Productive

If you know me at all, you have probably heard me complain about major dizziness and/or nausea over the last two-plus years. You've probably heard me talk about constantly being sick in some way, shape or form. You've more than likely made plans with me only to have me later cancel them because I wasn't feeling well. Well friends, it's over. Read on...

To make a two year long story short I'll just fill you in on a couple details, like the fact that I went to nearly a dozen different doctors and specialists, had 3 complete blood counts done - among countless other specific blood tests, an MRI, and an ultrasound. I had myself so worked up over being ill all the time that I encountered major anxiety that I am now working on kicking to the curb. Seeing as no real doctors could figure out what was wrong, I did some major self-diagnosing and began to believe everything I read... like the time I thought I had an autoimmune disease. Over the two years, I thought I had a gluten allergy, a tumor, and everything else in between. And in the end, the simplicity of it all is unbelievable (and also extremely frustrating that something so simple took so long to diagnose).

Back at the doctor a little over a month ago I told them flat out "I'm not leaving without someone figuring out what's wrong with me. I can't take off any more days of work and this is ruining my quality of life"... and for once, they listened. I was sent back to the neurologist that afternoon, who assured me that he and my regular doctor were anxious to figure out what was going on, and proceeded to look back through all of my charts and talk through more possibilities with me. A few minutes into our appointment he said - "Have we ever checked your standing and resting blood pressure?"... "No". So, he sent a nurse in who checked it sitting (as usual), then again standing, and again lying down. He asked her "anything I should know?"... "Yes"... and that was it. My answer was in the numbers.

Orthostatic hypotension is a condition that involves one's blood pressure rapidly dropping due to normal sudden movements - such as standing up - resulting in dizziness and head rushes. And that, readers, is what I have. (Insert "ARE YOU KIDDING ME???" here).

All of this means two things: 1 - NONE of the blood work or other tests I got were necessary and all I needed was a doctor to check my blood pressure. And 2 - taking a simple medication before bed every night stabilizes everything and keeps me from feeling like I'm going to fall over if I turn my head, bend down, or stand up too fast. YAY!!!! I've been on the medication for a little over a month now and have had just one minor - yes ONE - dizzy spell in that time.

So how does all of this tie in to my "Productive" posting title? Well, because now I can be! I have the energy to go out at night, to exercise, to actually be 20-something. I am officially DONE with the dizziness and ready to enjoy my summer sickness-free. Get excited.