Could be dehydration, but I'd doubt it when you are so many years out from surgery and you know your routines. I get weird cramps in my hands and feet too (more before, less now). Like you, my thoughts leaned toward electrolyte imbalance, even had all those checked. But, what I came to find out is that the most common cause is muscle fatigue from a change in the level or type of activity and not enough stretching thoughout the day. So, even though you've been very active, this new job venture is a big change. Time should help in that case. Plus, periodically though the day, go through range of motion and stretching. Of course, keep up with your fluids.

Now the dizzy business, I hazzard to guess. The fact that you have a seizure disorder with a sudden change in activity tells me that insurance or not, is is not something to mess with. You've already tried adjusting your meds. It could be that you contracted a virus with an affinity for the nervous system, and you need to just wait it out until it resolves. Can you call one of your doctors just for phone advice without having to come in? Maybe they could defer billing until your insurance is squared away. My point is that I don't think this is the place to sort out something potentially serious. Hopefully, it is nothing, but...

Take care,

Jan

The dizziness coinceids with the antibiotics that I took for strep throat (Jan 19)...I followed it with probiotic yoghurt (those little bottles) plus capsules...No realtion I suspect? Just trying to figure things out...My doctors says to come in whenever I call...no phone consult possible...I have to wait a min of 2 weeks for the insurance to be reinstated (they found the quirk and say they fixed it)...so I am scratching my dizzy head...get occasional headaches too (not my style) so maybe it isn't the antibiotics but the underlying infection that I took them for? Could it be the middle ear? I've got a ton of translation work to do and cannot concentrate for more than 5 mins at a time.
By the way, I started working out again 2-3 weeks ago (1hr moderate cardio + 1/2hr resistance,abs and stretching) so maybe it is muscle fatigue.

Sharon

Are you still on antibiotics, or just recently stopped? Certainly could be from them. Antibiotic side effects can last weeks after discontinuing. I'd let up on the strenuous exercise until the dizziness stops. You may be overdoing it, with the new job stresses. If you have to go into the doctor shouldn't your insurance coverage be retroactive, since it was their mistake?

Jan

Thanks for the antibiotic info...I was on them from the 19-26th...so it has been just over 2 weeks...here our doctors take a plastic health card with a micro chip (kind of like a credit card) that goes into a special machine hooked up to a social security link...no card, no care...but if it gets any worse then I will take a trip to ER (stupid I know, but they can't turn me away)...my pharmacist can pre-deliver meds and charge me retroactively if needs be but other than anti-dizziness stuff I wouldn't know what to ask for...will stick to the gravol for nights...hubby has found that I still have swollen glands behind the ears & in the upper throat...obviously every time I leave this house I pick up a bug...need to boost my immunity I guess(that's what you get for being housebound for 3yrs)...for now I will cut down on the workouts (maybe just yoga and mild stretching to keep those joints limber)...my pouch is also running water right through it...I am keeping the liquids up but am losing them just as fast.
I have a really busy work week coming up so I have no time for this silliness!
Sharon

Congratulations on your new job!
I don't have any advice but hope you are feeling better soon. I agree with Jan you are doing too much all at once since being ill.

Take Care

Thanks TE,
but I feel as if I have a lot of catching up to do both professionally and financially...and now that I have clients calling I cannot say no or I will lose them again...its like I am dancing as fast as I can...And my body is not able to follow the beat...I am constantly 1 step behind..
I know that this is just a tinsy set-back...it is cold and I am constantly in and out of public transport, going from hot & crowed (and germ filled) spaces to freezing rain and long walks in the cold...and I fast from morning to the time I get home out of fear of having to empty my pouch out at schools (they don't believe in teachers' toilets...you share with the students)...I will get used to it but for now my immune system is not up to snuff.
It is like I am testing my health and my pouch...and I cannot give in...
I am drinking tons of homemade lemonaide and hot tea...
Sharon

I hate to say this but it might be time to thin out your clients. I learned this in a continuing education class and it was true for my profession. If you have more work than you like figure out which clients are harder to work with and charge them more. If they stay at least you will be making more money for putting up with them. Also other factors such as travel distance, etc. should be factored in. If they leave you will only be working with the better clients. The clients that suck up your time for the same rate as the good clients are getting more of your time so weed them out. It's supply and demand. You can only work so much or you will get sick.

Thanks TE,
All of my clients are out of town, at least 1hr away through public transport (don't drive here)and other than one for who I wrote the book, all of them are 30 students/class and 30 tests/class to correct/month...no beter or worse from the next school..this new job will either mean a steady income, an interesting job and at least 50% work from home so that is th eone that I really want to invest in...for now, I have to get rid of the dizzies...last night hubby had to stop the car and take me to a pharmacy...my head was spinning and I was opening the car door to throw up...she said (the pharmacist) that it is probably 'the crystals in my middle ear) that have moved and that I need to have an osteopath put them back into place...(never heard of this before moving to France)...so I will call up someone and see if they can twist my crystals into place...For now, more gravol, tangani (anti dizzy meds) and anti vomiting stuff.
Sharon

This sounds like positional vertigo. The otoliths in your ear get stuck, and send signals to the brain that are eroneous. My next door neighbor had it. She had to do exercises where she would hold her head in certain positions to free up the crystals.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/heal...tments%2Dand%2Ddrugs

I guess it's better than something wrong with your brain, but it can be very debilitating.

Jan

Thanks Jan,
I went onto the internet site and watched the video (actually saw about 7 different ones) and tried the home technique...I don't know if I did it right or if it worked but I did manage to sleep through the night...the basic rules are not put you head lower than your shoulders or look downwards etc for 48hrs afterwards...I'll see but for now I am not falling over...I will call the osteopath tomorrow to see if he can take me for a 'real' fix.
Sharon

Am seeing the Chiro tomorrow to see if she can do the manipulation and get these darn cyrstals back to where they belong...this is driving me bonkers!
Sharon

Not sure how a chiro can manipulate this quicker than just following the exercises, since it is inside your head, not any joint that can be adjusted. It is positional and it just takes time. Time I am sure you really don't have, but that is just how it is.

Jan

Hi Jan,
I just got back from the chiro who thinks that it is a combination of 2 things...the crystals and/or inner ear issue and a problem with my C1 and C2 that are apparently blocked...She couldn't unblock them but massaged the muscles holding them in place and I nearly passed out. So, for her there is a cervical blockage on top of the rest...Will make an apt to see the ORL tomorrow...getting glasses too just in case it is eyes (covering all of my bases here!)
Still a bit dizzy today but I haven't thrown up...Good day for me.
Sharon

I'm glad you are figuring it out. No wonder you've been having such a dizzy time.

Sounds scary! Not sure why issues with your cervical spine would be an issue, unless it was because it is preventing you from moving your head in ways that keep those otoliths in suspension.

Jan

Jan,
She did the movements to put the otholites back in (lean back, sudden turn to the left, wait, sudden turn to the right etc...) and told me that if it was the otholites then they should be back where they belong...better this morning...no dizzies last night...not sure if it is the adjustments of the otholites but at least for now I am feeling better...(also am using ear drops while I am at it...)
Sharon