Health update

[giza]

So, I saw Dr.K this morning. He's my PCP, and I had a pre-existing appointment with him before yesterday's hijinks, so I figured I'd follow through on that. (Since I don't think I can safely drive, Kito drove me there and back, thanks dude!)

He asked me some more questions and did some examinations on me, some of which involved testing my hearing with a tuning fork. To sum up, here are the primary issues that gotten worse over the last few weeks:

- Ringing in my right ear. Over the last few days, I have had trouble staying asleep at night, and I believe this is the culprit.

- Equilibirum issues. I feel like I am being pushed towards the right by Bigby's magic hand an invisible hand. The sensation is constant, and does not change if I am sitting, standing or lying down.

- Speech issues. Sometimes my speech is stuttered or slurred. This started just yesterday morning.

- Concentration issues. I cannot presently write code. Chatting online is a major effort for me. Trying to troubleshoot something would be impossible for me at this point. I make more typos than usual when typing and/or hit the wrong keys.

To sum up, these symptoms have me feeling drunk. Except that drunk is a lot more fun.

After Dr. K did his testing, he came up with two likely possibilities:

1) Meneire's Disease. It's not fun. Google it.

2) Migranes. Yes, migranes. He gave me a page photocopied from one his books which discusses "Basilar (Brainstem) Migranes". Among the lit of symptoms are things like dizziness/vertigo, changes in the level of consciousness, and tinnitus.

So, the next thing I'll be doing seeing an ENT (Ear Nose Throat) specialist on Monday morning to get this looked at. I'm told that they can do more advanced tests, probably make a diagnosis on the spot, and get me on medication.

I'm going to be spending some time resting this weekend, but if anyone wants to come over and visit, I wouldn't mind some company, because it's going to get a little boring.

Oh! Come Monday morning, if I'm in the same state that I am now, I won't be able to drive myself to the ENT doctor. Anyone intrested in giving me a lift? It's in Lower Merion, about 10-15 minutes from my place.

(P.S. On the subject of my foot problems, removing the stiff custom orthotics from my shoes and replacing them with Spenco inserts, as well as treating my foot with the heating pad seems to have done wonders there, which leads me to believe that I just pulled a muscle from walking funny.)

(P.P.S. On the way home from the doctor's today, we were driving east. Into the sun. After a few minutes of this, I got a throbbing headache all around my head, including the back. Coincidence? Maybe. I'm not doctor. When I got home, I went into a dark room and napped for a few hours. The headache is gone now.)

Comments

[omnibahumut.livejournal.com]

Lets hope its nothing a little pain relivers can't fix :P

[rigelkitty.livejournal.com]

The speech problems are the most worrisome. Hopefully, Dr. K's right. Even Meneire's is apparently perfectly treatable.

As for headaches from the sun - spending too much time in dim indoors environs?

Could basic stress be a factor for anything?

[giza.livejournal.com]

> Could basic stress be a factor for anything?

Eh, who knows?

One thing that's nice is that work has been pretty cool about me missing the last couple of days. Got email back from my boss basically saying "hope you get better soon".

[coyoteden.livejournal.com]

IANAD, but your symptoms do sound like a migraine aura. They can be scary on the level of a TIA.

[giza.livejournal.com]

Uh, dumb question. What is an "aura", and what is "TIA"?

[coyoteden.livejournal.com]

Migraine Aura: http://headaches.about.com/od/migrainediseas1/a/aura_ache.htm

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4781

[giza.livejournal.com]

I have had none of what is described in either link. Oh well.

[taral.livejournal.com]

Migraine, yes. Especially with the bright light -> headache bit.

Meniere's? Well... I think you'd really know if you had that -- one of my coworkers has it. Not fun.

[taral.livejournal.com]

My coworker recommends a small (half?) dose of dimenhydrinate (Dramamine/Gravol) to help with the vertigo if you start getting nauseous.

[giza.livejournal.com]

No real nausea, but my appetite has gone way down. Dr. K says it should resolve itself in a few days though. (heh)

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

*nods* Sounds like Migranes all right. I get soemthing like you describe when I have too many tasks and lock my jaw tightly for a prolonged time.

[drzarron.livejournal.com]

Weirdly enough, while you were describing what you are going through, I started think "Hmm, sound like Meneire's Disease".

If that's what it is, you're in good company. Alan Sheppard was grounded about the time the Gemini program was starting with it and he remained grounded until he found a doctor who had developed a treatment (surgery to install shunts to equalize the fluids). Once he got the treatment, he was able to snap back to the point where he was healthy enough to command Apollo 14 and walk on the moon.

[rexxwolfe.livejournal.com]

Migraines vary in severity so Possibly I am a migraine sufferer Light and certain nosises get to me wheni have aheadache and its even noises that arent really detecable byu the ear but he vibrations thgere to cause me to dislike being around some things like Computers and some machinery You should look into getting shades real darl lenses poloarized types for the light. Office light is actually pretty nasty for headaches those tubes actually tend to make high pitched noises that some eginomics studies have linked to badness for a headache suffere plus that light is actually terrible.
* hugs you tight * I think It will prove to be migraines Good luck none the less.

[netcrimes.livejournal.com]

Sounds like migraines to me. I have a book a friend wrote that I can send you to read if you want. It may help.