My ME started with an onset of vertigo, coupled with nausea so bad I was unable to eat or drink for a couple of days. I saw an ENT consultant who could find nothing, (who was also the kindest doctor I've seen since getting ill) but he tried the Epley Manouvre which did reduce my symptoms temporarily, .during this first episode I was hospitalized due to severe dehydration (the ward sister said it was probably some sort of virus) the doctors said it was probably a migraine!!!...
I've had these attacks several times since getting sick (10yrs), I've been fortunate to be able to access private testing
and each time the test has come back for an active EBV or CMV infection, so for me I know it is the cause.
When I was well I used to swim a lot, once had a viral infection in my inner ear , it was pretty bad, lasted a few days but I just got better as people do and life carried on as normal, nothing like the sort of attacks I've had since getting ill, these can take me months to recover. There is a massive difference between an attack on a well person and one on an already depleted body.