I had my first attack in November of 1996. I awoke in the middle of the night and was feeling dizzy. Ithought to myself that I was just tired and weak as I was getting over walking pneumonia. I convinced myself that I just needed to get back to sleep and all would be well.

Wrong! I proceeded to have one of the scariest moments of my life. The room was spinning. I was spinning. I couldn't get my bearings. I couldn't even move. My head felt like it weighed 50 pounds.

My boyfriend carried me to the car and took me to the emergency room which basically was a waste of my time.

Since then I have had several of the severe vertigo attacks with profuse vomiting. The spells would last for a couple hours and then I would sleep all day. Finally, after seeing a neurologist, and an ENT who didn't know his you-know-what from a hole in the ground, I found an ENT in Charlotte, NC, who has been helpful.

I was officially diagnosed in March, 1998, and had endolymphatic sac surgery in April. It helped for a while, but I am now feeling dizzy again -- but it has been much much less severe. I have lost some hearing in my left ear (the affected ear), but I am fortunate to have very good hearing in my right. I am currently taking thiazide daily and meclizine as needed. I am feeling pretty good these days, all things considered, and hope and pray that the worst is behind me!