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More Health Stuff
Jan. 27th, 2015 09:39 pmI called my doctor to make an appointment when I got home but the office was closed. I'll give a call during lunch tomorrow. The nurse I spoke to said that dizziness was a symptom that, rather than take a message for, they would have to "triage," and she asked about transferring me to talk to nurses. I declined; I'm pretty sure the condition is not immediately threatening.
That said, I've been putting together a chronology of symptoms for the doctor when I get to see him. (So many things Livejournal is handy for!) On Februry 2nd of last year, I'd been having heart palpitations for a couple days. Then I had that fainting spell in the library that led to be going to an urgent care clinic. I was moving heavy things when I felt light-headed and my legs got weak and tingly. I sat down and had some trouble forming words. After ten to fifteen minutes, I was feeling better and when I got to the clinic, they couldn't find anything wrong and suggested it was stress.
Minor versions of those symptoms have continued since then, when standing up from a sitting position or moving heavy things. It's the new normal, happening regularly enough that I think about it and prepare for it whenever I move a box or large book (and by large book I mean the 20 pound court record books) at the archives.
On the 22nd of this month, I was noticing dizziness and a feeling of pressure in my ears. I went to the clinic on campus and they gave me decongestants, which didn't help.
Yesterday evening, It was especially bad and was being triggered by particular noises. Those noises create a feeling sort of like movement and pressure within my ear. As if the pressure wave of the sound gets into my ear, then slows down to a fairly slow speed and I can feel the movement all the way through for a half-second or so. Sometimes the feeling of pressure expands into a sense of mild disorientation that fades when the noise stops.
----
The sound-triggered disorientation seems to be, or be similar to, a condition called Tullio Phenomonon. There are a couple obscure conditions that can cause that, but I don't think I have their other symptoms. Reading about various kinds and causes of dizziness, though, had made me think more about the chronic dizziness too. Given that it was connected to potential atrial fibrillation (the spans of heart palpitations), it makes me wonder if I had a minor stroke and am having continuing symptoms. This seems like an outlandish, or hypochondriacal, supposition. I'm well outside the age range, have good blood pressure, and no other contributing factors. But I figure I should bring it up with the doctor anyway.
It would also be nice to know whether the new version of dizziness is related, or something else. And just what it is! As I read through symptoms of conditions like Meniere's Disease, Superior Canal Dehiscence, and inner ear fistulas, I started feeling other symptoms of them such as mild vertigo and nausea. I suspect these were psychosomatic as I hadn't felt them until then, but I will keep notes about whether they continue as well.
---
And though I still feel like I don't have good words to describe the sensations I'm feeling, and that I may sound like a hypochondriac to a doctor, or look like I'm diagnosing myself (which I'm trying hard not to do; I'm just talking about possibilities), writing this up does make me feel like it's a good idea to talk to a pro about this.
---
So far, this has not affected my bicycling. I haven't encountered any sounds while riding that make me feel disoriented, nor have I felt any vertigo. I don't know what that means.
That said, I've been putting together a chronology of symptoms for the doctor when I get to see him. (So many things Livejournal is handy for!) On Februry 2nd of last year, I'd been having heart palpitations for a couple days. Then I had that fainting spell in the library that led to be going to an urgent care clinic. I was moving heavy things when I felt light-headed and my legs got weak and tingly. I sat down and had some trouble forming words. After ten to fifteen minutes, I was feeling better and when I got to the clinic, they couldn't find anything wrong and suggested it was stress.
Minor versions of those symptoms have continued since then, when standing up from a sitting position or moving heavy things. It's the new normal, happening regularly enough that I think about it and prepare for it whenever I move a box or large book (and by large book I mean the 20 pound court record books) at the archives.
On the 22nd of this month, I was noticing dizziness and a feeling of pressure in my ears. I went to the clinic on campus and they gave me decongestants, which didn't help.
Yesterday evening, It was especially bad and was being triggered by particular noises. Those noises create a feeling sort of like movement and pressure within my ear. As if the pressure wave of the sound gets into my ear, then slows down to a fairly slow speed and I can feel the movement all the way through for a half-second or so. Sometimes the feeling of pressure expands into a sense of mild disorientation that fades when the noise stops.
----
The sound-triggered disorientation seems to be, or be similar to, a condition called Tullio Phenomonon. There are a couple obscure conditions that can cause that, but I don't think I have their other symptoms. Reading about various kinds and causes of dizziness, though, had made me think more about the chronic dizziness too. Given that it was connected to potential atrial fibrillation (the spans of heart palpitations), it makes me wonder if I had a minor stroke and am having continuing symptoms. This seems like an outlandish, or hypochondriacal, supposition. I'm well outside the age range, have good blood pressure, and no other contributing factors. But I figure I should bring it up with the doctor anyway.
It would also be nice to know whether the new version of dizziness is related, or something else. And just what it is! As I read through symptoms of conditions like Meniere's Disease, Superior Canal Dehiscence, and inner ear fistulas, I started feeling other symptoms of them such as mild vertigo and nausea. I suspect these were psychosomatic as I hadn't felt them until then, but I will keep notes about whether they continue as well.
---
And though I still feel like I don't have good words to describe the sensations I'm feeling, and that I may sound like a hypochondriac to a doctor, or look like I'm diagnosing myself (which I'm trying hard not to do; I'm just talking about possibilities), writing this up does make me feel like it's a good idea to talk to a pro about this.
---
So far, this has not affected my bicycling. I haven't encountered any sounds while riding that make me feel disoriented, nor have I felt any vertigo. I don't know what that means.
