Kicked in the head.. and other such fun stuff !!

And.. you never looked lovlier.. LOL. If you can't laugh at the situation, you go crazy.. I prefer to laugh. If in time, I get comfortable with the group, you will find I have a very singular sense of humour, and will write amazingly horrible jokes to keep the mood light.

Glad you see humour as a tool to healing. It is.

d..

 

Nice to meet you D., and welcome to the forum. Alot of your symptoms sound like me, not all, but many. In the beginning it was particularly vicious, and I had chronic dizziness for a couple of years before the onset of major vertigo attacks. Mine is brought on by allergies (pollens, dust, dustmites, dairy foods, mold, anything floating about in the air pretty much) and intolerance to fragrances, perfumes, and chemical odors and off-gassing, and once I figured that out about myself and made some major changes at home, things improved dramatically.
I found meds that helped stop vertigo attacks, will leave me dizzy but able to function, and alterred how I get about in the world to avoid as much as possible the atmospheric sewer that is all around us, and healthy supplements and a strict low sodium diet (not more than 1500 mg daily, check labels, the problem is not with the salt shaker at home so much).
I went from being unable to move my head much at all with even the simplest of tasks, to doing fairly well now. It's a daily battle but it did get better. I got use to the tinnitus which is 24/7, and I easily will feel some dizziness, on my "good" days, and nausea (which eating a few pieces of crystallized ginger works great for). But since the onset of this I have has some wonderful experiences and fulfilling accomplishments big and small.

When it first came on, I had no insurance, no money for all the tests they usually put you through. But I was lucky to have drawn on personal experience from 20 years ago when meniere's symptoms came on over a period of time that proved to be a serious dairy allergy manifesting itself. That was an easy fix compared to the latest go-round, but I was going through the same pattern again. My general physician agreed as best he could without the tests, but knew me well for all those years, and treated my mom for meniere's, in the same ear as me. Although she's affected more by movement of her head, not the same things as me.

There's probably as many different opinions as to what is actually going on as there are doctors, just be sure to start with the least invasive treatments and coping tools before letting a doctor experiment with anything like surgery or injections. Work your way up if needed. And with as many as there are here on the forum there have been as many experiences with all kinds of treatments, so ask lots of questions.

I've been here a year and a half and have learned so much besides benefitting so much from all the generous and kind support, even at times when there are no answers. Hang in there, it will change. And if you don't like one doctor then get another.

I wish for you some answers and direction that will lead to relief.
Terry

 

Amen to that!

 

burd is Terry and she's a big help. I forgot to mention her earlier. Sorry, Terry.

 

No need to apologize dear Linda. :-*

 

Well, anyone that takes the time to help someone cope with this little opus I am going throiugh is ok in my books. Soon as I feel up to it, there will be a few laughs and diversions spread.. count on that. But in the interim, my goal is to grab this sucker by the nards, and shake the bejesus out of it until I do the controlling, not vise versa. I don't like the word quit, and won't be uttering it in my treatment. I am off to yet again, seek out the Doc. Back later, and thank you all.

 

For selfish reasons, I'm glad you found our group D ! Sorry you're having to deal with this, but it's great to have someone with such a good sense of humor onboard.

 

Welcome D.

This is a great place for support and info while you wait for your Dx.

Gwen

 

McCubbins, you certainly express yourself clearly and even with all of your awful symptoms! Good for you. Sometimes folks post for a very short while on the forum and they leave. That is okay of course, but something in the way you write and also your personality tell me that you simply must stay a good while. You will find that you know a great dea, that you will help those of us who have been on the forum for many years. From your posts it appears to me that you are in mourning. That is what some of the rage and sadness are about. Indeed, you have lost parts of yourself and you will never regain them. But, you are till you and you are worthy and you are a good person. That is something to believe and to cling to when you feel like hiding under a rock. I have adapted my definition of normal as my physical situation dictates. That way I still feel whole even though sometimes a rock has better hearing than I do and it seems that there are trains and screaming children inside my brain. So, you fit nicely. Welcome to the forum. Please continue to push for answers from medical providers you deserve answers even if you hear "I don't know" once in awhile.
btw, go the The Front Porch and read the Dumbass Club thread. You will have a good chuckle.

Paul

 

Good morning, D--

How are things today? I hope that you got some answers yesterday. Glad to see you've met some of the forum's "most notorious..."

BY THE WAY... just FYI... that horses's COLLAR is part of the "HAIMES!" That's another tidbit I learned while living in lovely HEATH... work horses... ahhhh... I might have to hit the writers' den...

Hope to see you scattered about (that sounds awful, I don't mean it poorly) the forums... I rock on the front porch alot because I am SO LARGELY STILL IN DENIAL!

(and they love me anyway!)

Welcome!

Jenski

 

Hello and welcome aboard. There has been some good advice here already. I would suggest you follow Tracy's recommendation of keeping a journal. My main trigger is stress - and this is a very STRESSFUL disease! Also, keep in mind that EVERYBODY is different. How my illness manifests itself may be totally different from yours. That is why MM is so difficult to dx plus like Linda mentioned you could have a couple of other issues including MAV or BPPV.
I had to fire my idiot ENT and find an inner ear specialist. Sounds like you are not in the U.S? We call them neurotologists here. They can run some tests that are a bit more conclusive about your MM dx.
Glad you are keeping your sense of humor. We all are hanging in here together, it's great to know that there is nothing you have experienced that somebody else hasn't already. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

 

Greetings from over here, too.

You are your best advocate. A positive attitude and being well informed are your best tools.
Read up on the information posted on this site and others. It can help you figure out what questions to ask your MD's.

Good luck to you.
-So Cal Cyclist

 

Welcome! I don't have a lot to add to what these fine people have posted. I will mention that my main triggers are allergies and stress. I've learned that I have to be good to myself -- when I'm tired, I stop what I'm doing and rest. That's the hardest part. Keep us posted on your progress!

Kathy

 

Dancin', round and round

Dancin', round and round

Well, saw Dr. @r$ehle today, and man wanted to TRIPLE my Ativan. Being stoned on that little bit wasn't enough? Don't think so. The Ativan is useless as hooters on a bull, least for me. Made an appointment for Jan. with my Ears Nose and Throat, no thanks to the GP. Going window shopping for a new one tomorrow. I live in Canada, and while Health Care is free, Doctors are hard to come by, and you don't dump yours until you find a suitable replacement. I wanted to take three months off to deal with this, but the sheyser told me not a chance, that, and I quote, if my legs fell off, the most he would ever give me would be two weeks. So, I gotta replace this dufus.

I love the world of Ativan. Lovely little white shot of haze.. WHAT'S THE POINT OF MAKING THINGS WORSE....AEEEEIIIII.. there, I feel much better now.

I am still flopping around like a gdmd ragdoll. I felt it this morning. Moved my head to the wrong position, the entire room jumped on me and started taunting me.. my eyes could not keep up with the carosel of badly decorated walls, and ugly @$$ed furniture dancing before them. I whipped my head up right quick.. mistake #2. Now bad berber comes up and greets me.. "BAM"!!!

A few tweeting birds swimming around my fuzzy head later, I attempt to regain my footing. Thank God for ugly lamps to grab. They look wonderful as they split in half, cos thier owner is too cheap to buy REAL lights, and opt out for the curbside treasure hunt. One 7 dollar halogen bulb down.

So.. after a few Tanya Harding spins, followed by the dance of the landed mackerel on said rug, I manage to get up, and lean my way down those stairs....and straight into my (&&$*)#ing litter box. I am still picking concrete out from between my toes. I am now looking at the coffeemaker, how nice and breakable it is, and decided to give up the ghost.

Then, dressing. Due to my lovely dance ability of late, I felt it important to weave amongst my finery. I stretched a pair of unmentionalbles beyond wearing by snagging one leg into my chair during one spill, broke a belt buckle when I stepped on it, and snapped the peg in it, and could not for the life of me zip up my leisure pullup.

It's found a new home.. right with the lamp, belt, and undies... round file.

So, I am thinking PVC and Chainmeal for new fashion happenings. And swag lamps, away from my reach, perhaps a few ballet bars... can we make them outta baseball bats?

Lead shoes, a helmet, maybe some shin guards... Man oh man, this is gonna be fun. Ok, you can stop the ride now... had enough, gonna hurl there, operator... OPERATOR??? Metinx he has left the building.

Is this my lot in life from hereonin? Do I get a say in when the spin cycle quits? Will I have to spend eternal purgatory in quacks offices, having them antagonize me with useless tests and condescending remarks.

What does not kill us, makes us stronger. I think I am Friikken Hercules by now!!! ;D

Anyways, needed to rant. Hope no one is offended. All in good fun (cept for the parts that.. well, all the parts that involved me.. yes, all of them, unfortunately).

Cheerz.

Dave.

 

Thank you EVERYONE for making me feel so welcome. This has been hard on me, and the support is a blessing. I can never, ever, thank you enough.

 

Well, the saga continues. In my quest for a doctor that will actually take this whole thing seriously, I realized today just how &&&&ed I am. Canada is a great nation, built on tough, cando kinds of people. But it is also the center of everything red tape.

And I am strangling in it.

To boot, since I started on this awful ativan, I am forgetting to put my Apnia mask on, and that is not good. Only making it harder to cope, since I am not sleeping correctly. Good news is today's ballet has 30 percent less spins, so maybe something is taking hold. Could do without the tinnitus ringing in my ears. Pain in the...

So.. I will call this a good day, and get stuff done. Going to get on my hands and knees, and BEG my cardiologist to help me find a real doctor, not one from the Dr. Nick Riviera school of "mediseen". How is everyone feeling today? Hope you are all well.

 

Sense of humor is a med........and you certainly have that !!

 

A GREAT link with all kinds of helpful info
http://rwww.vestibular.org/images/ResourcePDF/canada.pdf
to follow is what I found for you in Canada
Canada Resource List
These are health professionals and others with an expressed interest in vestibular disorders. We hope this list provides a useful resource. However,
VEDA does not rank the people on the list or make endorsements or non-endorsements. If you experience severe dizziness or balance problems, the
place to start is with your family physician or internist. You will probably need a physical examination to determine if your dizziness is caused by a
problem unrelated to the inner ear. If your physician rules out these other causes, you may find this list useful.
____________________
Physicians
London, ON:
Lorne Parnes, MD
Otolaryngology, otology, neurotology
University Campus -LHSC
339 Windermere Road
London, ON N6A 5A5
(519) 663-3604
§
____________________
Physiotherapists Who Provide
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Physicians and audiologists listed in other
sections may also provide vestibular
rehabilitation services at their clinics.
Calgary, AB:
Sheelah Woodhouse, BScPT
Manager of Vestibular Rehabilitation
Spring Hill Sport Physiotherapy
185 Scenic Acres Dr. NW
Calgary, AB T3L 1L4
(403) 288-8877
fax: (403) 288-9636
www.dizzy-calgary.com
§
Calgary, AB:
Sheelah Woodhouse, BScPT
Manager of Vestibular Rehabilitation
Lindsay Park Sport Physiotherapy
2225 Macleod Trail, South
Calgary, AB T2G 5B6
(403) 221-8340
fax: (403) 221-8356
www.dizzy-calgary.com
§
Calgary, AB:
Sheelah Woodhouse, BScPT
Manager of Vestibular Rehabilitation
Manual Therapy Center
1-9250 Macleod Trail South
Calgary, AB T2J 0P5
(403) 974-0174
fax: (403) 974-0177
www.dizzy-calgary.com
§
Charlottetown, PE:
Trish Helm-Neima, PT
Physiotherapy and Rehab Centre
28 Garfield St.
Charlottetown, PE C1A 6A5
(902) 566-2700; (906) 566-3330
§
Dartmouth, NS:
Susan Ehler, BSc, PT, MCPA
Cole Harbour Integrated Health Services
51 Forest Hills Parkway, Box 16
Dartmouth, NS B2W 6C6
(902) 435-3391
fax: (902) 435-4491
§
Edmonton, AB:
Gerry Toller-Lobe, BScPT
Glenrose Rehab Hospital
10230-111 Ave.
Edmonton, AB T5G 0B7
(780) 735-7999, ext. 15657
§
Fredericton, NB:
Elizabeth Richard, BScPT
Fredericton Physiotherapy
Fredericton Medical Clinic
1015 Regent St.
Fredericton, NB E3B 6H5
(506) 458-0201
fax: (506) 458-0328
§
Hamilton, ON:
Kristen McDonald, BScPT
Lifemark Physiotherapy
1440 Main St., E.
Hamilton, ON L8K 6M3
(905) 544-0053
www.lifemark.ca
§
Kingston, ON:
Marguerite Daubney, Hon BSc,
BScPT, MSc (Rehab)
Blaser’s Physiotherapy Clinic
321 Concession St., Ste. 201
Kingston, ON K7K 2B9
(613) 542-3852
www.blasersphysiotherapy.com
§
Lethbridge, AB:
Aingeal O’Mahony-Guyn, BPT
Elements Physical Therapy & Acupuncture
1502B-3 Ave. South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 0K8
(403) 394-2224;
fax: (403) 394-2254
§
VESTIBULAR DISORDERS ASSOCIATION VEDA
PO Box 13305 ▪ Portland, OR 97213 ▪ fax: (503) 229-8064 ▪ (800) 837-8428 ▪ [email protected] ▪ www.vestibular.org
Canada Resource List Vestibular Disorders Association www.vestibular.org (800) 837-8428 Page 2 of 3
London, ON:
Frieda Apostol, BScPT
Physio Care
279 Wharncliffe Road N., #011
London, ON N6H 2C2
(519) 433-1452
§
London, ON:
Karen Findlater, PT
Neurosciences Unit, University Hospital
London Health Sciences Centre
339 Windermere Rd.
London, ON N6A 5A5
(519) 685-8500, ext. 32604
§
Nanaimo, BC:
Michael Viers BScPT, FCAMT
Summit Injury Management
741 Third St.
Nanaimo, BC V9R 7B2
(250) 741-0142
fax: (250) 741-0143
[email protected]
§
Parksville, BC:
Carolyn Shaw, PT
Parksville Physiotherapy Clinic
176 Weld St., PO Box 1559
Parksville, BC V9P 2H4
(250) 248-2644
[email protected]
§
Red Deer, AB:
Barbara Kresowaty, BMR (PT)
Certified Vestibular Therapist
Action Physiotherapy Clinic
#39-6320-50 Ave.
Red Deer, AB T4N 4C6
(403) 340-1404
fax: (403) 347-5565
[email protected]
§
Saskatoon, SK:
Robynne Smith, BScPT, BSc (Anat)
Off Broadway Physiotherapy &
Dizziness Clinic
616 10th St. East
Saskatoon, SK S7H 0G9
(306) 933-2619;
fax: (306) 933-2600
[email protected]
§
Sault Ste. Marie, ON:
Andre Riopel, BScPT, FCAMT
Back in Motion Physiotherapy
589 Second Line East
Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 4K2
(705) 253-2354
[email protected]
§
Surrey, BC:
Rebecca Meeks, BScPT
Hazelwood Physiotherapist Corp.
203-16088 84th Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2P1
(604) 543-5590
fax: (604) 543-5154
Toronto, ON:
Kathleen Shortt, BScPT
LifeMark Physiotherapy On Bay
60 Bloor Street West, Ste. 500
Toronto, ON M4W 3B8
(416) 921-9224
[email protected]
www.lifemark.ca
§
Toronto, ON:
Jennifer Toland, BScPT
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
2075 Bayview Ave. Rm. CG13
Toronto, ON M4N 3M5
(416) 480-4429;
fax: (416) 480-4057
§
Vancouver, BC:
Carolyn Ball, BSc, OT
Columbia Health Centre
181 Keefer Pl., Ste. 230
Vancouver, BC V6B 6C1
(604) 687-5911
[email protected]
§
Vancouver, BC:
Abeed Hirji, BSc(OT), BSc(Kin)
Columbia Health Centre
181 Keefer Pl., Ste. 230
Vancouver, BC V6B 6C1
(604) 687-5911
[email protected]
§
Victoria, BC:
Lorelei Lew, BScPT, MSc, MCPA
McKenzie Physiotherapy, 2nd floor
3941 Shelbourne
Victoria, BC V8P 4J2
(250) 477-1441
fax: (250) 477-1460
§
____________________
Audiologists
Physicians listed in other sections may also
provide audiology services at their clinics.
Montreal, QC:
Sylvie Auger, MOA, Aud(C)
Audiology Centre-West
2100 Marlowe, Ste. 441
Montreal, QC H4A 3L5
(514) 488-5558
fax: (514) 488-2462
[email protected]
www.audiology-center-west.org
§
____________________
Support Groups
Halifax, NS:
Anna Parkinson
Acoustic Neuroma Group
27 Feldspar Crescent
Halifax, NS B3R 2M2
Mississauga, ON:
Helen Regueiro
643 Thamesford Terrace
Mississauga, ON L5R 2B8
(416) 314-7428; (905) 890-8057
[email protected] (Please send e-mails
with “Ménière’s disease” in the subject line.)
St. John’s, NL:
Brian Marshall & Jim Kelly
Ménière’s & Tinnitus Support Group
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association,
Newfoundland and Labrador (CHHA-NL)
136 Crosbie Rd., Ste. 103
St. John’s, NL A1B 3K3
voice/TTY: (709) 753-3224
fax: (709) 753-5640
[email protected]
www.chha-nl.nl.ca
Canada Resource List Vestibular Disorders Association www.vestibular.org (800) 837-8428 Page 3 of 3
Toronto, ON:
Heather DesRoches, RN and Don Lynch
Ménière's Support Group
Toronto Hospital EN7-209
200 Elizabeth St.; 7 Eaton 213
Toronto, ON M5G 2C4
(416) 340-3665
fax: (416) 340-3745
[email protected]
meeting location: 30 Gloucester St.
Vancouver, BC:
Muriel Kauffmann
B.C. Balance & Dizziness Disorders Society
325–5525 West Blvd.
Vancouver, BC V6M 3W6
(604) 878-8383
www.balanceanddizziness.org
[email protected]
Winnipeg, MB:
Joanne Craig
Ménière’s Support Group
c/o Canadian Hard of Hearing Association
Manitoba Chapter
825 Sherbrook St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3A 1M5
(204) 975-3037
____________________
Others
Brockville, ON:
Canadian Hearing Society
54 King St. E.
Brockville, ON K6V 1B1
(613) 498-3933
Edmonton, AB:
Acoustic Neuroma Association of Canada
P.O. Box 369
Edmonton, AB T5J 2J6
voice/TTY: (780) 428-3384
toll-free: (800) 561-2622 (Canada only)
[email protected]
www.anac.ca
Sudbury, ON:
The Canadian Hearing Society
Ménière’s Information & Discussion Group
1233 Rue Paris St.
Sudbury, ON P3E 3B6
voice: (705) 522-1020
fax: (705) 522-1060
TTY: (705) 522-1090
[email protected]
Toronto, ON:
Tinnitus Assoc. of Canada
23 Ellis Park Road
Toronto, ON M6S 2V4
(416) 762-1490
[email protected]
www.kadis.com/ta/tinnitus.htm
Whitby, ON:
Canadian Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Centre
200 Brock St. N., 2nd Floor
Whitby, ON L1N 4H5
(905) 668-4002
www.canadiantinn.com


Good Luck !! (O:}

 

Hercules!!!! I love your sense of humor, and in spite of having been there and done that, you gave me a good laugh. It does get better. Hopefully that list of docs will put you in touch with somebody who can help. Hang in there.

 

Thanks for that list.

One little problem. The nearest place is hundreds of miles away from me. "sob".

But.. I am going to contact them, and see if, by gum, they can hook me up, someplace, ANYPLACE that can help. My GP.. I wouldn't P*$$ on him if he was on fire right now. Condescending Beamer Driving SOB. My wish for him is a day or 1000 with this fun little disorder... maybe change the complexion on how he approaches those in need of help and understanding. I wish him no ill will, just ills.. for a while.

Perhaps then, he can pack up his leeches and blood letting equipment, and make a new practice someplace that counts.. Like, I dunno, ETHIOPIA.. where his Beamer could feed a village for a year or two.

Man, thank God I have humour... or it woulda been Postal City this morning.