Worst day ever !

[ponytug]

The Epley maneuver is not a universal cure. It helps with a common form of vertigo, but certainly not all forms.

@RSKY I feel for you. Vertigo is tough, and not all forms get better but many do, so I think it is important to nail down the cause. A friend is dealing with a form for which he had previously a diagnosis that didn't match his symptoms, which actually fit an autoimmune type of vertigo. After years of putting up with it, he's now working on something that has the potential to actually make it go away.

If your local clinic isn't helping, I'd go farther afield.

I have to say while aging out of my skills and usefulness isn't something I enjoy, I am thankful to be beating the alternative and not be six feet under... I don't do roofing any more, and I do my gutter cleaning from the ground, and I've had to learn not do certain movements that I could when I was younger. Finding good help is a challenge for me, but I am learning to delegate, and trying to be gracious about it.

Hang in there and vent here!

All the best, Peter

 

[rontaki]

This thread hits home for me, even though my problems are different than yours, I still can't do some of the necessary things around here that I used to. I fully understand about having to ask or hire for help, it's not easy. Just keep on keeping on as best as you can.
If you are not dead yet, it's for a reason. I don't know if you are religious/spiritual. You haven't been called home, so do your best to enjoy what you have, including the suffering.
Nothing lasts forever. Enjoy it all while you can.

And best wishes for a speedy recovery!

 

[RSKY]

I want to apologize for sounding like a little b---ch crying this morning. That is not my usual style. I just had a bad yesterday. Then got up before my wife, fixed some scrambled eggs and stumbled into a door facing and dumped them in the floor. THAT set off my self pity crying party.

I know what the problem is and am being treated for it. It's called Ménière's disease. I had surgery for it in 1992 or 93 and the doctor said the installed shunt would be good for thirty years. I made it 32. The son of that doctor is treating me now. Fourth generation ear surgeon in a clinic that his great grandfather started. Said he was in the operating room watching his dad do surgery at 14. Supposed to be one of the best in the country. Has patients from all over the world. Takes long enough to get an appointment.

Anyway, the first step of the treatment was a needle thru the eardrum and injection of a drug to "permanently numb" the nerves from my right inner ear to the brain. Drug cannot be injected into the inner ear, has to be put in the middle ear and soak thru to the inner part. Went back for a six-week checkup last Monday and told of all the problems I was having and the doc was pleased. Said people that had my problems usually had the best end results. Said it takes a while for the brain to get used to only getting signals from one side. The problems I am having are a sign that things are working as they are supposed to. I go back in six more weeks and will probably have a second injection. Said he uses a smaller dose than most doctors so as to not destroy my hearing. So instead of one big dose I will have at least two but probably three profusions as they are called. I have a page of weird exercises I am supposed to do like rolling your eyes as you walk. And walk 2-miles a day no matter the weather.

The walk is the main thing to speed up the cure. Doctor said when walking NO CANES, NO LEANING ON SHOPPING CARTS, NO PUSHING A STROLLER. He emphasized that over and over. If you want strange looks try walking thru Walmart with vertigo. I know people think I'm drunk or drugged up. Spent most of the afternoon cutting up limbs and old boards and burning them in my burn barrel. Tore down an old small chicken house and burned it. I was extremely careful when approaching the red hot barrel and never fell when close to it. Wife was not happy but I was doing something she had wanted done for nearly two years. So she gritted her teeth and pulled grass out of flower beds while watching me work.

Anyway, I have at least twelve more weeks of this before I will know if the treatments are a cure. BUT, when I told him of the problems I was having and my wife started telling him what I had left out he actually smiled and said that everything was going as expected.

I will survive and I promise no more posts crying like a little b1tch.

Guess the ski trip if off this winter.

RSKY

 

[Alan W.]

My father was hospitalized with vertigo years ago. They finally got him cured. I saw how he suffered.
Getting older aint always pleasant. Thats why Im up at 3 this morn. Sounds like you are making progress and Im glad to hear that.
We all have our moments of self pity but then I see someone worse off than myself and I thank the Lord for what he allows me to do.
Take care.

 

[ruffdog]

I want to apologize for sounding like a little b---ch crying this morning. That is not my usual style. I just had a bad yesterday. Then got up before my wife, fixed some scrambled eggs and stumbled into a door facing and dumped them in the floor. THAT set off my self pity crying party.

I know what the problem is and am being treated for it. It's called Ménière's disease.

I see allergies can make the condition worse as it can add fluid to that part of the ear. Many people are really suffering here with allergies right now. Good luck....vertigo is a real PITA.

Meniere Disease

 

[rontaki]

I want to apologize for sounding like a little b---ch crying this morning. That is not my usual style. I just had a bad yesterday. Then got up before my wife, fixed some scrambled eggs and stumbled into a door facing and dumped them in the floor. THAT set off my self pity crying party.

I know what the problem is and am being treated for it. It's called Ménière's disease. I had surgery for it in 1992 or 93 and the doctor said the installed shunt would be good for thirty years. I made it 32. The son of that doctor is treating me now. Fourth generation ear surgeon in a clinic that his great grandfather started. Said he was in the operating room watching his dad do surgery at 14. Supposed to be one of the best in the country. Has patients from all over the world. Takes long enough to get an appointment.

Anyway, the first step of the treatment was a needle thru the eardrum and injection of a drug to "permanently numb" the nerves from my right inner ear to the brain. Drug cannot be injected into the inner ear, has to be put in the middle ear and soak thru to the inner part. Went back for a six-week checkup last Monday and told of all the problems I was having and the doc was pleased. Said people that had my problems usually had the best end results. Said it takes a while for the brain to get used to only getting signals from one side. The problems I am having are a sign that things are working as they are supposed to. I go back in six more weeks and will probably have a second injection. Said he uses a smaller dose than most doctors so as to not destroy my hearing. So instead of one big dose I will have at least two but probably three profusions as they are called. I have a page of weird exercises I am supposed to do like rolling your eyes as you walk. And walk 2-miles a day no matter the weather.

The walk is the main thing to speed up the cure. Doctor said when walking NO CANES, NO LEANING ON SHOPPING CARTS, NO PUSHING A STROLLER. He emphasized that over and over. If you want strange looks try walking thru Walmart with vertigo. I know people think I'm drunk or drugged up. Spent most of the afternoon cutting up limbs and old boards and burning them in my burn barrel. Tore down an old small chicken house and burned it. I was extremely careful when approaching the red hot barrel and never fell when close to it. Wife was not happy but I was doing something she had wanted done for nearly two years. So she gritted her teeth and pulled grass out of flower beds while watching me work.

Anyway, I have at least twelve more weeks of this before I will know if the treatments are a cure. BUT, when I told him of the problems I was having and my wife started telling him what I had left out he actually smiled and said that everything was going as expected.

I will survive and I promise no more posts crying like a little b1tch.

Guess the ski trip if off this winter.

RSKY

Thank you for sharing! Our shoulder is here for whenever you or others need it.

 

[orezok]

My wife (83) has balance problems but it’s not an inner ear issue. She has both a central tremor since teenage and Peripheral neuropathy. The neuropathy affects the proprioceptors on the bottom of the feet.

Proprioceptors are sensory receptors that give your brain information about your body's position, movement, and force. These specialized nerve endings, located in muscles, tendons, and joints, provide a sense of body position and movement that is crucial for balance.

She has to wear shoes in the house as it helps, walks with a cane and if I’m with her, I’m her second cane.

 

[QRTRHRS]

ponytug mentioned an autoimmune disorder. That's exactly what a friend and neighbor has. It took years to figure it out. I would have to ask him what foods/additives that he avoids but it's a lot. I recall MSG and gluten.

If he eats something that he should not have, he loses all hearing and ends up crawling on the floor as he cannot walk at all.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

My wife suggested a treadmill for walking 2 miles a day. You have something to hold onto.

 

[RSKY]

My wife (83) has balance problems but it’s not an inner ear issue. She has both a central tremor since teenage and Peripheral neuropathy. The neuropathy affects the proprioceptors on the bottom of the feet.

Proprioceptors are sensory receptors that give your brain information about your body's position, movement, and force. These specialized nerve endings, located in muscles, tendons, and joints, provide a sense of body position and movement that is crucial for balance.

She has to wear shoes in the house as it helps, walks with a cane and if I’m with her, I’m her second cane.

Back in the nineties when I was having the same problem the doctor had me stand with my back against the door to the room we were in. Then he had me look him in the face and do the drunk walk towards him. You know heel to toe and so on. I made in fine. Then he put me back against the door and close my eyes and do the drunk walk. I thought I was doing great until he caught me and I realized I was falling. Nearly took him down with me. That convinced me that he was correct in saying I had no sense of balance without my eyes. I had surgery, shunt implanted, the next day.

 

[RSKY]

My wife suggested a treadmill for walking 2 miles a day. You have something to hold onto.

The doctor emphasized that I not have a cane or any other support while walking. No canes, no stroller with grand baby in it, no shopping cart at grocery. Went to the grocery and Walmart last night with the wife and I think my staggering around embarrassed her. She finally told me to push the cart before I fell. She thought people were thinking I was drunk.

 

[ponytug]

I think that the idea is that, like rehabilitating stroke patients, that you are forced to retrain your brain to pay attention to the side that works.

It sounds challenging, and rich in ways that could be hard on you. So sorry. Good luck on the rehab!

All the best, Peter

 

[rontaki]

The doctor emphasized that I not have a cane or any other support while walking. No canes, no stroller with grand baby in it, no shopping cart at grocery. Went to the grocery and Walmart last night with the wife and I think my staggering around embarrassed her. She finally told me to push the cart before I fell. She thought people were thinking I was drunk.

If you are going to walk as if you were drunk, Walmart is the best store to do it in.

 

[orezok]

Back in the nineties when I was having the same problem the doctor had me stand with my back against the door to the room we were in. Then he had me look him in the face and do the drunk walk towards him. You know heel to toe and so on. I made in fine. Then he put me back against the door and close my eyes and do the drunk walk. I thought I was doing great until he caught me and I realized I was falling. Nearly took him down with me. That convinced me that he was correct in saying I had no sense of balance without my eyes. I had surgery, shunt implanted, the next day.

My wife has the same issue. She needs to look down at the ground while walking or she will lose balance. Wife considered the brain surgery, but at 83 she decided it was too risky.

 

[RSKY]

If you are going to walk as if you were drunk, Walmart is the best store to do it in.

I will agree.

Now a funny story that you will laugh at.

In 2001 my wife had eye surgery. She actually had stitches in four places on her right eyeball. And her face swelled up like she had been hit with a baseball bat. We didn't think anything about it until walking thru Walmart and this big biker type was walking down the aisle toward us. He took one look at my wife and stopped with his fists balled up like he was ready to fight. Stared at me as we walked past and I thought "Uh Oh". He thinks I blacked my wife's eye. This happened two or three times before we left the store. Seems like it was a big guy that always looked ready to jump on me. Made me nervous. She thought it funny.

RSKY

 

[RSKY]

My wife has the same issue. She needs to look down at the ground while walking or she will lose balance. Wife considered the brain surgery, but at 83 she decided it was too risky.

I am supposed to look straight ahead when walking. Doctor's aide said looking down at my feet won't do me any good.

I may have to fix a neighbor's mailbox after staggering into it. I think the post was nearly rotted off before I hit it, while walking, I hit it while walking.

She is one of the younger divorcees who I've done various things around for around her yard. She has actually brought gifts for me to the house after I did something. Then her and the wife sit and talk.

 

[ponytug]

I will agree.

Now a funny story that you will laugh at.

In 2001 my wife had eye surgery. She actually had stitches in four places on her right eyeball. And her face swelled up like she had been hit with a baseball bat. We didn't think anything about it until walking thru Walmart and this big biker type was walking down the aisle toward us. He took one look at my wife and stopped with his fists balled up like he was ready to fight. Stared at me as we walked past and I thought "Uh Oh". He thinks I blacked my wife's eye. This happened two or three times before we left the store. Seems like it was a big guy that always looked ready to jump on me. Made me nervous. She thought it funny.

RSKY

Reminds me of when early in our marriage, my wife got T-boned in an intersection by a teen driver trying to escape some hulking guy he'd enraged. I got a call from her saying the EMTs were putting her in an ambulance for our local hospital and she had to go. Click.

I hustled over there, and found her in a room in the ER, being attended to. I got the gist of it (two black eyes from the air bag, some scratches and a cracked rib or two from the impact. Car was a lump of crushed metal as she'd been going 50mph when the idiot plowed into her.) and then I promptly got hauled out of the room for some pretty severe questioning. Later, I found out that my wife also got the third degree, and we were initially both mystified. It took awhile for us each to figure out what was going on.

The docs didn't get the car accident side of the story and were convinced on the basis of the injuries that this was a domestic violence case. We laughed about it later, and ever since, whenever my wife has to go into the ER, she leads with "this is a horse injury", or "the cow got me" or whatever it is, just to stave off the third degree. We laugh about it now.

Yeah, we bought the exact same model car the next day figuring any vehicle that had kept her basically in good health from a side impact accident at that speed was worth owning.

All the best,

Peter

 

[civilian]

Have a similar story to ponytug's above. During reconstruction of my wife's breast from breast cancer, one of the implants rupture and the outer covering poked through her skin, and hence the emergency doctor visit. Nothing said to her about abuse. But when I showed up later, she was pulled aside and I was left out in the office wondering. Doctor was asking her if she was hit or kicked to rupture the implant. No was her answer. Then any abuse? Then she laughed. No way. Doctor never understood what caused rupture. I think it may have been poor quality implant, but will never know. I was finally was allowed in the office. Jon

 

[ruffdog]

I am supposed to look straight ahead when walking. Doctor's aide said looking down at my feet won't do me any good.

I may have to fix a neighbor's mailbox after staggering into it. I think the post was nearly rotted off before I hit it, while walking, I hit it while walking.

She is one of the younger divorcees who I've done various things around for around her yard. She has actually brought gifts for me to the house after I did something. Then her and the wife sit and talk.

When in the shower and you close your eyes, do you have to hold the side of the shower?

 

[RSKY]

When in the shower and you close your eyes, do you have to hold the side of the shower?

My shower is a 1970's style fiberglass one piece unit. (Next big job is to get it torn out and replaced with a walk in unit). When shampooing my hair I put one hand above my head and press on the ceiling of the unit. If I don't I'm afraid I will fall out of the shower.

This whole ear problem has changed my relationship with my grandkids, especially the nearly nine year old grandson. When they had to haul me out of church on August 10th, then transport me to an ER in an ambulance, it shook him up badly. Suddenly granddaddy wasn't indestructible.

All five grands were here yesterday for Sunday lunch plus a seventeen year old (son in law's niece) who is 'at home' here with us. Every time I got up and walked around one of the bunch was hovering near me. Took me a few minutes to figure it out but the smirks on my daughter's faces finally clued me in. The grands were watching out for the feeble old granddaddy. Ready to catch him if he fell. Besides all that as usual I laughed so hard during the meal my sides hurt. The oldest two had double dated the night before and p1ssed off both their dates for sitting next to each other in the movie and talking all the way thru it.

Life goes on!

RSKY