Tag: Meniere’s Disease

A New Day…A New Outlook

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness10 Comments
A Butterfly for Stuart - by W. Holcombe (all rights reserved)

My dear, dear friends, thank you so much for the very kind words that you said about me after my last post.

I kept reading these comments, thinking…”Yeah, I like that about me too!:  Some I hadn’t thought of, but realized after reading them, that yes, that is a part of me.  It made me realize, I can write the list as 20 things I like about Me.  I just needed a little push to remember some of those things.  Thank you!  And I guess, after this past two years, I needed to hear that there were still some things about me that others think are likable.  Thank You Again!

I sat down and had a talk with myself.  It went something like this….”OK Wendy, you’ve been telling people you will just change your expectations of life, since things aren’t what you expected.  Now, You didn’t mean you’d expect things to be bad…no Mam!  You simply think things are different, and you can work with that.  You are strong, and you can find the light that will lead you out of this tunnel!  So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get moving again!  Remember, success is getting up once more often than you fall down.”   (yes, when I talk to myself I have a VERY Southern accent, it comes out any time I get angy.  I am originally from Charleston, SC after all.)

So I made a plan.  I have been so sick for so long, I haven’t been taking the best care of myself.  Partially because I couldn’t for a while, but some days because, I just didn’t have the drive.  I thought, what’s the use, I can’t do anything.  Why get dressed?  Why shower?  Why do much of anything?  Even on the days when I could (Physically)….sometimes I just couldn’t (Emotionally).  After my little talk with myself, I decided, it doesn’t matter if I have nowhere to go, if I can get out of bed Physically, I will take care of myself more.  I will get dressed every day, even if I don’t step foot outside.  If at all possible, I will at least go downstairs to work on the computer and do my artwork.  I will try…very, very hard to get out of the house more often, even if it’s just to walk to the mailbox and back.  And last, but certainly not least, I will try my best to be around people more often.

Pretty big change from my last post huh?  Sometimes I think I need to hit that dark place, to make me realize I need to pull myself out of it.  This was a slow decent to a place I was scared of, and I didn’t like myself one little bit.  A friend of mine once told me that he admired how I could pull myself out of times like these.   It isn’t easy.  (plus I’ve been through a LOT of therapy!)  I have bipolar disorder, I can tell when depression is enveloping me, just as I can tell when I’m starting to fly in with the mania.  My psychiatrist once told me that I was more in tuned with myself than any patient he had, I’m grateful for that.  If I feel I’m swinging one way or the other, first I tell myself…this will pass!  I will NOT feel like this forever.  Then I try some exercises my therapist has helped me with, or I meditate, or I read something I find helps…I try to help myself before things get too one-sided.  If I can’t then I get on the phone and call my psych!  That’s what he’s there for.   Luckily, I didn’t have to do that this time.  My pep talk to myself, the affirmations I got from my friends here, and reading some Buddhist teachings, helped to pull me out of it.  (and I have an appointment with my psychiatrist next week, so I knew if that didn’t work, he would be there for me.)

One day, I’ll write more about being bipolar.  I’m lucky I am stable, have been for years now.  When I feel one emotion going too extreme, I know what to do.  I recognize it and can get help before I get to the breaking point.  However, I had a lot of struggles to get here, and there are many people out there who aren’t as lucky as I am.  I think the one factor that made the biggest difference in my life with this disease, is finding the right psychiatrist and therapist.  I’ve seen a few, but they weren’t a good fit with me.  It’s very hard to understand that when you are ill, but I finally realized if I’m not comfortable with the person treating me, I shouldn’t stay with them.  Now I don’t mean, my therapist said something I didn’t want to hear, so I left.  I mean, our personalities didn’t mesh, I didn’t feel I could trust one of them….have you ever been with someone and they gave you this funny tummy feeling?  Like something just isn’t right?  That’s what I mean, that tells me that things aren’t going to work.  Finally I got a good match, and that made all the difference.

 

So…I took my own advise today, and got up, took care of my personal needs, got dressed, put on make-up!, and then I rested!  Whew, that was a work out!

Hubby needed to run some errands, so I decided to get out of the house.  Today I had the least amount of disequilibrium I’ve had in a very long time!  Mainly only when I bent over, or turned my head too fast.  Luckily, I didn’t do that very often.

We went and dropped off some donations, and I bought a pair of shoes, and a purse at Goodwill for $5.00!!  I love Thrift Stores!!  We went to Michael’s to exchange a picture frame for the right size.  Had lunch out.  That’s always a challenge with my hearing, and food issues.  So we went to a place that has one thing I know I can eat safely, I let Stuart order for me so I didn’t have to try to hear the person taking my order, and we sat where no one would be behind me, and a little away from as many people as we could.  It made things much easier.  I found if there is a lot of noise in a place I get dizzier.  On top of the anxiety I’m feeling because I can’t hear, it really makes it hard…but I did it!  We also dropped by the grocery store for a few things.   A busy day.  However, we took our time.  I took rest breaks, and I don’t feel I over did it!  We’ll find out tomorrow.

Once more I want to thank you all for being so kind, and helping me out by telling me things you like about me.  Please know you are very special people.  Look at how you reached out to help me!  How you support me and others.  Please know, that you are loved.

My this New Year bring all of us greater health, happiness, prosperity, and love!  (and anything I may have left out that you are wishing for!)

Cheers!!

Dark Days…I’m having a rough time…and a request.

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness17 Comments
Darkness and Disequilibrium Envelope Me

I’ve started a number of posts lately and haven’t finished any.

I’m having a rough time lately.  I feel the darkness creeping over me, sucking the hope out of me.  I’ve had this happen before, and I always pull myself out of it, but it’s hard.  Right now, I just wish I wasn’t.  (Don’t worry I’m not suicidal.)  Sometimes, I just wish, I didn’t exist.

We watched It’s a Wonderful Life on Christmas, one of the only true traditions we have.  We usually watch it on Christmas Eve, but we had a friend come over on Christmas day and we like to watch it together.

This movie usually gives me hope.  It makes me believe that I could have made a difference and not known it.  Just maybe I’m important in some way, that some things would be worse if I hadn’t been born. This year part of this movie hit hard.  One of the last parts of this movie made me so very sad.  Clarence, the angel, leaves a book for George Bailey and in it he writes, “Dear George, remember no man is a failure who has friends…..”  George was surrounded by people who loved him, who he had helped in so many ways that they were all willing to help him, without even knowing what caused his troubles.  (if you haven’t seen the film, George finds himself in a huge mess and considers suicide.  Clarence, shows him what life would have been like if he hadn’t existed.  It was a pretty grim picture.  After he sees this, he wants to live, then he finds out that his friends all want to help him.)

I have been feeling I have a lack of true friends lately.  Friends I can really call on.  I know I have a few.  However, not that many. Does that make me a failure?

I’ve had a couple of friends this year tell me I haven’t been a good friend.  That I’ve ignored them and haven’t worked on our friendship.  That was very hard to hear.  Especially from one of them.  I felt I’d been there for her over and over, we had been friends for years and years.  (though not always in touch)  All of a sudden, she felt she was giving all the energy in the relationship and I wasn’t giving anything.  I think my illness, and my depression about it sometimes scared her.  But I don’t think that was all.  We are back in touch, but it’s not the same.  The incident has never been mentioned.  The other, I could understand how she could see things that way.  But it was never intentional.  And now, I feel odd about our friendship, and don’t know if it will survive.

I’m lonely, but I have a hard time being around some people.  Losing my hearing is hard.  Often, I’d rather be lonely alone, than in a room with people whom I feel isolated from because I can’t hear them.  I do well one on one, but in groups…it’s so hard.  I’m also having a rough time with envy.  I want to be happy for my friends, and experience joy that they can do so many of the things I can’t.  Sometimes I can do this, other times it just eats me up.

There are so many things that I’ve been having a hard time with.

I was reading back over my blog from this year, and my journal from last year, and found I’ve been on a sickness merry-go-round that goes something like this….hell – much better – hell – much better….over and over.  I’ve been given hope and felt better and then had the rug pulled out from under me so many times I’m dizzy just thinking about it.  (pun not really intended, perhaps I should say, dizzier?)

I keep thinking, even if this surgery ends up working, when will it stop.  Will I have 2 months…4…12???  (Dr. Kaylie said to give it 3 months before we really judge it.  This really takes a long time to heal.)  When I had this on the other ear, I had 4 months vertigo free, then I had a spell of 11 days with a Meniere’s attack.  Hearing down, tinnitus up, and vertigo on and off…for 11 Days!  But caused by the other ear.  Then I started in the Cerebrospinal fluid study, and things have been up and down since then.  For over a year.

In the past 2 years I’ve had 9 decent months.  Not a bad number, but they weren’t great of course, I’m just talking 9 months where the Meniere’s was better.  5 months where the headaches were better.  And very, very few where my GI system was better.  I even had a few where the pelvic and hip pain were better, but not many.

Speaking of GI issues.  I’m still having diarrhea very often, and have gained so much weight.  I’m not keeping much food in me, almost every time I eat I’m running to the bathroom.  Yet, I’ve gone from 147 lbs in the beginning of 2010, to almost 200 lbs. now.  (and most of that I gained in 2 months time, in the fall of 2010)  I hate to look at myself, and the idea of people seeing me like this, or having my picture taken terrifies me.  I grew up in a house where my father would often tell me I needed to lose weight, and would talk about others who were, what he considered, over weight.    I knew even if he didn’t say it to my face, he would be calling me fat behind my back.  (this caused a teen eating disorder)  I haven’t seen him in long time, and won’t now.  The idea of it, just hurts, I could not bear the thought of being told I’m fat, or knowing he would be telling others how fat I am.  (BTW, this is not a man who has been in shape for as long as I can remember.)

So to sum that up, I do not have the Fructose Malabsorption under control.  Elimination Diet started today!

We watched Despicable Me on Christmas Eve.  One of our favorite movies.  I think this was the 4th time we’ve seen it, and still laugh so hard.  But it also makes me cry.  This time more than usual.  When he falls in love with those girls, and they become a family, it’s so touching.  All I could think about was the fact that earlier this year we were making plans to become foster parents.  Now we’ve given that dream up.

I’m still stuck in bed most of the time.  When I get up I get the worst headaches!  Also, I feel like I’m on a very rocky boat most of the time.  It’s horrible.  I’ve felt unsteady for a long time, but now, I walk a bit like I’m drunk.  I have to walk very slowly.  To top it off, I feel sea sick.  Strangest thing about that – the only time I’m not feeling nauseous is when I’m eating.  (is that weird or what?)

This is also a difficult time for me because my mother’s birthday was New Year’s day.  It was such a special time when she was alive.  No matter where I was, at some night club, or party, or what ever….as soon after midnight as I could I would call my mom and wish her a happy birthday!  I remember one year I was at a bon-fire, and I had to drive about 10 miles to find a phone so I could call her.  Now, most years, when midnight strikes, I’m just home.  Stuart often doesn’t even make it to mid-night.  He doesn’t like to be on the road on New Year’s Eve because of all the drunks.  I understand, but it’s hard on me.  He promised last year, this year we would do something special.  We were going to check into a hotel, party in their and we wouldn’t have to drive anywhere that night.  Perfect.  But, as you can probably guess, we can’t do that.  Plus, I’d probably be miserable because of my hearing troubles.  So what to do?

I don’t like it when I get like this.  (I logically know part of it is PMS, and I will pull myself out of it, but it’s a rough time.)

I’m certain I can deal with whatever the future has in store for me, but right now, I hope it doesn’t throw me another curve ball too soon.   I need to catch my breath, and renew my outlook.

Now for the request.

As I’ve mentioned on here, I started a goal list for the Day Zero Project.  You list 101 things to do in 1001 days.  I have one thing on my list that should be easy, but it hasn’t been, and I was hoping you guys could help.

#26 on my list is to Make a list of 20 things that I like about myself and stick it to my mirror.  (to be read every day)

I’d like to change that to Make a list of 20 things others like about me and stick it to my mirror.

Can you help?  Can you tell me something you like about me?  Not only will it help me check something off my list, I think it would help me during this dark time to hear some good things about me.

thank you all.

What I miss the most…Caution this post is probably WAY to much information!

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness27 Comments
My Moto.

I like to think I have a good grasp on things as they are.  I appreciate the little things, and change my expectations of life as things change.  I try hard not to wallow, or whine, or really miss things I can no longer do.  (most things I simply do a different way, or I find something else)  Point being I try very hard NOT to dwell on the past.  Not to say I don’t have my pity parties, but they don’t usually last long, and I can usually pick myself up pretty quickly.

There is one thing that I miss so very much, and no matter how creative I get, or how much my husband tries, it’sjust not the same.

photo courtesy of dreamstime.com free images.

I miss SEX!  That wild, abandon…a night of Passion, sweat, hormones, and sweet, sweet afterglow.    The night before last I had a dream…oh what a dream!  And when I woke up, I was so sad, and heartbroken that this may never happen again, except in those fleeting dreams.  (there is always hope though)

Caution, this is the part where I’ll probably tell way too much information.

There is a series of complications behind our lack…or rather, creative, sex life.

For a while there, I couldn’t have sex without having vertigo.  The Meniere’s was just taking over every aspect of my life.  But it’s not this illness that causes most of the trouble.

I have chronic pelvic pain, and hip pain.  And so far the doctors I’ve seen don’t really know why, or how to fix it.  They can’t figure out if the pelvic issues caused the hip (and tailbone) pain, or visa versa.

Caution again: Explicit description of my pelvic pain issues coming.

All of the major causes of pelvic pain have been ruled out…. vulvodynia, endometriosis, fibroids….ect.

I have muscular issues.  Vague I know.  Within a woman without this problem when she gets excited the muscles in her vagina contract a bit, it’s pleasant, it starts all the juices flowing and you are getting ready…they continue to spasm a bit…in a nice way, until it builds to an orgasm, the muscles spasm, and it feels oh so good.  This is what naturally happens to most women.

For me, when I start to get excited, the muscles spasm way too much, and it’s painful.  At first just a bit of stinging and uncomofortableness, but even a very passionate kiss, the kind you can suddenly feel in your loins. (I hope you know the kind.) Could cause me to have horrible spasms.  Foreplay, oral sex…oh the pain.   During actual intercourse, the muscles are stretched, and it hurts less…actually it’s much more enjoyable than any the rest.  Most of the time, when I have an orgasm it is intensely painful.  I’m talking, want to throw my husband off of me, scream in pain and curl up in the fetal position.  Needless to say, I got to the point where I was simply too afraid of this pain, and the emotional turmoil afterward to have any desire to try to have sex.

If this wasn’t enough, now I also have hip pain, so the part that I could enjoy is extremely painful, just in a different area.  When having sex, in the missionary position, the pressure from the man on my hip is excruciating.  Yes, we’ve gotten creative, I can keep one leg straight sometimes, or we he can enter from behind.  (but you know, that position, every single time simply gets old.)

For the vaginal issues, I’ve been to a number of specialist.  I’ve had biofeedback (yes they insert a probe inside and read the muscle contractions and you try to learn to release them, I even had one to take home an practice with.  But when the extreme spasms only happen when I’m excited, this didn’t work very well.).  I’ve had numbing shots in my vagina…that was horrific!  I’ve had special internal physical therapy.  Muscle relaxers…numbing creams…ect…ect…

Some of these worked, to a point, but only for a while, for some reason they would stop working.  None of them took all the pain away.

For the hip issues, I’ve had 2 Arthroscopic surgeries, correcting a torn labrum.  It didn’t help.  I was seeing one of the top hip specialist in the country, and after the second surgery, and I was still in pain, he did an MRI to make sure nothing was left inside me during surgery…yes this made me feel very confident in my surgeon.  Then he called me and told me that he didn’t see anything and he saw no reason for me to come back.  “Yes, he CALLED to tell me this!”  I was so stunned.  He gave me no hope at all, I’d have to live with it.

I asked around to people who had orthopedic troubles to see what doctor they could recommend.  A friend had a very torn up ankle, she is an athlete, and saw a Dr. Jones who made her better than before!  (her words)  So I called his office.  He wanted to see my records and scans, before I came in to see him.  He called and told me that hips weren’t his specialty, and after viewing my information he felt another doctor would be able to help me more.  A different Dr. Jones.  I admired this doctor I’d never met more than I ever did my first surgeon.  He looked over my records and films and knew to recommend me to someone with more expertise in this area, and he never charged me a cent.

My new Dr. Jones, sent me to aqua-therapy, and medical massage.  I did wonderfully, I started to feel so much better  (it didn’t help the pelvic pain, but my hip felt much better)….then I had to move to the gym and harder exercises, all the pain came back in a flood.  Dr. Jones was at a loss.  All my films showed a little of this and a little of that, but nothing that he could just go in and fix and make it better.  I have a little bit of hip displaysia…my IT band is too tight, my Psoas is too tight….but he said I can’t stay in PT and massage for ever.  (I thought…why not if it keeps me off out of surgery…but alas insurance wouldn’t pay for it.)  By this time, the Meniere’s was demanding all my attention.  Dr. Jones thought he could go in and really look to see what was going on, and possibly “release” some of the tension from my IT band and Psoas.  But we decided to put this off until I could get the Meniere’s under control.  He did prescribe me a ‘drug’ called Limbrel, for the inflammation, I put the word drug in quotes because it’s actually a pharmaceutical food supplement, not a drug per se.  I can’t take anti-inflamatories because of stomach issues, and I’m very allergic to Celebrex!  It has helped, he also has me on pain killers for the exceptionally rough days.  Bad News….my other hip has started giving me the same issues.  I haven’t had this looked at yet.

I decided to start seeing a massage therapist on a regular basis and she has really helped my hip.  I can walk without a cane!  And the day to day pain is much better.  But it still hurts to have sex.

When I was younger, I was … how shall I say this …frankly…very sexually active.   Much more than I actually should have been, but untreated bipolar can lead to not the best decisions, and I was dealing with a lot of other issues surrounding sex.  But we won’t get in to all that.

Let’s just say, with the right partner, sex was very passionate, experimental, and one of the most pleasurable things I’ve ever experienced.

When I first started seeing Stuart we had a very active sex life….Whew, when I think of that, my mind spins.  (in a good way!)  The pelvic pain had started, but it was mild and I could deal with it.  It didn’t really bother me, it was actually kind of pleasurable.  Not to say, I love pain, but it was mainly just noticing extra muscle spasms.  Then it got worse, and worse, and I started avoiding sex.  I was afraid.  It was very traumatic, I actually told Stuart to go find it somewhere else.  I’d still be here, and still love him, but it wasn’t fair that he was being forced to be celibate because of me.   He didn’t like that idea at all, and needless to say, we worked through it.  He admits he never thought he’d feel this way about someone, but sex is not that important.  It’d be nice if it could be the way it was, but it’s secondary.

I agree, but …. Dang it all I want it like it was, I miss it, and I need it!!  I remember in the dream the other night, I whispered in his ear, “Sometimes I want you so bad it hurts.”  It’s that ironic or what?

During the special PT, we found that stretching the muscles helps.  But I could not get into it, when we had to stretch those muscles right before we could have sex.  Talk about no spontaneity.  And I felt like it was too medical.   We tried to make it more, fun, but I felt inadequate that we had to go through this, and hope it worked.

Then we found a vibrator could really help.  Not only could we stretch with it, and it was pleasurable to me, the vibrations calmed the muscles down and I could have an orgasm with minimal and sometimes no pain.  But that’s not sex.  (If anyone out there has pelvic pain and thinks this may help, please email me and I’ll tell you one of the best tools you can buy…it has saved me.)  Sometimes, we can play with it for a while, then have intercourse…but the hip pain is still there.  (Damn, can’t I get a break?)

Playing with just the vibrator and having mutual masterbation was fun at first, but I really, really miss just wild sex.  Getting all hot and heavy, and throwing one another down and getting to it!  (even if I didn’t have this problem, I think I’d have to get in better shape before I could have sex like I really want…but it’d be so much fun trying.)

In my dream, we had just met, and were so sexually attracted, we played “the game”, you know that flirting that you know is going to lead to more…and it was HOT.  Then I woke up in pain.  Yes, it even hurts to have a sexy dream.

I know my husband loves me, and still finds me very sexually attractive.  He makes me feel desirable.  But it’s so hard.  I want the build-up…the game…romance.  But that hurts.  Often, when Stuart does little things to show he still thinks I’m hot, like giving me one of those kisses, or “accidentally” brushing my breast, or grabbing my butt in the grocery store…it hurts me. Literally, hurts me.  It causes physical pain, and breaks my heart.  (but mentally, I need this from him, so it’s worth it, I need to know he doesn’t see me as just a patient, that he sees me as a sex pot, like he used to.)

So even when we want to fool around with the help from the vibrator, it has to be sudden.  Jump right to it.  No build up…or PAIN.

I hope when the Meniere’s stops controlling my life…notice I say when and not if!  I do believe it will get more manageable.  Any way, when Mr. Meniere’s lets go of his grip on me, I plan to go to the UNC Pelvic Pain Center.  They are supposed to be able to perform miracles.  Not that I expect any, but I’m very willing to give it a try.

All I know is…I want SEX!!  Really, good wild monkey love kind of sex!!

image from cafepress.com

Endolymphathic Sac Surgery Update…day 17

On By WendyIn Meniere's Disease9 Comments

Today, we washed my hair!  Wow, a bit of an ordeal, but it was worth it!  I’m glad I have dry hair, but even my hair was beginning to get a bit gross after 17 days of not being washed!   (I can hear the collective…”Ewwww” from all of you right now!)  I did use a bit of the dry shampoo, but it didn’t work that great, it’s hard to use on long hair.

I wish I would have had one of these…in my size.

Now this would have kept the water away from my ear!! image from lulusoso.com

 

Recovery from the Endolymphatic surgery is still progressing, things are starting to itch!  So it must be healing, right?  and the little bit of hair they shaved is all prickly, it feels funny…and itches too.
I see my doc on Tuesday, so I’ll have a better update then.
Strangest thing, recently…past few days, I’ve been able to hear more.  I had a headache and decided to sleep early the other day, I kept hearing this sound..thought it was tinnitus, but it was so strange, so I put in my hearing aid to see, and found out I was hearing the TV, very low, but still I could hear it!  So I took my hearing aid out and got hubby to talked to me, I heard it!  Yes, very muffled, but I heard it with my left ear, the one they just operated on, the one with 0% word recognition the end of November.  Again, today, I took my hearing aid out of my right ear and could hear people talking, could understand…they were very close to me and have a good frequency for me…but I heard it!  I’m flabbergasted.  I know it could just be fluctuating again, but it’s strange.
The surgery on this ear has been so different from the surgery on the right ear.  With the Rt. ear…no vertigo, a lot of pain, ear would drain a fluid (not bloody) but a lot of fluid,  hearing dropped and never came back but stabilized so hearing aid helps a lot.  Left ear… much vertigo, not a lot of pain, ear is draining blood (not large amounts most of the time, but blood not that clear fluid), and hearing seems to be improving.

I’ve realized that when we go in for surgery and ask the doctor what to expect, he can’t know for sure.  Every person is different, and every surgery is different.  I had the same surgery by the same surgeon on both ears, and the recovery was as different as could be!  

I do hope they both have a high results rate!  I really want to stop spinning multiple times a week…ummm day!

Vertigo bad!  Standing, walking, washing hair…Good!

a great milestone today.  (must make note, have to remember how important each little accomplishment is.)

Do you ever feel like you have accepted everything, are doing well, being productive….ect.  Then have a dream of what you were like in your old life?  That happened to me last night.  I’ve been a bit melancholy all day.  Next Post…I’ll tell you about it.  Warning, it will be another T.M.I. post.  Sex will be included.)    

For now…

Here’s to clean hair!!

Wow! What Adrenaline can do!!

On By WendyIn Life6 Comments

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

(I could not read over this post to check for errors, it was just too much of an emotional day. – NO, Sandy didn’t die…just scared us.)

When I got up yesterday, I was feeling a bit off, but better every day.

Stuart fixed me something to eat and brought it to me.  Our dog, Sandy, followed him upstairs.  She was coughing a little, she’s a small dog and has a collapsed trachea, this causes her to not be able to catch her breath sometimes.  This didn’t sound worrisome, it was just a little cough, Stuart went over and straightened her throat to open the airway and she stopped,  So he scooped her up on the bed to be with Mom.  I noticed she was still breathing very hard, and her heart was just pounding, she leaned on me (this isn’t unusual) and I tried to calm her down.  Then she just fell over on the other side, she started to do these little yelps like she was in pain and stopped breathing.  I thought she was dead!  I grabbed her and opened her mouth and breathed in for her and pushed the air out again a few times…she began to breathe again.

I grabbed up my 21 pound dog and told Stuart to grab my pants I’d put them on in the car, and ran (yes, ran as much as you can carrying a 21 pound dog) down the stairs.  By then she was wagging her tail thinking this was some kind of game.  I put her down and she was still unsteady, but getting back to her normal self.  I threw on a pair of sweat pants, a jacket some shoes, while Stuart was on the phone with the Vet and putting on his shoes.  We were out and to the vet in less than 15 minutes.

The verdict, my baby had a seizure.  They don’t know why.  She is 19 years old.  They took all kinds of tests (she was due for her annual visit anyway), and we are to take her resting heart rate a few times throughout the week.  It could be her heart, it could enlarge and then cut off the airway, or it could be because of the collapsed trachea, or the cancer could have gotten to her brain.  We just don’t know.

If the resting heart rate test is off, then they’ll start her on heart meds.  If she has repeated seizures, they may just put her on seizure medication.

The good news.  The vet felt all around her bladder and could not feel the tumors.  So they have not progressed as they expected.  She’s still urinating fine, and that all looks good.

When I say my dog is 19, and has bladder cancer, Alzheimer’s, cataracts, hearing problems….I just know people are thinking that we are cruel not to put her down.  But Sandy is a happy dog!  She’s not in pain!  The vet has never even hinted that Sandy may not be living life to the fullest.  She still chases the cat, runs around…

When we checked in at the vet yesterday, the lady behind the desk said, that she has an old girl too….then she looked at Sandy’s age and said, WOW! Well, not that old, she looks great for her age.

Sandy is so very special.

Yes, I paid for my adrenaline rush.  I came close to falling more than once, but I would not stay home and not be there for my dog.  (I can only imagine what they thought when I walked in…a t-shirt that’s way too big, sweat pants, Stuart’s blue jean jacket, I hadn’t brushed my hair or my teeth…ewww. and I was walking like I was drunk.)  But there was no way I was leaving my dog!!

I did collapse a little when I got down stairs because I almost fell and was very dizzy, and thought…I can’t even take care of my dog!

What if Stuart hadn’t been here?

Stuart has an interview in Birmingham, Alabama next Wednesday.  It’s for a telecommute job, one he really wants.  But we haven’t found anyone who could stay with me.  I really think I would be alright by myself, but what if there is an emergency?  What if something happens?  I can’t drive.

We’re going to try to find a neighbor who would be home during the day, just someone I can call on in an emergency.

Here’s hoping we can find someone!  And hoping Stuart is offered this job!

And please send healing thoughts to my precious little girl.

She is a huge part of our family!!

 

I am so ‘effing STUPID!

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness19 Comments
Picture by: http://www.theshamsband.com

OK, today will be day 9 since they cut my ear from top to bottom around the back, and pealed my ear forward (basically, off),  then they took a piece of skull from my head, and opened up the cavity a bit more, so my endolymphatic sac would have more room, and I, hopefully, will have much less vertigo.

That’s the jest of it, and as you can imagine, it takes some time to recover from this.  A bit more than 8 days.

For a week, I had constant vertigo, could not even get out of bed to go to the bathroom.  Then it started to settle down, I started to walk again, I believed I was on the mend (still do, but no thanks to me.)  Yes, two days of improvement, and I think I can conquer the world…or at least the bathtub.

I’ve had a very hard time hearing recently …the past couple of days or so.  I hear about every third word my husband says.  I sound like a parrot who only knows hot to say, “What?”  The TV sounds like it has a broken speaker.  The tinnitus has been going crazy.  I’ve been getting more and more frustrated.  Not only because my hearing seems to be all wonky….in my right ear…my better hearing ear, but also because I am so tired of being dependent on someone else for everything!

Yesterday, I think a lot of the sleepless nights, and being a constant caregiver started to take its toll on my husband.  He was worn out.   I wanted something so badly, but I wasn’t about to ask him for it.   I wanted him to rest, and I was already feeling bad about how I was treating him.  When I get scared and frustrated…well, I sometimes start a fight.  I think I just want to be in control of something.

So I got all hot under the collar, and got up and went in the bathroom.

And took a Bath!  Yes, this is the part where you can say…ARE YOU STUPID, or CRAZY, or just what ever word you want to use to show I was not using the best judgement.  But oh, the water felt so nice, I relaxed so much, I dozed off for just a moment…then Stuart came in to check on me.  (what a guy, I blow up at him for nothing, and he still comes to check on me.)  I thought, perhaps now would be a good time to soap up, rinse off, and get out of the tub while I have him there to watch over and help me.

All went pretty well,  until I started to get up and out of the tub.  Then it all fell apart!  Stuart always wants to help, but I’m not a small girl, he only has about 30 lbs on me.  So I’m always afraid he will hurt himself, or we’ll end up falling together.  Plus…I’m like a kid sometimes…”NO, I can DO IT!  Let me DO IT!”  you understand.

Stuart was close, and trying to help me as much as I’d let him, and I slipped.  My knee hit the bottom of the tub, both ankles bent under me, and I hit my head on either the wall or the side of the tub.  I lost it.  I completely broke down.  Not because I was hurt that much, but because I did something so stupid.  (When I say I completely broke down, I mean sobbing and heaving and not being able to catch my breath because I was so upset.  I started to get dizzy, I started to feel sick….I had to calm down, but I couldn’t.  I knew taking a bath was beyond my limits right now, but I just had to do it!  How many times have I encouraged others not to do what I did tonight?  To take care of yourself, to listen to your body?   If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to help others…  Did I practice what I preach?  Heck no.

So now I have two twisted ankles, a bruised and slightly twisted knee, and a very small sore spot on my head.  I’ve had my legs elevated and ice on everything.  It looks better…we’ll see how it feels in the morning.  (I really hope I haven’t sent my recovery backward.)  It really doesn’t hurt any longer, I’m hoping it will all just be a bad memory in the morning.

Then to top everything off, I started to put on this oversized t-shirt I like to sleep in, and caught the neckline on my ear!  Yes…that ear!  Hours later and it still hurt.  Luckily, I didn’t rip open the incision.  Sturart says it looks good.  A little red at the bottom, but I think that’s because it’s itching and I keep rubbing spot right under the incision so I won’t scratch it!

So the next time you think about doing something that you know your body really isn’t up to…take it from me…Don’t do it!!

Take care of yourself.

I hope my husband can have a little off time tomorrow or some day very soon.  A friend is coming to visit soon, she wants to give Stuart a little time off….at least a few hours.  (thanks Linda).  I hope he will take it.

What bothers me the most about all of this.  Stuart was already exhausted, then he had to save me, and take a lot of time taking care of me, all because I was just dumb.

 

 

Day 8 – Much better than yesterday!!

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness7 Comments

Today I can get up and go to the bathroom on my own!!!  Well, with a little help, and it wears me out every time…but walking those 10 feet is a great milestone after being stuck in bed for a week.  To go from not being able to lift my head, to being able to walk those 10 steps to the toilet…what joy!

With Stuart’s help, we even brushed my hair today.  I do believe a little family of mice were about to move in, they’d already made big nest!  Thank you to whoever, invented the detangling spray..  Perhaps, Johnson and Johnson – No More Tears detangler…I have an off brand, but still no tears!  It did wonders.  The mice will not want to take up residence now!

The pain is minor to moderate, depending on the time.  The headaches are still there, sometimes much worse than others.  Pain medication or Maxalt seems to be helping with those.  I’m still seeing blood from my ear, but nothing yellow, and it appears my temperature has returned to normal!

I really didn’t expect to have such strides so fast, but I’m thrilled that I was wrong.  I know, I may have some set-backs.  Especially since the feeling in my ear still isn’t completely back.  Let’s hope that the severe vertigo stays away!  (we even got my ear ring back in.  I thought I wouldn’t see that ear ring back in.  When I turned 35 I had my upper ear pierced, sill I know, but it meant a lot to me.  So we took advantage of my ear still being a bit numb and put it back in!)

To close…a drawing I colored last night/today.

Christmas Tree - by w. Holcombe

 

…Welcome Christmas bring your cheer
Fahoo fores dahoo dores
Welcome all Whos far and near….  
                                                                                                                                                                           
an excerpt from Dr. Seuss’ “Welcome Christmas Song”
Happy Holidays to all my friends – far and near.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update for Week 1 recovery! it turned out to be a better day!

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness7 Comments

Every day since I started having the constant vertigo, I have tried to slowly raise myself in bed to the point where the vertigo wouldn’t stop then I’d got back flat.

This evening, I slowing got myself on an incline, then scooted up some more…and more….and I was sitting, without the world spinning.

Not only that, I pushed it even further!

I couldn't help singing..."Put One Foot In Front of the Other...."

I went to the bathroom without falling, or spinning!!  I made it back to bed too!

I giggled the whole time!!!

I still have a lot of disequilibrium, and couldn’t move very fast, but the vertigo stayed away.  It might not have if I hadn’t taken it as slowly as I did…but it’s much better than yesterday!

 

One week after surgery… So, recovery day 7.

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness7 Comments
ReCOVERY - w. holcombe

I must say, if I didn’t know other’s who have been through this just as bad as I’m going through it now, I would be VERY discouraged.

I’m nauseous most of the time, I still can’t lift my head, can’t get out of bed…every day I think…well, this is the worst day so far.

I’m anxiously waiting for a day when I think….Oh this isn’t as bad as yesterday!

The pain in my ear has increased, can someone please remove the ice pick that is being jabbed in my ear!

I’m also having intense pain down my neck, I can’t open my mouth as wide as I should, the whole left side of my throat hurts ….  You know, I feel like I have the mumps, on just the left side.

I’m grateful that the worst of the pain is a sharp pain that doesn’t last very long.  The aching pain in my ear, is always there, but it’s not nearly as bad as the “Out of the Blue, Slam me in the Head” type of pain.

My fever seems to be less than it was, but I’m still achy all over, and the swelling is almost gone.  (see there is some good news!)

My ear still isn’t draining like it did the first time, but it is still bleeding a bit.  Not a lot, but ick, blood coming out of your ear…need I say more?

So why is it that whenever I’m sick, things always get worse at night?  I run a higher temperature, the pain is more intense…  Stuart thinks it’s so very odd, but I remember as a child, whenever I was sick, I would always be worse at night.  Is this strange, or do other’s have this happen too?  Is there a reason for it?

I think that’s about it.  I’m sad that this recovery is so taxing.  I’ve mentioned before, when I close my eyes the vertigo gets more intense.  It’s so very, very hard to fall asleep, or to sleep well.  I am completely exhausted.

While I’m awake it’s a bit easier to deal with, but when I’m asleep, I’ll start to roll over, and Whoosh! goes the Vertigo (yes, you must say that to the tune of Pop! Goes the Weasel!)

Perhaps tomorrow will be a …. “this isn’t as bad as yesterday” – day!

Recovery Day 4

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness15 Comments

This has been the worst day yet.

Wendy with Headache and Vertigo - photo and manipulation by W. Holcombe

I knew it could be this bad, I’ve talked to many who had a very rough time with recovery from this surgery.  But I had it before, so I thought my recovery would be about the same as the first time.  Much pain, but not so much vertigo.  Boy was I wrong!

If I move my head at all the world spins, very violently.  This vertigo isn’t like most attacks, it will be calm, if I keep my head still.  I can’t lift my head, I can’t turn my head, I can’t sit up, I can’t get out of bed to the bathroom…that’s right I said I can’t walk the 10 steps it would take for me to get to the toilet.  I’m very lucky that my husband is so very supportive, and is not squeamish.

(caution for those of you who get grossed out…do not read this if you do.)

To be very blunt, you spouse should not have to empty your bed pan, or clean you up afterward, especially when your tummy has not been happy. To add insult to injury, I started my period yesterday.  You cannot imagine how hard it has been on me to need my husband to help me with female sanitary issues.

The pain is better at times, and much worse at times.  I keep getting very sharp pains through my ear.  And I’m pretty sure the feeling is coming back in the ear itself, so the cartilage pain is beginning.  The headaches, have been many, and harsh.  Other times, I feel very little pain at all.

The swelling is MUCH better.

I have a call into Dr. Kaylie, unfortunately he wasn’t in the clinic today.  Stuart has talked to another doctor, and they feel certain this is just one of those things that can happen.  I’m not running a fever, the site is not red or hot.  So we are not worried about infection.  I keep thinking, if Dr. Kaylie said he wants to see me, how would I get there?  There is no way I could get up, get dressed, go down the stairs, and terror of terrors ride in a car!

I had a tiny bit of drainage today.  I still feel, if the ear would drain, things would get better.  It appears my tube is either clogged or fell out.  But even if it fell out, I would think the hole would still be open a bit.  I know it was open the day of surgery, I closed my nose and blew air out the hole just to check.  I admit, I was a bit scared of going through this without a drainage hole in my ear.  Every person I’ve spoken to who had a rough time of this, did not have a tube.  I was convinced that was the reason I didn’t have vertigo before.  The fluid did not build up.

Here’s to a better tomorrow, and many days vertigo free.

I told you that you may get tired of these posts, I want to make sure to keep up with all the details of my recovery.  As confused as I get right now, I want to make sure if a doctor asks me anything about this, I have a reference.

(sorry about 2 posts coming out today, I had the post for the PFAM carnival written before the surgery.  Just had to proof read it.  Not sure I did the best job of that, considering.  However, it’s due today, so I thought I should post it too.)

Now, I will get off of here before I over do it!