I had planned on starting to ride in September. While I had not lost the weight I wanted to, I was going to do it anyway. But I have been concerned with my balance, which I blamed on the weight. After we recovered from Isaac, my balance seemed to get worse, walking down stairs was terrifying. Then the vertigo and the nausea started. A couple of minor incidents that I ignored, but then the big one at work. I turned a corner and the world started spinning. I grabbed the wall and had to slide down it. Working at a hospital has its benefits because I was whisked to the ER. It lasted a good 30 minutes but by the time I was seen, it had subsided. My blood pressure was high, so that is what they said it was. I went to my general practitioner and she wanted to adjust my blood pressure medicine but something told me that was not it. The almost constant nausea did not make sense to me.
So I went to an ENT who ordered a bunch of tests. I was reassured because he said it was most likely a type of vertigo that was caused by crystals that could be easily treated. But that did not prove to be the case. The tests show I have an inner ear disorder called Meniere's disease. The fluid inside both is too high. I already have significant hearing loss and can only hear in the middle range. If this is not controlled, the vertigo will continue and potentially get worse and I will continue to lose my hearing. The nausea will continue as well.
Three are four stages of treatment: environmental, medicine, more medicine, surgery. Needless to say I chose the environmental option. The first thing I need to do is to try to keep my daily sodium level to between 1000 - 1500 mg, the lower the better. The next thing is to eliminate caffeine from my diet. Nicotine is third (yes, I sneak a smoke from time to time) and finally sugar needs to be minimized. The last two won't be a problem, it is the first two that will be the challenge.
So, I have decided that I will need to view this in its most simple terms: eliminate processed foods. I think that is the only way I can manage this. Salt is used in canned and frozen foods, it looks all like all natural is where I am headed. I re-test in six months but if I have another severe episode, I need to start the medicine. The biggest challenge will be the boiled seafood here, which I love! I will have to figure out how to boil with spices and no salt.
I must say I was very upset when the doctor told me. I need to make sure the vertigo does not happen again before I start riding. If I gets worse, I will not be be to drive. Not to mention the hearing loss.
But God has his plan for me and while this is all new, if the worse thing that happens is that I eat healthier, then there is no room for a pity party in my life. No matter this progresses, He has His plan.
So riding will wait...for now.
