It started in 2012, coming and going over time. The ringing in my right ear, the "froggy" feeling in my head and the worst part... vertigo.
Since then I have been diagnosed with Meniere's Disease. For the most part it has been manageable. I just need to be careful not to tip my head a certain way, be sure I sit with my good ear towards the people I want to hear, and try to drink as much water as possible. But since the beginning of 2018 things took a turn. My vertigo attacks started getting frighteningly intense. The best way I can describe an attack is the feeling of someone grabbing the back of your swivel chair and spinning you around with no warning. Once an attack starts, the room flies, I break out in a cold sweat, my heart pounds, I get horribly nauseous and my fingers/toes start to tingle. The first time I had an attack like that I thought I was having a heart attack, the ER doctor assured me it was just an Meniere's attack. From that day on I would not leave the house without my Meclizine. I thought i had it under control, but then I started having these attacks two to three times a week. I never knew when I would have one, during a meeting at work, while relaxing in my craft room, during dinner out with my hubs, or waking up in the middle of the night spinning. It was getting terrible.
My Aunt Susan, who also deals with Meniere's, suggested I see Dr. Franklin at the Topeka Ear Nose and Throat Clinic. I was hesitant because I have been #StFrancisStrong for so long, but I finally gave in because I really, really needed the help. Dr Frankin evaluated my condition and quickly suggested I go for a steroid injection in my ear. A STEROID INJECTION IN MY EAR! WHAT?! I was terrified! But he walked me through it and helped me stay calm. It felt weird, but not nearly as painful as I thought it would be. I started noticing an improvement right away. Still a bit froggy but better. The week after I had two vertigo attacks but they were not nearly as bad as previous attacks. I went back a week later and had another injection, so far no attacks. I still feel froggy and the constant threat of spinning if I tilt my head the wrong way, but it's better. I will return Thursday for another injection, hoping that this will be the last one needed for a good long while.
I know this is just part of my life now, I am so thankful there is something out there to give me a meausre control back in my life. Before these injections I was always afraid of a dizzy hitting. And once a dizzy did come, I was wiped out for the rest of the day. While the vertigo has improved, the ringing in my right ear and hearing loss I've developed is permanent. The hearing in that ear will get weaker and weaker as they ears go by. But thankfully my left ear is mostly unaffected by my condition so far. So if I see you out in the world, please be patient as I will likely say "what" a LOT. I will also lean my left ear towards you like a dork. I'll get this all figured out so please just bear with me. There may be a hearing aid in my future, but for now I'm just focused on getting the vertigo under control.
I sometimes joke, but I like the idea getting a mute button tattoo by my ear. I really think it might help when I'm out in public. What do you think?
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