Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Basically, I get dizzy in certain positions, and when I do my eyes go crazy.
I saw an otologist today, and he at least knows what I have, and probably why I have it. Probably. He induced the dizziness by having my lie back rapidly and turn my head. When I got dizzy, he looked at my eyes and they were jumping around. He did it turning my head to the right, and the room swam. To the left, it was fine. It's a classic sign: the test is called "Dix-Hallpike", and it's positive when you exhibit paroxysm in your eyes. If you're positive, you have BPPV. so I have it.
Next is what causes it, and there are three choices: 1) calcium oxylate crystals floating around in your inner ear; 2) acoustic neuroma; or 3) brain tumor. He did a bunch of auditory tests and said my hearing is just fine, so that rules out #2. So most likely it's the crystals, but it's possible something's going on in my brain. He gave me some exercises to do where basically you induce the dizziness over and over until your brain starts trusting your eyes instead of your inner ear. And if that doesn't work in a couple of weeks, they start looking in my head.
He seemed pretty confident that it's the calcium oxylate crystals--if I was Dix-Hallpike positive on both sides, a tumor would be more likely. But if it's not better in a couple of weeks, he's going to do an MRI. So for the next two weeks I get to make myself dizzy as much as possible and hope things get better. I'm not looking forward to it.
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3 comments:
making yourself dizzy for a couple weeks- sounds like fun!- for a toddler. :)
At least you don't have dilithium crystals in your ear.
But then again, warp speed would be awfully handy in a triathlon.
Ok.. It's Sept 3rd.. Time to write more entertainment for you fans ;)
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