Okay, the world can stop doing that now

[slipjig3]

Those of you who've been reading this journal for quite a while may remember that I sometimes get hit by dizzy spells of varying magnitude/unpleasantness. Most of these are fairly transitory, more lightheadedness than actual dizziness, and are almost certainly linked to stress; they used to be fairly common until I started taking Wellbutrin, which all but eliminated them. But there's another type that I deal with very sporadically (by which I mean months or years between episodes, usually) that are another matter altogether. When these hit, I can't stand straight, I can't see straight, my stomach ties itself into half-hitches, and I basically feel on the verge of passing out cold for a few hours. You know how you feel just when you're in the process of fainting? Stretch that over ninety minutes or so. The only thing that I can do then is to lie flat on my back, shut my eyes and refrain from moving.

At one this afternoon, shortly before I was supposed to be at work, one of those hit me like a frying pan. It had been a long time, and I'd forgotten how nasty it can be; the worst part is when you feel it coming on, and you can't tell if you're going to lose consciousness or just wish you would. The worst part was that I was in the bathroom getting ready for my shower, which isn't the circumstances I'd want to have in place if I did happen to drop. I thank the proverbial lucky stars that the bathroom and bedroom are so close to each other.

I called work and finagled myself some time to get myself together, then fell asleep for a few hours. I'm semi-functional now, but the world still insists on moving and rocking like a catamaran on the high seas. I think I'm going to try heading out and finishing off my shift for the day, but something tells me I'll only be experiencing it subliminally.

Comments

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

I used to get that--more often than every few months. Not so often now, thankfully.

*hugs*, and glad you are feeling better enough to try to work, though I wish you could rest a bit more...

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

*hugs* All better for now, thanks.

[kimberly-a.livejournal.com]

Since I was 6 years old I've been struggling with dizziness and fainting. It usually only hits me once or twice a year, but it sounds like you have more warning than I do. If it hit me in the bathroom (which it has done many times), I would end up lying on the bathroom floor for half an hour or so until I felt okay to get up. But it does sound like mine passes more quickly than yours, so I suppose I can be glad of that.

They've never figured out what causes mine. What do they say about yours?

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

Oh, my God... *hugs*

Um, well, there's sort of a general shoulder-shrug from the doctors on this one. Like I said, the usual ones are more than likely stress-induced, but the big ones are infrequent enough that they're hard to get a lock on. MRI, Holter monitor and ultrasound all come up spiffy, though, so... *shrug*

[kimberly-a.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've had EEGs, EKGs, and MRIs, and they've never found anything to explain what happens to me. Their only guess has been low blood pressure.

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

I'm just thankful you weren't *driving* when it hit!
Seriously, have you been checked out for migraines and things related?
If you have nausea, noise of *any* kind= pain, and light makes you scream like an exposed Mogwi, plus you have what you perceive to be a swelling itching brain, it could very possibly be a migraine.
I just recently had the light symptom recently and I was not amused.

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

Eef. *hugs*

None of the traditional migraine symptoms, actually, so diagnosis is still way up in the air.

[jenphalian.livejournal.com]

Hey, we're long overdue for hanging-out! This being tax season, perhaps you should email Jason in that regard... but I want to see you! ...also, I hope this vertigo/migraine-thingy of yours goes away and doesn't return.

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

Yes, we are! I'll toss Mr. Jason a line. (What'cha all doin' this Sunday?)

[tidesong.livejournal.com]

Dizziness? Or vertigo (room spinning)?

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

Usual ones? Dizziness. Yesterday's and the other big ones? Vertigo.

[tidesong.livejournal.com]

The actual vertigo, is it a constant feeling? Or does it happen mostly when you move your head around? You can still feel "disoriented" and "off" as a whole..but the actual room spinning, does that come on with head movements?

[felisdemens.livejournal.com]

I get this also. Not debilitatingly - for the most part.

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

*hugs* *knocks wood*