Another Update *sigh*

Hear Again said:
I really appreciate that, dreama. <huge hugs back> The past 2 weeks have been difficult for me in terms of my bipolar (again, please don't flame me because I'm offering an explanation) and this certainly doesn't help matters.
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I'm really sorry to hear that you are going through all this. I can't speak for everyone here but for me personally, talking about your mental health problems doesn't bother me.

Having so much going on must complicate things for you. Whatever it is, I hope that things can be sorted.

I manage to get about with no sight or hearing but it can be difficult due to such a limited number of landmarks. Takes some getting used to. Have you thought of taking them off and trying to benifit from music by putting your hand over music to feel it it instead of hear it. Do you think it would work?

(gives hear again 3rd hug for good luck)
 
dreama said:
I'm really sorry to hear that you are going through all this. I can't speak for everyone here but for me personally, talking about your mental health problems doesn't bother me.

Having so much going on must complicate things for you. Whatever it is, I hope that things can be sorted.

I manage to get about with no sight or hearing but it can be difficult due to such a limited number of landmarks. Takes some getting used to. Have you thought of taking them off and trying to benifit from music by putting your hand over music to feel it it instead of hear it. Do you think it would work?

(gives hear again 3rd hug for good luck)
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Thanks again, dreama. I'm glad you don't mind me talking about my bipolar.

I can't play my music at a high volume because I live in an apartment complex with elderly residents.
 
Curious once more: The moment you are feeling dizzy due to loud sounds, does it go away the moment you turn off the loud sounds or does it take a while / long while for it go away?

How are you feeling today? Hopefully better :hug:

JamieLynn
 
JamieLynn said:
Curious once more: The moment you are feeling dizzy due to loud sounds, does it go away the moment you turn off the loud sounds or does it take a while / long while for it go away?

How are you feeling today? Hopefully better :hug:

JamieLynn
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:ty: for the hug. <hugs back>

To be honest, I couldn't sleep last night because all I kept thinking about was this entire situation.

When I start feeling dizzy, it lingers for a little while.

I'm going to contact my CI surgeon to see if I can set up an appointment to see their specialist at my CI center who works with people that have issues with dizziness to see if there is anything else I can do. I did have an appointment with her after my last mapping, but decided to cancel since I was no longer having any problems with dizziness.
 
Keep us informed about your appointment at the CI Center! I can understand why you are unable to catch sleep at night! I have that too... I mean, the moment something is busying my mind, sleep is the last thing I can dream off :giggle:

And you're very welcome about the hug... anytime :D - you know where to find me ;)

JamieLynn
 
JamieLynn said:
Keep us informed about your appointment at the CI Center! I can understand why you are unable to catch sleep at night! I have that too... I mean, the moment something is busying my mind, sleep is the last thing I can dream off :giggle:

And you're very welcome about the hug... anytime :D - you know where to find me ;)

JamieLynn
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Thanks for the offer! I just might take you up on that. :)

I'm glad I'm not alone! I have problems with racing thoughts and because of that, it makes it difficult to sleep at night.

I'm feeling a little depressed right now, but at least I'm still able to hear after turning down the sensitivity.

However, my CI audi would still like to see me for re-programming.
 
We are all here to help you through this difficult time! If you feel like venting or whatever, just feel free to mail me :)

Are you using something relaxing to maybe help you sleep better? (mail me if we get OT here...) :D

JamieLynn
 
Jamie,

I have a prescription sleep med that I'm supposed to take. I take a lower dosage of it when I feel level and a higher dosage of it whenever I'm manic or can't sleep. Last night I took the higher dosage, but still couldn't sleep. I've already contacted my audi to schedule an appointment, have asked about the possibility of my having Tullio's and informed her that I would like to see the dizziness specialist at my CI center.
 
Hi again everyone,

The more I think about it, the more I'm beginning to suspect that my meds may be responsible for my dizziness. I'm on 7 different meds and all of them have dizziness listed as a possible side effect.
 
I just read your new difficulties HearAgain (hugs) and I do think that is your new meds..can't your doctor reassign to you better meds? other than that I hope u resolve that soon (another hug )
 
Vivie,

Part of the problem is the fact that I have rapid cycling bipolar which is very difficult to treat. As a result, the right med combinations need to be found. I just started a new med in January which, now that I think of it, isn't long after I began having this problem. I'll have to talk to my psychiatrist. I'm also thinking about having him discuss this further with my CI audi.
 
dreama,

I listened to some YouTube videos as well as some music on the FM radio of my BrailleNote, but I did so at a very soft volume so as not to cause dizziness. So far, so good, but I think I'm still going to make an appointment with the dizziness specialist so I can learn some techniques for coping until this problem is permanently resolved.
 
:hug::hug:

Sometimes we have to share our feelings here that we couldn't outside of the forums. :)

I have a question though....it MAY be a little helpful or not at all.

First - I can see that your doctors are trying to figure out what's the actual cause of your dizzy spells. It could be a both your meds and CI mapping or just your meds, or even just your CI. It's tricky to just kind of exclude one.

Secondly - I wonder if your speed (rate of stimulation) is set on too high. I just had my map today, and I had my audiologist to explain to me about the different speeds because I didn't understand what it meant by "slower" or "faster". She explained that I have next to the highest speed. She went on saying that many audiologist thought it was great that a few years ago that Cochlear has a faster speed program. However, it was doing more harm than good. "Faster is not always better." is what my audi said. She went on saying that the faster the speed is, it can cause dizziness for some patients.

I immediately thought of you. I wonder if it's possible for your audiologist to set your speed to a slower speed. Maybe that will help reduce the dizziness slightly, until the whole issue with the medications has been solved.

It is possible that it was your medications that's causing the side effects, but when you are wearing your CI, it may have be making it a little worse.

Hang in there! We are there for you! :) One of these days you'll nip your problem in the bud.
 
Hear Again said:
dreama,

I listened to some YouTube videos as well as some music on the FM radio of my BrailleNote, but I did so at a very soft volume so as not to cause dizziness. So far, so good, but I think I'm still going to make an appointment with the dizziness specialist so I can learn some techniques for coping until this problem is permanently resolved.
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I'm glad that you could listen to youtube and music. Your CI works remarkably well to enable you to do that. I've never been able to listen much even before I lost the rest of my hearing but I did used to like music. I found it helped to put my hand on the speakers as well as listening. I don't know if you'd need to have the volume really loud to benifit from that.

I wish you the best of luck anyway.

(hugs)
 
LadySekhmet said:
:hug::hug:

Sometimes we have to share our feelings here that we couldn't outside of the forums. :)

I have a question though....it MAY be a little helpful or not at all.

First - I can see that your doctors are trying to figure out what's the actual cause of your dizzy spells. It could be a both your meds and CI mapping or just your meds, or even just your CI. It's tricky to just kind of exclude one.

Secondly - I wonder if your speed (rate of stimulation) is set on too high. I just had my map today, and I had my audiologist to explain to me about the different speeds because I didn't understand what it meant by "slower" or "faster". She explained that I have next to the highest speed. She went on saying that many audiologist thought it was great that a few years ago that Cochlear has a faster speed program. However, it was doing more harm than good. "Faster is not always better." is what my audi said. She went on saying that the faster the speed is, it can cause dizziness for some patients.

I immediately thought of you. I wonder if it's possible for your audiologist to set your speed to a slower speed. Maybe that will help reduce the dizziness slightly, until the whole issue with the medications has been solved.

It is possible that it was your medications that's causing the side effects, but when you are wearing your CI, it may have be making it a little worse.

Hang in there! We are there for you! :) One of these days you'll nip your problem in the bud.
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Lisa, I agree with lady on the first part. As i am in UK i really want to come over and give you a hug! You don't deserve all of this! I really hope you get bottom of this. And hope it's the medication. Try and think back to when you had no dizzy spells and what med was working for you so perhaps go back on those meds and see what happens.

Lady, I think hear again got slow speed.. 900 or something. I can see what you are explaining, I tried to go on to 1800 ( i think) whoa!!! Mind numbing...
If Lisa were to go to slower speeds than she is on now she may not like it as it may be softer... but she could have it on one or two program for her bad days??
 
dreama said:
I found it helped to put my hand on the speakers as well as listening. I don't know if you'd need to have the volume really loud to benifit from that.
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I used to feel on speakers pre CI, man, that was so strange now! big difference.

As CI user We don't need loud volumes.

What annoys me is when listening shuffled music on my Ipod (volume is approx halfway/70%), Since the Ipod is touch, to prevent the ipod from muddled up you need to lock the ipod. When i reach to a song sometimes they are louder than others. when that happens, often at inconvience time, i had to yank the coil off! :eek3:
 
overthepond said:
Lisa, I agree with lady on the first part. As i am in UK i really want to come over and give you a hug! You don't deserve all of this! I really hope you get bottom of this. And hope it's the medication. Try and think back to when you had no dizzy spells and what med was working for you so perhaps go back on those meds and see what happens.

Lady, I think hear again got slow speed.. 900 or something. I can see what you are explaining, I tried to go on to 1800 ( i think) whoa!!! Mind numbing...
If Lisa were to go to slower speeds than she is on now she may not like it as it may be softer... but she could have it on one or two program for her bad days??
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Thanks, Char! <hugs>

I'm on the same meds that I was on when I received my first CI with the exception of 2. One med that I've been on for the past 3 years has an increased PRN (as needed) dosage when necessary, so that might also be responsible for causing my dizziness. The name of that med is Trazodone and I am supposed to take 300mg whenever I'm manic or can't sleep. The past 2 weeks have been very difficult for me bipolar-wise with my having gone through 2 depressive episodes, a psychotic episode, a manic episode leading to severe depression, a mixed episode (where I feel manic and depressed at the same time) and as of 2 days ago, a hypomanic episode (where I feel better than normal, but not as elevated/excited/happy as I do when manic).

I like your suggestion of putting a slower speed on one of my programs. I didn't know it was possible to do that. I always thought that you could only use one speed, but I will definitely have to ask my audi for more information. If I could experiment with 750 Hz, I may have some luck in reducing or eliminating my dizziness. Right now both of my CIs are set to 900 Hz.
 
dreama said:
I'm glad that you could listen to youtube and music. Your CI works remarkably well to enable you to do that. I've never been able to listen much even before I lost the rest of my hearing but I did used to like music. I found it helped to put my hand on the speakers as well as listening. I don't know if you'd need to have the volume really loud to benifit from that.

I wish you the best of luck anyway.

(hugs)
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I've never tried listening to music through vibration with the exception of the time I attended an American Association of the Deaf-Blind convention. I attended a dinner dance and all of the deafblind delegates were given balloons so they could feel the vibration of music while it was being played. I was amazed at how well it actually worked. I could distinctly feel the percussion as well as other instruments that were being played in tempo. It was a really unique experience.
 
LadySekhmet said:
:hug::hug:

Sometimes we have to share our feelings here that we couldn't outside of the forums. :)

I have a question though....it MAY be a little helpful or not at all.

First - I can see that your doctors are trying to figure out what's the actual cause of your dizzy spells. It could be a both your meds and CI mapping or just your meds, or even just your CI. It's tricky to just kind of exclude one.

Secondly - I wonder if your speed (rate of stimulation) is set on too high. I just had my map today, and I had my audiologist to explain to me about the different speeds because I didn't understand what it meant by "slower" or "faster". She explained that I have next to the highest speed. She went on saying that many audiologist thought it was great that a few years ago that Cochlear has a faster speed program. However, it was doing more harm than good. "Faster is not always better." is what my audi said. She went on saying that the faster the speed is, it can cause dizziness for some patients.

I immediately thought of you. I wonder if it's possible for your audiologist to set your speed to a slower speed. Maybe that will help reduce the dizziness slightly, until the whole issue with the medications has been solved.

It is possible that it was your medications that's causing the side effects, but when you are wearing your CI, it may have be making it a little worse.

Hang in there! We are there for you! :) One of these days you'll nip your problem in the bud.
Click to expand...

I was one of those people who thought faster was better. Boy, was I wrong! LOL. I think I'm going to ask my audi if I can try 750 Hz to see if that helps. Before I do anything though, I'd really like her to confer with my psychiatrist to see if they can determine what might be causing this. For all I know, my psychiatrist could have patients on the same meds I'm on who experience severe problems with dizziness. I really hope that I don't need to have another med change though because as I said, rapid cycling bipolar is difficult to treat and I am just now reaching the point where my cycling is beginning to stabilize.
 
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