An Old Salt gettin a Bit Dizzy!!!!!

[Ken C]

Ive been paddling a long time, rolling and goofing around in the water a long time too. Recently ive run into a new problem with Dizziness after rolling and wanted to throw it out and see if anyone can offer some help or insight!

About a month ago was the first time i experienced this. We were goofing around in the local lake, and after about my 3rd or 4th roll (not close together) i came up and had that "Hickup" like feeling that i was going to vomit. A deep breath prevented that but the Nausea was still there. I just paddled a bit and watched others for a while, dropped down to a balance brace and on my recovery, same problem. That day i passed it off on cold water as it was quite cold.

Yesterday we had a skill session and after rolling a bit, the same problem!!! Took quite a while before i could get rid of the feeling. I do have some minor alergies and wondered maybe sinus bit i am not so sure. Im thinking a visit to my ENT may be in order only because i've NEVER had this in all the years ive been paddling. And damn, i cannot imagine not being able to goof around unside down!!!

Any one else run into this or have any insight?

Happy Paddling...

Ken

[Pintail]

Warning: I know nothing! (Much, anyway...)

Here are a couple of things that come to mind, old bean: (i) I have absolutely no doubt as to your personal hygiene; but...are your external ear passages really clean? Might partial blockage cause some spatial disorientation and thus what you are sensing (although, on second thoughts, I doubt it); (ii) are you doing this on an empty stomach? <Some> content might be desirable; but not a recent meal, of course (I myself have felt, sometimes, like vomiting when rolling too soon after food); (iii) perhaps this will not occur in saltwater (so much healthier!)?

This is terrible. Perhaps your body is telling you to give up on sea kayaking (ha ha!)? You're really getting to an advanced age, now, Ken -- I think you'd better slow down. What about bowling?

I'm no help to you, am I?

[Gcosloy]

While inner ear maybe the usual suspect, that condition is rarely serious. Low blood pressure which can be demonstrated by sudden changes in orientation, like going from upside down to upright rapidly can cause dizziness. More troubling however is the symptom of nausea. Both dizziness and nausea can be symptomatic of a precursor to stroke. Forget the ENT for now and get checked out by a GP soon. If you go to a specialist, he will focus on just that area of specialty only.

[Lallen]

I sometimes have difficulty with dizzineass and nausea when rolling, too. I have noticed that when the water is particularly cold it happens much more quickly. I'm not sure why, but both the nausea and dizziness definitely seem to come on fast in cold water. Maybe it has to do with how the cold temps affect the inner ear.

I'm told Bonine can help though I haven't tried it for this purpose. The only other thing that seems to help is if I pace myself and only do a few rolls at a time, then work on something else for a bit, then go back to a few more rolls...

[spuglisi]

I sometimes have difficulty with dizzineass and nausea when rolling, too. I have noticed that when the water is particularly cold it happens much more quickly. I'm not sure why, but both the nausea and dizziness definitely seem to come on fast in cold water. Maybe it has to do with how the cold temps affect the inner ear.

I'm told Bonine can help though I haven't tried it for this purpose. The only other thing that seems to help is if I pace myself and only do a few rolls at a time, then work on something else for a bit, then go back to a few more rolls...

I use bonnie when I'm planning on doing rolling practice...chlorinated pools are the worst for me...but sometimes repeated dunkings in cold water can make me feel slightly unsteady...not enough to be debilitating...but enough so that I can feel it.

[brambor]

If you paddle before you see a doctor maybe you can narrow it down a bit more. Wear a tight neoprene hood and scuba googles to minimize the cold water impact above your shoulder. It would be interesting to know if you get dizzy or not. If not then remove goggles and try again, if not then remove neoprene hood and try again...

btw...what's a 'bonnie' and what's a 'bonine' ?

I use bonnie when I'm planning on doing rolling practice...chlorinated pools are the worst for me...but sometimes repeated dunkings in cold water can make me feel slightly unsteady...not enough to be debilitating...but enough so that I can feel it.

[spuglisi]

btw...what's a 'bonnie' and what's a 'bonine' ?

Bonnie is similar to dramimine but leaves most people less drowsy.

[bob budd]

Bonine is a trade name for meclizine, an antihistamine most commonly used to mitigate the effects of motion sickness. Bonnie is probably a misspelling of bonine.

[spuglisi]

Bonine is a trade name for meclizine, an antihistamine most commonly used to mitigate the effects of motion sickness. Bonnie is probably a misspelling of bonine.

I just checked the package and you are correct "Bonine"

[brambor]

I knew a Bonnie that could make your head spin...

I just checked the package and you are correct "Bonine"

[bob budd]

If you Google "Bonnie nausea" you get several hits on the Bonnie Hunt show. Talk about your bad reviews.

[NPSheehan]

You could be suffering from a mild case of BPPV Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disor.../bppv/bppv.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benign_paroxy...itional_vertigo

Neil

[nancysan]

You could be suffering from a mild case of BPPV Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

I was diagnosed with this after a few pool sessions several winters ago. It took a few weeks to clear. I took bonine at night as treatment.

Nancy

[cathyfoley]

I had similar problems a few years back. Turned out to be an ear infection I didn't even know I had. There was no pain associated with it. When I was paddling, I became very dizzy and had problems keeping the horizon steady.

Antibiotics cleared up the ear infection but it took me a few months to gain back my confidence. Everytime I paddled for the next two months I had an inner "fear" that I would experience the same illness. It was all in my head of course.

[Ken C]

I wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions/treatments and experiences. Im experimenting today with several things but the ears look ok!

As far as Mr. Godfrey's suggestion to Bowling, well sir, Naaaaa!!!! The day i give it up is the day they pull my dead body out of my nice snug ocean cockpit!

Cheers All,

Ken

[ayong]

... cold water in the ear canal stimulates the balance center when it hits the ear drum, causing vertigo (sensation of spinning), nausea and vomiting. An observer may notice jerky eye movements ("nystagmus") at the time...

When done as a lab test ("calorics") the subject's head is tilted 30 degrees for optimal stimulation of the balance sensors (not unlike a roll, no?)

Actually, having wax in your ear canal would protect you, but the downside of wax is that you're 1. hard of hearing and 2. vulnerable to infections of the skin of the ear canal ("swimmer's ear")

...earplugs should offer real protection against the cold water...

Tom