. . . in the distant, early morning . . .

Normally if I’m sick it’s no big deal.  I take the dogs to daycare and convalesce appropriately.

However, for the first time in many years, I finally have an exercise routine that I look forward to and enjoy.  Right now most exertion increases my dizziness from about 2 to 8.  The concept of running sounds pretty dangerous.

On top of that, I have two fairly young dogs that can’t go to daycare because of Giardia in Milton.  Now, as most competent dog owners know, dogs need exercise to be well-behaved family members.  My dogs have not gone to daycare or on a proper walk in nearly two weeks due to first my neck, and now the dizziness.  I’m somehow incredibly lucky.  Around 7pm they go and wrestle and run around the yard, and spend the rest of the day chewing bones and being wonderful.

I do not recommend others try this experiment, most young dogs would become unbearable pests, digging, destroying, barking, and being overall brats if they went this long without exercise.

I am going to slowly ease into my exercise routine by going on a 20 minute walk with the dogs; essentially around the block and to the mailbox (the long way to the mailbox).  Because it will be a slow walk and because my balance is questionable at best, both dogs will wear Gentle Leaders, either the harness or head halter version, because it would take a very small pull to get me to the ground right now.

I’m very much looking forward to a resolution to my ear pressure and included dizziness.  I want to be running every day, and I want to walk the dogs every day.  I miss these activities more than I might have 3+ months ago before I had started the exercise.  To not even be able to scale my stairs without become extremely dizzy is one of the most frustrating experiences I’ve encountered.

Still hoping this is just allergies.  5 days until I have more of an idea what the future holds in regards to this issue.

-Lisa, on July 20, 2010 at 11:39 am .::. Comments and Reactions

So, I saw Dr. Hicken. He was booked out but came into the wrong room so had a quick look.  I’m very happy it was Dr. Hicken that saw me.  He is worried that I have something called something like “Sudden Hearing Loss Syndrome”.  I think I got that wrong, but anyway.  If this is not diagnosed and treated aggressively within a few days, it can become permanent hearing loss.

On the happier side, he thinks it may just be allergies.

On the scarier side, it could be Meniere’s Disease; a possibly as my mom suffers from that.

So, I’m on Prednisone for the allergies/potential hearing loss, and Meclizine for the dizzy.  The Prednisone should help my cough as well, which we think is just allergies.

I’m really hopeful it’s just allergies.

When mom asked what I was going to do if it was Meniere’s, the first thing I responded with was, “get a service dog”.  Elka was never trained as a balance dog, isn’t big enough, and doesn’t enjoy the work.  If I really do have Meniere’s, then that’s a new situation and I will seek out a highly-trained giant breed (Dane/Mastiff?) to be with me at all times, both to alert and to catch.

But I’m really, really, really hopeful it’s just allergies.  I don’t want hearing loss, and I don’t want a life of dizzy spells.  I certainly don’t want to be trapped in an MRI, which I will be on Monday if the meds don’t help, or if I go off them and this comes back.

Please, please let this just be allergies.

Please?

Pretty please?

With sugar on top?

Ok, thank you.

-Lisa, on July 19, 2010 at 3:30 pm .::. Comments and Reactions

As ya’ll know, last week my recurring neck injury flared up, meaning I had to quit running for a week.

I ran yesterday.  For .5 miles, then I got light-headed and stopped. I thought it was just because I tried this before breakfast.

Now I just think I’m sick.  I ended up sleeping 5 hours mid-day yesterday, and then last night I slept a good 12 hours and I’m tired again.  I’m very dizzy and slightly shaky, though I’m not constantly sweating like I was yesterday- I’m more cold than hot.  I’m not really feverish, 96.7.  I’ll have to re-check that today.

I’m also coughing a lot.

But nothing wants to stay still.  I already have a doctor’s appointment on Tuesday.  I’d really like to get back into running but I imagine being dizzy and running as a bad combination.  The dogs really need to go for a walk but that, too, I can not do. I may do some treadmill training with them today - that involves me sitting down and giving them treats for going on the treadmill.  Of course Elka is already thus trained - it’s just Milton.

I have a lot to do: I badly need to clean, I need to walk the dogs and they both need furminating.  I’d like to do some garage organization as well.  But as long as I’m dizzy and shaky I’ll be doing z) none of the above.

This doesn’t feel like the flu, I wonder what I managed to get this time.

-Lisa, on July 18, 2010 at 11:42 am .::. Comments and Reactions