Change - Pfffft!!

If you you can't tell by the title I do not like change. (by the way that is the best way I could come up with for a raspberry). Most of us don't. Change comes into all our lives, some good, some bad, some indifferent. In my life most of the changes have been good, even though I did not want to "go down that path" in the first place. Many changes come initially as trials that I believe God allows into our lives. My sister-in-law has been blogging about this in some of her recent posts. These trials, when we approach them from a human view can be devastating, but from God's view they can mean many things.

I and my family are embarking on one of these "going down a new path" trips. Over the last several months I have had four bouts of extreme vertigo, all appearing suddenly, causing me to have to sit or lie extremely still (mainly due to being able to look up much less stand), and on two occasions having nausea. The first of these episodes occurred at work in Feb. and resulted in a trip to the ER. There they ran a catscan, EKG, X-ray and complete lab work, looking into a heart attack. No heart attack, which is a good thing, but the ER doctor said he didn't know unless it was an inner ear infection, which he ruled out due to blood work done. He then walked out and I went on with life.

Some of the symptoms, other than the vertigo, I have had for over a year. Loss of hearing in one ear, ringing and fullness like that of changing altitude but without being able to pop my ears. I just figured it was due to being exposed to loud noises off and on my entire life. After having the knee surgery, I have had three more episodes and decided I had better get to my dr.

Dr. Powell sent me to a nose, ear and throat specialist today, and he diagnosed me with Menieres disease. This is actually a syndrome and not a disease, but in a nutshell one has too much fluid in their inner ear. The medical world does not know what causes it, there is no cure and you can only treat the symptoms, which are dizziness, vertigo, hearing loss, inner ear pressure, tinnitus and nausea. (We found a lot of info on http://www.menieres-disease.ca/index.htm)

"Attacks" occur suddenly and last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, with after effects lasting up to several hours more. Mine have been 1-2 hours long. I will be having and MRI and an ENG balance test to confirm the diagnosis, but the Dr. said he was sure that is what I have. I am going into this with a positive attitude, knowing this will be a challenge but at least it is not lethal and it is not hereditary. Knowing the attacks can start in a matter of seconds does add "spice" to everyday activities such as driving, working and even walking, but should not interfere with most things. On a lighter side, at least Sandra and the kids have had some practice, due to being immobile from my knee surgery. :)

I don't have a clue what God's fixing to change in me or my family but with His help and guidance, I hope that I keep listening and don't try to step off the "path" too often.