Hey All,

Just had to let everyone know that I made the deadline today and handed in 4 copies of my thesis at noon today. :jester:

What a long and tough road it's been. And of course getting through this with an attack of labs/VN plus the nightmare decomp sessions I've had makes this victory even sweeter.

Thanks again to all of you who have helped me to keep my head screwed on straight through all of this. God knows what I would have done without this board and all the brilliant information we've exchanged.

Best...Scott :cool:

Congratulations on a hard road well traveled and a job well done!!!!! Only fellow sufferers could begin to imagine how challenging it was to complete such a goal under such difficulty - we're celebrating with you!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS! I am really pleased for you! Now you can go and have a fantastic holiday too!!

Well done Scott and congratulations to you! :)

Congratulations Scott:

You worked real hard


Howie

You really made me smile today!
I am just packing off to Whistler for a much needed holiday with my husband and no kids...as I was drifting off to sleep last night and thinking about the date, I thought I had better drop a line to Scott before I go in anticipation of you finishing....and you have already done it!
So now what? You deserve some time to relax, and take stock of all you have accomplished. Both the PhD and fighting this inner ear crap are both monumental.
Be proud, have a party, and I'll take a run backcountry in your honour.
FC

Scott:
Just want to let you know I am so happy for you and such a great accomplishment...hope now you can relax a bit and feel better without the stress of a thesis hanging over your head. I admire you for your perseverance. Good for you!!!

Congratulations..

This shows that even feeling bad with this junk, you can always go on with your life and the really important stuff.

I see it like a message for all of us to keep going, no matter what.

By the way did you have yout PJD visit already?

Anyway, good work man.

Yaaaaahhhhhooooooo! Right on Scott. Always knew you could do it. Huge congrats.

:wave:
Terri

Hey Scott!
Once again - inspirational!!! Your post has made my day as well!!! So-o-o happy for you - hope you can celebrate in the fashion you have dreamed about and deserve so much. Always know how many people you've helped ... a very special talent...

Subs' post said it all... it's the first time I've seen him speechless!... but smiling with you all the way...

Hugs... take care...

~Sheri

Well done, Scott! I got labyrinthitis two weeks into my PhD so I know all too well what a huge accomplishment this is for you! I hope you are justifiably proud of yourself!! :D

Fantastic Scott :D Well done you...

xxx :bouncing:

Hi All,

Thanks for all your messages! :D Sure made my day.

But now I find myself walking around not knowing what to do with myself! I was so focused on one thing, and one thing only, that I still have to pinch myself and think, "Is it really finished?"

Terri - great to hear from you again. I wondered where you were at. All good with the teaching still? And are there any symptoms hanging around or are you 100%?

Hey dogologist - wow, coming down with this garbage at the beginning of your phd must have been really deflating. I lost count of how many times I thought, "How will I ever finish this thing?". How is it going for you now? Are you on track and feeling OK?

Thanks again for all the kind words.....Scott :)

Hi Scott! Yep, the timing of mine wasn't great, but at least it was just after I'd started, not just before, or I'd never have started the PhD at all.

I'm no better, to be honest. I'm a year into VRT, picked up briefly but then crashed again after a bereavement, and I've just started nortriptyline for the migraines (a week ago, so I'm still adjusting to it). I think the dose is going to have to go up, though, because I'm still getting almost constant migraines, albeit not quite as severe. I'm waiting to see a cardiologist as well, to investigate whether my heart murmur is a septal defect, because of the research that's just come out linking ventricular septal defects with migraine. So that'll be fun...! :|

I know the 'what do I do now...?' feeling alll too well - I was *lost* without my thesis to focus on, but enjoy the time - you've earned it! Any idea of a viva date?

Ann

Hi Scott,

You did it! Kudos to you. This is an accomplishment well-done and much deserved! I couldn't have done it like this so you should be very proud of yourself.

I miss chatting with you, but as you can see from my post, I'm sorting things out and think I see a little light at the end of the tunnel. I'm looking so forward to Spring/Summer that I can actually taste it. It is getting warmer and warmer here and I noticed some buds on the trees at the park when I was walking yesterday. I'll have to take some closeups and send them to you. I never noticed the beauty in simple things like this before. Sad it took something like this ear stuff to wise me up. Do you have season changes where your at?

Anyway, hope you are well and CONGRADULATIONS.

Cheers,
Gloria

Hey there Scott,

Yeah, I'm still lurking around. I look in now and again and only post once in a while. I'm pretty much done with this garbage and have been for a while. How about you?

Teaching is going great. I'm teaching History of Western Civilization. I have two classes this term, so I'm at work 4 days a week. I've also applied for a fulltime position with my college, which would begin in the fall, so we'll see. Haven't heard yet, but they are still in the process of reading applications and such to see who they want to call for interviews. Good thing is I'm already on the inside of the institution, so to speak, so I'm somewhat of a known quantity. Though there's always stiff competition for these jobs (lots of over-educated, under-employed people around here!).

Now what for you?????

Terri

Hi Terri,

Sorry for such a long lapse in replying - I missed it. Glad to hear you are pretty much sorted now. I'm not unfortunately but it's not really a hassle much anymore. I don't fret when it hits and I usually bounce back again within a week if it does hit. I'm going to see Halmagyi in Sydney to follow this up further though. I wonder if I have a migraine component to this - not sure - or maybe just endless decomp hitting here and there.

Good news for me three days ago - my thesis was given the thumbs up by all four examiners. Some nice comments too....I'm stoked.

Take care...Scott

Hey Scott, a big CONGRATS!!!! Am so happy for you. Don't worry, take time to just relax now. You have sure earned it!!!!! Belle

Hey Scott
You need to change your user name to "Dr Scottsman"
Congratulations!
Was in your hometown last week for the dragon boat world club crew championships...came home with 6 gold medals! Still dealing but staying active has been a godsend.
FC

Hi Realbelle and Firechick,

Realbelle - thanks for the congrats. I am definitely taking it easy but still manage to get hit with the odd curve ball. How are you doing at the moment?

Firechick - well done on the medal haul. So you were in Sydney or Toronto? Glad to hear you are active and doing your thing despite still dealing with some stuff. I was hit hard last weekend following a train trip, lack of sleep and a glass of wine that night. Panic feelings and disorientation for 3 days straight. All good again now and I continue to hold on just 1/3 of the SSRI dose - almost the lowest yet.

Best....Scott

Scotsman

Just dropped onto the board have not been here for a while but was very excited to read your post about finishing your thesis. And wanted to acknowledge your accomplishment!! Thanks for still being on the board and helping everyone out. This board was a life saver for me and your words always helped.

All the best!!!!
Jade

Hey Jade,

Thank you for the words. How are you? What's been happening for you? Are you free of this junk yet or are you getting any decomp "thunderstorms" blowing through?

All the best....Scott

Scott,
was in TO for a week...crazy traffic! Funny though because next year the World championships are in Sydney, but haven't made the committment to the team yet as it will be a long trip for both my husband and I and we would have to leave kids behind as they will be in school. This paddling has been a godsend for my head, when I am paddling it is the last thing on my mind and you don't have to move your head much either.
Glad you are on a lower dose, I know I would be the same and would like to get off the drugs, what a shame meds have this effect on the body. Sometimes you read the side effects of meds and they sound worse than the reasons you are taking them.
Now the thesis is over are you working a 'job' or will you stay with the university and do more studying?
Congrats again, keep moving.
FC

Hey Scott

Not all the way free of this junk but compared to where I was at, I think I've come far, though there are days when i get angry and wonder why this ever happened and can i keep coping, but I don't think about it all the time. Just try to push on... Intresting to see all our posts and realise it really does take time. Anxiety still a slight issue. I can feel the PA attack come on, and come and go, but I just try and breathe threw it. I can usually find the cause, my head is moving a lot, a light is in my field, you know... gosh we are so sensitive. :0)

Take Care, Thanks again for all your support on this board!!
Jade

Hi Jade,

Sorry to hear there's still some of this garbage happening for you re the panic. From all that I read that should go away eventually as long as you never become afraid of the panic itself. It takes a looooong time for the nervous system to desensitise and you (and I) are going to have a tougher time with it because there's always that feather tickling it (eg. the inner ear thing). It sounds like you do have a good handle on it though in understanding that the panic is NOT you and that by simply forcing yourself (for lack of a better word) to relax into the attack and not fight it, it will go. Claire Weekes puts it this way when the attacks come: Acceptance --> Float through it --> Time.

Over the last two days I have enetered a new nasty little phase myself. About a week ago I started taking only 1/3 of the SSRI solidly and not alternating between 1/2 (hacking pieces of it off) and over the last two days I began hitting the turbulence. Cool during the day but I get hit while lying down. Last night was the worst yet with non-stop agitation, mad dreams and waking once with a burning feeling in my chest followed by a racing heart palp that went in about 30 seconds. God, I hate when my body has to experience this but I am really working at ignoring and accepting it as part of the process. I just hope I have the strength and resolve to handle a massive "re-entry". I always think of this as a return to Earth in a space shuttle!!! :D

FC - Wow, if you can get down to Sydney then go for it. You'll love Australia and Sydney is a great city...fab beaches etc. Work wise I'd say I'll be back at the university for a while until I hunt down something else. I have to tell you the prospect of a new job and even some normal, light stress associated with it worries me in that it could be like throwing petrol on an already small camp fire.

Best....Scott :cool: