[mrsD]

I have some questions for you, if you don't mind. Your story brings them to mind for me.

1) how old are you?

2) how long have you worked 15 hr days?

3) Do you have allergies/sinus issues?

4) are you exposed to chemicals in your job? Fumes from machines?

5) What kind of foods do you eat?

6) do you have a history of sports participation? Contact sports.

7) do you drink alcohol often?

8) do you catch viruses/colds often (since you have small children)?

9) do you take any prescription drugs for other reasons? Like for blood pressure or cholesterol, or allergies?

So far it is unclear to me if your vertigo started exactly the same time as
the pains you describe. Patients with real vertigo (which is often a sign of
Meniere's disease) can typically lie on the opposite ear (the one not affected) and the dizziness will lessen. I am surprised you were not given Meclizine at the ER. The Valium suggests they thought you had "anxiety". Valium can be used but typically only when anxiety is suspected with the dizziness.

Some virus infections begin with lightheadedness. True vertigo is extremely severe and not really described as lightheaded.

Did you see an Ear/Nose/Throat specialist? ENT? Did you have fluid behind the ear drum? Did you have an electro- nystigmogram?
Did you have autoimmune blood tests? the various Ig measurements?
C-reactive protein, or homocysteine? B12?

Extremely low B12 levels can
cause confusing neuro symptoms that defy diagnosis. You should have B12 run ASAP.

Peripheral neuropathies often have numbness and tingling present as well.
You don't mention that. And those two symptoms can creep up before more
dramatic ones show.

I'd also consider a neuromuscular doctor. With muscle wasting? Do you have weakness? Can you still work?

These are some of the areas your post does not clarify.. So I agree with Glenn, get copies of your tests.

[dahlek]

"managed care" plan can be super hassle...

I found this site map for Kaiser SoCal at http://members.kaiserpermanente.org/...p/entrypage.do
If you're NoCal click the teeny box top left- You should be able to use this to get a handle on prolicies and procedures to expedite the testing you may need. Most plan offices have 'patient services' people who can help [or not] you navigate it all. Talk to such a person ONLY AFTER you get copies of tests, records, films etc...and ask them about seeking a more specialized second opinion at some area teaching hospital participating in the plan... That way, you've got your 'records' in hand, and may have someone to help you get some plan coverage for such an exam. At least, you will find out more than you ever wanted to know about 'in-network' and 'out-of-network' processes.

If you can spare the time do so ASAP. Or make the time ASAP. Get your records first tho... I urge you to do it soon, as actually getting any neuro appts usually requires anywhere from a one week to 4 month wait for the real Initial Visit. The sooner you do all this, the sooner you can get back on track with fewer surprises or set backs.

Let us all know how you are doing! - j

[stagger]

Hi Roper,
I am coming out of left field here, but do you handle a lot of western cedar at the lumber yard. A couple of years ago I was making music boxes from cedar and came across a warning put out by the state of California concerning cedar. I no longer have the article, but am doing searches for cedar poisoning, came across a pay to read article concerning cedar illnesses in Canada. Do you have any problems pertaining to your skin?

[MelodyL]

This is a question that was posted on the Bob Villa website:


I have just finished cedar lining a large closet where I did a lot of sanding and sawing. Now a friend of mine tells me cedar dust is very harmful to the human body--"just a couple of levels below hemlock", to use his words. Does anyone know the facts about this. Thanks

Now here are the replies:

Reply No. 1
It depends what kind of cedar you used. Red cedar causes sensitivity in more people than white cedar.
Cedar grows in wet ground well. One thing that it has to adapt to this environment and fight the bacteria that would rot it out while still young is that it has it's own aromatic oils and some toxic compounds. cedars that grow in jungle areas of the world have more of these than those that grow in colder, drier places. These are the toxins that keep cedar fence posts from rotting and that make a closet smell nice while repelling moths.
If you didn't have a reaction to the dust while actually doing the sanding, you have little to worry about. Most woodworkers who create cedar dust learn eventually that it is good to wear a dust mask.
I have quit using Port Orford cedaar very much because it has irritated the sinuses of my crew members and it landed me in the hospital with a lung irritation that gave me symptoms like a heart attack, great pain with every attempt to breathe in.

Reply No. 2
Ouch! I know that feeling, had it with drywall dust, gave me flu like symptoms and made me sick for weeks. Another wood to watch out for that is extremly hazardous is ebony, its dust has the same properties as asbestos, and proper precautions must be made when working with it.

Reply No. 3
It's interesting. In some tabloid type magazine, I came across an artile saying that twenty substances were just added to the official list of things that are know to be able to cause cancer. it said, "some kinds of wood dust like cabinet makers use" but failed to let us in on the big secret.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

This is about the best info I could find on the internet relating to Cedar Poisoning.

Take care
Melody

[rose]

Mostly I want to second the strong suggestion that you get your records. Not only do you need to have them, what they contain or don't contain may surprise you.

Regarding B12, please see my website (link below). The B12 test result may be normal (and in rare cases even quite strong) in spite of actual deficiency in the tissues where it must be do to any good. It would be unusual for symptoms to come on new and fast, but it does happen.

MS is not ruled out quickly, and one of the differentials is B12 deficiency, although you wouldn't know it by the way most doctors practice.

Both B12 deficiency and MS can cause serious problems before lesions will show on an MRI.

rose

[roper0866]

Originally Posted by mrsd

I have some questions for you, if you don't mind. Your story brings them to mind for me.

1) how old are you?

2) how long have you worked 15 hr days?

3) Do you have allergies/sinus issues?

4) are you exposed to chemicals in your job? Fumes from machines?

5) What kind of foods do you eat?

6) do you have a history of sports participation? Contact sports.

7) do you drink alcohol often?

8) do you catch viruses/colds often (since you have small children)?

9) do you take any prescription drugs for other reasons? Like for blood pressure or cholesterol, or allergies?

So far it is unclear to me if your vertigo started exactly the same time as
the pains you describe. Patients with real vertigo (which is often a sign of
Meniere's disease) can typically lie on the opposite ear (the one not affected) and the dizziness will lessen. I am surprised you were not given Meclizine at the ER. The Valium suggests they thought you had "anxiety". Valium can be used but typically only when anxiety is suspected with the dizziness.

Some virus infections begin with lightheadedness. True vertigo is extremely severe and not really described as lightheaded.

Did you see an Ear/Nose/Throat specialist? ENT? Did you have fluid behind the ear drum? Did you have an electro- nystigmogram?
Did you have autoimmune blood tests? the various Ig measurements?
C-reactive protein, or homocysteine? B12?

Extremely low B12 levels can
cause confusing neuro symptoms that defy diagnosis. You should have B12 run ASAP.

Peripheral neuropathies often have numbness and tingling present as well.
You don't mention that. And those two symptoms can creep up before more
dramatic ones show.

I'd also consider a neuromuscular doctor. With muscle wasting? Do you have weakness? Can you still work?

These are some of the areas your post does not clarify.. So I agree with Glenn, get copies of your tests.

Thanks for asking, here's the best answers I can give:
1) 40, 2) approx. 15yrs, 3) no, 4) occasionally, 5) meats, vegetables, fruits, etc..., 6) In HS football, track, basketball, and rodeo, 7) was an alchoholic until 1994 when I quit drinking completely, 8) prior to '06 almost never but came down sick alot in '06 just chocked it up to the kids, 9) none; They did give me meclazine also I forgot about it. At Kaiser they call the ENT a Head & Neck Specialist. No to the other tests, they did a B12 with the spinal tap. I do have pins & needles sensation and my arms go to sleep a lot w/o warning I thought I put that in the posting but I missed it somehow. Probably because of my hen-peck typing haha!! I have some weakness in my left arm, left leg, and in my grip strength in both hands. I haven't been able to return to work mainly due to the fatigue. Some days it's really a chore to get out of bed for any length of time, also I limp pretty bad because of the severe pain in my left hip. We've been trying to get copies of my test results for some time now, unfortunately Kaiser can be a real hassel to deal with. They're like trying to work with the federal gov.
Thanks again for your response,

Roper0866

[mrsD]

Do you take any supplements?

Did you have hip pain, before eating the pizza?

Did you have an xray of the hip?

People with alcohol consumption histories often have metabolic issues with
Thiamine B1.

I'd get that B12 level and report it here. There is a difference between B12
in the spinal fluid, and the blood serum. Your post doesn't clarify that.

If you are exposed to fumes from machines alot, there can be carbon monoxide there. This can cause diffuse neurological poisoning. If you smoke, you add to it.

For now you can yourself, take some nutrients. You can start with B12 1mg
methyl version, and a quality B-50 and see how you feel.

You may have a degenerating hip. (from your active past). That should be evaluated, since necrosis is a slow process and shows up years after
the sports/other activity. Sometimes many things gang up and happen at once, and it is hard to separate them.

I think you should see an orthopedic specialist for that hip and potential neck symptoms. It takes time and many tests before things get identified.
With your active past history, looking at structural damage should be
done.

When nothing is found with dizziness they often say a virus in the inner ear.
That would not however, cause your hand/arm/leg issues.

The diagnosis of benign positional vertigo is common. There are websites you can search, to show you head positions to do to help realign the little otolithis that are in the semi-circular canals. They can move around and cause dizziness...
you can start here:
http://www.umm.edu/otolaryngology/bppv.html

[roper0866]

Hi,
Sorry it's taken me so long to respond, I was having a hard time getting some of the test results. So far here's what I've got for answers to your questions:
1) I take Centrum Plus and have faithfully everyday for 12yrs ever since I stopped drinking. 2) I didn't have any pain in my left hip prior to that day, and in fact the hip pain came on slowly over about 2wks time and has remained ever since. 3) No, I haven't. 4) Here's what I have re: B12 tests
12/18/06 B12 - 347 pg/ml 1/04/07 B12 - 346 pg/ml. these were blood serum results according to Kaiser. 5) I don't smoke and have never smoked. I don't believe that the hip pain is structural since I have never injured that hip or had any pain prior to this disease. I got the results on several other blood tests that have been done and will post them shortly.

Roper0866

[roper0866]

Here's the test results I have gotten so far, these were all taken
on 12/18/06:

Creatinine, Serum - 1.38 mg/dl
Ferritin - 346 mg/ml
Glucose, Random - 88 mg/dl
Iron - 124 ug/dl, TIBC - 284 ug/dl, TIBC unsat - 160 ug/dl
Transferrin - 44%
Potassium, Serum - 3.9 meq/l
Sodium, Serum - 142 meq/l
CBC w/o Diff : WBC - 5.0 k/ul, RBC - 4.89 m/ul, HGB - 14.4 g/dl, Hemotocrit - 40.4%, MCV - 83fl, RDW/RBC - 12.6%, Platelets Count - 199 k/ul.

I'll post more info as I get it from Kaiser. Trying to get info fropm them is like pulling teeth!! haha!! Thanks again to everyone for your help!!!

Roper0866

[rose]

I hope that ferritin isn't ng/mL

I don't have the other ranges in my brain.

They should give you a copy of the actual labs, with the "normal" ranges and all.

rose