mrv3000 | (no subject)

It'll be a year this week that I first had my Vistibular Neuronitus attack. I still have it, although it's not like it was in the early days. The problem is that back when it first happened, it resulted in me having a full-on anxiety attack while driving, complete with trip to the ER.

So I've been thinking about it a lot, trying to tell myself that I've come a long way in a year. But apparently this starts me thinking (while driving home) about how I am a bit dizzy today, and am I breathing right? Maybe I'm getting rid of too much carbon dioxide. And what if I have another panic attack like...right now? I mean, I shouldn't and all, but what if I do? Seriously, am I breathing right? ACK, MY FINGER TINGLED. I DON'T THINK I'M BREATHING RIGHT. OMG. *HAS HEART PALPITATIONS* *DOWNS XANAX* *GETS HOME SHAKING AND STRUNG OUT*

So, yeah. I swear I cannot stand my brain these days. I'm fine now - just a little jittery and tired (tired part is the xanax kicking in.) But I hate how this has wrecked my life.

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I can totally sympathize. Can I ask how they diagnosed you?
It took well over a year for me to be diagnosed with vestibular migraines and it ended up being my physical therapist, myself and my general practitioner that round about accidentally did it even after I'd seen 3 different neurologists & an ENT specialist.

I still deal with it every day and sort of hate the way the meds that keep me from being constantly dizzy have sort of wrecked my brain. *hugs*

It wasn't an immediate diagnosis for me either, but it was only a couple of months instead of over a year. (Oy.) I first went through my GP, which is pretty much where all the time was spent. Did blood tests, MRI, had a CAT scan at the ER, and when he exhausted everything he could think of, he sent me to an ear, nose and throat specialist. He figured it out pretty quickly.

Fortunately I'm not in a constant state of dizziness anymore (and when I am, 99% of the time it's manageable), so I don't take any regular medication for it now. Overall I'm much happier to be off that stuff.

*hugs*

Not only was I dizzy nearly all the time, I'd lost my sense of balance. If I closed my eyes or was in the dark, I fell over. I had everyone stumped. I tested normal on everything.
It wasn't until I went back to my GP for a migraine (the kind that hurts) that had lasted for 3 days and he tried me on a new medication that we accidentally figured it out. Within 3 days I wasn't dizzy anymore and I'd stopped falling over.
I talked to my PT first and then called him. Bingo!
Turns out in rare cases of vestibular migraines you can lose your sense of balance as well as become dizzy (especially, if it's gone on for a long time untreated!). There is also no specific test for vestibular migraine. You have to basically rule out everything else first and then try treating for it.

The odd thing is I tell people I'm getting a migraine and they think I mean headache. I get the aura and I get visual migraines - hallucinating is one of my symptoms (that's great fun sometimes) - but I don't actually get the pain part. I just get fall down dizzy.

For the moment I'm on meds all the time to prevent them and they are working but they do affect my thinking and it is very annoying. It is better than being dizzy all the time though. ;)

Fortunately I don't get migranes. That sounds wretched. :(

But I did have the balance thing. I had to do these balance exercises and at the beginning I couldn't stand with my feet together without falling over. Even with my eyes open. :D

Awww :(

I wish I could make you better.

Here, have a D/R comfort!hug:

Awww, thanks. :)

*PETS*

Also:

I assume that along with all the "WHAT? HOW? WHY? WTF?" going on in Rose's head, there was a little part of her thinking, "Dude, we are going to have to grow his hair out again. This is not chill." Only... in a more British way of course.

BWAH! Obviously what she was thinking there. :D

:-\

Golly, a year already?

I really hope that you continue to improve *stamps on worries*

Thanks. :)

*CUDDLES YOU* I wish I had something good to say. It sucks when your body is working against you.

*nods* Thanks.

*HUG*
Brains can be really annoying sometimes. :-\

Thanks.

Happy anniversary?

*throws confetti*

I would totally be willing to eat cake in your honor

Isn't anxiety FAB??? We have a history of it in my family, with my grandfather so wrecked by it that he more or less became a recluse (he'd only leave his apartment to go to his doctor and psychiatrist). And my brother and I both have it as well, though our attacks don't sound anywhere as bad as yours. *snuggle*

I know it's hard, especially when you're right in the middle of an attack, but I try to laugh at my brain when it gets all overactive and freaked out. Sometimes that's all you can do. :\

But you HAVE come far in the past year, even if it doesn't always feel like it. *liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick*

*hugs*

I might have to try that laughing at myself next time. Right now I spend my time kicking myself.

No! No kicking! That makes wienerdogs cry.

*hugs*

Wow - a whole year. :( If nothing else, you've learned to deal with a really difficult situation and not let it break you.

Sending you many cyber hugs.