Until I can get this under control (again) I am struggling to find a path forward. I cannot keep leaving work. I probably shouldn't even be driving. I have too much responsibility to just NOT work. So I've considered taking a sleeping mat to work just to lay down when it hits. The bad news is that my attacks are occurring almost daily. The good news is after an hour or two, I'm mostly ok. So I could just lay down at work in my office for that hour or two and be ready to go after. Hopefully. I usually pop two meclizine when I feel one coming on. I have no idea if it helps or not. Maybe I should take more. Or something else. Or is there something else to mitigate the effects a little? What do you all do when you're out and about with nowhere to go? What's your emergency plan?
Hi Bazookaman, I´m new to the forum but saw your post and it reminded me of my similar situation when I was working in a career oriented job. I was diagnosed with Menieres about 16 years ago. I spent many hours on a concrete tiled floor under my desk, laptop on my chest, working to place orders and corresponding with vendors; I feel your pain and your frustration. My episodic vertigo seemed to coincide with barometric pressure changes (ie storms coming within 24 hours). Coworkers would come in to my office, see me on the floor and yell out, ¨storm´s coming! Gman´s on the floor!¨. Our HR partner actually gave me their Yoga mat they didn´t use and I had a ¨Hot Seat¨hunting cushion for my head. As to a ¨kit¨, I carried Meclizine in a discrete key chain pill vial for years but don´t recall using, I hated the after effects (migraine-like headache) so I used it only in extreme cases. Also carried a cell phone with as close to full charge as possible. Otherwise the ¨kit¨ was more about strategies for dealing with the ailment and maintaining a quality level of work output. I´d work hard to get my orders done in the AM so if I had to leave, most, if not all, of the orders were done. I had a very understanding team and many had my cell number. Those rare occasions that I stayed home, my kit consisted of a shoulder bag with laptop to work remote, copies of the daily inventory and the build sheets I used to place the orders the day before, and any other information I would need to place orders from home, and my cell phone and a cheat sheet with vendor contact numbers. Also had a bucket on ¨stand by¨. I did this for nearly 10 years until my duties shifted from purchasing to operations management. (By that time the Menieres hit a plateau or ¨Burn Out¨ phase.) It was always day by day. I had a support network of faith, family, friends, and coworkers who were willing to help get me home safely. A boss who helped get the resources I needed that helped me do my job and get it done to the best of my ability in spite of my ailment. And a team and family that helped me by bringing humor to this otherwise miserable unpredictable affliction. Also, I reminded myself that the vertigo was only temporary no matter how long it lasts. Not sure if this helped. I wish you only the best.
Sounds very familiar. I keep a small supply of meclizine on my person at all times now. Fortunately, the only side effects are it pretty much dulls everything. But no headaches or anything like that. I also have an understanding support team at work, from my direct supervisor to the owner to my co-workers. So I can work from home if I'm down but not out. When I mentioned I brought in a camping mat and a pillow so I could lay down in my office if needed, they had no problem with that.
Rubbing alcohol for sniffing (not drinking!!! lol) - it reduces the nausea, and prevented some pukes for me. Advil & Tylenol, just in case of migraine component. Ice pack on back of my neck, electric blanket warm on my hands and feet. Clonazepam (I'm still alert enough to drive on it, if necessary) Ativan (if I'm home and can knock myself out) Imovane (if it's middle of the night) Gravol or meclizine (you can get rectal gravol, in case the puking is too bad) Mint leaves, mint tea, candied ginger Rubbing acupressure points for vertigo (google them to see) - I don't know if it helps, but it gives me something to do while I wait for the world to stop. I always have my phone nearby.
I've seen that mentioned quite a bit. Fortunately, I've been pretty good at controlling my urge to throw up. I've not tried any of the prescriptions tuff. Although my ENT says he has patients he prescribes them to. Sometimes I chew Meclizine like candy. Is this just for vomiting, or the nausea? Or both.
The mint and ginger have helped me with the nausea. Sometimes they help prevent a puke, while I'm waiting for the meds to kick in. The help with the recovery from the attack, whatever the 'flavour' of attack it was!