Hi, all! Hope you all were able to have a nice Thanksgiving. I had a decent day at my mom's even tho' I have been feeling more off balance the last few days. Last night about 9 while I was still at my moms I felt my heart kind of doing flip flops. Then I felt really weird all over. I felt like my pulse was up but was too shook to take it. Everyone was trying to help me as I started crying and didn't know what to do with myself. I was nearly to the point of hyperventilating. Finally got settled down after about 30 minutes or so. Went home and went to bed. Had trouble getting to sleep. Nerves were just shot. Finally fell asleep about 1:30 and then slept until about 7:30.

Then this morning while I was sitting on the couch reading I felt fullness come up in my head and my heart started pounding. I took my pulse and it was 120!
I got up and walked around and it settled back down to 78 after about 10 minutes. Anybody have any idea what is going on here? Being the day after Thanksgiving my balance therapist isn't in and I don't really know what to do. These spells are SO terrifying.

My husband did get ahold of my personal doctor and he said that when the nerves are already on edge from the constant fighting of the balance then it will tend to cause the heart to do those flip flops and that part isn't really dangerous unless the pulse would do around 150 for an hour or so.

Does anyone have this kind of thing happen? I have never been tested except for ears yet and it just makes me wonder if I shouldn't get tested but I don't even know where to go or where to start. None of the doctors I have seen yet seem to think it necessary. Of course, my family is all ready to send me to Mayos. Anybody know anything about how they do with this kind of illness. I tried getting ahold of the Chicago Balance Center therapist today but she is not in.

This is a hard day. The disease feels like it is winning today. It is one of those days you just want to go to sleep and not wake up until the thing is over!!!

Thanks for being there and listening and for any help!

Blessings!

Vicki

Hi Vicki, am so sorry you were so down on Thanksgiving. My heart does the flip-flops and racing also. I have been on Toprol XL for 3 yrs because my heartbeat was too fast. The Toprol kept it in check until this ear monster. I do think the anxiety of it all causes it. A cardiologist could run all the tests and do the 24 hr heart monitor on you, to rule out your heart and give you peace of mind. The pulse coming back down so fast is a good sign. When you feel it starting--try--watch your breathing--put your hand on the lowest part of your rib cage and feel the breaths--slowly in and out. I think you will find, it will help the heart slow back down. Praying for you. Belle

Thanks, belle, for your reply! I haven't had any more spells like that today since this morning. Hopefully, no more for a long time! They certainly are scary!
I did have an EKG done on my heart but that is all. I am going to my balance therapist soon and I am going to talk to her about seeing someone who could maybe point me in the right direction of getting some tests done.

It seems like this time of the year is going to be hard cause I SO want to do normal Christmas things. My daughter is flying home from Albuquerque in December and I want so much to be able to enjoy her company and not just be coping thru her visit! Then there is shopping and Christmas cards and such. Right now it just sounds exhausting! It is my specific prayer right now that I will be able to have a good Christmas!

Still would like to hear from you Subs, on what you think about my spells and anyone else who may be experiencing that!

Thanks!!!

Vicki

Hi Vicki

Of course--it is always a good idea to get any thing like that checked out--just to be on the safe side---this thing(vestibular prob)---puts a strain on so many of the bodies systems.

..."Anybody have any idea what is going on here?"...

I had that happen---about once or twice a month---for about 12 of the months---the vestibular injury---has a impact--on the "fight or flight" system--and--a lot of "adrenalin" is flowing around---at times---when the brain/equilibrium center---is trying to figure things out---not many people(Doc's included) understand--to what degree---all these systems---influence--each other---they know there are connections---but don't understand--exactly how it all works--in various scenarios---if the situation that your in--at the time---is perceived--by the brain--as "fight or flight"---every things starts to gear up---to flee or fight---including the heart---in my case---that what they thought it was---when this junk/stuff went "bye-bye" :D ---it went with it---have not had it since--so--for me--I suspect--they were right(for a change).

If the "Chicago Balance Center" that you mentioned--is the same one--that is affiliated with Northwestern Univ/Dr Hain--it has a great rep--and is on the cutting edge of this stuff--along with the Univ of Penn/John Hopkins.


:cool:

Hi Vicki,

:eek: Woah, that's not a good feeling for sure. It does sound as though the overstimulation of your senses put everything into high-gear and once you started to feel it (the rapid heart rate), the rest of the attack you had was one of anxiety. I used to have it a lot and now I still have it happen on occasion, especially if I'm very "off" balanced and perception-wise and I'm out and about being overstimulated. The pressure I feel while trying to "control" too much gets the better of me.

Crying is a great release and it actually releases chemicals within the brain to start thinking more clearly. Did you feel better after you cried?

Have you ever thought of or have you heard of cognigive behavioural therapy? Sorry if we talked about it before, I didn't go back to check. The thoughts we have when we are going through "something extreme" physical or emotional causes thoughts to continue the physical symptoms. Medications such as valium and ativan will help to alleviate the symptoms and to help quiet the thoughts once they start to subside, but it may be a good suggestion for you to consider incase it happens the next time.

It will at least give you some tools to help control your thoughts while this is happening.

As difficult as this may be, try not to focus too much on your Christmas celebration with fears. You may want to consider other options to modify the celebration season to help it be less stressful.

since you have gone out shopping for the day, you are certainly getting on with things, and that, from my perspective is what you need to do. You're a trooper!! :cool:

I hope your day went well.

Best to you,
quincy

Hi, Quincy!
Thanks for writing. Very interesting stuff!
Well, I went shopping yesterday! Whoa! That was a challenge. Needless to say I was ready to get home. It is so discouraging not to be able to simply walk thru a mall without feeling so bad. It was such an important day for me cause my 19 year old son went with us and he and I got to do some shopping alone together and I did enjoy that. I have a very sweet son who is a great blessing to me!

I had another heart racing spell last night in the middle of the night. I just laid there and tried not to panic knowing it wouldn't last. It lasted about 15 minutes or so and then I went back to sleep. Do you ever have pain in your heart? I dreamed about water all night so I know I was in motion all night. I am not going to be able to go to church this morning.

The cognitive behavior thing, I don't know much about. I have read some stuff that subs has referred to. I have Lorazepam that my ENT gave me to take when a panic attack comes. Would that be helpful? I can tell that if I let my mind go in the way of despair when I get an attack it gets a whole lot worse. Even when I am feeling decent I will have thoughts that I am going to get bad again, and it can make me feel worse automatic. Is that what you are talking about?

Well, better get up and get doing something. Just don't feel well today!

Hope you are having a good day!

I do plan on making Christmas as stress-free as possible but that can be a challenge with 4 children!

Blessings!

Vicki

HI Vicki, me again. I was wondering--can you relate the pain to heartburn? I have the pain but I also have heartburn so I figured it was cause of that. Let me know when you find out. Belle

Hi, Belle!
No, is isn't like heartburn. The only time in my life I have had trouble with heartburn is when I have been pregnant. The pain I had the other morning was just a quick sharp pain that felt like it would have been where my heart is. I have had other just little sharp pains on my left side when I am lying down. I don't know if it is anything or not. My balance therapist is going to be calling me and I am going to ask her if she thinks I should talk to the neuro-otologist about it.
I woke up this morning feeling really off balance and my pulse was 120 again. It settled down after a little bit and has been down to 66 at some points. My blood pressure has been lower than normal.
Weird things!
Seems like there is always something I have to wonder about each day!
How are you getting along today? I am feeling better mentally than I was this morning. My neck is sore and stiff today and I would love to just lay around all day but I know that is not the best thing for me!

Take care!

Vicki

Hi Vicky,

How wonderful you are able to get out with your son (that he wants to go out with you), I hear many wouldn't care to shop with their moms. I know that when I'm "off", I don't enjoy shopping that much and I sometimes leave. I usually pick the times of the day when there's less people, like between 4:00 and 6:30. I can get lots of shopping done with less stress. And then there are other times where I could spend the whole day in the mall. It's always easier when not feeling "off". I do find the sounds bother me mostly, as well as smells believe it or not. It also depends on the mall. You know I was in the Grand Forks mall where there is carpet throughout. It muffled the sounds and it was actually too quiet. Also, walking on carpet that was squishy wasn't comfortable for balance. It's always different in a store, but I've never experienced it in a mall. Strange experience for me.

It sounds like you managed your heart racing spell quite well. Yes, to just let it go without making more out of it is like cognitive therapy does. You were right it didn't last and it's great you were able to fall back asleep.

I don't get that pain you talk about very often. I got it more when I was younger. I was told it was air bubbles. I find if I take a deep breath very slowly and hold it for a count of 5, then through tight puckered lips I expell it to the count of 10. That slows my heart down, and seems to get rid of the pain. Does it go away if you change sides?

Why not look up dreams meaning of water. It's a good dream and explains a lot.

The cognitive behaviour therapy focusses on the thoughts we have that lead to the emotional and physical state. Anxiety is brought on by the thoughts, the anxiety attack is the persistence of the thoughts. It's a cycle..hard to interrupt. I used to take the Ativan for times I knew I wouldn't want anxiety to interfere with a situation, or if I was doing not so well and overwhelmed with the anxiety, I would take it also. Falling asleep isn't a skill I do well unless I'm totally exhausted. I'm a night person through and through. If I have an appointment or outing early in the day, the anxiety to fall asleep usually leads to not falling asleep. I used to take the Ativan for that. It worked well, but I haven't used it since being on the Effexor.

There are many books on cognitive behaviour for anxiety in the library, book stores or just check it up on the internet. You already understand that getting caught up in the fearful thoughts can cause the attack to get worse. That's a hard thing to grasp.
Anxiety is basically fear of the future. You did state you were afraid of what will happen...that's the fear I'm talking about. The "what if's?"

I'd like to respond to a question you asked Subs. Don't stay at home because you may fear something will happen. It will become behaviour that leads to more anxiety. I would suggest you continue venturing out, the conditioning is part of anxiety therapy, and you can say to yourself "well, if I have to leave, I will." Leave yourself an out as an option.....but also say, I'll see how long I can stay before I make the decision to leave.
It's all about bringing it all to the conscious level. The outings may be a bit overstimulating and you may feel a bit more off. Sometimes when I felt more off, a half Gravol (dramamine) helped take the edge off.

You have a lot to handle on a daily basis, wow with 4 children plus dealing with how you physically feel is a definite challenge. I know I would never be able to do it.
Allow yourself your down days and take advantage of the good ones. The frustration is a given, but make the decisions consciously and try not to feel guilt afterward, which can just make you feel worse.

I hope you have a great week.

I'm getting over my sinus/larynx infection. I'm mighty ticked about it since I've had to cancel a some hair clients. I'm on medication now and it may be causing my UC a bit of discomfort. It may not be the UC, just a side effect of the meds. In any event, I'm feeling much better today and hope to improve steadily. One thing I was dreading was the possibility of getting dizzy again. But, I got a few hints of it, but nothing came of it. Oh well, it always comes when I least expect it. If it does, I hope I'm over this so that I don't have to deal with that too. Oh, the fun never ends ;)

Take care,
Happy shopping (in small amounts)!

quincy

Hey, Quincy!
Thanks for the information! Very Helpful! I am determined to keep going. I got out yesterday even tho' I just felt like curling up in a ball and staying there! I went to Walmart and then the grocery store. It always helps to do that. Even if it is difficult it usually lifts me up.
When I think my fears thru I realize that they are for the most part unrealistic. This dizzy thing just FEELS so out of control. Not a thing I can do to make it stop when it feels bad and I guess I get afraid of it getting so bad that it will be totally out of control.

Another thing that is hard to cope with is the fact I really don't have anyone medically that I can turn to that I feel would REALLY know what to do with me if I got really bad with this. That is a very unsettling feeling. It is a comfort to have these boards because for the most part everyone has really bad spells but not to the point of going to the hospital or anything.

Anyway, I really appreciate your advice and encouragement. It is hard to get up in the morning knowing I will have to deal with this again. But there are some good days and I know that they will come again.

Do you ever have 100% days?

Hope you have a good day today!!

Blessings!

Vicki