So, I am just posting a follow up, of how I have been. And a request for some possible feedback.
So part of the story I did relay, because at the time, I didn't see it as relevant. was in crossing the coral sea. The crossing was rough. Tossing you in the air on your bed, eventually I put my arm under the mattress to try and stay on. People in top bunks fit tossed to the floor. There was no sleep, I think for anyone. Yesterday I was relating my story to a nurse. She has worked in neuro. She said it is very probable that I got a concussion.
I said I was not symptomatic on the boat. Tired. Very. Almost every night, I left the dinner table early, because I couldn't stay awake after that. I just figured they were long days. She said many times concussion symptoms don't become apparent till days after. This I did not know.
Flying back from cairns, I had tingling in my hands and feet. This caused me anxiety on the flight. Arriving back in Sydney...just really tired. Again...just figured travel.
Next morning, didn't feel quite right. Sever motion sickness hits me in airport. Sleep 13 of the 15 hours of first flight.
Arrive home. And SEVERE rocking and bobbing. Nausea and sickness rated at 9 out of 10. Couldn't walk. Couldn't raise my head. Next day go to dr. Didn't think it was possible, but I am worse. He sends me to ENT. That dr, says I have fluid behind the ears, and dried blood. He tells me it will be like this for 3-4 weeks. I wAnt to jump off a building! Vestibular test scheduled 2 weeks out.
1st week back, I was completely dibilitated. Next week, I try to work. I work in a hospital. Standing at a computer, I start to have the same feeling I had, at the bottom of the ocean. Am I here? Very sureal? But brief. Then I can't stand, tingling is moving up extremities. I get nurses. I sit down and say: I am really not feeling well. My BP was thru the roof. The world is unstable again. Go to ER. MRI showed severe acute bilateral mastoiditis. Blood work normal. ENT disagrees. Says it is just fluid, a lot of it, behind the ears. I tend to agree. No pain. No redness. My GP put me on Augmenton, for 7 days, to play it safe.
2 week, after antibiotics feeling better. But the world visually still seems off. Like viewing a movie where the talking is out of sync, just visually. I can't watch TV, walking down aisles in stores bothers me, my family talks too loud. Since being back, I can't sleep more than 4 hours. I feel such pressure in my head. It makes me feel sick. But the rocking and bobbing had stopped. I am leaning a lot on the anti nausea meds the hospital gave me. They help some. Oddly I feel ok to drive, normal . Standing is the worst. End of two weeks I go, for vestibular tests. All ok, and small hearing loss in right ear. 5 days later ENT says ears drums responding normally again. It's 3 weeks and I feel better. But still off. And I still fall over when trying to put on my pants or socks.
So now it's about 4 weeks. And I still have slight pressure on my head. Much better. Still some balance issues. I would say no rocking or bobbing. ENT diagnosed as mal disembarkment syndrome. I am just wondering, if it was a combo of ears and concussion. Can you really get a concussion from bad seas? I have never heard of this before? Symptoms match well for both mal disembarkment, and concussion. And throw in the ears...and if I never feel this way again, it will be too soon!
just confused, and then scared. I am glad to hear your whirlpool incident ended with you being able to write about it!
