Ah, poor you! I know the feeling, you go thru the surgery and all it intails...to still have some symptoms. Its really a bummer. Take the meds, feel better, and , Happy Birthday!!!!
40 is the new big year you know. This is where you become all wise and even more beautiful! I know, been there! Hope yoyu have lots of fun at the party. Cath.

Awe that sucks have had to lay down through many events lol feeling the lack of love your feeling.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY the big 40 you honestly don't look it at all.

hope the vertigo passes smoothly and the meds are working quickly

Happy belated Birthday.

Vertigo sucks. I am really sorry this illness had to rear it's ugly head on your special day.

First, Happy Birthday!! - sorry you couldn't enjoy it more.

Also, I kind of wanted to ask you a little more about your vertigo since you seem to be the only other person on here who experiences it so bad. When you get the vertigo.. does it ever seem like there's force behind it? I don't know how to explain it.. but when I get vertigo, it feels like I'm not going to just fall out of my chair, if feels like I'm going to be flung or whipped out of my chair like the whole center of gravity is changing. Does that happen to you? Also, is it worse when you close your eyes?

I'm sorry you have to experience the vertigo because I know how horrible it is. I tried to go see Alice in Wonderland in 3D (my first movie in over 6 months) and I had to close my eyes through most of it because of the vertigo. I really hope that it goes away for you soon and you're able to start feeling better.

ashley i don't get it in that force but i get vertigo more specifically minniers(sp?) it was when i was pregnant with my son it was most prevelent and i felt i was going to fall off the bed laying down i had to hold on BUT... Usually i get shaking of the everything around me i have never met ANYONE who experiences it like i do but because the room moves horozontally shakes like i am on a boat you know that side to side upydowny feeling when you on a boat but in fast forward it has been dubbed vertigo. i still feel it with my eyes closed i feel like i am shaking my head but im not and either way i feel unwell

at that i take a few meds but mostly deal with it when it happens hope that makes sence frankly nothing makes sense today lol

Happy B-Day MM3!

I am soooooooo sorrrrrrrrryyyy to hear that you could not enjoy the big 4 oh with a little more zest so hear is the deal.......

I will have a little chat with Jah and have him turn back time for one day. You need to get rid of the kids for the day, find that sexy dress (or not) and mix up a batch of Long Island Ice Tea (Let me know if CRS is hampering that recipe). A beach blanket with a picnic basket in the middle of the living room floor (nice and low so if you lose your balance) and a few candles and well I won't spell out the rest but if you and your hubby can't figure it out from there then I think they forgot to put something back in when they stiched up the back of your head.

Enjoy your belated BDay!


TJ

Awwww thanks everyone for the birthday wishes...they do help! Ashley...my vertigo seems to hit when I'm moving my position or up moving around. When I am still, the vertigo remains still as well. When it hits, I don't know if I necessarily feel the force you feel, but, I do have to grab onto something and I feel like my eyes are rolling in my head (although I don't think they are.) Either way, it's not fun...mostly because it keeps me bed/couch-ridden.

TJ....Great ideas!!! First, though, I have to get my "sexy back". It's a little more difficult to play the part these days when I look less like an attractive 40 year old woman and more like a chubby 13 year old boy! LOL! Still waiting for my hair to grow back and dreading the haircut to come with any additional surgery. I do like the Long Island Ice Tea idea though...will definitely have to mix up some of those! I'm sure the vertigo becomes a whole new ride once I get a few of those in my system! I'll let you know how it goes!

Thanks for all the well wishes! It's great to have you guys around to lean on!

MM3

MM3 and ashley. My vertigo is the same as MM3. I cant get up from a sitting position without falling over. But, the faster i walk, the better I am! I know the name of drugs are different from counrty to country but I take Stemitol and my new one is ,Zofran 4mgs.I got it when i was in hospital recently. I think its main use is for chemo patients, to help deal with the nausea but mine can get so bad some days. I only take it when I really need to but it has been a huge relief to know it works. Maybe you both could look in to it? Cath.

yeah stemitil and ondansitron here,

MM3 just did the hair cut came out OK big shock going from long blond to short browny blondy grey looking hair lol grey i mean i am only 27 maybe it is the stress from the opps.

good luck go a pixy cut it is nice to ware and easy to care for

Yeah...the hair cut is interesting. It's probably 2 1/2 inches long, so too short to curl or straighten, but long enough that I have hair. I have grays that have shown up too, so I colored it once. But, of course this kills the idea of being able to celebrate having brand new, undamaged hair...oh well. I kind of have a comb over thing going...kind of like we do with our children when their babies. I'm bummed though because the hair isn't growing back where the incision was...BLAH. But, eventually the hair will be long enough to cover this up. Of course, if I have another surgery (and it's kind of inevitable right now that I will), than I'll most likely have a new incision and I'll have to regrow all this back once more. That, my friends, is a real pisser!

As for the vertigo...the only thing that truly seems to help me is Valium. I don't take it very often, and certainly not when I don't need it...but, it does work. Anti-nausea meds like Zofran I've tried and for me, they haven't worked well. Additionally, they tend to give me a bit of anxiety. Promethazine (Phenergan) is the only anti-nausea med that doesn't have this side effect.

Thank goodness I finally seem to be coming out the other side of the vertigo experience; after about a week and a half. Thanks for your help.

Love ya,

MM3

Oh MM3, you did make me laugh this am! I could just picture you , with your short, comb over and a little pink bow! How sweet.

Im so glad you are feeling better tho. Strange, how we all differ in our reactions to some drugs. It really is hit and miss. Wouldnt it be nice to think that somewhere in the world, someone cared enought to find something to help us? I am so tired of explaining to people that there is NOTHING specfic for IH.patients. It does not help our cause much, trying to spread the word. Un less you live with us, you have no idea what its like.

You never said, did you get to celebrate yet? A date is only a date, a celebration is for any time!!! Go for it! Cath.

Cath:

So glad I was able to make you laugh. It certainly is my sense of humor that helps me to navigate the course of this disease. If you can't laugh at yourself, than by all means you'll just end up a miserable soul. I don't have the pink bows yet, but, the fact that you've brought it up makes me think I've been missing out all these months. I'll have to make a small investment and take a picture just for you. LOL.

You are right in as much as this disease truly affects each of us differently, and likewise, the treatments differ for us all as well. As frustrating as this is for all of us, I imagine that it is the same for those who treat us. Bax and I had both set aspirations to hold fundraisers in each of our specific regions for IIH....but, isn't it a bitch that neither of us have felt well enough to put one together!!!! LOL! Oh well...one day at a time I suppose.

To answer your question, we celebrated my 40th quietly. My family in Ohio called to wish me a Happy Birthday and they all sent cards of course. The highlight was when my 2 year old nephew (Aidan) called and sang the "Birthday Song" to me. He's soooo cute! He wanted to know if I got any Dinosaurs or Cars for my birthday. When I told him that I hadn't he said he would let me play with his. How sweet!!!! My hubby and children brought me breakfast in bed, along with the newspaper and made me a birthday cake. I suppose if we still lived in Ohio we would have had a large bash with all of my family and friends, but, as we are all alone here in Upstate, NY it was just us. My hubby and kids gave me cards and $200 to spend as I wish...I think I'll buy a nice outfit, get my hair styled (non-babyish), and get a massage. I've no doubt that if I were feeling better my husband would have planned something else, but, he truly knew that I would be most comfortable at home. I will admit that turning 40 in my current condition is not an easy task. If I were not battling my disease, I might look upon this time in my life as the start of my career...Maybe take some additional college courses. But, as it stands, a career is too far out of my reach these days. I'll be happy to do that fundraiser I was aiming for, to bring about IIH Awareness, to get a working shunt, and to take a cake decorating class. Funny how your goals change when you are afflicted so. But, alas...it's not cancer. I will survive...I may struggle...but, I will survive. I have three beautiful children, a loving spouse and close friendships...how can I ask for more? With this knowledge, I suppose everyday is a celebration! Thanks for the reminder, and thanks for caring enough to ask.

God bless you my friend,

MM3