Somatic Or Biological?

[kxCobra]

Hey everyone,

I have PTSD from years of emotional/verbal/ and a tiny bit physical abuse from the 'rents. I'm better and although my PTSD flares up, it is generally towards my peers, not my parents anymore. I've done what I can to forgive, move on, etc- things are better from them.

I've always slept too much. Call it depression, or a side effect from PTSD, but I've always been sleepy. I've been tested for sleeping disorders, no narcolepsy, a tiny bit of sleep apnea but not enough to need a CPAP(it runs in our family.)

Starting a few years back before I went to a neurologist for being too sleep even, I had these episodes that while I was sleeping I would get overwhelmingly dizzy. Like I had been spinning in circles for hours on end, except I was in bed. It usually wakes me up just enough to sit there and hold my head for the minute to a minute and a half it happens, then fall back asleep almost immediately. These episodes only happen once or twice a year, and when they started I'd wake up, have a tiny headache, I'd take some asprin and that would be that. I'm a sophomore in college now and I had one last night and it absolutely destroyed me. I woke up several times, and almost threw up this morning from how dizzy I was. It sounds like vertigo, and that is definitely what I feel the days after, but during the night when the dizzy attacks happen it is literally as if I've been spinning in circles for hours.

I've never been on medication that would cause anything like this. I was prescribed ambien a couple months ago to help me stay asleep, but I haven't taken it in awhile. The first time in a few weeks I've taken it actually was last night, which I think could have made the dizzy spells worse, but I don't think it caused them because of the fact I've been having dizzy spells for years now. The doctors didn't really acknowledge them when I brought them up, as falling asleep while driving was a little more pressing, but I was wondering if anyone else had experienced something like this or had an opinion as to the origin.

Grateful for all input. Thank you!

 

[Deleted member 28403]

Okay, that is very unusual...

I have somewhat similar stuff happen, but much lighter, but it might be due to my blood pressure

How is your blood pressure

 

[Fox]

Hey everyone,

I have PTSD from years of emotional/verbal/ and a tiny bit physical abuse from the 'rent...

Hey there.. I could be completely on the wrong track but did the doctors consider Meniere's disease? An inner ear disorder that causes episodes of vertigo (spinning). My sister has it and is on Med's for it. She would always feel dizzy when laying down.

 

[LadyZane]

I have a friend who just sort of woke up with vertigo one day and it sounds a lot like what you're describing. Nobody could find a cause for it, and it was really disruptive to his life for a little while, but after a few weeks to a month it just sort of went away, has never come back, and seems to have been a total freak occurrence. I don't know if that helps, but maybe knowing that for him it just disappeared as suddenly as it started might be some consolation?

 

[anonymous]

Do you feel as though you are on a merry go round? If so, it is highly likely the inner ear is causing the problem. There are numerous conditions that can cause dizziness ranging from migraines to blood pressure to inner and/or middle ear problems. If it is positional (e.g. only when you lay down, or only when you turn your head), it could be BPPV, which can generally be addressed, and actually fixed, by an ENT. If the dizziness is accompanied by headaches on awakening, and the headaches appear to be orthostatic, it could also be due to ideopathic intracranial hypertension. This is most commonly seen in overweight females, however it can be seen in individuals who do not meet this profile. BPPV is much more common than IIH, and dizziness from IIH is not typically rotational as I understand it. Menieres disease does cause rotational vertigo, but for a diagnosis, it must also be accompanied by fluctuating low-frequency hearing loss and tinnitus. Anxiety can cause one to not be able to cope as well with the symptoms of Meniere's disease or other balance issues.

 

[Rebecca_helena]

Hey everyone,

I have PTSD from years of emotional/verbal/ and a tiny bit physical abuse from the 'rent...

Just my thoughts based on my experiences...

Ive always been really sleepy. And for me its a result of dissociation. Its a way for my psyche to avoid feelings and memories etc. Also it takes a mot of energy carrying a heavy load of unprocessed trauma and emotions.

Also the dizzy-spells that you mention. It happens to me alot. Waking up and my head is spinning. Im not quite sure what it is. But my therapist says it is some kind of dissociative reaction. Me waking up from a dream and having difficulties separating dream from reality. And also difficulties to take in reality since Im tired. So you end up feeling really confused and your head starts to spin.

Also for me those episoden are more frequent when Im under stress, triggered or there is a lot of trauma out for processing.

 

[Marisea]

I was suffering from this for months. I finally increased my thyroid medication and it went away. If you haven't had your thyroid checked it could be a possible cause. Good luck.