A BBC producer who spent a year investigating Havana syndrome for a podcast documentary experienced a bout of severe vertigo on Boxing Day, leading him to reflect on the mysterious condition. Waking with a spinning head and nausea at his parents' home in Dublin two years ago, he initially dismissed it as a Christmas hangover. However, the symptoms persisted, and he eventually vomited in the kitchen sink in front of his family.
After repeated episodes over the following day, he visited a GP who diagnosed vertigo, likely caused by inner ear problems, and prescribed medication. The timing was notable as he was working on 'Havana Helmet Club' for BBC Sounds, which explored the 2016 cases of mystery brain injuries affecting US officials in Cuba. Symptoms reported by victims included piercing sounds, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and lasting brain trauma, with speculation about Russian microwave weapons.
The producer recalled listening to a neurologist discussing how awareness of a body part can lead to over-focus, and had noticed mild head rushes in the weeks prior. He questioned whether he had imagined himself into sickness, but the doctor assured him vertigo was not unusual and the pills would help. The episode passed smoothly, but it gave him insight into the victims' need for answers. He noted that vertigo becomes more common with age and decided to be grateful the illness struck after Christmas dinner, even if medication meant a non-alcoholic New Year's Eve.
