The following is a personal experience, that has, in the last week taken place. I am not looking for sympathy, only wishing to express to those that read, the symtoms, as well as the effects it has upon one.
I am experiencing, according to my physician, what is called vertigo. Understanding it's effects, will hopefully help each reader, to understand just how one feels during the period of time, this virus occupies the Middle Ear.
The definition that expressed at rymthezone.com for vertigo is - a reeling sensation; feeling about to fall.
Here is a quote from a webpage in which a "Dr. Dave" has answered a question from an internet user. I will leave the link with you if it is your desire to investigate this issue further. As well, there are a number of Webpages in Google, that may be of help to anyone interested.
"Vertigo is a type of dizziness that's characterized by the sensation of spinning. It's sometimes referred to as a hallucination of motion. Imagine what it would feel like to be placed suddenly on a roller coaster that won't stop, and you begin to understand the alarming symptom of vertigo."
Each one of us is borne with the natural capability to walk, as our parents teach us, when we are very young. This capability is programmed into our brain, so that we are able to rise from our hands and knees and move from one location to another, without any problem what so ever, unless we are afflicted with such an unfortunate virus.
To understand this more, let us just do an experiment, and see what you see or feel, upon doing the following. Just for a minute please, look at an object to your very left, then move your head at a normal speed and observe an object on your very right. If you are not suffering from this unfortunate virus, everything will seem normal to you. There again, if you are suffering from it, the image you observe, will seem to move. If you are standing at that moment, you will feel an uncontrollable dizzininess, and you will have to reaffirm your stability with your feet.
Personally, I came upon this infection a number of years ago, but it's effects were nowhere near as dramatic, as what I experienced last weekend. Firstly, I got up off of my recliner to go to the kitchen. It is not a straight line from one location to the other. It has, as it were, two curves, that one must make to accomplish that task. Normally I wouldn't think twice about it, as I have done it so many times before, whlie living at this residence. I'm sure it is the same for a very high percentatge of us. So, I have risen off of the recliner, turned to walk toward the kitchen, turned once again, for a short walk through the Diningroom, and once again toward the kitchen. Upon my turn into the Diningroom, all of a sudden I feel an uncontrollable feeling of dizziness and fall to the floor. For a split second, what goes through my mind is, "what am I doing down here? I am perfectly sober, and didnt run into anything that would encourage me to fall. As well, there is no one here to push me in a way that would encourage a fall." I get up and continue on my short journey to the kitchen, but with a great deal of wonderment in my mind.
The next day, sitting at my pc, it is my wish, to go to the kitchen, to get a drink of something, I turn, get up and walk, not in a straight line, but to the left, around my bed. Again, all of a sudden, I feel this incredible dizziness and fall to the floor. The first time was much easier to handle than the second, so upon getting up, so very gingerly, and so slowly continue my way to the kitchen, but am feeling very insecure about being on my feet, and a feeling of wonderment comes upon me. Upon returning to my seat, there's a slight funny feeling in my stomach, of emotion, and the question continues "why do I not have control when I stand or walk? Once yesterday, and so far, once today. I dont dare to go outside, let alone put the keys in the car ignition. What is happening to me?"
They say everything comes in threes, and for this unfortunate experience, it had to complete itself. It was later in the evening, and I was chatting with a buddy "across the pond). I mentioned to him, that our conversation would have to be short, as I was just about to "hit the sack). Never in my life, has such a metaphor been so true. Upon fininshing the conversation and shutting everything down, I turned my seat, got up (my bed is directly right of my pc desk), and put my knee on the bed to crawl over, and get in. To my amazement once again, I fell, into my pillows and hit a portion of the wall. "What the Hell is going on here?" I thought.
Instantly, reached for the phone, and called my doctor's paging service, as it was too late to see him, and expressed my experieces in short, hoping that I would be able to see him in the morning. As one can imagine, I felt rather stressed by the three unfortunate events I had falling, to the floor.
Eight o'clock in the morning I receive a call from my doctor's office, the secretary telling me if I wish to see him, that I should be there in fifteen minutes. In my head, I am thinking, "do I have the capability to make it from my suite to his office?( about a ten minute walk) My heart says a big NO!!! I ask if it is possible to see him later in the afternoon, but unfortunately it is not, so I make my appointment for today. The secretary's voice refects distain, as "it sounded very urgent but oooookaaaa"
For fear of falling again, I dont get up until four in the afternoon, when I was able to move my head from left to right and not experience the incredible dizziness. After falling three times, I feared greatly the possibility of it taking place again. There was a fear within, that just walking up the hill to get to my Doctor's office, I might undergo another falling experience, and that scared the Hell out of me. It would be terribly embarrassing. As well, considering I am not much of a drinker, especially at that time of the day, I would appear hammered by some, The appointment I had made, was for the following morning just before noon. Therefore I would have enough time, to see if my condition was up to accomplishing it.
I set the alarm for eight in the morning. As my breakfast progressed, there was a sense of confidence that came over me, to accomplish the appointment with the Doctor. In the shower I wasnt feeling so insecure as I had done so the day before, holding on to the walls for stability. Leaving myself lots of time to get there, I began my walk up the hill. The feeling within, was approximetly what I had felt, although I had not had a drop of alcohol in weeks. Anyone observing me, would have thought, that I had way too much to drink, considering my staggering banter. It seemed no matter how hard I concentrated or focused on my goal, I still seemed to stagger. My normal walking step is fairly fast, and normally would pass most, but people were passing me. I couldnt look at them, as I felt embarrassed. On observation I made, as I very gingerly walked up the hill was, that if I kept my head basically still, and only used my eyes to observe my progress, there was a great deal less lightheadedness, and walking seemed to be much easier.
Made it to the Doctor's office with lots of time to spare, and explained to the secratary why I could not come the day before. For her, there was no problem.
My Doctor, after examining me, agreed that I have a virus in my middle ear, and when I turn my head to look at something or someone, the fluid in the Middle Ear moves around, with the virus, givng my brain whacky and mixed signals, telling it I am dizzy. He totally agreed with me, that moving as gingerly was besrt, and not use my head to observe anything, but if I turnrd my body and obseve with my eyes, that I would be much better off. Also my Doctor told me, that it should last more than another week to two, and. if it did, that, that I should come and see him as quickly as possible.
I feel, that I should also mention, that I am also experiencing double vision at times, and just sitting here, typing this very true story, when I move my eyes from one side to another that, at times I observe the images in double. Have found that, if I concentrate for a period of time, on one thing on the screen, that it seems to leave my concoiusness. It has taken me a much greater time to complete my story, as I am constantly feeling somewhat lightheaded, and at times actually again, having double vision. One could understand the stress this could cause one, and I truly hope and wish, that none of you experience this event in your life, as it feels very disconserting. At times, one wishes that he could just close his eyes, reopen them and everything would be ok, but it has to take it's time and finish it's course.
For what its worth, I just got up to use the Loo, and found, that moving my body rather than my head, still makes me feels incredibly dizzy.
With a smile upon my face, I truly look forward to much better times.
So here I sit, wishing only to give you the facts, of a very unsettling personal experince, over the last week or so of in my life. I sincerily hope that what I have expressed, helps each reader to understand how insecure this virus can make one feel, knowing we are all borne with, the capability to walk to accomplish our daily tasks. Sincerily I look forward to having the capability to walk straight once again, and enjoy the fantastic weather given to us presently.
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