Literally. Vertigo. 4 months and going, well not as strong now, but let's just say it has been a constant nagging force. I know, you don't want to hear about my constant issues but hey, at least these blogs always end the way the Holy Spirit intends! So keep reading! You have time:)
A lot of you know that I have been battling vertigo on and off for a lot of years, but consistently for the last 4 months. We finally got in with some of the best ENT specialists here in Jacksonville. We were able to get into the actual balance center for, so far, just some screen testings. Here's the low down...
First, we have been praying for this for quite some time. For favor for the right path, the right doctors, just answers and for all things to be brought to the light in this area. We believe that God answered that prayer! If you know anything about vertigo, it can be extremely debilitating or just annoying enough to rob you of most of your life and everyday activity. I have experienced both. The most recent has been the latter and has gotten to the point where it is keeping me from doing, well, life.
So, long story short. We went to see the doc. There are over 200 reasons that you can have vertigo, crazy. Well, this doc was able to pinpoint it to 2 out of 200 after some initial screen testings. And get this, she believes they are both inner ear related and that they are not ms related! CAN I GET AN AMEN?!?! So what are the two things?
1. BPPV (This is a condition where tiny calcium crystals dislodge from their resting place and they roll around in your ear causing an imbalance.) So, the solution, physical therapy. I had it done this past Friday and well, I have been worse since LOL! It's okay, it's apparently normal. This morning is the best I have felt. They said to give it a few days following their protocol. Things such as not moving your neck, sleeping a certain way etc. So I will be following this until this Friday when I see them again for the 2nd issue.
2. Well, this doesn't have a name yet. We go on Friday morning, way earlier than I would like, for a series of 3 hour tests that will help to pinpoint this second issue. We then will see the doc the following Wednesday for those results and get an action plan in place.
What's funny is they usually treat these things with the benzo drug that I am currently on already! We explained our journey to the doc and she totally understands our stance with this drug and knows that very soon we will be starting to get off of it. So she said there are other medication options or physical therapy for what she thinks might be going on. So options. Favor.
Since my appointment I have found myself questioning the ease. Meaning, the favor we had with the docs, the quick diagnosis, the fact that if it's this simple that would be amazing. In questioning this I heard the still small voice of the Lord say, " Mandy, you asked Me to make this easy, to bring all things to the light. My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Don't you know that I love you enough to answer that?" If I'm honest, I haven't felt this all that much along this journey. That sounds really awful. God has come through for us so much. I mean, healed of ms, you name it. God is good, it's just been hard to keep believing that He loves me that much.
Another way God has been speaking to me is obviously through His amazing Word. Psalm 25:3, "No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse."
My hope is not in these doctors or their procedures, but is and will always be in Him. So I will not be put to shame in this process. God will be glorified and I pray that it will all work for my good.
One more revelation that came this morning, as I was confessing the Word, is that I believe Chad and I have been in constant discovery mode in this journey and I believe that God is really moving us more and more away from discovery mode to full recovery mode! I believe we will always be discovering things as we are in a relationship with God, but in regards to my physical state and this journey, it's time to be in full recovery mode. This body must and will recover!
I am so thankful for some forward progress and am believing that I will not be put to shame as I continue to trust God. Please keep standing with us, we are not afraid to ask for prayer! We need it and welcome it.
Deuteronomy 33:25, " As thy days are, so shall they strength be." Yes and AMEN!
