August has really been an eye opener for me and my health. I have been diagnosed with Meniere's Disease which is a disease of the inner ear. I could go into detail about the diagnoses, but anyone can look it up if they are interested on md.net. I started thinking I was coming down with the flu. I was feeling "down" with an upset stomach and diareah. However, the worst was the vertigo...dizziness. I was unable to walk a straight line...I had to hang on to the counter or wall going from the bedroom to the recliner. I dared not move my head for frear of the world twirling in on me. I even had the dry heaves as I dared not eat. Well, it wasn't getting any better after a couple of days, so I made an appointment with the Dr. A week later, I was in his office, still dizzy and hanging onto my husband for support (who has Myotonic Dytrophy which makes him unsteady on his feet...it was like the blind leading the blind....now we can laugh at it but at the time it was not funny.} It has been a long haul. After having an MRI on my lower abdomen, the diareah was from a bout of diverticulitis which I was promptly given antibiotics. The Dr. gave me a few simple tests and diagnosed me with possible benign positional vertigo. I was given Mecklazine for the dizziness but all it did was make it worse and make me sleep constantly....After a week of meds, nothing had changed for me, so I called the Dr. back and he took me right in. I was immediately given an MRI of my brain and results were negative for stroke causing signs or tumors..that was good news. The Dr referred me to an ENT. She took me in and gave me a hearing test and had me do some other tests to rule out benign positional vertigo. She diagnosed me with possible Meniere's Disease and put me on steroids and diuretics. One day of the meds and I already feel better. I am not writing this to tell you of my woes, but I am writing to help create a dialog with others in learning to cope and live with this incurable disease. The symptoms can be managed, but they are debilitating when they hit.
