A disorienting experience

This morning, as I was driving into town alone to check my mailbox, I had a disorienting experience. I was driving along a straight stretch of road with virtually no traffic at about 80 kph when, within the space of a couple of seconds, my field of vision seemed to start spinning rapidly. Fortunately, I was able to pull over and park off the road without incident. I sat there feeling a little queasy, and after a few minutes, I felt well enough to continue into town, collect my mail, and return home safely. I did not lose consciousness, and my mind remained clear throughout the incident, but it got me a bit worried. If it had happened when traffic conditions were more difficult, I might have had a nasty accident.

Can anyone who might have had a similar experience suggest what was happening to me? Is it likely to have been a one-off experience? Or do I have to deal with the fact that it may be dangerous for me to continue driving, or operating woodworking machinery, for that matter? I went to bed after lunch and slept for a couple of hours, and feel fine now. I suppose I should admit that I am 71, but I have been in pretty good health so far.

Rocker

David, you really need to talk to your doctor. It is a serious matter.

Get some one to take you to either your doctor or the local emergency department NOW
What you've described is, I think, a heart attack symptom

DO IT NOW, DON"T WAIT TILL TOMORROW

AND WHAT EVER YOU DO DON'T DRIVE YOURSELF

Did you feel as though the world was spinning around you, as though you just stepped off a fast merry-go-round? An inner ear problem such as vestibular disease can cause that. Regardless I agree with Scott, you need to get it checked out. Might be nothing more sinister than an inner-ear infection or a touch of the flu but you don't want to take any chances.

Get some one to take you to either your doctor or the local emergency department NOW

DO IT NOW, DON"T WAIT TILL TOMORROW

AND WHAT EVER YOU DO DON'T DRIVE YOURSELF

P
:oo:

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Originally Posted by Rocker

This morning, as I was driving into town alone to check my mailbox, I had a disorienting experience. I was driving along a straight stretch of road with virtually no traffic at about 80 kph when, within the space of a couple of seconds, my field of vision seemed to start spinning rapidly. Fortunately, I was able to pull over and park off the road without incident. I sat there feeling a little queasy, and after a few minutes, I felt well enough to continue into town, collect my mail, and return home safely. I did not lose consciousness, and my mind remained clear throughout the incident, but it got me a bit worried. If it had happened when traffic conditions were more difficult, I might have had a nasty accident.

Can anyone who might have had a similar experience suggest what was happening to me? Is it likely to have been a one-off experience? Or do I have to deal with the fact that it may be dangerous for me to continue driving, or operating woodworking machinery, for that matter? I went to bed after lunch and slept for a couple of hours, and feel fine now. I suppose I should admit that I am 71, but I have been in pretty good health so far.

Rocker

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Rocker
looks like I may have been wrong in my earlier post

BUT my advice stands GET HELP NOW

your symptoms are more like a stroke than a heart attack

while your waiting for the ambo read this ttp://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053

Gentlemen,

I am still here; I took the advice to go to the hospital to check this out; after a four-hour wait, a doctor explained that what I had was indeed an ear problem, as SilentC suggested. Could be a viral infection. I was advised to avoid driving for a week or so, and I got a prescription for a drug that is supposed to help, to be taken if the symptoms recur. But all in all, there is nothing life-threatening. I am distinctly relieved to be assured that it was not a stroke or a heart attack; so it looks as though you will have to put up with me here for a few more years:)

Now I am going to have a nice dinner and a glass of whisky.

Rocker

good news

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Originally Posted by Rocker

Now I am going to have a glass of whisky.

Rocker

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Not if what the Doc has prescribed is Stemitel you wont. :doh::doh::doh:

Trust me on this.:;

Al :U

David,

That is great news! (Well, you know what I mean. :- )

Sounds familiar.
Had one of those dizzy spells whilst sitting in a chair at home.
Scared the sh.. out of me.

Got the wife to take me to hospital immediatly.

They wired me up to all sorts of gear and did various blood tests.
Next day they sent me home as they found nothing and told me to see my own doctor.

Saw my Doc and he said.... Oh that is the flu that is going round.
Go home and rest...
Next day woke up with runny nose etc... Damn flu.....

Well done David, well done Silent.:2tsup:

Very relieved to hear it.

I had a bit of inner ear trouble myself last year - different to yours and probably more related to industrial deafness in my case. The doctor (I use the term loosely) could never work out what it was. At the time, Al had mentioned Meniere's Disease, which I'd never heard of, so I looked it up. Some of the symptoms seemed familiar, although it is one of those diseases that they only diagnose through process of elimination.

The main symptoms are vertigo, temporary hearing loss, tinnitus and pressure in the ear drums. People who suffer the severest form of it can have what they term "drop attacks" which is where your balance goes completely and you are unable to stand. If you happen to be walking along at the time of an attack, you can drop to the ground and be unable to stand up until the attack passes. The implications of a disease like that for woodworking with machinery and driving would be severe.

Fortunately it doesn't affect many people to that degree but I thought it would be a nasty thing to be afflicted with.

Whew!!!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by silentC

People who suffer the severest form of it can have what they term "drop attacks" which is where your balance goes completely and you are unable to stand. If you happen to be walking along at the time of an attack, you can drop to the ground and be unable to stand up until the attack passes.

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Ahh yes, it's surprisingly common too, I've seen happen at backyard barbecues, sporting events, and it's particularly prevalent at weddings and 21st birthday parties.

Cheers,

P
:D

Pleased you are OK.

But for future reference - as stated above - next time [hopefully long time away] - DON'T tell us until AFTER you have been to the Doctor. If it had been a nasty episode seconds [so the medical people say] can be vital.

Regards,
Bob

SilentC,

Yes; the doctor I saw mentioned Meuniere's disease, but said I did'nt have it. He was pretty relaxed about my case, suggestiong that it is probably associated with a mild and transient viral infection, or possibly even some sort of dietary imbalance. He led me to believe that I have little to worry about unless I start getting persistent dizzy spells. Anyway I am just thankful it was not a stroke, which is what the triage nurse at Emergency reception told me she thought it was, so I worried about that for four hours while I waited to see a doctor. I will not be driving for a week or two, and will probably start driving like an annoying old fart when I do resume it:)

Peter,

I can assure you that the cases you have observed at weddings were different from mine - I hadn't imbibed alcohol during the previous 12 hours.

Rocker

Rocker

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will probably start driving like an annoying old fart

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You need a medical reason to do that? I thought it was a rite of passage!

I had an identical experience a few years ago. Driving at night with a mate along a windy secondary road, and all of a sudden the world began to rotate. I pulled over immediately, and felt fine after about 10 seconds. This was about 5 years ago, and have never had a recurrence.

Glad to know there's nothing life-threatening involved (except for the fact of being disoriented while driving).

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Originally Posted by bitingmidge

Ahh yes, it's surprisingly common too, I've seen happen at backyard barbecues, sporting events, and it's particularly prevalent at weddings and 21st birthday parties.

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:)