#bppv

so last night as i was getting ready for bed i started to make a post that was like, “wow i experienced vertigo for the first time this morning. i think it was related to dehydration though so i should be okay now.” i didn’t post it cause i was like, what if i’m speaking too soon? (!) as i got into bed, i told my husband that i think an iv drip would help me. (!)

he falls asleep, i’m awake but not even on my phone. just lying there hoping to fall asleep. i start feeling dizzy again. i have him get me a gatorade electrolyte thing and some nuts and tell him i’m worried i may need to go to the hospital. i’m still under the impression this is related to the glp drug i’m on for sleep apnea.

finally a bit before 10 pm i’m like, no we actually need to go to the er. i struggled with the thought for like twenty minutes debating if we should. i figured if it was dehydration or something i needed to have it checked out asap. i throw up before we go. :(

i was in the er from 10:30 till 2 am. ugh. i did get my precious iv drip in case i was dehydrated, especially from throwing up. but the dr is pretty confident it’s BPPV, a fun kind of not-that-serious vertigo that can just… fucking happen, i guess? i had read about it in the morning as a possible explanation so i was slightly more familiar with the concept. i guess there’s like, calcium crystals in our ears that can get dislodged and it fucks with your balance/sense of gravity. it’s more common in seniors so super fun to have this occur at 35 lol. i already feel like the elderliest millennial (and i’m not even an “elder millennial”). the dr flushed my ear out too in case it was wax-related (apparently my left ear, the one that’s having this issue, was wayyy waxier than my right. gross).

thankfully the treatment is just a series of movements you do on the bed. i did it in the hospital and again this morning. hopefully it helped a bit. i guess for some people it can go away pretty quickly, but sometimes it lingers. the vertigo only lasts for like 30 seconds max so it’s not that horrible.

I'm currently at home and not able to work today because of a flare-up of my balance disorder (bilateral vestibular hypofunction/loss). Apparently, the flare-up is happening because I had COVID-19 a few weeks ago, and it has caused my brain to de-compensate for my lack of vestibular function. This is (according to my doctors) super common for people with this after they have any sort of illness.

Because it's not a painful condition, I think people forget how debilitating balance problems can be. The vertigo, the nausea, the blurred vision whenever you move your head, the falls, the people thinking you're drunk, the difficulty explaining your symptoms because they are super weird, not knowing whether or not you need a mobility aid because your legs are fine but you still can't walk in a straight line.

sincerely,

If your world constantly feels like an unstable ship in rough seas—even when you're lying still—you know the unique hell of vestibular disorders. Whether it's:

Vestibular migraines (that come with more than "just a headache")

PPPD (the endless rocking/swaying that never stops)

MDDS (that disembodied, floating feeling long after travel)

BPPV (those terrifying split-second room spins)

...this workbook was made by someone who gets it, for those drowning in vertigo, fear, and frustration.

Why Most Advice Fails Us

Generic "vestibular rehab" sheets don't address: ✔️ The panic spiral when symptoms flare ✔️ How avoidance (of movement, screens, life) makes everything worse ✔️ The isolation of explaining "no, I'm not drunk" to strangers ✔️ The grief over losing your steady, grounded self

What This Workbook Actually Covers

✅ Symptom Decoding

Is this VM? PPPD? Or a BPPV flare? (And what to do for each)

Tracking triggers beyond "just stress" (weather? hormones? posture?)

✅ Exposure Ladders That Respect Your Limits

Gradual motion desensitization (no, we don't start with spinning chairs)

Rebuilding tolerance to screens, crowds, and complex visuals

✅ Emergency Kits for Flares

Quick-stop maneuvers for BPPV spins

PPPD grounding scripts when derealization hits

Migraine pain + vertigo combo attacks

✅ Invisible Disability Life Hacks

How to explain your condition to clueless coworkers

Travel tricks for MDDS-prone brains

Navigating healthcare without being labeled "just anxious"

Who This Is For

→ The person who misses feeling solid in their own body → Anyone stuck in the "waiting room" of diagnosis → Those tired of being told "it's just anxiety" when you know it's physical

Workbook Link → The Vestibular Warrior's Toolkit

Imagine...

Walking through a grocery store without white-knuckling the cart

Watching your kid play sports without vertigo-induced nausea

Waking up and not doing a "symptom check" first thing

Recovery isn't linear—but this workbook gives you the compass.