Unfortunately, a new ailment has hit me– vertigo! And man, does it ever pack a wallop! It began early yesterday morning, and I’m still under the weather, but I’m much better today. At least, I’m able to sit here and type this blog entry. I’ll give you the “particulars.”
I woke up about 1:30 yesterday morning, sat up, and stood to go to the bathroom. Whoops! Suddenly, I felt myself lurching to one side, and the room was swirling! I grabbed the dresser, turned around and grabbed the bed. After a moment, my head seemed to clear, and I walked slowly to the bathroom and then back to bed. I thought my dizziness was from standing too quickly.
When I awoke again at 6:00, I could barely get out of bed. Every time my head moved even a little, I felt like someone was slinging me around and around. Somehow, I managed to hang onto furniture and make my way back into the bathroom. Then I called Robin, who was already out in the kitchen– he had an early tee time and he was fixing breakfast so he could get away by 7:00. He helped me to a chair at the bar in the kitchen and took my pulse and blood pressure.
My pulse was a steady 63, and my blood pressure was 123 over 80. All fine. But my head was swirling like crazy. Robin called his golf partners and told them he wouldn’t be coming. He also had to call a friend to tell her I wouldn’t be coming to the church Shepherd Group breakfast. She and I are co-leaders of the group.
Robin and I debated about whether or not to call 911. Finally, we decided he’d take me to Mercy Express Care, a clinic right outside Hot Springs Village.
He helped me get dressed– that was a hoot! Then, I was overcome with nausea, and I tried to vomit, but of course, my stomach was empty, so it was only dry heaves. At last, he was able to help me to the car, and I took a towel with me, in case I had more nausea.
The ride to the clinic was murder! All those twists and turns. Whew! When we arrived, I couldn’t even move to get out of the car. So he went inside to get a wheelchair, and he was able to help me into the chair and push me into the clinic.
We waited for about 20 minutes– we were the third patient to be seen– and when I saw the doctor, he was so nice and very thorough. He checked my pulse and blood pressure again, listened to my heart, checked my ears, felt my neck, checked my eye pupils, had me grasp both of his hands and squeeze, push my feet against his hands, etc.– checking for any symptoms of stroke, I guess. Finally, he diagnosed my dizziness as “benign vertigo.”
This is caused by an imbalance of the fluid in the inner ears. I had heard of it before, but never experienced it. No one knows what causes it, although the doctor said it does sometimes occur when people have allergies or upper respiratory infections. I had neither, so I have no idea what brought mine on. All I know is that vertigo is a powerful ailment! It’s much worse than the wooziness I had with my heart atrial fibrillation several years ago.
The doctor prescribed meclizine tablets to counteract the dizziness and nausea. After we returned home and I fell into bed, Robin went back to Health Mart to pick up the medicine. Now I’m taking a tablet every six hours.
I was able to eat a little after the medicine settled me down a bit yesterday afternoon, and this morning I’ve eaten a regular breakfast. I can walk slowly now without assistance. It just feels like I’ve had a little too much to drink.
I’ll take it easy again today, and maybe tomorrow I’ll be almost back to normal.
Have any of you ever experienced vertigo?
Damn, that Wild Turkey does it every time!
Are you speaking from experience? : )
Yes, I have experienced the same symptoms… Mine was diagnosed as related to my allergies. It is no fun. Hope it’s a one time deal for you.
Thanks, JoAnne, I hope so too! Sorry you were a fellow sufferer.
I have suffered off-balance because of the ear but never anything compared to what you have described. Just don’t push yourself and take extra care when moving around. I hope you can learn the cause. Love you, Elizabeth
Yes, the swirling sensation was quite violent. I’m feeling much better now, but I’m being careful. If it continues many more days, I’ll go to an ENT doctor and let him check my inner ears. Thanks!
Love you,
Maddie
I have mild to moderate vertigo pretty much all the time now. Doctors figure it’s part of my weird neuro ailments, but as usual no one knows. NO fun for sure. Glad you are on the mend, and hope it never happens again!
Hi, Mary Alice. It’s great to hear from you again. : ) I’m sorry you’ve had continual trouble with vertigo, though. Sharon told me there are little “crystals” in the inner ear that can escape out of their canal, but there are exercises a physical therapist can use to help get them back into place. If I have any more severe problems, I’ll check into that.
Love you,
Madelyn
Oh, Madelyn. My mother had this. No fun. So glad to learn that you are better.
Nell
It’s definitely no fun! I’m sorry your mother has had to deal with it too. I’m feeling much better tonight. Thanks!
Love you,
Maddie
“For everything, turn, turn, turn…..”
Enough a’ready. A couple friends have had this, in varying degrees. They can attest to its “nauseating” symptoms Hope the medication works and there are no lingering side effects!
Thanks, Nancy. I’m encouraged now that my appetite is back and my balance is better. I think things are looking up. : )
Love you,
Maddie
When I was much younger I had an encounter with ‘brandy Alexanders’ that did something similar, Maddie..I have not touched them since. 🙂
Be good and don’t push..we love you.
Barb
Hi, Barb. I’m trying hard to be good. : ) Haven’t done much but sit around and read and play here on the computer. : )
Love you,
Maddie
That’s a bummer…it really does make you dizzy and you’re not even BLONDE!
Ain’t that the truth! A dizzy brunette just doesn’t cut it! : ) Thanks!
Maddie
Hi Aunt Madelyn! So sorry to hear about this! I have had a bout with vertigo but mine was accompanied with hearing loss and earned me a diagnosis of Menierre’s disease! Happy yours was just plain vertigo. Sure hope you level out today! Love you!!!
Debbie
Hi, Debbie,
I’m much better, thanks! Today is Tuesday now– sorry I didn’t find your reply until now. But I think I am almost completely well. I’m still not driving yet, but maybe by the end of the week, I can.
Love you,
Maddie
Oh, my goodness! Sounds like you have been having a bad time. As you can see, I am falling way behind on my emails. I just opened this one a few minutes ago for the first time. Brent takes up a lot of my time, and I just do what I can when I can. They sent him to the hospital yesterday, and are supposed to draw more fluid off his abdomen today. I plan to be there by 9, but the docket was already packed, so they are just going to have to crowd him in! They also want to put in a port so that his nurse can draw some fluid off each week here at home. But this note is for you and your problems, so you take it easy and let Robin help you. Sounds like he’s doing it beautifully! Love you, Yvonne
Yvonne, thank you for thinking of me. You definitely have your hands full! I’m doing much better now, so I am encouraged. Please take care of yourself too.
Love you,
Maddie
So sorry, Madelyn, sounds awful. I have had other friends who have experienced it and they too said it was awful. Glad you are better.
Thanks, Barbara. I was able to drive again today, so that was great!
Hope to see you again soon.
Maddie
Sorry, I meant to mention, my reply is late because we have been to Fredericksburg, VA and WN DC and Lynchburg, VA visiting our son and family and another grandson in Lynchburg.
Sounds like fun. I’m sure you enjoyed seeing your family. : )
I have had the same thing at the same time but no throwing up. My limbs go very weak and it took a few days for them to get back to normal. That is what scared me the most was lack of strength in my limbs and couldn’t walk for 4 hours. have you had that?
Ethel
Hello, Ethel. I’m glad you happened to find this old blog post about my vertigo. Welcome to my blog site. : ) I don’t remember my legs being weak, but I couldn’t stand. I was way too woozy. When my husband took me to the walk-in clinic, I couldn’t walk. He had to go inside and bring out a wheel chair and push me into the clinic. Fortunately, some medication cleared up my vertigo in about a week. Last year I had another minor case, and I went to a physical therapist who performed a manipulation maneuver on me that moved those little displaced crystals back into my inner ear canal. That worked like magic, and I left there completely back to normal. : )
Madelyn