Lisa's Story

The first time I had a problem was last May. I had to go to the hospital for the flu. Actually I went because I couldn't feel my legs, and when I could I was in extreme pain. I stayed there for three days and they told me it was just the flu. After I got out of the hospital and was able to start driving around again, I stared noticing that I would get motion sickness after being in the car for just a few minutes. The hills and everything made me feel like it was a permanent roller coaster ride. I kind of laughed it off, but it still bugged me. I think it lasted like a month and a half.
Well, about 5 weeks ago, I started feeling that motion sickness-type stuff again. Only this time I also got nautious or lightheaded or whatever when I would be standing or sitting. It's not dizziness like the room is spinning, but it's like I'm spinning on the inside if that makes sense. Kinda right between the feeling of throwing up and passing out. It seems like it has gotten worse as times goes by. It also gets worse the longer I'm standing and moving around. Just a sidenote: I am a behavior analyst/therapist. I work with kids with autism, their familes, and teachers, so I have to be on my feet a lot. I'm in the car everyday for up to an hour and a half at a time going between schools and homes. I'll be there for a few hours then go to my next appointment.

Therefore, I'm up and driving all the time. Which really doesn't go well with this vertigo or whatever it is. Also my head and ears are sensitive. I'm very aware of my head and can't stand for it to be touched on the top. I describe it as being "funny up there." I also don't like medium to loud noise like certain voices, dice rolling, ect.

I first went to my family doctor. He told me it was vertigo, that there was really nothing he could do about it except prescribe Meclizine, and told me to come back if it's still going on in a month, or if it got worse. Well, it got worse, so I went back a couple weeks later. This time he did those fun test again, told me to go get a cat scan in case it was a tumor (fun!) and changed my prescription to Dramamine. I did the cat scan thing, no tumor! Doc then referred me to a neurologist. She asked lots of questions, did more fun test, then told me I need to go get an MRI of the head and spin done. She also gave me a note to be able to go to the ER if I'm having a severe episode so I can get some blood drawn. That's pretty much where I am now. I haven't got the MRI done yet, but it will probably happen early next week.

I was "OK" with it for the first month or so but now I'm just so frustrated with it. I'm still working, but not getting that many hours in. I would like to add a few familes to my caseload, but am pretty sure my office won't gvie me any more until I figure out what's goin on. They've been pretty cool with me though. My mentor through work is going through chemo now for cancer so she can probably sort of understand where I am. But I don't really feel like any one can understand. It's so hard to describe to someone that has never had these feelings. I'm far from going into a depression , but I feel like I could slip in one so easily.
I do have great friends and family who are doing their best at helping me. My dad doesn't have a clue. He thinks I would be ok if I just did more excercise, took more vitamins and got my mind off of it.

I am single, but am sort of dating a guy. With my job where I work so many crazy hours, I don't think I'm supposed to have much of a life. I usually get Friday and Saturday nights off, and almost always Sunday which is nice. Right now, I'm trying to carry on with my normal activities as much as possible but it's getting harder. People keep offering to drive me around but I keep saying I'll be OK. If I have to be in the car with someone else I'll usually have then drive because I don't want to put anyone else's life at risk, even though I usually feel better if I'm driving since I can concentrate and kind keep my mind on my driving and not the nausea. I guess I'm just afraid of depending on other poeple to do things for me. I know that as soon as I start letting people drive me around, I have pretty much just given up any chance of keeping my job. And maybe of even finding another job. I can probably work at home, but it most likely wouldn't be in my field which I absolutely love. I can definitely tell that I'm wearing myself down though.

So basically I don't have a diagnosis yet. I still have to go through some more test. Does any of this stuff sound similar to what you're going through? Oh yeah, my friend said that she saw a watch somewhere that is supposed to help with nausea and/or motion sickness. Have you guys ever heard of something like that? It sounded good, but I'm at the point where I'll pretty much try anything. Thanks for letting me tell my story.

LEMUWE@aol.com