I feel like such a guinea pig
Tests, tests, tests. But I think the testing is done and over with now. Over 2 months, I've met with 2 doctors and 4 audiologists. I've been allergy tested (and how much fun that was!). I've had an MRI, a CT scan, an ENG and this morning a VNG. The ENG made me feel sick for 2 days. The VNG tests for basically the same things as the ENG, but it's done with video instead of electrodes attached to the face. The audiologist put some ill-fitting but oh-so-steampunky goggles on me for the duration of the test. Infrared cameras record eye movements (so I had to go in with no mascara on, because that interferes with the camera reception), instead of the electrodes recording the eye movement. And the biggest difference was the use of cold and warm air instead of cold and warm water in my ear for the caloric test. That's what really did me in for the ENG.
The audiologist this morning said that many places are now using VNG instead of ENG testing because ENG testing can make the person being tested violently ill, and they can get similar results using VNG without making the person feel so bad. I can attest to how shitty I felt after the ENG test in June. Today, the vertigo was pronounced when she did the air in my right ear, virtually none when she did the air in my left ear. And it went away pretty quickly. There were a few other tests she did to see if I got dizzy, how/when, etc., the whole thing lasted about an hour and a half. I have felt just a little unsteady all day, which is to be expected. My inner ear was still abused a bit today. Also, I got a raging headache from the test. The audiologist said that's not an uncommon reaction, so after I got to work, I popped some tylenol. I also took an antivert mostly because of the low-level unsteadiness I was feeling. Still, a vast improvement to how I did when I got the ENG.
As the audiologist said, today's test was not in vain. There were abnormal things that showed up. So that's a good thing. It just reinforces that whatever is plaguing me is all in my head inner ear. There is something that isn't right. Which hopefully means that Dr. Slater can work to start making it right (or better, or manageable, or whatever).
I'm going in tomorrow morning for my followup visit with Dr. Slater. I feel pretty confident there will be answers to be had. I've been so focused on all this the last few months, and I'd rather be focusing on other stuff.
The appointment tomorrow is at 10:30, which means I can sleep in late tomorrow! Bonus! I haven't slept much this week, and I'm dragging a bit. Tuesday, I was up until 2:30am finishing Anna Karenina and then had to get up at 7 to come in Wed for a staff retreat all morning. (But I did get a nice little shout out, so that was swell, and we were fed, also swell.) Last night I saw The Girl Who Played with Fire with my friend T. I very much enjoyed this movie. It wasn't quite as intense in some ways as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but it was still a well-paced, exciting thriller, and I'm looking forward to the third movie. After the movie, T and I went for coffee and chat. We were kicked out of Starbucks in Barnes and Noble at 11 when they closed. I was pretty tired when I got home, but had such an enjoyable evening I just can't complain. T and I have a lot of common intellectual interests, in books, opera, movies. It's just nice to have someone to talk to about those things. And laugh about things like what a goofy family I have (it's true, I do), or talk football with (he's not really into American football, but is a huge soccer fan, but he indulged me).
Still, tonight I plan to take it easy. I got about 6 hours sleep last night, maybe, but only 4 hours the night before. I can't keep up that kind of schedule. And since I don't really have to get up until 9 or so tomorrow, I want to feel refreshed as I go into what will be a very busy weekend ahead. Happily I have a temporary lull in activity at work - there are still things to do, but not the huge deadline (I'll be busy again next week after grades run and we have to review all programs of work, but for now, we're in the little space between when we have to check in all theses/reports, and reviewing programs of work). But there's partying to be had, with Untervelt and friends' big Leo blowout party in the Leander area. Good times ahead.
The audiologist this morning said that many places are now using VNG instead of ENG testing because ENG testing can make the person being tested violently ill, and they can get similar results using VNG without making the person feel so bad. I can attest to how shitty I felt after the ENG test in June. Today, the vertigo was pronounced when she did the air in my right ear, virtually none when she did the air in my left ear. And it went away pretty quickly. There were a few other tests she did to see if I got dizzy, how/when, etc., the whole thing lasted about an hour and a half. I have felt just a little unsteady all day, which is to be expected. My inner ear was still abused a bit today. Also, I got a raging headache from the test. The audiologist said that's not an uncommon reaction, so after I got to work, I popped some tylenol. I also took an antivert mostly because of the low-level unsteadiness I was feeling. Still, a vast improvement to how I did when I got the ENG.
As the audiologist said, today's test was not in vain. There were abnormal things that showed up. So that's a good thing. It just reinforces that whatever is plaguing me is all in my head inner ear. There is something that isn't right. Which hopefully means that Dr. Slater can work to start making it right (or better, or manageable, or whatever).
I'm going in tomorrow morning for my followup visit with Dr. Slater. I feel pretty confident there will be answers to be had. I've been so focused on all this the last few months, and I'd rather be focusing on other stuff.
The appointment tomorrow is at 10:30, which means I can sleep in late tomorrow! Bonus! I haven't slept much this week, and I'm dragging a bit. Tuesday, I was up until 2:30am finishing Anna Karenina and then had to get up at 7 to come in Wed for a staff retreat all morning. (But I did get a nice little shout out, so that was swell, and we were fed, also swell.) Last night I saw The Girl Who Played with Fire with my friend T. I very much enjoyed this movie. It wasn't quite as intense in some ways as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but it was still a well-paced, exciting thriller, and I'm looking forward to the third movie. After the movie, T and I went for coffee and chat. We were kicked out of Starbucks in Barnes and Noble at 11 when they closed. I was pretty tired when I got home, but had such an enjoyable evening I just can't complain. T and I have a lot of common intellectual interests, in books, opera, movies. It's just nice to have someone to talk to about those things. And laugh about things like what a goofy family I have (it's true, I do), or talk football with (he's not really into American football, but is a huge soccer fan, but he indulged me).
Still, tonight I plan to take it easy. I got about 6 hours sleep last night, maybe, but only 4 hours the night before. I can't keep up that kind of schedule. And since I don't really have to get up until 9 or so tomorrow, I want to feel refreshed as I go into what will be a very busy weekend ahead. Happily I have a temporary lull in activity at work - there are still things to do, but not the huge deadline (I'll be busy again next week after grades run and we have to review all programs of work, but for now, we're in the little space between when we have to check in all theses/reports, and reviewing programs of work). But there's partying to be had, with Untervelt and friends' big Leo blowout party in the Leander area. Good times ahead.