CFS, FM & Vertigo by Eunice Beck RN

February 10, 2010

" Last week, I had an experience which really frightened me. I developed a

serious case of vertigo. I know this can be a symptom of FM, but as a nurse, I

also know there may be other reasons for vertigo. Mine came on very suddenly at

Physical Therapy. I went in, feeling fairly well. After my hot pack treatment, I

tried to sit up. Each time I lifted my head, the room started whirling around,

and I got nauseated. It took the help of the therapist, and about 30 minutes to

get me very shakily on my feet again. I sat around until I felt safe enough to

drive home, and I did get home safely, but probably should have called for a

ride.

I went back to bed, but continued to have symptoms all day, and the next

morning, when I first woke up, my closet doors looked more like the wheels of a

slot machine, turning very rapidly, then slowing down to a stop before I could

get out of bed.

I tried to call my doctor, but we missed connections somehow. I checked all the

things I could think to check: my blood pressure, my blood sugar. Have I eaten

anything different, or taken any different medications? Everything was in my

normal range, and nothing new had been added. So I decided to ride it out over

the weekend, and see if the symptoms got better. They did, but very slowly. It

was like being drunk without the alcohol. When I finally reached my doctor, he

was able to reassure me that these symptoms were probably temporary.

What was at least as frightening as the symptoms, was realizing how my life

would change if the symptoms did not improve. My spouse would not let me drive,

and insisted on taking me anywhere I needed to go. Independence is one thing I

am very unwilling to give up. I am not ready to have to inconvenience another

person to meet my need to go out. Was this more than I can handle? For a while I

thought it was, and it was very disturbing. "

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