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I Would Rather Not Hear You...

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pamcoco

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I was feeling some hope. With a counselor from rape crisis we went to 3 dentist appointments, something I didn't think was possible since the assault by my gyn. I was newly energized about my business, hopeful about ptsd progress and getting things done.

Then something got much worse. Something in my environment has caused severe allergies, which triggers auto-immune inner ear disease, which triggers dizziness, exhaustion, vertigo, drop attacks, asthma attacks and extreme pain in my ears. I haven't had a drop attack in public in some time but I hit the ground at Rite Aid the other day. I was able to gather myself to a seated position and focus my eyes so I could eventually stand and walk home.

I still don't know a soul here, not one friend.

Vertigo and drop attacks have worsened ptsd significantly. There is nothing so isolating that I have experience, than crawling, vomiting, too dizzy to function. I am helpless in this state and unable to rely upon my exit plan, that hyper ability to jump a fence, run at the speed of light, think quicker than is ever necessary except in those situations. I find strength knowing this incredible ability within me, proven when the man broke in with a knife and when the burglar pursued me in a 20 minute high speed chase. I can get away, usually.

But not when I can't see my hand in front of me.

I only have the money to have my teeth fixed at this point, and I will lose them if I don't take action immediately. My ears are one of those mystery illnesses effecting only 1% in 28 million. They say deafness is imminent. There may be some treatment to slow the process and maybe, just maybe, help the vertigo. I would hand over any remaining hearing for a life without vertigo. It is unbearable.

Depression overtakes me, hopelessness and isolation become palpable. I taste loneliness, as I struggle to limit the nausea.

My life is really, really difficult, grasping for help and hope in full blown ptsd. But the health conditions create challenges so much bigger than me.

There is only me. There is no one left.
 
No, I work from home. I sell vintage clothing. I am HIGHLY allergic to dust mites but have my inventory in storage and air purifiers in my work areas. I moved here because the relative humidity is so low supposedly dust mites can't survive.

It seems to be something natural, this is my first summer in Mammoth and there is green dust all over the decks and railings. Some sort of pollen from trees, I don't know, do trees have pollen? I gain allergies at a rate that is hard to keep up with, knowledge wise, I mean.
 
Oh, yes, trees have tons of pollen. Have you noticed if you feel emotionally unhinged when your allergies kick in? Just a thought because mine do. I used to keep a journal of my peak flow and what I had been around, and I found a strong correlation with exposures and asthma which triggered my PTSD because I couldn't breathe.
 
Have you noticed if you feel emotionally unhinged when your allergies kick in?

Thanks for mentioning this KwanYingirl, it helps me to feel less alone.

Just last night I searched the internet for the link between allergies and depression. My depression is off the charts, like the kind that convinces me I am crazy and will never feel anything different. I agree the trigers are several different factors, not breathing, one of them. The amount of medication I need to be able to stand up and walk, also because both the allergies and meds make me super sleepy.

But the depression feels biochemical, I can usually find an event or encounter that triggered the sink hole, but I can find nothing right now, except the pain, drop attacks, etc.
 
Hmmmm.... That's unfortunate you can't get out of this funk. Have you tried putting clean sheets on your bed, take a nice hot shower and just crawl into bed and sleep it off? How long has this depressive episode been? Do you think you should check in with your T or shrink?

What do you suppose makes you drop? I have definitely read an article about fainting being part of the flight, fright, freeze reflex. I wonder what's floating around your bubble. What hemisphere do you live in? I'm just asking because if it's winter for you I wonder if your heat source is polluting your house. Also dishwasher powder is very toxic to the brain because it gets superheated and turns into a vapor that crosses the blood/brain barrier.

Well I wish I could comfort you with tea and toast. Take good care and keep posting
 
I don't know about where you are, but where I am the pollen has been very bad this year. My co-worker's husband has meniere's disease and it sounds very similar to your own ear issues- vomitting, dizziness, dropping to the floor, etc. I hope that you can get the help you need eventually. Dealing with PTSD is enough on it's own without other challenges, too.
 
My co-worker's husband has meniere's disease and it sounds very similar to your own ear issues
Thanks JEKBreatheandBelieve, it is exactly like Meniere's, with those exact symptoms. The only difference is it is bi-lateral, never has remission like Meniere's and is not effected by the lifestyle changes that can control Meniere's. It is a specific auto-immune attack of the inner ears, partially caused by the amount of auto-immune debris and histamines in the blood stream. I appreciate your kindness.

How long has this depressive episode been? Do you think you should check in with your T or shrink?
Thanks for the suggestions KwanYingirl. This severe depression has been for about 6-8 weeks. My shrink is aware and we agreed to give it some time since I am drowning in meds.

Boy, I certainly try to sleep it off! I have the uncanny ability to sleep for days at a time, which I have, sometimes I cannot control it. But it is like I can never sleep enough the last couple months.

I am going to do another check around the house, per your suggestions, to see if there is anything else that could be contributing to the extreme allergies. I think it is time to add another air purifier which does wonders. They are a bit cost prohibitive, but nothing is quite so prohibitive as not being able to stay upright! ;-)

I will let you know what I discover!
 
Guess what KwanYingirl and JEKBreatheandBelieve?

I have found at least part of the culprit! Since I am on numerous meds I somehow did not notice that I had been given the wrong medication by the pharmacy. I have been taking Enalapril 20mg which is for high blood pressure, heart failure, etc. I was supposed to be taking Escitalopram 20mg which is for depression. So since June 7 until yesterday I have been taking the wrong meds, so dizzy I have been bed ridden, vomiting and barely functioning, not to mention depressed missing my anti-depressants.

I called my shrink last night to verify it was the wrong rx, he said that the pharmacy had made a "grievous mistake".

Hopefully I am now on the mend to become at least functional.
 
Wow! That is horrible that they were giving you the wrong medication! I hope getting off of that one and on the write one will help you. Definitely being on a blood pressure medicine when you don't need it would make you dizzy to say the least. Wishing you luck!
 
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