Lesson learned: I listened to my body before a dizzy spell became a crisis

A sunny Saturday morning, and there I was again, sitting in the waiting room at my chiropractor’s clinic.

As inconvenient — and expensive — as it is to add a second appointment during the week, I’m grateful he could fit me in. I’m also thankful I was able to identify and catch my vertigo symptoms early and made the choice to listen to them.

That’s not what happened last month.

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Because my hypoparathyroidism has damaged my jaw joint and elicits frequent neck spasms, I need to visit my chiropractor and physical therapist the day after having any dental work, including basic cleanings. If I don’t, I risk severe vertigo.

As scheduled, I visited my dentist last month and then had my two follow-up appointments. Everything seemed fine at first. Then, a few days later, I turned to pick something up and got hit by a wave of mild dizziness.

Every year, I use up my chiropractor insurance benefits quickly, usually by May. That means every appointment thereafter is $75 each. As many Americans do when faced with recurring medical bills, I try to balance how often I need to see my practitioner with my budget. Once every seven to 10 days is the goal, but sometimes the body has other ideas.

Despite knowing this dizziness meant I would need another adjustment, I decided to wait until my regular appointment the next day. After all, my symptoms were mild. The chiropractor was busy and so was I, and changing my appointment would be a hassle. Surely, I could wait 24 hours.

That was a very silly idea.

Sailing sideways

That night, I had the worst vertigo attack I’d had in five years. I lay on my back with my heating pad, and when I sat up, the entire world tilted sideways. I was a ship caught in a storm, tossed about on waves of dizziness where the floor didn’t stay stationary. For the rest of the night, I had to lean on the wall or crawl, since I couldn’t keep my balance when I stood up. It took an hour to find a position where I could sleep. It was a long night and an even longer morning while I waited for my appointment.

It took 10 days for the vertigo to resolve.

That’s why, on this recent Saturday, I decided not to hold off when I felt that little wave of dizziness again, followed by sustained nausea. That night was to be one of my favorite times of the year, a pre-holiday dinner with some of my dearest friends. I couldn’t risk missing it. I wasn’t being tossed around like a ship at sea yet, but it was a warning.

My chiropractor squeezed me in. I sat in the waiting room for an hour, writing notes on my phone for my current book and shrinking away from a coughing and maskless person. Every disabled person who has spent hours in a waiting room knows how exhausting this can be. Better to use my finite energy to keep working instead of engaging in small talk.

Had I not gotten in to see my chiropractor, it’s likely I would’ve had another significant episode of vertigo. It’s still hanging on due to a neck spasm I can’t shake, even with physical therapy and chiropractic care. But it’s stayed consistent, and I was able to attend my friend’s dinner, hug some of my favorite humans, and even write this column.

Sometimes I need to suck it up and rearrange my day, even when that means making unplanned appointments. Listening to my body may not be convenient, but it’s worth the investment.

Note: Hypoparathyroidism News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Hypoparathyroidism News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to hypoparathyroidism.