry enough bacteria to cause a nasty infection. Coupled with the fact that my body was tired and stressed out during that weekend probably meant that the body's defense mechanism wasn't up to the mark that day and bacteria won that day.

I survived

Hi Halimi,

I’m glad you came up with this topic. I would like to share my Vertigo experience to all especially the ladies. I for one am ONE individual who gets Vertigo at least 2-3 times a year. Heheh..

I recently missed the Merdeka Dive in Tioman due to Vertigo. I was strongly advised by a doctor not to proceed with the trip as I may experience Vertigo underwater and I MAY blackout underwater. I was asked to abandone dive trip and stay home and rest with proper food and medication. Although I was disappointed but I rather be safe and rest at home than being sick on a dive trip. That would suck big time!

When I experienced Vertigo for the very first time, I panicked as I was experiencing the ceiling spinning fast (just like watching the ceiling fan spinning at the fastest mode). There wasn’t any headache or pain whatsoever just spinning and this causes nausea which brought me to throw up. Jumping the gun and thinking of the worst case scenario, I visited a neurologist. She examined and did some test on me including scanning and finally diagnosed me with Vertigo, phew..! According to the doctor, Vertigo is caused by the imbalance of the ear hence the spinning. She also sent me to the next room for the ENT Specialist to have a look at me but he found nothing wrong with my ENT system. They explained that Vertigo doesn’t just happen due to ENT problems, it can also happen for other reasons. For example low blood pressure and lack of rest (less sleep for 3 consecutive days). Another reason is DAH TUA (OLD) already and the body cannot take less rest! I guess I must not over exert my body now compared to those younger days.. Haha..

Apparently.. Many women out there have low blood pressure which according to the Dr. is supposed to be normal. I guess I’m one of them lah.
Medication recommended by the Dr. = Stimetil OR Prochlor (pill form) which is supposed to kill the spinning sensation. Both work the same.

So.. that’s my story.

Cheers!