Rogue rocks in fact.
This past year I have experienced Spinning Room sensation a few times.
The first time was at the cabin in the summer.
There was some other time, and then a few weeks ago.
My spinning room is whichever room I happen to be sleeping in, because it happens when I am getting out of bed.
No alcohol is involved.
A week or so ago I was putting a bin on a closet shelf, and suddenly I thought the shelf was falling.
It was not. Nor was I, but I was holding the shelf up with all my might.
The spinning has decreased a bit, but I can feel the sensation starting when I roll over in bed or look high above my head. So I decided it was time to get a real diagnosis.
And I found out that I have rocks in my head.
Otoliths.
And they are not staying where they are supposed to stay, moving into some ear canals and mixing it up with the cilia, who in turn whine to the brain, which starts things spinning.
To fix this issue apparently I need to train my brain to ignore these whiners.
We do this by trying to make the spinning start often enough that the brain just gets tired of responding.
If that doesn’t work there is a nurse that specializes in head contortions.
Or maybe acupuncture.
I won’t worry about that until we find out if I can manage to stop this on my own.
For those that want to know, it is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.
I like the Benign, I get the Position, and I understand the Vertigo.
Paroxysmal – I thought I associated that with laughing, so maybe this is a laughing matter, or I have an entirely different word in my head. Along with rocks.
Raincharm's Weblog 
December 12, 2013 at 6:14 am |
There’s a description of BPPV and a simple treatment in “Prodigal Summer” by Barbara Kingsolver. Of course, it is a novel, not a medical tome, so take it with a grain of salt-free seasoning. I’ll try and remember to look up the passage tonight. The book is a favorite of mine.
December 12, 2013 at 5:57 pm |
I know this is a miserable condition, but I loved this post. The idea of rocks in your head was interesting. Acupuncture on your HEAD? No.
December 13, 2013 at 8:09 am |
I think you should have a mantra to chant while trying to stop the spinning. I suggest ‘Jane is taller than I am’. 😉