Why does the room spin like crazy when he wakes up?

Inner ear infection also known as Vertigo would be a guess.
If it was when going from laying down to sitting or standing it could be low blood pressure.
It could be dangerous if it happened while driving or operating equipment.

He should go to an Ear Nose and Throat specialist, for a diagnosis.

@Tropical_Willie is right about seeing an ENT specialist. This site might be helpful.

Probably positional vertigo. Is he looking slightly sideways when it happens? Maybe as he gets up. He probably can trigger it also if he maybe laid his head on your chest while your both laying down next to each. He is just dizzy right? Not lightheaded.

You can fix it most likely doing the Epley Maneuver. You might want to have an ENT do it if you can’t get it to work. No harm in trying though. If he goes to an ENT go with him, so you can help him at home.

He should lay down on the bed so his head hangs off of it. So, his head can go slightly below his body. Then sit back up. So far he is just lining himself up. It’s best if you help, but he can do it to himself. Next, turn his head to a 45 degree angle (halfway between straight forward and look directly over his shoulder, and stare at each other, keep your face kind of close to his, maybe a foot away. Then fairly quickly holding his head go back to the lie down position with hos head slightly lower than the bed. It should trigger the spin if this is the side he has the vertigo on. If it does, have him continue to stare at your face until it stops spinning. Should take about 20 seconds. You will see his eye moving if it is working. Once it stops, slowly change his head to be 45 degrees to the other side. Wait about 20 seconds, then turn his body to the side so he can look down at the floor for 20 seconds.

Next, attempt it on the other side. He should try to sleep sitting up for two nights.

What happens is the crystals in the ear are in the wrong place and they help detect gravity and the horizon. When your brain thinks gravity is up, your world spins. He probably only has a few out of place. He goes through that trigger position when he gets out of bed most likely. I do too when I am out of whack. Leaning up on my husband’s chest when we lay in bed at night triggers mine also. I luckily correct very well with the maneuver. My first episode was caused by a bad accident I had, and the vertigo was extremely severe. Now, I still get minor reoccurances. Many people have no idea what triggered theirs.

You can youtube epley maneuver and see it being done. You might want to watch a few videos, some videos are better than others.

Okay all, thanks. It happens to not be my significant other by the way.
Also it doesn’t happen regularly and for a long period of time. It lasts for no more than a minute after waking up, and it comes and goes.

Positional vertigo can come and go on it’s own. Next time it happens to him, if he is lying down, if his head is to one side, he should stay in that position until the dizziness settles. Then turn his head to other side and wait about 20 seconds. It’s the old way to cure it. Kind of a half epley. If it isn’t positional and something else, turning his head isn’t going to hurt anything, so it has no downside if it is incorrect.

@flo – It does sound like Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), which is triggered by very specific head movements, and the spinning sensation typically stops within seconds of keeping the head still. Not only am I am Audiologist, but I’ve had BPPV twice. The key is identifying the specific movement that triggers it – an electronystagmography or videonystagmography evaluation measures the eye movements specific to BPPV; or the test can be performed with observation of the eye movements by a physician, audiologist or physical therapist. The treatment is to perform very specific body ‘repositioning’ movements – usually guided by an audiologist or a P.T.

There are however, many other potential causes for vertigo or dizziness, so I would recommend starting with the primary doctor, who will refer to an ENT, cardiologist, and/or neurologist depending on the specifics of the patient’s symptoms.

I agree with @hearkat – vertigo and dizziness have a LOT of possible causes..hence a visit to the GP or internist might be worthwhile – if for no other reason than to have them help order which tests/specialists to consider.
I say this because yet another possibility is low blood pressure. I get dizzy spells like that when my BP drops – and I notice it most when first waking up in the morning / laying in bed. (So, cardiologist might be a good specialist to see, too..)

[mod says] Please remember: This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.

My experience, after I awoke to find the room spinning like a merry go round, was to start with my primary care doc. He did some tests and did notice the nystagmus and then sent me off to an ENT who had the staff to do the tests that@hearkat describes.

” The key is identifying the specific movement that triggers it – an electronystagmography or videonystagmography evaluation measures the eye movements specific to BPPV; or the test can be performed with observation of the eye movements by a physician, audiologist or physical therapist. The treatment is to perform very specific body ‘repositioning’ movements – usually guided by an audiologist or a P.T.”

Then and only then was I sent to a local ENT who did the Epley maneuvers on me. I would strongly advise that no one try these exercises at home pre-diagnosis.

@JLeslie – First of all, the OP has said that it is not her significant other.

Yes, primary physicians are human and can make inappropriate referrals. I’ve seen ears literally packed with wax that the patient says the primary said looked just fine. I’ve also had patients who the ENT is the last of several specialists they’ve been referred to, when the symptoms suggest we should have been the first. I’ve had patients be diagnosed and prescribed medication by the primary, without undergoing further evaluation. If these things happen to me, I would consider getting a new primary doctor.

However, I still go to my primary when I have symptoms that do not clearly fall under a single speciality. My primary listens to me and respects that I know my body and have some medical knowledge. If they are not recommending a test or treatment that I thought might be helpful, I bring it up and discuss it with them, and they have always honored those requests.

In addition to inappropriate referrals, some patients may be referred to one of our doctors, but when they call they may want a location closer to their home or the next available, and wind up seeing someone else. Our doctors will cross-refer within the practice if they feel one of the others can better address the patient’s concerns. Sometimes I refer a patient to a different doctor within or outside of our group if I feel that their concerns weren’t addressed.

Again I stress that we do not know anything about the dizzy person other than the fact that it is a male, and his symptoms are fleeting and inconsistent. For example, if he has any history of neck or spinal problems, they could contribute to the symptoms and attempting any positional maneuvers on one’s own could be harmful.

[mod says] Please take the debate about primary care vs specialists to a more appropriate thread or to PMs. Thanks!

Thanks all.

It only happens upon waking up. Isn’t strange that it doesn’t happen any other time? Also not often enough. I don’t think he is planning to go to the doc he feels it is too minor of a problem.

@flo – It may be a nutrition/hydration issue, then. Any possibilities that he could be pre-diabetic or have other metabolic issues?

Another possibility is if he takes medication or supplements to help him sleep, and he is still a bit groggy on waking – then he should take a lower dose or try taking it an hour earlier, if possible.

It is possible, so he has to be encouraged (more like dragged it looks like) to go to the doctor to find out if it is pre-diabetic, or other metabolic issues.
I appreciate it @hearkat.