A roller-coaster-ride disease

Dizziness and vomiting is usually correlated with pregnancy; but this classic correlation was altered terrifically seven years ago. In February 2002, dizziness and vomiting gave me an awfully different meaning.

February 2002: I suddenly felt that my surrounding is moving and I’m floating; I have an upset stomach and I need to throw up. Flashback to 1997, I have experienced these things 3 times (June, August, and December). Until now, it is not yet clear to me if what happened in 1997 had anything to do with what occurred 5 years later.

The February 2002 initial incident occurred again from time to time since then. It was the start of my passionate familiarization with the Health Service (HS) and Out Patient Department (OPD) of the PGH. Going to HS and OPD eventually became a part of my routine. I underwent different tests, from the simple eye assessment, hearing tests, blood tests, to I-never-heard-before caloric test, and some other tests, which I can no longer remember. The last test that should have been done to me in PGH is CT Scan.

It was found out (and I confirmed) that my left ear has (a very) poor sense of hearing. From this, they conclude that I have BPV, Benign Positional Vertigo. The association of vertigo and the defect on my left ear is this: Vertigo usually occurs as a result of a disorder in the vestibular system (i.e., structures of the inner ear, the vestibular nerve, brainstem, and cerebellum). The vestibular system is responsible for integrating sensory stimuli and movement and for keeping objects in visual focus as the body moves (http://www.neurologychannel.com/vertigo/index.shtml). And so that’s it. I usually just feel like vomiting and dizzy or feel dizzy and vomit, I’ll take a nap, then it’s over. Just be ready for the next attack wherever and whenever, I had no idea. For all those attacks that I’ve been through, I have been dependent to (Betahistine) Serc, taking it 3X a day had at least gave me an assurance that at the end of the day I’ll be home in one piece. However, not everyday is my lucky day; but I am lucky to have friends and family, who are always available to help and be with me wherever I am, in a split second.

Here are some of my public displays of mortification:
(1) CAS Library: My Hum 2 class is at 2:30pm, I went to the library after lunch. I was in the Reserved Section, when I felt dizzy. I just asked someone (who I really did not recognize because her face is blurred) beside me to kindly call my friends in RH 301. Michael, Ai, and Gretch came to help me, and texted my sister, Che RPh about what happened. After few minutes, here comes my sister in white.
(2) Grad Office: We stayed in Grad Office after lunch, and then it happened again. I was not able to attend the first day of our Comm 3 class.
(3) Pathway between the PGH main entrance and the PGH chapel: Around 5pm, I dropped by the PGH chapel after class, I felt dizzy and eventually vomit. I called Gretch, fortunately, she’s still near the area. She helped me got to the Emergency Room, and then my sister came again to my rescue.
(4) RH 3rd Floor CR: We have 5:30-8:30pm class, vertigo strikes again. Almost everyone in the class helped, they have to “convert” an armchair into wheelchair so as to prevent me from walking. Another professor has to drive us to the PGH Emergency Room; Ai is with me during that time. Then Tita Bell came rushing few minutes later. Our prof told me on our last day of class: Hey, don’t faint again, ok?
(5) Harrison Plaza: I went alone to SM to look for a top that I’ll wear for my graduation. I suddenly felt dizzy; I was down on the floor but I still feel like I will fall, so technically, I was crawling on the floor and trying to make myself steady. Fortunately, persons walking by helped me stand, and the stall vendor nearby let me stay in her post until my dizziness is over.

Vertigo occurs without warning; I was actually afraid of going out because I’m worried that I’ll felt dizzy and vomit anywhere. I feel so helpless whenever I’m going through it; even with my eyes closed, I can still feel that I’m not in a steady position. It’s really hard. There are instances that my sister, Rona, is going with me to school. I thought of going home to Batangas and stop studying that time; because it is annoying and difficult for everyone around me if I’ll need someone to go with me everywhere. At home, I’m keeping a plastic bag under my pillow in case I’ll need it (there were times that I felt dizzy upon waking up and need to vomit) and I always have white flower ointment with me.

Aside from my frequent visits to PGH, we also decided to ask for other analysis on my condition; so we consulted Dr. Chan from Medical Center Manila (MCM). Tita Bell went with me on my scheduled check-ups. We started from nil, and had a new set of tests again; the last test I underwent is MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imagery (which costs Php 11,500). The doctor asked me to do it to test if there’s nothing wrong with my brain. Since I was not able to have CT Scan in PGH, we decided to do the MRI, just to make sure that I don’t have a tumor. Luckily, I was cleared on all those tests, except for my left ear.

I didn’t stop studying and I was able to graduate on time. Fast forward 2009; I have been working for almost four years now and I never had any vertigo attack for the last few years. I have also stopped taking Serc. And I have been living a normal life again, for the meantime? Because….

Vertigo is not a disease, but only a symptom. Vertigo, or dizziness, usually results from a disorder in the peripheral vestibular system (i.e., structures of the inner ear). One of the peripheral vestibular disorder is: Ménière disease – fluctuating pressure of inner ear fluid [endolymph]; results in severe vertigo, ringing in the ears [tinnitus], and progressive hearing loss. (http://www.neurologychannel.com/vertigo/causes.shtml)

Ménière's disease is an abnormality of the inner ear causing a host of symptoms, including vertigo or severe dizziness, tinnitus or a roaring sound in the ears, fluctuating hearing loss, and the sensation of pressure or pain in the affected ear. The disorder usually affects only one ear and is a common cause of hearing loss.

Some individuals with Ménière's disease have attacks that start with tinnitus (ear noises), a loss of hearing, or a full feeling or pressure in the affected ear. It is important to remember that all of these symptoms are unpredictable. Typically, the attack is characterized by a combination of vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss lasting several hours. People experience these discomforts at varying frequencies, durations, and intensities. Some may feel slight vertigo a few times a year. Others may be occasionally disturbed by intense, uncontrollable tinnitus while sleeping. Ménière's disease sufferers may also notice a hearing loss and feel unsteady all day long for prolonged periods . Other occasional symptoms of Ménière's disease include headaches, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea. A person's hearing tends to recover between attacks but over time becomes worse.

To test the vestibular or balance system, physicians irrigate the ears with warm and cool water or air. This procedure, known as caloric testing , results in nystagmus, rapid eye movements that can help a physician analyze a balance disorder. Since tumor growth can produce symptoms similar to Ménière's disease, an MRI is a useful test to determine whether a tumor is causing the patient's vertigo and hearing loss.(http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance/meniere.asp)

It is said that there is no cure for Meniere’s disease, but symptoms can be controlled; that explains the absence of my vertigo attacks for the last few years. Researches are still on going to know the best treatment for this… and so I think I should start taking the Serc again until further notice…