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The Answer Is, Well, NO
Just a little warning: today’s post is a bit EMPHATIC.
Since this week’s Spin Cycle is “confessions” I’ll jump right in and give you one.
Yes, the vertigo is persisting. No, I haven’t been to the doctor. And it’s very likely I won’t unless it becomes something more than a minor irritation, which is really all it is.
I don’t LIKE going to the doctor. I rarely find them helpful. They are almost always too busy to really sit and listen to what I have to say, or they are unremittingly patronizing. (You want to get on my bad side and stay there? Treat me like I’m stupid – and I’ve spent a LOT of time being treated like a moron by doctors, who seem to think their M.D. negates the IQs of the rest of the populace.) I have had very, very few good experiences with doctors.
I could carry on all damn day about the drama of dealing with doctors over the last 20 years or so – including the misdiagnosis of my mother’s aeortal aneurysm and the abysmal treatment of my nephew since he was initially released from the hospital three years ago after the shooting and especially in this matter of the severe burns on his foot – but I won’t. Let’s just suffice to say that NONE of them have been in the least bit helpful with my anemia, Seasonal Affective Disorder, my menopause symptoms, my IBS or my chronic fatigue – I can’t even get one of them to TALK to me about that last one. As for the rest of it, they’ll fucking diagnose till the cows come home, but won’t offer one bit of helpful advice on how to DEAL with any of it; that’s apparently what the internet is for because that’s where I discovered light therapy to deal with the SAD.
So do I trust them to help me with this vertigo? NO, I do not. Because I’ve researched the causes, and since I don’t have any symptoms for something horrid like a stroke, this is what I’ve found:
If it’s Meniere’s Disease, there’s precious little they can do about it (I got that one straight from the horses mouth; I have a coworker who suffers from Meniere’s).
If it’s a virus, there’s precious little they can do about it (except let it run it’s course).
If it’s a symptom of menopause (and a LOT of menopausal women complain of vertigo), there’s precious little they can do about it.
If it’s stress-related, there’s precious little they can do about it.
If it’s Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo, there’s precious little they can do about it.
Since these things tend to come and go, if it still hasn’t gone away in another week I promise I will go see the damn doctor, be dismissed, patronized and told there’s precious little they can do about it. Cross my heart and hope to refrain from punching someone in the nose.
I just wish you better, whether or not the doctor can do anything about it. You’re forgiven for your distrust in doctors! After I had a few choice words of my own when receiving my ER bill in bits and pieces, I should be forgiven too.
You’re linked!
Sprite’s Keeper´s last blog ..Spin Cycle: It’s time to confess!
How frustrating for you! I hope you feel better soon.
Suzicate´s last blog ..When You Give A Little, You Get A Lot
Well that sucks. As does your experience with doctors. Praise the Maker for the internet! At least we can find out “there’s precious little they can do about it” without forking over big bucks! Hope you’re feeling better very, very soon.
Linda´s last blog ..And the Winner is…..
I’ll accept that answer. I understand a resistance to the dr. Except when something is really persistent.
My dislike of internet diagnosing is a lot like my dislike of home improvement shows. People wouldn’t go to school for years, and be licensed, if just anybody could do it. Sometimes it’s worth consulting a professional. Just in case.
Mama Badger´s last blog ..RTT- I’m weak…
You are one hundred percent on the mark about doctors, Jan. I remember reading somewhere that their only purpose is to keep us amused while our bodies fix themselves. And they don’t even do that anymore. (The doctors, I mean, not our bodies.) (Although, come to think of it, as we get older, the bodies are falling down on the job, too!)
Just take the best care you can of yourself, okay?
Tessa´s last blog ..Don’t get me started
You’re a sensible woman. My guess is you will make the right decision.
LPC´s last blog ..Guest Post: Simple + Pretty’s Top Ten from NY Fashion Week
The only thing I know about vertigo is that my friend Leigh went to the world-famous Shea Ear Clinic in Memphis to be treated. Dr Shea is married to my friend Lindley’s boss, Linda Mead Shea, who is a former Miss America, so yes, I know a Miss America. I do. (I used to help Lindley with her invoicing when I was still in Memphis, which is how I know Linda.)
Anyhow, Dr Shea has this treatment for vertigo that involves dissolving little rocks that have built up in the outer ear. Crazy, but true.
So. I am not a doctor. But I know someone who has had vertigo that was treated. For what it’s worth.
And my mom takes zoloft for her IBS because apparently, IBS is a symptom of depression. Again. FWIW.
I hope you feel better. And can move back to Texas.
class factotum´s last blog ..Tuesday report
I never had vertigo, but I have known people who have and they said it was miserable. I hope that yours goes away!
OTIN´s last blog ..Slightly annoyed
Having suffered for 25 plus years with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome AND a lifetime of migraines, I share your attitude towards docs. Despite being a nurse.
Just be on the lookout for other symptoms. The nurse in me insisted on saying that. Sometimes I can’t stop her. Because, you know, she thinks you’re awesome and wants to keep you that way…
Feel Better!!
Maureen@IslandRoar´s last blog ..Spin Cycle: Confessions
Doctors suck. I’d be happy never to see another one again.
Twenty Four At Heart´s last blog ..On The Lookout!
I don’t know your precise symptoms (and I’m not medical) but a few years back I had this odd, minor vertigo. Sometimes, when I KNEW my head was straight upright because I was seeing things straight on, I would have the sensation it was crooked.
The PA at the practice (so, not quite a doctor and therefore a little more trustworthy) asked if I’d been eating a lot of salt. Since I was working and going to school full-time, the answer was yes. I was living on frozen dinners and take-out.
She said there’s fluid in your ears, and when you tilt your head, the fluid runs up into these little channels, thereby confirming your eyes’ sense that your head is tilted. When you eat a lot of salt, the fluid expands into those channels, which makes your ears tell your brain that your head is tilted when it’s really not. I cut back on the salt and the problem disappeared.
Which may be completely different than what you’re experiencing, in which case I just wasted your time with a not-very-interesting medical anecdote and I apologize.
Jeanne´s last blog ..Web Wednesday: Old Joke #30
I had a love/hate relationship with a doctor for seven long years. I was his office manager. I loved him because he paid me. So I had to either put up with his bullshit, or walk. Ultimately, I walked. Why? because I hated him and his “I know best” attitude towards everything and everybody.
My favorite joke: What’s the difference between God and a doctor?
Answer: God doesn’t think he’s a doctor.
Having said all that, I hope you figure out what’s causing the vertigo. Soon. Something tells me you will, because you’re smart like that and you love a challenge.
Ginger´s last blog ..I Heart These Hands
Shame you’re not in Britain as I’ve a feeling the Docs on this side of the pond are a bit better than on yours. Take care.
rubbish´s last blog ..It takes all sorts.
Oh, I was just thinking of doing a post about doctors. My position is pretty much like yours: I never go unles I am ready to tell them what is wrong with me and what they should prescribe. If I don’t know what is the matter I don’t bother, because sure as hell they won’t be bothered to work it out, and if there is nothing to prescribe then I don’t bother either, because what is the point?
As far as I am concerned doctors are simply a closed shop for drugs. You need them when the FDA says you can’t have what you need without their signature.
My elder brother is the only person I ever met who totally survived medical school and I think it is because he was in his forties when he went. They have a special course (I think it must be called Arrogance 101) that everyone needs to pass in order to get out. It’s where they teach you that you are smarter than everyone else in the world, but especially smarter than your patients. (Oh and let’s just think about the word “patient” for a moment.)
BPPV is what they said my little daughter had following the blow to her head. She has got better, thankfully. I hope you do too.
Duchess´s last blog ..India calling
I am totally 100% absolutely positively on your side. I have the same mindset/impression/thoughts about doctors as you do. I fired my OBGYN for lacking a bedside manner and his office staff were bitches. Besides, you know your body better than anybody else, so you are smart enough to decide when and if it’s time to see a doctor. Here’s hoping your vertigo resolves itself soon! I just thought of something – have you had a cold recently? My mom got an inner ear infection once (she didn’t have an earache or any ear pain), but the inner ear infection caused vertigo…
Stacy (the Random Cool Chick)´s last blog ..Wordless/Wordful Wednesday – Snowy Mountain: Dinosaur Style
My acupuncturist had a lot more to say and do about the vertigo I had last summer than my doctor did… Actually, I love my doctor and she suggested that acupuncture would be a better intervention than running a bunch of tests. (And like you, I cannot abide a condescending doctor – and I am lucky – or persistent enough to have a good family medicine D.O., who is not afraid at all to let me know that she doesn’t know something…)
In the end, we determined that it was hormonish/migrainish and when we treated it as such (from a chinese medicine point of view), symptoms decreased.
I know how draining it can be. The feeling crappy along with the fatigue and then having to think about battling idiots with medical degrees.
Hang in there. Two things that really helped my symptoms (aside from acupuncture) – get enough or more than enough sleep, and drink a LOT of water.
Email me if you want to vent more. I did this vertigo thing for months and thought I was going crazy. xo
Erin´s last blog ..synthesizing orange flags in my little bubble
You’re the second person in two days who has told me they have virtigo. I wonder if there is something going on out there….
Hope you feel better.
Erin@TheLocalsLoveIt´s last blog ..2.25.2010
stupid doctors.
feel better.
Jenni´s last blog ..RTT: Dude, I Don’t Even Know
[...] He also tried to persuade me I should go to Emergency, but I couldn’t see the point. Like Jan, I don’t have a lot of confidence in [...]
I take a couple weeks off and come back to an all new sushi bar. The new digs are very pretty Jan. Just seeing a special button for recipes makes me hungry. You have no idea how much fast food I have eaten this last week.
I had vertigo once. It was awful. Hope you feel better soon. I’m with Erin on the acupuncture. Although I did not go when I had vertigo, I did when I was recovering from chemo. I think it helped me get better a lot faster.
Pseudo´s last blog ..I’m back… kind of…
I’m not a big fan of doctor’s visits either, but I hope you’ll be able to find someone to help ease your symptoms. I’m sure there’s a good doctor out there somewhere, it’s just a shame you haven’t come across them yet.
Hope you feel better soon.
Mrsbear´s last blog ..Viruses and Viruses – I Blame the Parents
About your vertigo, just want to tell you that my buddy had it for 5 years and bad too. He went to get the wax removed from his ears at a spa, and no joke, his vertigo was cured! No joke! Maybe this is something that you could try sometime. Best of luck.
Kelly´s last blog ..How to Set Up a Home Darkroom