Vestibular Migranes

As promised I thought id cover a piece about Vestibular Migraine's that I suffer with. Approx about 3 years ago I had a nasty bout of labyrithitis, it really knocked me for six! I couldn't get out of bed, my head spun fast and sometimes i was sick ( vomiting). My first bout was bad for a week but walking was so hard, i was disorientated and i couldn't walk straight at all  - i had to hold on to things and with the support of my Doctor my General Practitioner - he prescribed me some behistamine - i then began to feel better.

For those that do not know much about labyrythitis here's a summary :
Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the inner ear,^[1] and a form of unilateral vestibular dysfunction. It derives its name from the labyrinths that house the vestibular system (which sense changes in head position). Labyrinthitis can cause balance disorders.
In addition to balance control problems, a labyrinthitis patient may encounter hearing loss and tinnitus. Labyrinthitis is usually caused by a virus, but it can also arise from bacterial infection, head injury, extreme stress, an allergy or as a reaction to a particular medication. Both bacterial and viral labyrinthitis can cause permanent hearing loss, although this is rare.

Strangely after i had labyrithtis i then proceeded to get Swine influenza, i was very poorly and put on strong antibiotics as well as Tamiflu to recover ( Tamiflu made me very sick so lasted only a few days - one of  the side effects!).

3 months later after recovery I began experiencing bad dizzy spells - very similar but confined me to bed at times and meant i had to rest - again my General Practitioner prescribed me  the same  medication to help - but after regular intervals, the attacks were becoming much more frequent and he thought something wasn't right so decided to refer me to hospital to see a Ear Nose and Throat Specialist.

Please note this all happened way before I was implanted with  the Neurelec device.



Seeing the Vestibular Specialist

On meeting my Vestibular specialist - I endured a discussion of my symptoms and a series of some tests one of them was alike below - Please do not attempt to do this by yourself - this is something that should only be done under a specialist care


http://youtu.be/NQr7MKJBAJY


It was concluded after the  tests that i was in fact suffering with
 VESTIBULAR MIGRAINE'S.

A Summary what this is is as follows:

What are vestibular migraines?Vestibular migraine is a variant of migraine in which instead of headache being the most predominant feature, dizziness is. Patients usually say that out of nowhere they got extremely dizzy and don't feel like they're on even ground. Some describe a spinning or rocking sensation. They have light or sound sensitivity and get nauseous or throw up. Episodes can last minutes to hours, and there's a chronic form where people have a constant sense of imbalance. In many instances, people have a history of migraine headaches before vestibular migraine shows up.

What causes vestibular migraines?
We believe they're an inherited disorder. Patients' brains are normal on MRI imaging but in the same way that a migraine is a disorder of function, meaning an abnormal firing of pain pathways, we're still trying to figure out the mechanism behind vestibular migraines.


There seems to be hyperexcitability in the brain stem that's overlapping with the vestibular structures—which allow us to keep our balance—that's causing the dizziness.

I was shocked at first because i didnt have any pain! but Ive been on a special diet - which has eased the symptoms very much - but I'm trying different types of medication at the moment to see if we can ease it. I'm thankful he understands how debilitating it can be - i tend to find if i stress myself out too much, eat some of the triggers it does flare up so I've adopted the spoon theory so i can manage my time and make sure i don't do too much too soon. Slows me down i know - but i suppose its all for a good reason these things and meant to be.

SPOON THEORY

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory-written-by-christine-miserandino/





Post Operation

Very soon after my operation i was poorly with vertigo - but showing different symptoms - more difficulty and very spinny when i walked - but after speaking  to my Specialist he assured me that  this possibly was from the Operation and there was probably some swelling in my inner ear and he said it would subside - he was right it is getting better each day. One good bonus is - i don't seem to be getting as much ear infections as I used to. This is probably because i do not need to wear a ear mould no more so again another advantage to having the Implant.

Ive also noticed however when ever i placed my glasses on - it can be quite tender to wear this is probably due to the operation - like any other head operation it does take a long while for the swelling to go down  - Ive ordered newer lighter glasses.

Been also getting into Christmas spirit by listening to some Christmas Songs - Its quite nice actually as i can hear the beat and some of the melodies quite well. I struggled with that last year so I can actually say I'm looking forward to joining in the Christmas Spirit.

I'm due another tune in /mapping this week coming so looking forward to that - will keep you posted how it goes and update you with some new sounds Ive been hearing this month - I'm coming up to my 3 month listening milestone on the 16th. Over all I'm really pleased with how things have been - its just taken me along time to get adjusted - but like my audiologist said to me - Ive been deaf all my life so it will take me a long time.

Finally Ive set a Neurelec -Binaural  Users Supporters page on facebook - as i thought it might help others like me - if you want the link email me and i shall add you to it.. Im no expert - but its a good start I think.

Hi ho, Hi ho, its back to work I go!!!!

Before i begin i wanted to share this cartoon with you - again by Ian johnstone - my husband and i joked that i would never be allowed near a scrap yard, it just explains it all really ha ha:

Returning to work
Over the last two weeks I've been weaning myself back into the workplace - I'm on a phrased return which has supported me tremendously. I never expected to be of sick this long - but I've been so tired and all sorts of problems with vertigo, infections etc. This may well be because I suffer with another condition called Vestibular Migraine's. I will explain them later on in my blog but for now lets focus on my workplace.

 I work in an office, for obvious reasons I choose not to say where but the work i deal with is mostly administration. Administration as in volumes of paperwork, filing, PC work and data entry. Its a busy environment and very noisy! A like a majority of deaf people i need accommodation's or otherwise known as in the UK : reasonable adjustments.

To gain these accommodation's has taken time - especially as my hearing has deteriorated and also due to many management changes - its been a challenge at times! Much of this through fault of my own due to my speech being so good and struggling to be alike everyone else! But at the moment I have a very supportive team who i work with- they've all missed me since Ive been of sick and been really kind to me on my return.

My first day back to the office was only for 3 hrs and a bit of a shock to the system for my poor ears! As everyone welcomed me back i heard a grinding noise and looked around and saw a colleague get up and walk to the printer - the grinding noise began again and i realised then it was the printer making the awful noise! I have heard printers before when i was sat next to them in the past - but not as loud as that - help ! -it terrified me.

As well as printers i could also hear tap tap tap tap - which took me days to suss out - standing by someone i realised it stopped and on asking them what they were just doing - i realised it was the typing of the keyboards! Another new sound to get used to!

It wasn't all good though - still struggled with peoples voices at times but they were very patient and prepared to help me understand at times. The journey into work was not  pleasant either as the bus i got on had a terrible engine- it drove me nuts so i flicked the magnet of - it was abit early on in the morning for me!

A funny moment for me was when we were having a meeting - usually we have an interpreter booked but this was a quick meeting and I usually join and get told afterwards whats being said but this particular time i could hear this loud 'crunch' my team saw me doing this frantic 5 minute twirl and there it was - a colleague was crunching on his crisps! I think everyone laughed at him and me as i pointed over and said ' what was that ? ', and he was half way munching a huge crisp and cowered like he wanted to hide!Poor bloke but funny at the same time!

Its not always been an easy ride as Ive also found myself going home for a kip when I've got in from work - its such a noisy office so its something i have to get used to - I've also had alot of hospital appointments as well as travelling to and from them but on the whole - I've been lucky  - and I'm so proud of my colleagues for being supportive.

Having a cochlear implant isn't always an easy thing to explain - but with all  the literature that SOECIC ( south of England Cochlear Implant Centre) have provided me with, my reports my hearing therapist and Audiologist provided - its helped me a great deal. I'm sure theres still hundreds of noises for me to learn - but having them to share it with them - means alot to me.



I wanted to end this by adding a poem that i replied to someone on here - i get told alot by people that they've learnt alot from me from my blog - through out my life I've always believed that being deaf was an purpose to help educate people - but this describes it perfectly

xoOXOox