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Living With BPPV: My First Week With Vertigo

Life has a way of stopping you in your tracks when you least expect it. For me, that moment came just over a week ago when I was diagnosed with BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo). I had never heard of it before. Now, it dominates every part of my day.


I’m only at the very beginning of this journey, but already I can see how important it is to talk about. So many people have quietly whispered, “I’ve had vertigo too,” once I mentioned it. It turns out this condition is far more common than I ever imagined, yet so few of us truly understand it until we’re thrown into its dizzying reality.


This blog is both my way of processing what’s happening and a chance to connect with others who might also be living with vertigo.

The First Episode of Vertigo

The first time it happened, I tried to get out of bed and I couldn’t. The world spun so violently that I just dropped straight back down onto the mattress. In that moment, I had no idea what was happening. It was frightening, disorienting, and left me feeling completely helpless.


That was the moment I knew this wasn’t just ordinary dizziness. This was something bigger, something I couldn’t just push through. For someone used to being independent and busy, that loss of control was confronting in a way I’ll never forget.

What Is BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)?

Before this experience, vertigo was just a word I associated with dizziness. I didn’t understand what it really meant. Now, I know that vertigo isn’t just “feeling lightheaded.” It’s a very real and very unsettling spinning sensation that makes you feel like the world is tilting or moving when you’re standing perfectly still.


BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) is one of the most common causes of vertigo. It happens when tiny calcium crystals (called otoconia) in the inner ear shift into the wrong place. Those crystals normally help us keep our balance, but when they’re out of position, they send confusing signals to the brain. The result is intense dizziness, nausea, and a loss of balance that can come on suddenly.


What makes BPPV particularly unsettling is how unpredictable it feels. A simple movement, rolling over in bed, tilting your head, or even bending down to tie your shoes, can send the world into a spin.

My First Week Living With Vertigo

To be completely honest, this first week has been frightening. I’ve gone from being someone who juggles business, deadlines, and life at full pace to suddenly feeling like I can’t even trust my own body.


The dizziness is relentless. At times it feels like the floor is dropping beneath me, or the walls are swaying in and out of focus. The physical symptoms are exhausting, but so too is the emotional impact. There’s a very real sense of losing control, of not being able to do the simple things that I took for granted just days earlier.


What’s made it even more difficult is how disruptive vertigo is to daily life. As a business owner, I’m used to being “on” all the time, creative, focused, moving quickly. But living with vertigo has forced me to slow down in ways I never would have chosen. Even answering emails or standing at my workbench feels like climbing a mountain.

More than once this week, I’ve found myself in tears. It’s not just the spinning; it’s the trauma of not knowing when it will stop, or how long this condition might hang around.

BPPV Treatment: The Epley Manoeuvre Experience

In just the first week, I’ve already had two treatments for BPPV in the space of five days. These were the Epley manoeuvres , performed by a physiotherapist, designed to move the inner-ear crystals back into place.


I won’t sugar-coat it: the treatments have been traumatic. The manoeuvre itself involves tilting and moving your head in very specific positions, which often brings on a surge of spinning. In the moment, it feels terrifying, like willingly stepping into the very symptoms you’re desperate to avoid.


Even though I know the purpose is to reset the crystals and give me relief, it’s incredibly confronting. Each session has left me shaken, tired, and more aware than ever of how fragile balance really is.


What I didn’t expect was how much of an emotional toll these treatments would take. It’s not just about physical dizziness, it’s about the fear of triggering another attack, the anxiety of waiting to see if it worked, and the exhaustion of recovery afterwards.

The Hidden Trauma of Living With Vertigo

When people think of vertigo, they often think only of dizziness. But it’s more than that. It’s the fear that any sudden movement might set off another episode. It’s the way your confidence is shaken when you don’t feel steady on your own two feet. It’s the constant second-guessing: should I drive, should I walk down those stairs, should I even try to turn over in bed?


This hidden trauma can make vertigo deeply isolating. Unless someone has experienced it, they often don’t understand how disruptive it can be. That’s why sharing my story matters—to shine a light on what it actually feels like to live with this condition.

How Common Is BPPV?

One of the surprising things I’ve learned is just how common BPPV is. The more I’ve opened up about what I’m going through, the more people have said, “Oh yes, I had that once.” According to research, BPPV is the most common cause of vertigo, particularly in adults over 50, but it can affect anyone.


That knowledge has been strangely comforting. While I still feel scared and unsteady, I now know I’m not alone. Many others have been here, felt this same fear, and come out the other side.


Managing Vertigo and Dizziness Day by Day

Because I’m only a week into this journey, I’m still learning about the treatments and what works. Beyond the Epley manoeuvres, there are small steps that seem to help, including:


  • Moving gently and avoiding sudden head movements.

  • Sleeping propped up to reduce dizziness at night.

  • Staying hydrated, as dehydration can make symptoms worse.

  • Giving yourself permission to rest when the world won’t stop spinning.


It’s important to say here that anyone experiencing vertigo should seek medical advice. While BPPV is common, dizziness can be caused by many different things, and it’s always best to rule out anything more serious.


Lessons I’m Learning (Even Now)

Even though it’s early days, vertigo has already taught me lessons I didn’t expect.


  1. Health comes first. No matter how busy life is, nothing matters more than being able to function day-to-day.

  2. Slowing down isn’t weakness. It’s actually strength to admit when you need to stop and rest.

  3. Community matters. The moment I spoke about vertigo, people shared their stories with me. That connection has been healing in itself.

  4. Perspective shifts everything. Vertigo has shown me that sometimes the universe forces us to pause, and perhaps there’s wisdom in that.


The Business Impact of Living With Vertigo

Running a small business while dealing with vertigo is not easy. There’s no big team to pick up the slack; when I’m unwell, things simply slow down. At first, that felt like failure. But I’m slowly learning that businesses can survive pauses. Customers understand. People are often more compassionate than we give them credit for.


I’ve also had people gently say, “Maybe this is a sign to reassess what you do.” And I understand that thought, but how do you step back from something you love so deeply? My work gives me purpose, creativity, and community. The idea of letting it go feels almost as unsettling as the vertigo itself. So instead, I’m learning to adapt. To take the pauses when I need them, to pace myself differently, but to still hold onto the joy and meaning that my business brings.


In fact, being transparent about what I’m going through has actually deepened my connection with my community. It’s a reminder that behind every business is a human being, with all the fragility and resilience that entails.


Living With Vertigo: A Work in Progress

I’d love to end this blog with a neat conclusion, but the truth is, I’m not there yet. I’m still dizzy. I’m still anxious. And I’m still figuring out how to live with vertigo day by day.


But what I do know is this: I’m not alone. BPPV might be unsettling, but it’s also something many people recover from. That gives me hope.


If you’re reading this because you’ve just been diagnosed, know that it’s okay to feel scared. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to take a step back from the pace of life. You’re not weak—you’re human. And this too will pass.


Final Thoughts

Vertigo and BPPV have already taught me so much in just one week: about slowing down, about listening to my body, and about finding strength in community. I don’t yet know how long this chapter will last, but I do know it won’t define me forever.


For now, I’ll take each day as it comes, rest when I need to, and keep holding onto the stories of others who have been through this and come out steady on the other side.


If you’ve lived with vertigo or BPPV, I’d love to hear your experience. Your story might be the encouragement someone else needs, maybe even me.


Barbara Spooner founder of Birds on Bikes

About the Author: Barbara Spooner

Barbara Spooner is the founder of Birds on Bikes , a brand dedicated to designing high-quality, Australian-made cycling apparel for women—especially those with curves. With a background in graphic design and ethical fashion , Barbara is passionate about creating inclusive, sustainable activewear that empowers women to ride in comfort and confidence. When she's not designing, she’s advocating for ethical manufacturing and supporting women in business.

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