I've posted an update on the vertigo and dizziness situation on my other blog. I don't want my blogging to turn into a "poor me, I'm so sick" whine that bores the socks off you but I do want to share that being somewhat incapacitated is having a direct impact on my ability to maintain a green lifestyle. It is frustrating to see my 'footprint' increase as we try to track down the problem.
Going to different doctors and labs has increased our driving. I say "our" because my sweetie has had to act as my chauffeur lately. Dizzy people are dangerous drivers! On a couple of my better days, I managed short bike trips but this was not possible on some days. Some of those trips were to pick up frozen or restaurant meals requiring little effort from me.
In the doctors' offices, the paper trail is enormous, the exam table is covered with disposable paper, and exam tools are disposable, overly packaged, or require cleaning between patients. Machines and testing equipment hum their electric tunes, and, of course, their production required many resources to make and ship. Large medical staffs are driving to and from their jobs every day.
Don't get me wrong. Right now, I am very grateful to have access to these resources. I am grateful to have insurance and enough money to afford the copays. I am also grateful that I was exposed to information that guides me to generally eat a healthy diet which will hopefully help me avoid many common American diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis. I am grateful my sweetie is willing to help me through this.
I am, however, frustrated that I am contributing to more resource use with this mysterious condition. It is also impacting my resource use at home. When I'm dizzy, I can't garden, do much food prep, concentrate on reading sustainable living blogs or books, do laundry manually, or bike for many of my errands. I hope this is all a temporary setback and not a permanent situation. As I told my chiropractor a couple of weeks ago, dealing with vertigo all the time does not fit into my vision of the future!
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9 comments:
I am so sorry. I feel for you. My husband has been suffering from vertigo from almost a year ago. It was the worst in the beginning, but has been have relapses also. It is no fun. But oddly (or maybe not) it seems that the doc that has helped him the most was a chiropractor. Note he does not have back problems. But from a referral and as a last resort, he tried it and it worked wonders. I'm sure you've tried all avenues. Good luck.
Good luck. Hope you are back to normal soon! Vertigo is horrid and I only had it a short time - side effects from a cold of some sort.
Touch lots of wood :)
viv in nz
Hi Chile,
I totally get where you are coming from with the frustrations over resource use when something goes wrong with our health.
I hurt my back 18 months ago and my reality is that even now I can't function in the world without a car... riding is impossible and walking is only a very limited use affair (on good days I can make it to the end of my street and back, which of course doesn't actually get me to a bus stop it's close but not quite).
It also affects things that I would never ever have though about beforehand. Amongst a very long list of other things I can't use a broom or knead bread as my back simply wont support the angles and pressure required so I have to use a stand mixer and get external help with cleaning if I am going to be successful at this point.
Feeling reliant on modern conveniences and technologies when you feel they have a definite lifespan certainly has a way of highlighting how important good health is to a productive low power lifestyle.
Good Luck with finding your answer.
Kind Regards
Belinda
My mother had very bad vertigo for years, from falling off a horse in Egypt and then flying on the plane the next day back home. On the stopover in London she was taken into custody by security because she was weaving everywhere! The good news is, she is better now.
Some off-the-beaten path ideas which can't hurt while you are sleuthing the cause:
try gingko, the herb. It benefits circulation to the head, which helps some people with vertigo. The increased circulation is especially helpful if the cause is low blood pressure. Also, many physical issues will resolve themselves better with a health bloodflow.
Also, Homepathic remedies can work wonders, and don't interact with anything. Most healthfood stores carry them.
Best wishes for a quick solution!
It is amazing how much is single use in health care... and so much energy used. H
Thanks, ya'll.
Holly - I'm hoping it resolves between the vestibular rehab and the physical therapy for the shoulder. Fingers are crossed.
Viv - nope, no fun at all! Touchin' wood.
Belinda - it's frustrating and frightening, isn't it? Best wishes for your back, too!
Healing Green - my blood pressure was a little high when I went to the doctor. I suspect this was from the stress. I'll look into some herbal and homeopathic options. Thanks.
Jennifer - the need for sterility is the problem, but without it, there are more problems. *sigh*
Chile - feel better. I sometimes see a lack of empathy on these eco-blogs about people who can't do everything for themselves...not that I wish you any first-hand experience! I had a few years of this good days-bad days of dizziness and general malaise. Finally I found a neurologist who correctly diagnosed it as migraines, even though I had no pain. Maybe this is what ails you?
Good luck!
Megan
I have no advice or anything, but I'm sorry the vertigo is coming back and I hope you find out what's wrong soon!
It sucks, I've heard so much about how "eating right will miraculously make all your health problems vanish", but it sounds like that isn't the case for you. Here's hoping SOMETHING helps.
Megan - thanks.
Stephanie - eating right does tremendously help the typical diseases that people suffer and die from in this country: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and such. It doesn't cure everything, though. I still cut myself occasionally, twist my knee, and sometimes (often lately) get headaches. Good health is not guaranteed but good diet can ward off a lot of ill health.
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