Welcome to a new week!
I know I promised I would stop talking about moving. And, I swear, I will. But, man, there are some AMAZING lessons to be learned from packing it all up and changing your environment. This week was full of them.
It’s the kind of stuff The LIFT was made for.
Welcome to The LIFT
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BEING PREPARED
We were prepared. Every last detail.
The movers were arriving early the next morning. We spent the day getting everything packed and lined up.
As we worked out the final logistics, we decided to spend the last night at our new place. My husband would drive down to our apartment in the morning to meet the movers and coordinate loading things up on that end. I would stay at our new place and coordinate the move in when the movers arrived to unload. Having one of us on each end would make everything much more smooth and efficient.
What we didn’t plan for was me waking up on moving day with a full-blown vertigo episode.
It wasn’t quite as bad as last time. But, I felt terrible. Dizzy. Nauseous. Miserable.
This time, I knew exactly what was happening. I knew what helped last time and what I should do. But, none of it was working. It just continued to get worse as the morning went on.
Long story short, not only was I worthless in helping with the move, I ended up being transported by ambulance to the Emergency Room where I spent about seven hours of the day being treated - and mostly, just sitting around.
Last week, I wrote about how you don’t have to do it alone. Ironically, I got to experience what that really looks like this week. Letting people step in to help you. Surrendering to what you can’t control or change.
When I sat down to write The LIFT, I remembered that I had drafted a post about my first vertigo experience, but never finished it. I don’t know why. Maybe because I wasn’t finished with my vertigo story.
SLOWING DOWN
The older I get the more I notice how much slower I am to transition. Everything takes a little bit longer. Getting up in the morning. Winding down at night. Moving from one task to another.
I used to be able to bounce from one thing to the next SO quickly.
Now, things just take more time.
And, since I’m not used to it…I forget to give myself that extra time.
Those of you who are older than me probably know this all too well. But, it’s something we don’t talk about or prepare for - the need to slow down. It just sort of happens and then we lament and complain about it.
But, what if this slower pace is actually a good thing?
GETTING UP
About six months ago, I had my first vertigo experience. It was scary! I remember it was a Sunday morning. I woke up excited for the day ahead. As I sat up in bed, the room started spinning. I had no idea what was happening as I had never experienced anything like it.
After a bit of panic, I realized that if I just held my head still and looked straight ahead, everything was fine. In fact, I felt great right there. But, any small movement and it all started spinning again.
Long story short, I got a crash course that day on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Apparently, little crystals in the inner ear's balance system can get dislodged which causes confusing messages to your brain about your body’s position.
And, it’s a lot more common than I realized.
About half of all people over the age of 50 experience at least one episode of BPPV in their lifetime according to the Cleveland Clinic article I shared in the resources below.
If that’s true, I don’t know why I have never heard of it. Have you? I assume based on the statistics that quite a few readers of The LIFT have had first-hand experience with BPPV. If not, you might at some point in the future - so take notes.
I also learned that BPPV can be related to menopause because the mucus membranes in your inner ear dry out as your body produces less estrogen.
Of course, like most things related to menopausal health, we don’t really have enough information to fully understand why postmenopausal women show a higher prevalence of BPPV. So, who knows?
There does seem to be a connection between low bone mineral density and low serum concentrations of vitamin D - neither of which is true for me based on my most recent blood work and bone scan. Again, who knows?
Maybe someday we will have a clearer understanding.
Speaking of understanding women’s health - hopefully, you’re paying attention to the new White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. It’s a big deal for us, ladies!
Some studies have shown hormone replacement to be beneficial for BPPV. Again, we don’t really know why. Up to this point, I had been sitting on the fence about hormone therapy, but this whole thing tipped the scale for me. Maybe I would give it a try after all.
Of course, for many people, BPPV can happen once and then never again.
Sadly, it looks like that is not the case for me. I will need to start paying attention and tracking potential triggers and patterns now that I have had another episode.
SHARING WISDOM
The good news is I learned a few more things during this second round. One of which is just how many people I know who suffer from chronic vertigo or have had it in the past. If you are one of them, please know I feel for you. It’s one of those things you can’t really understand until you experience it yourself.
I am so grateful that I shared my experience with my friends on social media because so many people reached out sharing how they manage it and what they have learned - as well as local specialists that are worth seeing (or not worth seeing).
For now, both times, I have been able to reset using the Epley Maneuver. I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but so far - it’s been a godsend for me. Several friends sent me information about the Carol Foster method as another option. I haven’t tried that one yet, but will keep it on hand. Some other recommendations included things like regular chiropractic adjustments, using non-drowsy Dramamine in the early stages of an episode, and physical therapy.
I’m not a doctor, so I’m not sharing this as medical advice. Just letting you know that BPPV is more common than you think and since we don’t really have answers for why it happens or how to prevent it, we have to rely on others who have experienced it.
It took me back to last week’s LIFT that you don’t have to do it alone.
If you don’t share your own experiences, you don’t get to share in the experiences of others.
LOOKING AROUND
As terrible as this episode was, I recovered more quickly than last time because I understand it better and I don’t feel as alone in it. I have more tools in my toolkit now and more resources to call upon - and friends to lean on.
Meanwhile, you can bet I’m a little more cautious getting out of bed in the morning. No more popping up quickly and jumping into my day without taking pause to let my body transition more slowly.
Which brings me back to aging and being slower to transition.
There’s something about midlife that forces you to slow down. And, when you don’t, your body has a way of doing it for you. Not because we are falling apart. But, to get our attention because - it’s important.
We aren’t meant to spend our whole lives bouncing from one pinball to the next like children. And, we aren’t meant to race through it so fast that we miss the beauty and wisdom in every transition.
The second half of life is our chance to do things better. To be more intentional. More observant. More appreciative. More grounded. More present. More connected. More grateful.
Finding ways to slow down and not panic in the spinning - might be skills worth mastering.
That’s the lesson I’m carrying with me after the move, the vertigo episode and the lessons I am experiencing in this transition.
That…and remembering again that you don’t have to do it alone.
YOUR MISSION:
This week, I challenge you to catch yourself spinning and practice slowing it down. Maybe that’s just a change of position or pace. Maybe it’s sharing with others so you know you’re not the only one having that experience. Maybe it’s just letting someone step in and take over for a bit until you’re back up on your feet.
RESOURCES:
READ: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Risk Factors Unique to Perimenopausal Women | National Library of Medicine
READ: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) | Cleveland Clinic
READ: Effect of hormonal therapy on the otoconial changes caused by estrogen deficiency | Nature Scientific Reports
IN SUMMARY:
I have a birthday this week. I turn 56 on the 10th. I’m using the milestone and the change in our living environment and schedule to recommit to my physical and mental health. Slowing down a bit. Savoring more of what’s truly important. Doing more of the things that bring me joy. And being more present for it all. Want to join me?
See you next week?
Meanwhile, reach out to me anytime!
Karen Friend Smith
Certified Health Coach & Environmental Health Specialist
Specializing in Perimenopause & Menopause
karen@itmaybemenopause.com
www.itMayBeMenopause.com
Instagram: @itmaybemenopause
I think we all deserve to slow down a bit to truly enjoy these days we have been blessed with 😊!
OMG Karen!! The first time you experienced this must have been scary; glad you know what to expect should it happen again. I know it’s not hereditary bc my mom had this several times and I never experienced this! Hopefully it’s all behind you, however, now you know what to do! DeAnne ❤️ PS: Hope you are loving your new home.