On July 12, I finally admitted to my husband what I’d been feeling for the past four days: a light-headed and unbalanced feeling that I couldn’t explain. That Thursday, I couldn’t hide it any longer. Oh, and the nausea was kind of a giveaway, too. When I sat down, things continued to spin around me. Fortunately, I had a doctor’s appointment scheduled for later that morning anyway, so he drove me there.
As soon as I’d explained the symptoms, she said I likely had vertigo. I recalled my sister and a good friend both had had vertigo, but didn’t know much about it.
Vertigo and lightheadedness are different. According to WebMD:
- Lightheadedness is a feeling that you are about to faint or “pass out.” Although you may feel dizzy, you do not feel as though you or your surroundings are moving. Lightheadedness often goes away or improves when you lie down. If lightheadedness gets worse, it can lead to a feeling of almost fainting or a fainting spell (syncope). You may sometimes feel nauseated or vomit when you are lightheaded.
- Vertigo is a feeling that you or your surroundings are moving when there is no actual movement. You may feel as though you are spinning, whirling, falling, or tilting. When you have severe vertigo, you may feel very nauseated or vomit. You may have trouble walking or standing, and you may lose your balance and fall.
What causes vertigo? Well, typically an inner ear disorder, injury to the ear or head, or sometimes migraine headaches. There is a lot of information available online to educate oneself about the causes and symptoms of vertigo; I’ve learned a lot in the past week.
Yesterday, I drove for the first time since last Thursday. And I’m back to being focused on writing, which is a very good thing.
Martha Reynolds Writes 
Just to let you know, I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award on my blog http://quirkybooks.wordpress.com
Congratulations.
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Thank you!!
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You are welcome. You have a great blog.
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I once had an inner ear infection, it really is horrible and anyone seeing me head to the doctors would probably have thought I was drunk the way I was swaying down the road Am so glad to hear you are feeling a little better
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It’s worst in the morning, right after I get up, Paula. But once I’m up and moving around, it seems to be a lot better. Thanks very much for commenting.
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Vertigo and the dizzies are very interesting to me, especially when doctors can sometimes rule out inner ear or head trauma as a cause. I have a friend who suffers from almost constant vertigo, and no doctor or guru has been able to name a cause or offer her relief. It is the strangest thing. The more we’ve looked into it, the more we’ve discovered she is not alone. Could be a side effect to our stress-filled environment? Or maybe from the crap we eat?
Whatever the case, I hope your symptoms are short lived!
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Beth, I’m always thinking environmental causes, or something in the food. I don’t really have the stress I used to have (at my old job), and I hadn’t had a cold or cough or upper respiraotry issue (that I know of). So, will continue to monitor. Thanks for sharing.
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I hope you’re well on the road to recovery, Martha.
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Thanks, Deb. Feeling much better now. Still thinking vegan, but I’m not there yet. 🙂
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Martha, how horrible for you. I hope that you are now fully recovered. My husband has suffered from it in the past and a very good friend back in the UK has a sort of low-grade version of it plus tinnitus which must be awful to live with too.
Is your book out yet? I’m itching to read it asap! 🙂
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Thanks, Lottie. I’m much better now, and think it was probably a low-grade version, as it was worse in the morning. Meclizine seems to have helped.
Book is due to be out in early to mid-August (still time for sumemr reading!). Believe me, you and everyone else will know when it’s launched! haha xxoo
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