GK on 9/17 - extreme vertigo in 48 hrs

[GMDizzyndeaf2]

Hello,
I had gamma knife on 9/17/24 and was fine until 48 hours later. Vertigo was so bad that I was vomiting. Couldn’t open my eyes without room spinning and nausea. I was prescribed Ondansetron (4mg)3 doses for nausea and motion sickness chewable tablets. That stopped the vomiting but not the vertigo whenever I moved my head. Then my neurosurgeon called to check and wanted to try a steroid taper. I started 1 tablet (2mg) Dexamethasone 3 times a day on the afternoon of 9/21. The extreme vertigo has lightened unless I try focusing a distance.
My question is has anyone had this reaction and recovered from vertigo after the steroid taper or PT?
Thank you for positive feedback.


MRI - 7/19/2024
AN - 10mm in length by 4-5mm by 4-5mm
GM - 9/17/2024

[UkulelesAreAwesome]

I had the same situation. I had GK on a Thursday 8/11/22. I rested that day and the next day. The following day I thought I was doing great so I did a bit of laundry. I ended up sitting on the basement floor until the dizziness subsided. I made it upstairs slowly and spent the evening vomiting. It has not happened again to the point of vomiting. I take Dramamine if the dizziness and nausea are bad. I did not contact the doctor at the time so I was not prescribed anything.

[UkulelesAreAwesome]

I forgot to add I struggled a bit with dizziness for a couple weeks and it was hard to look at a computer screen or go for a walk. Vestibular rehab helps a lot. Also be careful not to turn your head too quickly.

[GMDizzyndeaf2]

Yes, turning my head quickly is not fun. I have to learn the new me.
I will ask about vestibular rehab, thank you!

[mwatto]

Chat to your specialist about 1 mg diazepam for when you get these attacks. Its supposed to help.  When I had CK I also took (and still do) melatonin and PEA which helped me a lot with neuroinflammation

[GMDizzyndeaf2]

I will ask. Thanks for sharing the helpful information.

Congratulations on your results, shrinking AN and 85% hearing.
My left ear feels full and it seems like I lost all hearing on that AN side.

[mwatto]

Unfortunately, while I have pretty good hearing- I have battled for 7 years (two before treatment) with really bad stabbing, stinging pain deep in that ear. No one knows why. It wakes me up at night and nothing really helps the pain. I have it now as am typing this. Its not typical it seems on this forum but its in the AN ear. I even saw a neurosurgeon and he reviewed all my MRI scans and like my CK specialist said its prob not the AN. The trigeminal nerve looks fine. I sometimes also get in that side eye and that side throat. Not on medication so I take CBD some days which helps. I have to have MRIs for rest of life I was told as no radiation treatment is a cure. I will eventually also lose hearing.

[GMDizzyndeaf2]

 The fullness, stinging pain and deafness occurred after Gamma Knife for me. Beforehand, I only had slight high frequency hearing loss and tinnitus in AN side(left).
I am hoping that it’s caused by inflammation andby the end of my steroid taper it will fade away. Trying to think positively!
Thanks for your update.

[GMDizzyndeaf2]

UPDATE:
The vertigo is gone… my left ear still feels full with no hearing in it at all and I am lightheaded when  getting up or turning my head/body quickly. I am hoping with time and starting vestibular therapy this week there will be improvement but afraid this may be my new life.
Thanks for asking!

[DanFouratt]

Sorry to hear you are still struggling.  I had fullness in the ear and reduced to no hearing for at most two weeks.  I have returned to poor hearing and no fullness. Tinnitus is simple a constant in my life. Hope things improve.

[GMDizzyndeaf2]

1/20/2025 UPDATE: I have 2 more vestibular therapy sessions and my balance has improved. Anyone that has it offered should do it. They have taught me many ways to improve my balance and thinking. Don’t get me wrong, there are good days and bad days. I have noticed the bad weather seems to bring on the bad days. My pt therapist mentioned that barometric pressure can affect it. So, that did help me feel less responsible for the unbalanced days. I have accepted my new way of life, which isn’t perfect BUT could be much worse. I am thankful to be here!

My 6 month MRI is in March and I’m hoping/praying for good results.

Thank you to everyone in this group/community that supports each other!