Balance Day ( Balance, Dizzy, Vertigo)

Yesterday i went along to a Balance Information Day at The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

When i first arrived i had to sign in and go into a reception room which had plenty of tables and chairs and an assortment of stalls with information leaflets detailing various balance issues from Labyrinthitis to Mal de Debarquement Syndrome and Tinitus.

After having a look around the stalls i grabbed myself  coffee and found somewhere to sit which was quite difficult as it seemed the world and his wife had decided to go to this event.

After coffee we were directed to the Lecture room where various Consultants, Doctors and people from different Societies spoke about the different balance illnesses. One Society i was interested in was The Menieres Society, Natasha told us how they not only help people with Menieres but also people with other balance issues.

It was interesting to hear how it affected different people and also how many said that because its a “Silent Illness”, often their friends and family think they are making it all up. I too have often felt this way. Oh yes i “Do” look well but i’m good at hiding how crap i really feel!

One lady started telling her story of how her boss does not believe how ill she is and makes her life hell at work. The poor lady ran out of the lecture room in tears.

All in all though, even if the balance problem i have which is Uncompensated Vestibular Disease wasn’t mentioned, i had a very informative day and it was great to meet people who also had balance issues.

Happy New Year

Well what a start to 2011.. On Boxing Day i started coughing.. and coughing…. and blooming coughing. 2 days later the aching of every bone in my body started. Yup i  had the dreaded flu.

 

I still can’t shake the cough off and its driving me maaaaaddddd. I’ve had medicine from the pharmacy and throat lozenges.. Hopefully it’ll go soon. I’ve not bothered my doctor as i’ll end up with more bugs if i go to the surgery and also its only flu and there are people out there who need a doctor more than me. I’m a survivor and will carry on sucking the Covonia Lozenges hehehe.

The old dizzy head isn’t doing me any favours either and seems to get worse each time. In a couple of weeks time i go to the hospital to see the Neurology Department so hopefully they’ll suss out whats going on in that there head of mine.

The only way i can describe the dizzy effects is that its not when i stand up or anything like that, it can suddenly come on while i’m watching television. I really hope something can get sorted as it makes me feel so sick too. thank heavens for  non alcoholic Ginger wine as it takes the sicky feeling away.

On the 25th of this month i go to see my Oncologist so hopefully alls well in that area too.

right thats me updated with my health. I’ve blogged this as i still am very forgetful and need things wrote down..chemo brain.. lack of brain.. senile.. You decide.

A visit to my GP

Today I saw my Doctor about the strange lumpy thing inside my heel, kind of part way up my leg.
It first appeared about ten weeks ago and appears after either walking or even just sitting on the sofa with my legs up.
I mentioned about it to Julie when I went to stay with the Devon girls a couple of weeks ago and she said it’s a Bursitis of the Achilles Tendon, which my Doctor clarified.
When it appears and sticks out, it’s the size of a marrowfat pea and stings as if I’ve put lemon in an open wound ( that’s the only way I can describe it ).

Anyway I came home with some ibuprofen cream to rub on and hopefully sort it out.

Description of Injury
Achilles tendon bursitis is inflammation of the fluid-filled sac (bursa) located either between the skin of the heel and the Achilles tendon (posterior Achilles tendon bursitis) or in front of the attachment of the Achilles tendon to the heel bone (anterior Achilles tendon bursitis). Achilles tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon. It often results from a small stretch injury that causes the tendon to become swollen, painful, and less flexible than a normal tendon. Untreated, the injury may fail to heal, or progress to a chronically painful condition.
Achilles Tendonosis is a degeneration of the Achilles tendon. The degeneration occurs from small tears in the Achilles tendon, the tears have a difficult time healing due to poor blood circulation and chronic irritation. Of course, in some people, these tears may progress to a complete rupture of the tendon.

Dr also decided to take my blood pressure as I am on tablets for high blood pressure and have been for a few years now, they monitor it as my mum suffered it and died of an anurism.
It’s high!! So he has upped my dosage from 20mg to 40 mg a day.
He also asked how I was doing regarding the dizzy do’s I still have and have had since chemo. I told him I pass out and feel dizzy and generally awful about every couple of weeks he has given me tablets to take when I feel like this in the hope it will make me feel better at that time and that I don’t keep passing out, here’s hoping!!.

Also he did some blood tests on me:
1 for Cholesterol
1 for liver & kidney function
1 for thyroid function
1 for a full blood count
And a fasting glucose one too.

Basically I had a full mot. I have to give the medical centre a ring on Friday afternoon to see what the results are.
All in all a good day at the Doctors.