Hi everyone.

My name is Cindy I am 36 years old, mother of two beautiful kids Jeff 16 and Alison 7, and wife to very understanding husband Rob, truly could not have got this far without his support. We live in Oregon in a small town called Canby not far from Portland. I am orginally from Boston area, but have been on west coast about 5 years now, due to my husband's job. Well, here is my story... is a long one.. but I figured that way you can all get to know me and what I have experienced...

I have been dizzy one year straight, and on and off past five years, diagonosed many times with labyrinthis and several ear infections, depression, anxiety panic attacks, you name it. I dont have a clear answer from any doctor yet...as I have tried an ENT, chiropractor, accupunturist, cardiologist, gp doc had an MRI with no finding, changed my diet, low soduim, no caffiene,tried a diuretic at one point, mecklazine, and about every over the counter drug and countless vitamins and herbs. I was put on anti depressants which made things much worse.

I took an anti-depressant drug called "effexor", when I very first suffered this dizziness. I went to a GP doc complaining of a dizzy spell I had in the supermarket. She diagnosed me with panic/anxiety attacks and gave me this drug effexor, which made me very sick whole time I was on it and much more dizzy, dizzy to the point I was holding on to walls, as I suspect I was getting sick due to the fact I was given a drug I didnt need, I mean did I feel panic? hell YES did I feel depressed,, who wouldn't after being dizzy all this time...., and when I went off it, I suffered seretonin syndrome, and alot of different symptoms for weeks, such as a brain shiver kind of feeling, a feeling like someone was shocking my brain with a 9 volt battery over and over, since doing some research on effexor and consulting with other patients alot have suffered also with same symptoms, going off this drug, and the company has since made labeling changes. With different doctors alot of my complaints have fallen on deaf ears, and I am now on the support end of a website made for those who have suffered with this drug..made by a man who suffered himself also on this drug and going off it.. getting sick as I did.. so I feel some good came out of my bad experience, being able to help others.

I have been given exercises to do for postional vertigo those where of no help,,,,..so much run around and. etc..still dizzy after one year, still no answer.. although a hole was found in my eardrum a few months back.. I rejoiced I thought YES this is my answer.., the ent doc is not completely convinced its causing the dizziness I am describing to him,although he said anything is possible. I have suffered ear problems since I was a child born with both eardrums with holes, one closed the other never did and had it closed about 20 years ago. This past year I have suffered over 9 ear infections and the hole in eardrum was not found until a few months ago, by my recent ent doc, as my canals are bent, so each time I went to several health stops, docs, urgent cares complaining of ear pain and dizziness.. they could not see the full eardrum due to the canals being bent the way they are.. so the hole was not picked up until I went to a specialist, so in between that time, I was having my ear irrigated with water which is a BIG NO NO with a hole in eardrum.. NO water is suppose to get in there at all.., so I was getting more infections and ear pain.. this ent doc will fix the hole on sept. 26th 2000 .....i mean the room does spin, not all the time though, although I feel dizzy constantly, daily,, sometimes its just a faintness feeling, kinda like I held my breath to long or like I am going to fall down or pass out, or I got off a merry go round sometimes, and a very unbalanced feeling, and like a rubberband is tied around my neck and I am not getting enough oxgyen or something, and my neck hurts constantly, so really not sure what is going on yet. I am currently taking 2mg of valuim to take 3 at a time every six hours. It eases things some.. but not completely.

I am at my wits end; I have not driven a car, worked or anything. I am unable to even leave my house at this point. I feel I am held hostage by this illness and so frustrated..

So I am left with questions of...can this dizzyness be caused by the hole in eardrum?, or maybe what I suffered with the drug took that made me sick? maybe both? ,maybe my neck pain? who knows at this point.... I keep getting bounced back and forth from a neurologist to an ent. I just want my life back.. and be able to enjoy the small things in life I used to take for granted.. like simple walks through a mall, a park, driving, even going food shopping etc.attend church with my family, as I can not sit through the service... I spend almost all my time in this house, like a prisoner.. and sooo frustrated having no answer..and getting those blank stares by doctors.. just getting to the mail box somedays seems impossible. I suffer alot of guilt concerning my children and husband (who does it ALL - laundry,cook, clean etc.) as I am on the couch struggling. I am so tired of using the word "can't" with my family. For those of you who pray.. I ask for prayer for all of us... as I know I have had days where I feel like having a pity party and throwing in the towel.. and convincing myself I can't live like this. But I know that is the easy way out and I could not hurt my family like that. Besides, I am a strong believe in the Lord and I know he has a plan for all of us.. and miracles do happen!!

I want to thank all the new friends I made on the aol vertigo and dizzy board, truly a blessing! As this is for right now my contact to the outside world..if you are reading this because you are suffering also...Know this there are lots of us who understand what you are going through...

My daughter, Alison