Continuation of the Story

Well... I left off with getting my diagnosis, and doing the experimental treatments with Dr. Epley. Finally, I had to be done with that. I was about??? 26-27 or so then. Jena had gotten married, had two kids. I moved to an apartment with my mom after my dad died. Financially it was what we both needed to do. I completed my education. With a GREAT deal of help from my Grandma. I got scholarships, and grants, but when I needed to go to Provo for the Summer she helped me do that. I was able to graduate from Brigham Young University. My dream! it really came true. My degree is in Psychology. I finished. I am a college graduate. I didn't get to go to my graduation, and my degree came in the mail to me right after I had moved to Texas. So not very many people have even seen it. But it really happened. I worked so hard for soooo many years to complete it. I am a Ricks College alumni, and now a BYU alumni.
Over the years my dizziness had not really changed until 2 years ago. I had had some times of incredible bad dizzy but then it seemed to stabilizes on it's own with time. We've known it would get worse, but I had been so careful. I did know that I HAD to have tubes in my ears. Most Vestibular Disorder Patients don't need them, but I definitely do. The difference for me is incredible, I have permanent tubes now. They are checked very closely. I actually have an appointment in 2 days just to make sure there OK after the allergy season.
But 2 years ago, I came back from Idaho with Altitude Sickness. I had it when I was there (now when I go, I pretty much always do, I take meds 4 days before I even leave San Antonio to go to Idaho, then keep taking then till I can handle being in the high altitude.) But that was my first experience with the Altitude Sickness, I was with my friend Jill, in San Antonio when I got REALLY sick. I was at her house and couldn't drive home. Her and her husband got me and my car home. I was laying low for a couple of days. But I was getting worse. Saturday, Jill and I went to a class that we really wanted to go to. I went to the bathroom and couldn't get back to her. She brought me back to my mom and they took me to the hospital. I was MAD. I thought they were over re-acting. In the E.R. they took right back.... no waiting. That worried me. But I was still mad. I was so sick, so dizzy at that point, that I couldn't hold on enough. All of my muscle hurt from being so tense from trying to hold on to the chair, then the bed. I had a HUGE head ache. They E.R. doctor really didn't know much about Vestibular Disorders. He knew enough to ask ME for help. My mom and I and even Jill explained what was happening and why. My ENT, Dr. King was not on call that Saturday, but the other doctor in her office admitted me into the neuro unit in the hospital. MRI's and CT scans and tons of steroids to reduces the swelling in my brain were ordered. I have been diagnosed with Mid-Brain Migraines along with the everything else. I got my Driver's License taken away. That was a surprise. I didn't have a seizure or anything. But I was defiantly a hazard. I knew that. I would never have driven if I wasn't safe to drive. But the fact that they said I couldn't, put me in a different category. After the hospital stay, I couldn't walk alone without the assistance of a walker for months. Now I only use it outside. If I don't have something over my head. I don't have a vertical reference. It's hard to explain why I need to have something above me. But I need to see it, in my peripheral ? vision to balance enough not to fall down all the time. Then shopping is another place I use my walker. To many things passing by, to fast. I can't focus on anything but walking when I'm walking... so shopping is no fun. If I have my walker, I can multi-task.
I'm driving again. It's been almost 2 years since that day I went to the hospital. My dizziness has changed so much in the last 13 years. I have too. I have learned to adapt to it. Some days are easier than others. Some days I never leave the house. Today, I didn't leave. Church is the hardest thing I do. But it is one of the most important things to me. I make a sacrifice for what I know is right. The music is what gets me. But then also, feeling the love of my Savior, takes my guard down, and I get dizzier. I guess it's because I am humble or suppose to be humble anyway. That feeling is overwhelming to me. I know that I won't be able to drive after church... so I try not to be put in a position where I will have to. I would never want that feeling to go away. I will adjust. It is a good thing. Sunday afternoon naps are a HUGE blessing for me, for more than one reason. :0)
Anyway, more on another day.