Anniversary Coming....scared! - Inner Ear Disorders Message Board

firechick · 07-05-2005, 03:30 PM

Hello Everyone
I am just about to hit my one year anniversary from my BPPV attack last July. (Three years after my labyrinthitis which I had pretty much 100%recovered from)
When I look at how bad I was one year ago, there is no comparison! But it is amazing how I can feel really good for a couple of weeks, and then come down again like I am right now and think I'll never feel normal again. The night I came down with BPPV I was at my Inlaws place the night before a big canoe race my husband and I were racing together in. I couldn't get out of bed that morning and I initially thought I had the labs back. It took me from that day in July until early Sept to realize it was BPPV and to find the Epeley which saved me!
We have been out training for the same race this year, and we are coming up to the date in a week and a half and I am scared out of my mind. I want to race but keep thinking that the same thing is going to happen again. I know how unlogical that thinking is, and the race has nothing to do with the BPPV. I keep doing the MEP and nothing has shown up in the last year. I am getting better and better apart from the odd decomp event which I am going through right now (which is probably what is contributing to my negative thoughts.) I told my husband that if I am not feeling great the week before the event then I am not doing it, it is a 63km race and is a huge physical effort. I am also worried that the race itself will wipe me out completely (it will anyway in a physical sense, but I mean in a vestibular sense)
Anyone had any anniversary issues??
Off to practice now, somehow moving on the water makes me forget this junk!

joyb77 · 07-05-2005, 04:00 PM

I'm sorry you are having on and off times this entire year. But I'm also glad that you have found stuff to help you. Like you said, this bad spell is only temporary. Try to hang in there and do the training...even if it means reducing it a little. It might help you mentally get through this, because you are still doing the things you normally do. How long does your bad spells usually last? I think it is fine to try to race and then if for some reason you aren't feeling like you can do it come race day, to back out. It's okay to realize your limits yet try to achieve them. Does that make sense? I'm SO happy you got through your labs and recovered! I got over whatever I had (still not sure) four years ago, and now it is back as well. Not as bad as before and it does come and go. Still trying to figure out if it is all labs or not. Doctors tell me 50 different things... I get confused!

I'll send you postive and healing vibes so that you feel better soon!
Joy

firechick · 07-05-2005, 08:00 PM

Thanks Joy
I just got in from practice, always feel better after some exercise. You are right though, I will be taking it right to the race day to decide wether or not to race. My husband is pretty understanding, and we can do this race next year.
I just wish I had a crystal ball that could tell me for sure if I will have to deal with this junk again. I sometimes think the worry of "will this keep being a problem in my life" is almost as bad as dealing with it when it is here.
My set-backs seem to last about one and a half to two weeks, but the good times are lasting longer and longer and are better and better.
I have been doing a lot of work on my self-talk, positive incantations etc to try to put my thinking into a more positive frame, but sometimes when I am feeling bad it still gets the best of me.
Hope you are feeling well, weird to have labs again, someone once told me it would be like being hit by lightening twice. When I first got the BPPV I was sure I have labs again, but a couple of months into it my symptoms were less severe and I figured out it was definitely related to head position. Thank God for the Epeley maneuover!!!!!!!

gloria2936 · 07-06-2005, 07:48 AM

firechick,

I'll be routing for you.

Exercise always makes me feel a little better. I really only have the strength to walk but I am up to a mile and a half a day compared to only a couple blocks back in April.

How long did it take you to recover from labs the first time?

I can't believe you and Joy recovered and got ear problems back again.

Take care,
Gloria

Tesss · 07-06-2005, 12:56 PM

Hey Firechick
Just wanted to say that I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you to be feeling well and able to do the race. Sounds fantastic, wish I could do something like that - ill or not!!
You will have to post and let us know how you got on.
GOOD LUCK!
Tesss