Dizzy Tara Strikes Again.

Hi all.


I know I said that I wanted to save this blog for the light-hearted side of things, but, truth be told, I occasionally have things come up that I need to get out. Today is one such occasion. 


In March of 2010, I was diagnosed with Meniere's disease. Most of you know this, but for those who don't, I'll just give you the basics. Meniere's disease is an inner ear disorder characterized by fullness in the ear, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), vertigo, and eventually, hearing loss.


While I was just diagnosed last year, I've actually had symptoms dating back to about 1995, it's just that the attacks were so far apart that I didn't even think to connect them. I've actually had the ringing in my ears and some low frequency hearing loss in my left ear for longer than I remember.  Things came to a head in  2009 when I went through an extremely stressful period in my life, and that led to my eventual diagnosis.


The thing about Meniere's is that it's so damned unpredictable that it will run your life if you let it. I try to live as normally as possible in between attacks, and for the most part, I think I've succeeded. It's difficult though. It's really tiring.  If you're lucky enough to get a remission, make the most of it, because you never know when you'll get another.


I've just come off a lovely 7 month remission. I had almost no vertigo, save for one or two attacks, but those were milder, and relatively brief. Then, right before Christmas, I caught a virus, and so ended my remission. I've been having a couple of attacks a week, but most of them I've managed to fight back with meds.  Still, I keep going.


Yesterday, I had things to do, and right before I decided to  go out, BOOM! I started feeling it. So I took my meds and hoped for the best. It didn't stop the attack, but it pushed it off for a little while, until a few hours later, when it caught up with me and I became friends with the toilet and took a nap. I woke up a few hours later, feeling a little better, but not really able to stand. The laptop and I stayed in bed. 


Today was better, until I went to the mall and got hit by my buddy vertigo while riding an escalator. I don't recommend that, by the way, it's scary as hell. I made it home, the vertigo was strong, but brief, and came in a few waves. Now I'm mostly just feeling tired, and wondering if an attack is going  to come. 


I don't tell you this so you can feel sorry for me. I don't want that at all. I think it's just important to remember that we all have our burdens, even when they can't be seen. Just because I look healthy, doesn't always mean that I am. You know... something about judging a book by it's cover, and all that.  


Hopefully this wasn't all a ramble, I don't always make sense when I'm not feeling my best.  It's hard to think when your ears and brain are arguing! If you need any clarification, let me know, I'm always here! 


Tara