One step forward, one step back

Hello there, her royal dizziness here.  I was so thrilled to have some progress last week after Tuesday's chair right - I woke up on Thursday and was actually DIZZY FREE!!!  That's right, the first day in I-Don't-Know-How-Long that I was 100% without dizziness!  I was over the moon, it felt amazing!  I was still really tired and foggy and struggling with words, etc, but I didn't care, I was so incredibly stoked to have the dizziness gone which made me think the chair must have worked.  The dizzy-freeness lasted through Friday and then crushingly, Saturday morning I woke up as dizzy as can be.

This whole thing is just such an emotional roller coaster, I'm just so grateful I'm such a positive person and don't struggle with depression - I mean, sheesh, I could see how people could easily lose hope.  Despite the setback, I'm choosing to focus on the positive which is THE CHAIR WORKED which means it will work again.  Right Anterior it is!

I get on the chair again this afternoon, so fingers crossed.  I'd actually appreciate prayers and your thoughts for my Dad even more than for myself - he needs it more than me today.  LOVE YOU DAD!!!

Ok, on to the positive.  Had some lovely visitors over the last week, how powerful friendship and laughter can be right now!  I was feeling well enough to go to the movies with Rob on Thursday and my sweet hubbs didn't even complain when I made us sit in the very back row to prevent any dizziness from the moving camera angles.  I know, I know, I'm an old lady. 

And, this may be boring to you, but I'm telling you - these cute little hummingbirds are just making my day.  There was this amazing moment over the weekend where there were actually 5 of them taking turns at the feeder which is a big deal - usually they're a bunch of A-Hole piggies fighting over it as if all the juice is suddenly going to go away - and yet there was this moment of peace where 5 birdies all took turns.  Kindergarten teachers and Nobel Peace Prize winners would be so proud.  I only caught 2 of them with my cell phone, but you can just imagine it, I'm sure.  If you're still reading, that is.  :)  First is a shot of my world right now - Olympics, snuggling with G and watching my hummingbirds. 

And, as always, this whole health issue is just really making me pause and be mindful of the mind game, staying positive and allowing it to just taking it's course rather than fight what IS.  And I credit a certain Mr. Fluffy Wonder for assisting me on that - he does it so well.  Rob caught us mid-session one day.  :)

Not a lotta Update

So, still no progress on my symptoms (incidentally, I can't WAIT for the day to get on here and scream HALLELUIAH!  I"M ALL BETTER!!!!!) and had my follow up doctor's appointment yesterday.  A few interesting/hopeful tidbits from the visit.

• Because my symptoms worsened after the last chair ride and never improved, my doc is thinking that perhaps my crystals AREN'T out of the left posterior inner ear canal as they first thought because I should have felt better after a few days.  Instead, they're thinking that my symptoms are worse because the crystals may be out in the opposite plane which is apparently, the right anterior.  To test this theory out they put me through several right anterior 360 spins.  Guess I'm supposed to feel worse for a few days as crystals fall back into place but if it worked then I should be feeling better in a few.....fingers crossed!  
• In the meantime, I'm supposed to stop my vestibular rehab exercises every day at the gym so we can give my brain a rest.  Was kinda nice to have a break from my little buddy the dot today, I'm not going to lie.  
• My doc thinks that there's probably two things happening at this point from the virus - still the positional vertigo with the crystals but also most likely some permanent nerve damage from the virus.  While that is certainly horrible to hear, it makes sense why I'm still feeling so awful after 9 weeks.  The good news is, if it is permanent damage, then we will explore the Physical Therapist route and thankfully, there are PT's who specialize in vertigo rehab and there's a great one really close to our house.
• We won't likely know what the impact is of the nerve damage until we finally get the crystals back into place...and there's still a chance I'll feel 100% better after the crystals get into place - um, yes please.  I vote THAT.
• MD had to extend my time off work considering I still can't safely drive, can't think clearly, can't look down without falling down, etc.  I'm doing my best to remain hopeful but this has been so incredibly hard.  Who knew this could have lasted this long?  
• Um, I think that's it for me.

On to the happy.  Rob moved the hummingbird feeder so it's out the window that I stare out of all day from my couch perch...so now I literally just sit and watch my little birdies dive bomb each other all day...it makes me so happy.  This little guy I've named Stevie Wonder because he sits there on the tip of the hook and, well..."Stevie Wonders" his neck all around (yah, it's a verb, I just made that happen), it's pretty hysterical.  For someone so cute he sure is a jerk though.  Doesn't he realize there's plenty o' juice to go around?  Cripes, dude.  Share much?

I think anyone who is sick or bummed needs a fluffy white little buddy and hummingbirds.  And a kick-ass hubby.  Done and done.

My not-so-much-of-an-update

So, not much has changed unfortunately.  In this last week, I've been feeling super dizzy and foggy and it hasn't lifted.  We've done the Eppley Maneuvers several times in the middle of the night - much to Rob's and Galileo's chagrin, but we just have to keep our fingers crossed that it's working.  Who knew "in sickness and in health" could mean at 2:30 am, right?  I seriously have the most amazing hubby - not just for all the fun stuff, but for the not so fun as well.  When I visit "bluesy pooville" as we call it, when I start getting panicked that this won't go away, and my mind is off and racing worrying about being away from work this long, being so out of control, wah wah wah, Rob is steadfastly there by my side.  He's so positive and sweet and encouraging and exactly what I need - thank GOD.

So again, this will pass this will pass this will pass.  I can't help but think that with the worsening in symptoms, this HAS to mean good things, right?  This must mean the crystals are moving back into place...at least I hope.

On to the things that make me happy.

• As always, my White Shadow - Galileo is the best little buddy and partner through all of this.  I get up to go pee and he even dutifully follows me in there and sits at my feet.  It doesn't get better than that.

• Love and support that is constantly coming my way - I am eternally grateful by all the friends and family who constantly check in on me, I'm so humbled by it.  I'm not used to being on the receiving end of such support but it's amazing seeing all who love us and who would do anything for us.  That means the world.  Had a great visit from my sister wives, it feels so good to laugh with those jokers plus they're so awesome at being so supportive and positive.  More flowers came today - from my sweet brother in law and sister in law - so gorgeous and it made my day!!!
• And random things that make me smile and laugh - when I'm feeling the most frustrated and down, especially on my dizzy days, happy youtube vids are where it's at.  My latest find, Where in the Hell is Matt's latest - I truly want to know this guy and go on his next trip and dance my butt off:

 

Fingers crossed!!!

So, there's a big chance we made some progress last week!  While at the Neurologist's office last Thursday, I finally had a vertigo episode there.  I suggested that they leave me in a room laying flat on my back since that seems to always be the position I'm in when I'm having a vertigo episode - and sure enough, about 13 minutes into it, I had one...so they were able to strap the goggles on me and then get me into the chair.  And FINALLY on the spinny chair they were able to find the eye movements they needed and discern where exactly the crystals were dislodged...so for once they put me into specific movements on the chair in order to get the crystals back into place.  They also gave me some maneuvers to try at home as well - I'm supposed to do these every time I have a vertigo episode - and poor Rob, both times I've had them since have been in the middle of the night...and you guessed it....he has to help me.  Here's what we have to do:

http://player.vimeo.com/video/26950451

Good times - can you picture us at 2:30 am trying to roll around on the bed maneuvering around Galileo in the dark figuring out whether or not we're in the right angel?  It's a comedy routine, for sure.

Ever since Thursday I've actually felt like utter crap, dizzy at the slightest head movement and foggy beyond belief, but I'm hoping that just means things are moving back into place.  I'm super bummed we had to cancel our trip back to Colorado because I just can't do it right now.  It's so hard to admit that, and just like all of this, to have that out of my control, but there's just no way I can handle flying, driving and all the socializing.  It's so hard to just not feel like Beth and I miss feeling like me so much - I keep pushing myself to feel normal and then I crash and burn.

This will pass, this will pass, this will pass, this will pass.

What if this is my week I get better?  Wouldn't that be amazing???  I tell you what - when I'm better and can actually lay flat again, I'm having a big ol' spa day...home girl needs a massage after sleeping on 4 pillows a night.

Ok, on to the happy.  I'm grateful for so many things this week.  As always, all of the love, support and encouragement I've received from everybody has been so very humbling and lovely.  I received the most amazing Box O' Happy this week from my friend Carolyn (whose blog, incidentally, is featured over there ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>>>>)
and there was the best stuff in there sure to make any sick girl happy!  Little Miss Sunshine stuff galore, yellow play-dough, cracktastic cookies, Season One of the best show - Happy Endings, etc, etc, it was the best.  I had some playdough fun from the couch:

 Yah, that just happened.

Also had some lovely visitors over the weekend - my Aunt Joanne, Uncle Olie, Cousin Val and their granddaughter Lexa and her Mom Nikki from Colorado came for dinner over the weekend - it was great seeing them and it made me so happy to catch up with those guys.  We also caught up with our Sparks and Karen's folks too, it was so nice to just hang out.  Being with little Ruby and Bennett did my body and heart a lot of good - especially catching them together on the couch.  My heart melts!

Onward and upward - hopefully all good things from here!

(The Other Beth's) Birthday

Our friend Sean's Mom had her 60th birthday party about a month ago and since I haven't felt like getting on the computer much, I completely forgot to blog about it.  It was a lovely party and even though I was having a yucky vertigo day that day, I had such a nice time seeing our friends and celebrating such a lovely lady.  Dave, Sean and David's band played and we all boogied - I even rallied and got my boogie on a bit - dance does the body good, you know?  :)

Here are some of Paige's shots from the evening:
The birthday girl:

 

 There's the birthday gal!

 Nana and her grandkids:

 And kids...

crash blam boom!

 So, I guess it was only a matter of time but we had a car accident outside of our backyard wall last weekend that was...crazy.  I was sound asleep, it was just after 11 pm and then SHABLAMOO!  There is definitely no confusing that noise, eh?  Rob and I went blazing out of the house and saw this - it's hard to see but this Explorer has only one tire on the ground, it completely took out the transponder box that controls the stoplight behind our house.  (fyi, we took the pics WAY WAY later - we were the first to arrive on the scene so the cops and firemen asked us to stick around for a long time, so we got bored and snapped some pics eventually).

 When we got there, there were 3 people getting out of their car and luckily, no one was hurt.  But, I was amazed, they were trying to move the car and begged us not to call 911!  The 2 passengers both snuck away at one point and there were some other sneaky shenanigans too.  Needless to say, long story short, the driver eventually was arrested for a DUI.  Rob snapped this pics later of the keg and open wine bottle...just too good to pass up once we knew no one was hurt.

 

 

Thank goodness for the transponder box, the light pole they hit and our wall, because all those things kept the car from crashing into our backyard...so scary.  The light pole vaulted over into our backyard but our sturdy ficus trees kept it out - good job, trees!  Way to prevent javelin tossing!

Pretty boring blog post, I know, but seeing as though I spend the majority of my day on the couch trying to prevent the spins - this was the most exciting thing that happened at Chez Warrenskis in quite a while.  Snuggling with the white wonder is a close second.

More of the same...though new happys!

Sorry, not much new to report - still having vertigo probably 5 out of 7 nights a week and it's so frustrating.  It seems to be so positional which seems beyond something I can control - it's hard to get into bed and pray for a good night, you know?  I'm just so humbled by this - it's so frustrating to not know when I'll be better.  Had another vertigo episode on the acupuncturist table so as much as I love acupuncture, I need to take a break right now - I just can't lay flat.  So no massages for this girl either :(  But, I might have a referral to a physical therapist who specializes so that would be great to get another perspective.

Had some lovely surprises this week - flowers from my mother in law, gorgeous orchids which absolutely made my day!

 Also had a lovely visit from my sweet friend Paige and her cute sons Carter and Pax - she brought me a big old pot o' happy - a lovely hydrangea with fun photos from our travels and other happy memories together.

  This one makes me laugh - from our wedding dress party!

I've been lucky to get my dizziness under control for the most part, with the acupuncturist's herbs, so I've been able to read a bunch too - another thing I'm very grateful for.  Hey, I'll take it...even the smallest thing right now.

Much love, thanks to everyone for all of their support, encouragement and laughter, it means the world!  xo