I had a not so wonderful experience this morning but it was funny in hindsight and also thought provoking:

I had to call 911 to go to the hospital this morning. I had an acute attack of vestibular whatchamacallit – the inner ear infection. The room was spinning like a carnival ride and I was puking my guts out. I have Antivert now I and I feel a lot better. I knew what it was but I needed help, my daughter was with her dad, it was early in the morning, and it was so bad that I couldn’t feed the dogs and could barely survive letting them out. I waited for the ambulance lying on the floor by the front door. Just moving me into the ambulance started it all up again and I had dry heaves in the ambulance and they couldn’t set the IV. All the while I’m thinking “this is the stupidest waste of time for emergency professionals!” Ellis Hospital in Schenectady did a good job taking care of me and a neighbor picked me up at noon. They did do a CAT scan of my head, and to borrow from Dizzy Dean, they found nothing.

Anyway, it brought home to me the realities of being not only a single parent but a single dog mom as well. My daughter's care is dictated by our custody order, and I have a loose network of dog friends all close by who would care for my dogs as well as for my daughter should I have a real emergency. We've seen such wonderful networks with the tragedy of Annie Cogo's death and with Laura Reich's recent hospitalization. What's your plan? Who will step in and how will they know what to do if you are really incapacitated?

I have a written set of instructions listing all of my dogs, their co-owners if applicable, what they look like, what they eat, and any medical or other problems. Also the vet and other emergency numbers. I keep that handy - posted on the fridge. I have a second list of all the dogs in case of my unexpected demise or other situation where I would no longer be able to express my preferences. Right now I have it on my computer, but I will be dropping a copy off at my lawyer's tomorrow and sending a copy to each of the people listed. When my will is amended after the divorce, I will incorporate the list into the will.

I have everything I need - I just need to formalize it a little and get the information to the right people.

Something to think about.

Oh, by the way, I'm fine except if I try to bend over, stand up fast, go up and down stairs, or walk. LOL. But my daughter is home now so I have help!

I am so glad you are allright!!
I am a single mom to my labbie kids and I do worry about those kind of events.
I am going to write my plan now.

Hi Nancy..I know exactly how you feel...I had the same thing last year ...it was awful...I really thought I WAS DYING...I tried to call 911 but couldn't get to the phone...it was like being extremely intoxicated.....I was eventually diagnosed (after trying all the meds too) with severe vertigo....ugh!!...but the sent me to physical therapy and they manipulated my head and WAH-LA it was like a miracle...I hope yours clears up soon..move slowly and if you don't get better soon insist on the therapy...(took 3 Drs. for my diagnosis) they even tested my for MS as it is very common in this area...hope your feeling better soon!...Lisa

LOL - it WAS just like being intoxicated! I was having flashbacks to my college days... With none of the fun part. Today I am still slightly dizzy but the room is staying still and I'm happy. Taking it easy. I am able to drive so that's the best news!

I do feel pretty stupid. My daughter is telling the story to all her friends and we have one of those small town neighborhoods, so EVERYONE now knows.

Nancy:
I have had less severe episodes like the one you described 3 times in my life. I thankfully never had to go to the hospital but did see an ENT specialist for it as it was so bad that I had to crawl everywhere and would almost pass out if I tried to stand up. He gave me allergy meds which worked very well. So I keep Sudafed on hand and as soon as the symptoms start, I lay down flat on my back for a few hours. The dizziness subsides and goes away completely after a couple of days.
Hope you feel better.
And your dog plan sounds wonderful.

I had a vertigo issue several years ago, cannot now remember the name of the condition, but it was basically "ear rocks" / calculus that ended up in the inner ear.

A Otolaryngolosit specialist performed the Epply maneuver on my head, and after the one treatment, vertigo was gone. It was quite strange, but it worked. You know it worked, if you did not pass out when you sat up, after a treatment. The head manipulations moved the calculus out of the middle ear.

Had a similar problem about 15 years ago, inner ear viral infection, labrynthitis. Since it was a virus, no meds except to help with the vertigo. It was horrible, lasted about 4 weeks. The next year, it hit again but only lasted about 2 weeks, then again the next year about 1 week, very slight episode the year after. Happens during the time I have sinus problems, what was blooming or pollinating at that time. Can't imagine not having family support so hang in there and watch for the symptoms next year and catch it early with the Antivert or whatever you take for the vertigo. Praying for your quick recovery.

I had this happen to me a few years ago. When one episode hit I was sitting in my chair at work and boom all of a sudden I was on the floor. It was like the room tilted and dumped me right out! One of my co-workers looked up and asked "Are you OK?" to which I replies "Well, you could come over here and help me off the floor!" Jeeezzz...

As far as my dogs, a couple of doggie people who know me and my dogs have a key to my house and generally know what to do with each of the dogs. But I think you are right and we each should have a written detailed plan.

Thanks for putting us in thinking mode!

Johanne

My mom had vertigo last spring. IIRC they never made a real diagnosis, but she took dramamine for a couple weeks and it went away after 6 weeks.

I live alone with the dogs. My parents, brother, and my two dogs' co-owner knows where the emergency directions are. Work knows who to call if I don't show up. If anything happens, the lot of them go to the co-owner and she handles it from there, if necessary.

I also have written out what is to be done with my dogs if I was to die or become otherwise incapable of handling their care.

I too have suffered from serious vertigo. The ENT doctor said he usually sees this sort of problem in people who have suffered a severe head injury or who are really old. That made me feel just great!!! He prescribed a series of eye exercises that really work. You might want to look into this with your doctors. When I feel the spinning coming on I start the routine and it sure helps. My flare ups often come after sinus infections.

You were probably diagnosed with Labyrinthitis / Vestibular Neuritis

Within your ear is a series interconnected fluid-filled channels and canals, completely responsible for balance, called the labrynth. Part of the labyrinth is called the cochlea (it is shaped like a snail’s shell). The other part looks a bit like a gyroscope, which connects to a vestibule. Any disturbance of the vestibule causes faulty information to be relayed to your brain regarding position and movement of your head.. click here for image
It is usually caused by a virus (*rarely* bacteria), which causes inflammation of those structures of the inner ear. Injury or degeneration of any part of the labrynth can also cause the same symptoms.

There are few things so frightening as having your world literally turn upside down. You're quite helpless.

Be aware that for about a month, any sudden/quick movement of your head can cause another acute attack.

You have my sympathy,
*Old* ER Nurse, Dian

p.s. I recently had a major foot surgery. I understand how horrible it is to know that you can't take care of your dogs. Without my husband, I don't know what I would have done the past two months. He was a God-send. I know how important an on-call dog care list can be. I strongly suggest folks put together a list of people to call in the event you can't tend to your animals because of an emergency, and keep a list of instructions in a known place, so others will know how to proceed in your absence.

I agree with a previous poster, you need the Epply maneuver. I was on meds for 2 months and my dizziness wouldn't resolve. I went to another Dr. had the Epply maneuver and was instantly better. It repositions the particles floating in your ear to an area where they can settle down and your dizziness will go away. You can do a search for the Epply maneuver and a family member could assist you with this. Good Luck!

Just an update - the acute onset was followed by an equally quick recovery. I was totally fine within 24 hours. And now I have lots of meds for it in case it comes on again.