chronic vertigo

Posted on | May 19, 2008 |

I’ve been trying to write this blog post for the past three days. I’m having some pretty severe vertigo, so if it doesn’t make sense, I apologize.

This week went by quickly. I had several things to do this week, including a doctor’s appointment Friday with my neurotologist. I see him every 6 months unless I need to see him more often. It was time for my 6-month evaluation. Usually I get the perfunctory hearing evaluation on my “good” ear - the right. However, at this point, the doctor feels that unless I notice a sharp problem that I didn’t need to go through that. In my “good” ear, when I am not having allergy problems, vertigo or imbalance, my hearing is at 100% in that ear. In addition, loud sounds and the act of having my hearing tested will often cause me to get vertigo or imbalance. So, I was relieved when the doctor didn’t want me to go through it.

Since I’ve been living with this disease for more than half of my life, the doctors always ask me to evaluate my symptoms and allow me to help manage my own care. I know better than they do how my life is and, I think, because I have a positive “can do” attitude about things and I do my best to honor my body’s needs, that’s an appropriate partnership. So, today, when he asked, “How are things going?” I actually wanted to share with him my increasing problems with my balance. More and more often, I just feel like I’m going to fall over or that the world is tipping over when standing still or even walking. So, I was given vestibular exercises to do at home. I am to do these twice a day to, hopefully, improve my level of balance. Apparently, the balance system in the body can be, to some extent, trained.

Of course, no exercise is without its pain. For me, the exercises cause the vertigo and imbalance to re-occur, even if for just a few moments. It’s a process, just like working out is. I can’t expect my fledgling vestibular system to work at peak capacity immediately, and I can’t ever really expect it to be like that of a healthy person, either. It would just be nice, though, to at least do less mis-stepping.

Saturday we attended a Bar Mitzvah of a friend’s son. Micah did a lovely job of reading the Torah and his Haftorah. I was fine during the service, but started to tip over during the Kiddush, and I grabbed Dave’s arm. He instinctively held me close while we were talking with other guests. As everyone else walked into the ballroom for the light snack, I was able to tell Dave what had gone on. We went into the ballroom and said our congratulations and headed home. I proceeded to take medication and get into bed when we got home and then I slept for two hours. I was determined to try to get to the reception in the evening. I did go, and though I didn’t participate in the Horah, I did get to congratulate the family and enjoy the day.

Yesterday we went to visit my MIL and FIL, as we do each week. We went to lunch and I brought my quad cane with me. I really needed it, unfortunately. Soon, however, it wasn’t enough. We left to come home because the vertigo had gotten quite bad. Dave brought my walker in and I took more medication and went to sleep for a while. The exercises have not been done since the first attempts. I do hope to get going on them, but I can barely move my head at all right now without things moving. Heck, they move when I don’t move my head!

I’m using my walker today and I’m waiting for the nurse to call saying that they’re delivering my solumedrol and inserting an IV. I have three nights of limited sleep ahead of me, but hopefully, I will have less vertigo and I will be able to do some art.

To say the least, Every Day in May has been set aside to some extent. I did some drawings, but it’s difficult to focus on something when it’s moving! I’m headed to use the shower chair in a bit and get my hair washed before I’m one-handed for a few days.

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