Normally when taking part in a blogging challenge where my topic is predetermined I wouldn’t chintz out and use the first word of the title as my day one ‘A’ but today I’m feeling a little less than together and so you’ll have to excuse me. That’s because this morning I went to see another doctor in an effort to alleviate the weird head crap that’s been going on since last November.
For those of you friends who have been around a while you know that back around Thanksgiving sometime I started getting all kinds of weirdness like vertigo type symptoms. I’ve learned to live with it to a point, no longer am I scared straight, but it’s still there and I’m sick of it. So this morning I went and saw another doctor.
And this one gave me another diagnosis. Well, sort of. He essentially reconfirmed what my ENT said last fall, that in his opinion I do in fact have BPPV.
Which I guess means I didn’t really get another diagnosis but the same one I’d had before. The same one that the Vestibular Therapist poo-pooed earlier this year.
So what does that really mean? It means none of them likely have a slight clue what’s what and that I’m back to square one.
The doc I saw today was a neurologist because I’m ready to rule out any other big stuff at this point. But it was your everyday consultation until I started describing when and how my symptoms come on. He immediately honed in on the fact that my body being in motion seems to trigger the wonky feeling most often (walking, forward motion, rolling over in bed, etc.) and agreed with the initial diagnosis.
And then he performed an Epley maneuver. The same thing the NP at the ENT’s office did back in early December last year. Only he did it a little differently and pointed out exactly why he was doing what he did. Doc said if I don’t notice a lack of symptoms by Wednesday to call back & he’ll schedule a head scan.
I have a sneaking feeling I’ll be going in to get that scan.
At any rate I’m no worse off than I was yesterday, except for being out another co-pay, so I’m just trying to stay positive about it all and just keeping my fingers crossed that his new-fangled Epley did the job and I’m fixed.
Because when I get to it two weeks from today I really don’t want my letter ‘M’ to stand for MRI.
Posted for April 2013 A to Z Blog Challenge A is for Another
16 comments:
Just dropping in from the A to Z Blog Challenge.
I just looked up the Epley Maneuver. I hope it works. It looks a little complicated but at least it isn't invasive.
A friend of mine once told me she would sometimes get dizzy for no explicable reason. Her doctor told her she had low potassium--eat a banana.
"But I'm allergic to bananas," she said.
"Drink Gatorade then," said the doctor.
So she did, and the dizzyness went away. Yet when she stopped drinking Gatorade, the dizzyness didn't come back.
Whether or not this will work for you, I don't know. I do hope things work out for the best for you.
There are times when I wonder if doctors aren't making things up as they go.
In any case-
Have a great day, and happy blogging!
Jenn,
I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering with all of this. I know illness, especially one without a definite diagnosis, can be scary. I do not know if this has been suggested to you already, but have you tried sleeping on an inclined pillow?
My mother suffered from frequent dizzy spells for about a year. Finally after seeing several specialists one doctor told her to sleep on an incline. My understanding is that he told her that there were loose crystals in her ear and that sleeping on an inclined pillow would help clear them up. It took her awhile to get used to the new sleeping position, but in the end it did the trick. She said that as long as she slept in an upright position she would not have dizzy spells the next day. If she tried not sleeping on the incline, the vertigo returned. Early in March after about two months without symptoms, she tried sleeping without the incline. She woke up feeling fine and hasn't had a single spell since. I don't know if it will work for you, but if you are like me, you are probably willing to try anything at this point.
Best wishes,
Tracy
http://tlwestwriter.blogspot.com/2013/03/what-you-dont-know-can-hurt-you.html
Hi Sweetie,
As always, let me know if I can do anything to help you out.
Love you, Mum
P.S. Good luck with the blog challenge.
Spent Friday night in the emergency room with my son who was diagnosed with a kidney stone. The doctor told us this little story about his father in law and suggested the solution was to drink vinegar to help pass the stone...really? We filled the prescriptions and are waiting for it to pass. Do they just make this stuff up? Hope the new twist on an old treatment works for you this time.
Take care and thanks for the tip on A-Z. I signed up to participate also.
Hi, Jenn,
Hoping that everything comes back okay on your test.
I understand how frustrating this medical issue is that you have... I had dizzy spells back in my early thirties, I went to numerous doctors, none could give me a good answer... one actually even said to me that she didn't think it was a tumor... huh.. I never thought of that...
Anyhow, luckily for me... the dizziness went away after a few months, so I never did find out what caused it.
I really hope you get some answers Jenn :)
Evening Jenn,
I hope everything turns out good, and they can actually pinpoint what is going on. I dislike doctors and hospitals in general. Without going into too much detail, I am familiar with illness, but of the emotional sort, from an ex of mine.
I'm kind of anti drs/meds whenever possible heh. Be careful and safe in the meantime with all that is going on. I will have to research what you are describing.
Keep strong! *hug*
Jak at The Cryton Chronicles & Dreams in the Shade of Ink
I'm sorry you're still bothered with this, Jenn... and hope you find the something that will take care of it.
Thanks for the support Stelios! I wonder the same thing almost all the time with doctors. They run a pin across the bottom of your foot and have you tell them how many fingers they're holding up then collect oodles of money for something my husband could have done. Oh well, if they get me answers I'm all for it no matter how kooky it seems! See you around the challenge!
Hey T.L. yes thanks for the suggestion. That was something the ENT suggested I do the night he administered the Epley (the 1st one) and I've been trying not to sleep on my stomach since but that's really hard to break. But yes, anything is worth a try. Hope your mom's symptoms remain at bay!
I'll let you know mum thanks so much xoxo
I agree, sometimes I think they make it up just so they can send you home feeling like they accomplished something for your hard earned co-pay. I'll just keep trying anything at this point until something works. I'm still somewhat convinced its hormone related but who knows.
So glad you decided to join in the fun! Off to check out your posts now :-)
Thanks so much J.L.!
Yeah, because THAT'S what you want to hear when you're already in a weird new head space - oh it's likely not a tumor - um, thanks for even putting that word in my consciousness. Ugh! They are flying just as blind as we are I swear. Glad yours went away. Thanks for the encouragement my friend!
Thanks Jak, I'm in the same place as you with a mistrust/dislike of doctors in general. In fact I'm usually a pretty healthy person and hadn't seen a doctor since I was forced to get a physical back in 2000 to work in the IT Dept of a healthcare facility. And I've been feeling a-ok since then until this happened. Weird head wonkiness made driving & life stuff unbearable at times so I figured turning back to docs might give me answers. So far Insurance Companies/Doctors - hundreds, Jenn - 0.
Thanks for the hug!
Thanks Karen, its so frustrating mostly because I'm sick of it being such a big deal in my life. I miss just living & working like a normal person.
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