On October 16, 2018, at about 3:10 p.m., without warning, I suddenly felt the whole world spinning at warp speed. I could not move. I could not even open my eyes. Nonstop nausea and vomiting followed immediately along with profuse sweating. Spinning at a level 15.
This just had to happen at work, in my office, in front of all my terrified coworkers! I was able to get the trashcan, hold it upright and warn my coworkers bad things were coming.
Paramedics transported me from LA County Library Headquarters to Downey Hospital. I was followed in the ER, stabilized and released at about 8:40 p.m.
The attack was so severe and disabling, it felt like all of my marathons, fractured bones and illnesses thrown together and on steroids. Zofran and Meclizine helped a little, but took hours to stop the attack, This spinning continued this morning, but only at a level 1 – 2.
I plan on getting to the bottom of this. I think it is related to the occasional leaning problem I have experienced in long races. I believe this is a swelling in the brain or ear. I’m on this. It will stop. I won’t .
11/10/18: Feeling much better! Was able to fly to Portland, OR (11/2/18-11/4/18), New York City (11/8/18-11/9/18), Stanford University (11/10/18-11/11/18) and Houston, TX (11/6/18-11/7/18). 11/10/18: No pressure in left (or right) ear, spinning less than 1%. No meds.
11/12/18: No ear pressure for 2 days! 1 slight spinning spell for a couple of seconds while climbing in a very confined area in the Cost Rica rain forest. No meds.
12/27/18: Very little left ear pressure, only a few minutes a day. Muffled left ear seems related to to severe mental stress, but does not always occur. On 12/5/18, I had an audio test, and an on 12/21/18, an MRI. I will receive further information today.
12/27/18: I visited the ENT, the MRI showed normal results. No pathology, even at my age. The ENT seemed highly impressed, veering on disbelief.
Journey On!