very restrained optimism

[kitanzi]

Actually my first reponse was fairly unrestrained glee, but I'm trying to keep in mind that this is tentative. I just talked to one of my doctors (a nurse practitioner, technically) because I had called and left him a voicemail yesterday about my ongoing dizziness, sometimes pretty damn severe.

He agrees that the cold I got last weekend is probably making things worse, but he also believes, based on what I've told him, that there's a good chance that this is due to calcium deposits like tiny pebbles in my inner ear. He says there's an over the counter antivertigo medicine I should try (Bonine), and he has some exercises to fax me.

This isn't something I've ever heard of before, but in some ways it seems to fit pretty well. I haven't had any significant fever (maybe a touch from the cold), no other symptoms other being very tired (again, probably the cold plus some stress, and by now half the stress is worrying over this medical mystery - work is actually going quite well.) I do tend to move my head around a lot even when I'm sitting still, a habit I developed a long time ago to help compensate for slightly wonky hearing - it's easier if I look at who I'm listening to. Time will tell... I'm curious just what these exercises will be. I'm also relieved all out of proportion at the idea that someone has some idea what the hell is wrong with me - I know it's not a sure cure, but the scariest part of this to me has been the idea that's something wrong, and it's very vague, and no one seems to be able to tell me what's going on. For right now, at least, I can be optimistic.

Comments

[queenmabwords.livejournal.com]

I had the same thing. A couple of times. I did the exercises on the last bout, and they seemed to help.

I just spent a little time trying to find the exercises on the internet, but I've run out of time to do so, you may want to go looking.

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Thank you for looking - I'll poke around for them, but since he's supposedly faxing them, I'm working first on swapping lunches and getting to CVS to get the bonine, see if I can get some use from that and stop scaring my coworkers by walking around leaning on everything. *G*

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

And thank you, seriously - it's good to hear from someone who can say "I had that!"

It tends to come back, though?

[queenmabwords.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been on the receiving end of "Never heard of it!" when I was pregnant! I'm still cranky that they didn't tell me to go to another doctor, and that they couldn't deal with it.

I had it about 5 years ago, very badly. Every once in a while, I get it to a lesser degree. This past time was the first with the exercises, and I seemed to get over it quicker.

Don't go by me, you may not ever have it again!

[maedbh7.livejournal.com]

Excellent news indeed :)

And I do understand being itchy about the medically vague. "We don't know what's wrong with you, but we're going to induce labor and see if that helps" is never something one wants to hear from the medical profession.

*hugs* -H...

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Eeek, I should think that would be an especially unsettling example! *hug*

I'm doing virtual dancing, since I'm not gonna go reeling around (heh, so to speak) just yet. :)

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

When D. was pregnant with Connor, she spent 3 months on bedrest due to premature labour complications, then when it finally came time to deliver, her water wouldn't break. So the OB goes in with the special little sac-breaking tool. *poke*poke*poke*. OB then turns to her assistant and asks,

"Hrm. What else could we try to break the sac with?"

D. found this exchange less than comforting. :)

[bedlamhouse]

I had mentioned to autographedcat a few days ago when he was worrying that it could very well be an inner ear issue. I haven't heard of calcium deposits myself, but they make sense considering they should be able to appear in any area of the body where fluids gather.

"Where the body fluids gather
And the ion exchange is done
Be alert for the calcium pebbles
That can make your life no fun."

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

One of the first things they checked for was infection or irritation in the ear - any sign of a problem there. They didn't find it, but maybe this just doesn't show up that way.

[bedlamhouse]

I seem to remember that there are a number of inner-ear issues that don't show up as infection or irritation, but I Am Not A Doctor And Don't Even Play One On Television (But I Do Play A Cleric In A Role-Playing Game) (And I Have Stayed At A Holiday Inn Express)

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Can I get your cleric to do a healing spell for me? Maybe with beer for a physical component? *G*

(Hey, can't hurt!)

[bardling.livejournal.com]

Ok, that sounds like it makes sense. Hope it helps! *bhigghug*

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Well, I went and got the Bonine, looks like it's an hour or so to kick in. We'll see..... but I'm really hopeful.

[braider.livejournal.com]

Well? Has it kicked in?

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

I think so... slight dizziness, but definitely better than earlier. A better test will be taking it tomorrow morning before running around and going to work, but I really think it is helping. Praise Medicine, hmm?

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad they think they know what's wrong and it's not severe!

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Me too, me too! I still have the neuro exam wednesday, since it's already scheduled, but I admit I like this answer a LOT better.

[filceolaire.livejournal.com]

Get well soon - that doesn't sound any fun at all.

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Thank you - it's certainly been an example of the "Chinese curse" sort of interesting!

[catalana.livejournal.com]

Yay! *hug* I'm so glad that they have something to try. I know how unsettling it is to have a problem and not have any idea what it is. (I spent a decade like that with my back. They still don't know what it was that was wrong, but now I have something new wrong (in addition to the old, unknown problem) that they can identify, so I'm actually pretty happy. Which sounds weird, but oh well.)

Anyway, good luck with the medication - keep us posted!

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Absolutely - I kept telling myself that even if the neurology check came up with something, at least that WAS something, and it would be a step forward. (I don't think I really believed me, though.)

[gingicat]

As everyone else said, I'm glad they came up with a sensible hypothesis. Hope the cures work!

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Thanks, me too! :)

[rms-butterfly.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear the news! Good luck w/the neuro exam. *hugs*

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I can look at it more as an interesting adventure instead of a dreaded ordeal, now that I feel I have a plausible non-neuro explanation. :)

[mrpsyklops.livejournal.com]

GOOD news! Glad there is a explanatory light at the end of the tunnel.

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Oooooh yeah! :) Thanks!