It all started with a little head rush. No big deal. Just stood up too fast. I got that little bit of dizziness, but it passed quickly. At first. Over the next few days, the dizziness became more pronounced, and was in turn, joined by a progression of other annoyances: strobing light, tunnel vision, ringing ears. I thought (the same as the rest of you are thinking right now),"Well, crap. What now?"
I have just enough general medical knowledge to be usually a fairly well-informed patient, but sometimes to scare myself pretty good. I thought it might be my heart. The fact that the dizziness always occurred when I stood after sitting for long periods obviously meant that my heart was unable to pump enough blood all the way up to my brain during positional transition, right? Well, no, not really. But that thought was worth a couple-day-long freak-out until a doctor told me my heart was healthy and I was ridiculous. It was just a head rush. Well, okay. I wasn't completely satisfied, because I didn't have an answer to why I was getting dizzy. But at least I was over thinking I was going to die young enough to leave a good-looking corpse.
Then I started to get dizzy at other times, like when I looked up. Not the best thing in the world when you are trying to put drinking glasses away in an overhead cabinet and the world suddenly tilts on you. But it did give me another clue. My internal medical Dick Tracy shouted, "Aha! Ear infection!" Well, no, not that either.
The dizziness persisted and was soon accompanied by a general feeling of malaise. There wasn't any particular symptom I could identify. I just didn't want to do anything. I didn't want to get out of bed. I didn't want to go anywhere. I didn't want to accomplish anything. I certainly didn't want to sit down and write for this blog. Everything just seemed so...useless. I played a lot of video games.
And then, one day, my dizziness, tunnel vision, and ringing ears invited another friend to the party: tingling arms. Evidently tingling arms doesn't like to travel alone, and was joined a few days later by his good buddy uncontrollable twitching. It got so bad I couldn't even get a key into a door lock. Now I am thinking neurological problem (does anyone smell burnt toast?) I went straight past freak out and directly into full-blown panic mode.
By this time I have had every possible test run on every conceivable body fluid, plus some other bits of unpleasantness. Still not my heart. Still not an ear infection. Not diabetes. Not a brain tumor, either. In fact, they didn't even test me for that one. Just laughed. Not parasites or amoebas. Finally, I got an answer: Electrolytes. Yeah, go ahead and laugh. Not only is it a bit ridiculous, it's anticlimactic. I was sweating myself to sickness.
The problem was exacerbated by the fact that I was drinking a lot of water to replace lost fluids. I should have been drinking fruit juice. The excessive water just served to dilute the electrolytes I did have. Sheesh. And I feel doubly sheepish for telling everyone to be sure and drink some Pedialyte during the perspiration months. I actually was drinking it myself – just not enough. I was drinking about 4 ounces a day; now I drink about 16. We buy it by the case at Sam's Club. It's amazing how quickly the symptoms disappeared. I'm talking minutes.
So now everything is right with me and I'm back in the saddle again as the saying goes. And I have totally given up on my "who needs stinking air conditioning?" attitude. I am not that tough. So you will be hearing more from me soon, for better or for worse. I have lots of blogging to catch up on – from the comfort of my air-conditioned bedroom.
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|65.95.152.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s Jeremy - So that's why I'm dizzyI've been wondering why I felt dizzy lately and I sure have been sweating a lot this month (August). Thanks for the tip.
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|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jenniferHi Jeremy. Did electrolytes work for you? Is the dizinness cleared up?
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|200.66.50.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s NancyJennifer! Bad Girl! And bad me, I didn't read this until today, as we have been out of town. I'm so sorry you were suffering.
Not to beat a dead horse here, but I have to vote also for chia seeds. If you ate a half teaspoonful morning and night it helps you stay hydrated. I am doing great this year, and I attribute it to chia.
Do you have a blender or a smoothie place near you? I love celery-carrot-tomato-cucumber-red pepper with lots of ice water and a shot or two of hot sauce. I swear the celery is the important one but it's so yummy who cares.
I'm glad you're healthy again and sorry I'm so tardy telling you so. XO
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|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jenniferI am even tardier in replying. Thanks for the well wishes. Doing much better now.
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|99.148.30.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s dolores mcandrewAs a fan of Maz, after a few great vacations, and your blog...I am concerned...its been awhile since last we heard from you. How are you???
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|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jenniferHo Dolores,
Thanks for the concern. It always makes me feel loved. I had a bad bit, but I am better now, and definitely back.
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