Vertigo Anyone

FlyingScot

FlyingScot

Spanish Proficient
I was approaching an airport that was reporting FU. There has been a fire to the east for about 3 days. The haze on the ground changed about 75 miles from the airport so that I recognized it as a result of smoke. There was an inversion so the smoke hung out around 2000AGL. I was landing about 0900 lcl so the sun was near enough to the horizon to make matters difficult to see. The final approach was over water. On base leg I was flying into the sun, but was able to put a sun shade to protect my vision somewhat. This approach over water can lead to some sense of vertigo on a good day. On turning to intercept final the sun was to my left and very bright, the plane has no means of putting up a sun block there, at least on the spur of the moment. The glare was so bright I could barely see the instruments under the glare shield. When I flipped down my sunglasses I could not see at all so I took them off. Outside the cockpit I had a layer of smoke haze and water below that made me dizzy even looking at it.

By squinting and turning my head a bit I was able to make out instruments and fly the approach but it was still a very disorienting approach. Once I dropped down a bit on the approach I was below the smoke layer and could see the ground and the sun was not so bright it was all good again. Still one of the toughest approaches I have shot in a while especially without turbulence lightning, or icing. In hindsight I should have used the autopilot and wedged the checklist up against the window with my shoulder and monitored the approach.
 
The worst case of vertigo I've ever had was during a descent in the winter somewhere in the teens. We were in IMC with snow, and I made the mistake of looking up at the snowflakes going past us at 315 knots. Immediately I felt like we were turning, and I looked down to realize we were still straight and level for the moment.

I put the autopilot back on, and I felt like I was upside down for the next few minutes.

Vertigo ain't no joke.
 
I'm always surprised when I head out from land VFR on a hazy day. The sky melts right into the water, and with nothing tangible to give you a horizon, it's basically like being IMC. In fact, as soon as I realize what's happening, I usually go right to my instruments.

Somehow, it's much different (mentally) than flying in clouds. At least then you're not suddenly surprised by the fact you can't see.
 
jhugz said:
Way to rely on automation there champ...
Click to expand...

I don't see anything wrong with that......take yourself out of the loop for a minute, and just concentrate on re-caging your brain by watching the instruments.
 
///AMG said:
I don't see anything wrong with that......take yourself out of the loop for a minute, and just concentrate on re-caging your brain by watching the instruments.
Click to expand...

I was totally busting balls...if you have it use it. :)
 
Many of you know that I am completely deaf and hear with cochlear implants. When my ears got whacked, my vestibular system in both ears was also completely destroyed. This left me wheelchair bound until I could complete some physical therapy - basically re-training my brain to walk and function without the use of balance - same rehab many stroke victims get. Anyway, as Jtrain and others that have met me can attest - unless you knew that you wouldn't be able to tell if you met me now. The interesting thing is this - I am immune to spatial disorientation - I don't get "dizzy" or "vertigo" any more at all. When the vestibular systems let go, it caused about four days (each) of intense vertigo (never stopped), puking, etc. After that the spinning stopped, and I had oscilipsia (sp?) for weeks. Then, everything stabilized and I started to learn to walk again. The problem was that one ear went away - then a week later the other one - so I didn't get it all over with at once. Point is - it is weird that I am immune to spatial disorientation. I also hypothesize that I would be completely immune from the space-sickness that astronauts get.
 
WacoFan said:
Many of you know that I am completely deaf and hear with cochlear implants. When my ears got whacked, my vestibular system in both ears was also completely destroyed. This left me wheelchair bound until I could complete some physical therapy - basically re-training my brain to walk and function without the use of balance - same rehab many stroke victims get. Anyway, as Jtrain and others that have met me can attest - unless you knew that you wouldn't be able to tell if you met me now. The interesting thing is this - I am immune to spatial disorientation - I don't get "dizzy" or "vertigo" any more at all. When the vestibular systems let go, it caused about four days (each) of intense vertigo (never stopped), puking, etc. After that the spinning stopped, and I had oscilipsia (sp?) for weeks. Then, everything stabilized and I started to learn to walk again. The problem was that one ear went away - then a week later the other one - so I didn't get it all over with at once. Point is - it is weird that I am immune to spatial disorientation. I also hypothesize that I would be completely immune from the space-sickness that astronauts get.
Click to expand...

We can rebuild him...
 
Interestingly, using the term vertigo to describe spatial disorientation would be incorrect, due to the fact that true vertigo is actually a medical condition where you have dysfunctions in the inner ear. I originally heard this from my AME after I incorrectly used the term.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertigo

Medical Dictionary

Vertigo: is a feeling that you are dizzily turning around or that things are dizzily turning about you. Vertigo is usually due to a problem with the inner ear. Vertigo can also be caused by vision problems.

The word "vertigo" comes from the Latin "vertere", to turn + the suffix "-igo", a condition = a condition of turning about). Vertigo is medically distinct from dizziness, lightheadedness, and unsteadiness. See: Dizziness, Lightheadedness, and Unsteadiness.
 
The worst vertigo I have head occured even before I left the gate, thanks to an inner ear infection I didn't know I had. Looked up at the over head during pre flight and it was game on and the earth was trying to throw me off. Called in sick and had to have my wife come get me.

Also got it mildly one time while intercepting and ILS at night in the soup and looked up to check what amber light just illuminated. Just had to trust the instruments and landed the plane just fine. Glad my CFII hammered that home because my body was telling me the instruments were lying.
 
Itchy said:
Waco, did you lose your ears from a baro trauma related to flying?
Click to expand...

FlyingScot said:
Virgin Galactic is hiring.

Crazy story Waco.

I too would like to know how this happened.
Click to expand...

Nothing to do with flying.

It was a miserable thing. Basically you do nothing but puke, then you continue to dry heave for a couple days. It almost never stops, although you pass out. It is like I lost three days with each ear. People said that even passed out, on my back in bed, I would dry heave so hard my knees would come up to my chest. Then, after three days or so the vertigo settles into oscillipsia (sp?). which is like being in a boat - kind of (not really, just the closest thing I could think of). Eventually you retrain your brain and things become "normal" and you begin learning to walk normally without balance, etc. Took a while.

What I had, and still have, is an immune system that is overactive and constantly attacks itself. My immune system attacked my ears. I've had other massive attacks on other structures. I think I am in the "sweet spot" right now. I actually think I could get a medical. Flying was taken away when this happened, so I want to fly again, even get a commerical license and fly just one revenue flight of some kind - just to say I accomplished the goal and I wasn't cheated out of it by a fickle and treasonous immune system.
 
WacoFan said:
Nothing to do with flying.

It was a miserable thing. Basically you do nothing but puke, then you continue to dry heave for a couple days. It almost never stops, although you pass out. It is like I lost three days with each ear. People said that even passed out, on my back in bed, I would dry heave so hard my knees would come up to my chest. Then, after three days or so the vertigo settles into oscillipsia (sp?). which is like being in a boat - kind of (not really, just the closest thing I could think of). Eventually you retrain your brain and things become "normal" and you begin learning to walk normally without balance, etc. Took a while.

What I had, and still have, is an immune system that is overactive and constantly attacks itself. My immune system attacked my ears. I've had other massive attacks on other structures. I think I am in the "sweet spot" right now. I actually think I could get a medical. Flying was taken away when this happened, so I want to fly again, even get a commerical license and fly just one revenue flight of some kind - just to say I accomplished the goal and I wasn't cheated out of it by a fickle and treasonous immune system.
Click to expand...

You don't need a medical to fly a glider - even commercially ;)
 
I would randomly get it back in the 210 days for no "real" (meaning aero-medical) reason I could discern. At that point I had enough time to pay attention to the gauges without too much drama. I also got a little "green around the gills" during primary training. In the intervening years and hours I've never had a problem, even under what some RJ-Jokers around here (hi train!) would consider to be "emergency" circumstances. "Use makes master", "Happens to everyone", "There but for the grace" etc etc etc. Pick your bromide. You'll be fine.
 
WacoFan said:
Nothing to do with flying.

It was a miserable thing. Basically you do nothing but puke, then you continue to dry heave for a couple days. It almost never stops, although you pass out. It is like I lost three days with each ear. People said that even passed out, on my back in bed, I would dry heave so hard my knees would come up to my chest. Then, after three days or so the vertigo settles into oscillipsia (sp?). which is like being in a boat - kind of (not really, just the closest thing I could think of). Eventually you retrain your brain and things become "normal" and you begin learning to walk normally without balance, etc. Took a while.

What I had, and still have, is an immune system that is overactive and constantly attacks itself. My immune system attacked my ears. I've had other massive attacks on other structures. I think I am in the "sweet spot" right now. I actually think I could get a medical. Flying was taken away when this happened, so I want to fly again, even get a commerical license and fly just one revenue flight of some kind - just to say I accomplished the goal and I wasn't cheated out of it by a fickle and treasonous immune system.
Click to expand...

The body is amazing and you can end up using visual cues for balance. I had buddy that happened to. He had to work to get his medical back and retrain hi brain to use his ears for balance and not his eyes. Prior to get getting everything correct, if he closed his eyes he would lose his balance.
 
Waco, that's a strange (and awful) story that nobody would know unless they read this thread/knew you personally and not to be a dick here, but why are you on this website? What is your aviation background?
 
He said he had his liscense before that incident, and why would that matter?

First time I went actual vertigo he me hard. Thankfully the clouds were just scattered. I entered straight and level, came out in a 20 degree bank thinking I was straight and level.
 
Had vertigo today, been out of the cockpit for a week and a half, nasty head cold. Was a section cruise lead but the student with an IP in the back leads me back on this particular flight and we went into the goo coming back as a section. We were turning to a heading and I kept thinking, why is he at 60 degrees AOB in the goo...looked at my ADI and we are at maybe 20 degrees AOB lol So I just got Blut Angle tight and rode it out but damn, was the vertigo messing with me. Luckily it was a short time in the goo.
 
WacoFan said:
Nothing to do with flying.

It was a miserable thing. Basically you do nothing but puke, then you continue to dry heave for a couple days. It almost never stops, although you pass out. It is like I lost three days with each ear. People said that even passed out, on my back in bed, I would dry heave so hard my knees would come up to my chest. Then, after three days or so the vertigo settles into oscillipsia (sp?). which is like being in a boat - kind of (not really, just the closest thing I could think of). Eventually you retrain your brain and things become "normal" and you begin learning to walk normally without balance, etc. Took a while.

What I had, and still have, is an immune system that is overactive and constantly attacks itself. My immune system attacked my ears. I've had other massive attacks on other structures. I think I am in the "sweet spot" right now. I actually think I could get a medical. Flying was taken away when this happened, so I want to fly again, even get a commerical license and fly just one revenue flight of some kind - just to say I accomplished the goal and I wasn't cheated out of it by a fickle and treasonous immune system.
Click to expand...


Thats nuts man! Sorry to hear that, how old were you?

And as much as I feel it is innappropriate to ask this I have too... Do things sound different through the implans than through your ears?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top