What is the worst chronic disease/illness that you have?

[bsodmike]

I contracted Labrynthitis during the end of my MSc year @ King's College London. Unfortunately, it was around the time I was building my robot and working on my thesis ~ however, with much effort I did most of the theoretical dev. whilst propped up in bed and glued to my laptop.

Due to the severer vertigo, I could not move much and my head felt like it was 'odd' for a good two months. I ended up flying to Geneva to my Aunts place (for a change of scenery) and to do the final LaTeX compile of the thesis...

It all ended very well of course, even demo'ed the robot to my Professor.

Back to Labrynthitis ~ simply aweful, I sincerely wish no one else ever has to experience it!

If you'd like to see my robot, click here and here. Robot project photo gallery over http://www.bsodmike.com/gallery2/v/projects/complete_projects/Omni-directional+Robot_001 .

 

[George Jones]

How did they make this determination?

My mother's mother, my mother, my mother's two brothers, and at least two of my mother's sisters had it.

It's not such a terrible thing. Symptoms show up late, and, once they do, quality of life is only very, very gradually affected. Life expectancy is hardly affected.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

That is very good news. I had assumed the worst.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

My mother's mother, my mother, my mother's two brothers, and at least two of my mother's sisters had it.

It's not such a terrible thing. Symptoms show up late, and, once they do, quality of life is only very, very gradually affected. Life expectancy is hardly affected.

This is reassuring. All those syllables had me worried. I wish you the best.

 

[edward]

I contracted Labrynthitis during the end of my MSc year @ King's College London. Unfortunately, it was around the time I was building my robot and working on my thesis ~ however, with much effort I did most of the theoretical dev. whilst propped up in bed and glued to my laptop.

Due to the severer vertigo, I could not move much and my head felt like it was 'odd' for a good two months. I ended up flying to Geneva to my Aunts place (for a change of scenery) and to do the final LaTeX compile of the thesis...

It all ended very well of course, even demo'ed the robot to my Professor.

Back to Labrynthitis ~ simply aweful, I sincerely wish no one else ever has to experience it!

If you'd like to see my robot, click here and here. Robot project photo gallery over http://www.bsodmike.com/gallery2/v/projects/complete_projects/Omni-directional+Robot_001 .

WOW and you accomplished all of that while suffering from Labyrinthitis. You have my sincere admiration.

I went through three years of recurrent vertigo and it was pure hell. They ran a number of tests, none of which could conclude a cause. One of the tests is called a caloric test. The technician runs cold water into each ear and then I had to follow a red dot around a screen with my eyes. Then it was repeated with warm water.

The test makes most people very dizzy, but it was nothing compared with the vertigo. The tech couldn't believe how I was laughing and talking through the caloric procedure.

 

[turbo]

My brother-in-law suffered from labyrinthitis for months - nausea, vertigo, etc practically crippled him for that time. I wouldn't wish that one on my worst enemy ... well, maybe one fellow.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

I was diagnosed with labrynthitis many years ago. I forget what the symptoms were, but judging by the chatter here, I expect it was a misdiagnosis. I don't remember anything severe.

 

[Borek]

Fingers crossed, nothing worse than occasional attacks of mild stupidity so far. Judging from my Dad's side family medical record I am either foundling or just before collapse.

 

[turbo]

I was diagnosed with labrynthitis many years ago. I forget what the symptoms were, but judging by the chatter here, I expect it was a misdiagnosis. I don't remember anything severe.

My brother-in-law said that even when he was lying down with his eyes closed, he would feel like the room was spinning. It really laid him low - he lost a LOT of weight (that he could ill-afford to lose in the first place).

 

[JasonRox]

sinus medication? pseudoephedrine is what they give people for priapism, you know. shouldn't last more than a few hours, tho.

Well, I usually popped a couple before going out. So, I would go out, drink, and then I brought a girl home. I couldn't get it up at all.

Anyways, she left. I took some more to go to bed.

Same thing happened the next day too. I couldn't even get it up by myself. After like 5 days, I had sex, so then I was like... thank YOU!

 

[Proton Soup]

I took some more to go to bed.

maybe not, then, it doesn't mix well with sleep.

 

[JasonRox]

maybe not, then, it doesn't mix well with sleep.

They have day ones and night ones to help you sleep.

One time, I was making out with a girl. I had to stop, and then I coughed. She was like... "Are you ok?" I'm like... "Yeah, of course." And I continue. She wasn't thinking at all.

Anyways, don't mix allergy drugs and alcohol.

 

[rick1138]

I suffer from the same illness as Turbo-1. It is very difficult to deal with, mainly because of the attitude of society towards people who suffer from it.

 

[franznietzsche]

Generalized anxiety disorder. I used to take a sedative for it, but ativan is more than a little habit forming. My mother has it worse, I can get by without medication for the most part. Worst part is the autonomic response to constant stress--muscle tension, headaches and difficulty focusing.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Generalized anxiety disorder. I used to take a sedative for it, but ativan is more than a little habit forming. My mother has it worse, I can get by without medication for the most part. Worst part is the autonomic response to constant stress--muscle tension, headaches and difficulty focusing.

How do you deal with it? Does exercise help?

 

[franznietzsche]

How do you deal with it? Does exercise help?

Well when I had the ativan it was easy. Hands down my favorite drug ever. I really dislike SSRIs though.

Exercise helps. My job usually requires me to walk 5+ miles a day, so when I'm working I'm better off. Haven't been working much the last few weeks though, so I'm actually a mess right now.

Meditative relaxation techniques help with the muscle tension, as does a little alcohol. Caffeine usually helps with the headaches and focusing.

Biggest thing for me is keeping myself active, not letting myself sit around and do nothing (something I've been really bad about this week actually). If I sit and stew it's far worse. If I force myself to be social, to interact, and participate in activities it's much easier to deal with.

 

[Raizy]

does having the impulsiveness to make a volcano pus gun from the itchy lumps on my face count?

 

[Math Is Hard]

Well when I had the ativan it was easy. Hands down my favorite drug ever. I really dislike SSRIs though.

Exercise helps. My job usually requires me to walk 5+ miles a day, so when I'm working I'm better off. Haven't been working much the last few weeks though, so I'm actually a mess right now.

Meditative relaxation techniques help with the muscle tension, as does a little alcohol. Caffeine usually helps with the headaches and focusing.

Biggest thing for me is keeping myself active, not letting myself sit around and do nothing (something I've been really bad about this week actually). If I sit and stew it's far worse. If I force myself to be social, to interact, and participate in activities it's much easier to deal with.

I think exercise helps my stress and anxiety, but I also like to get as far away from people as I can. I like to go down to the marina and hang out with the sea lions and the pelicans. Or sometimes I just go and sit by the ocean and just sort of get lost in thinking about how huge it is. It kinda switches my brain to a dial tone.

 

[franznietzsche]

I think exercise helps my stress and anxiety, but I also like to get as far away from people as I can.

For me being around people actually helps. Which seems strange. My impulse when anxious is to hide, but interacting tends to calm me. Gives me an outlet for all the junk floating in my brain. Writing helps too.

I like to go down to the marina and hang out with the sea lions and the pelicans. Or sometimes I just go and sit by the ocean and just sort of get lost in thinking about how huge it is. It kinda switches my brain to a dial tone.

The beach is always nice. When I lived in san luis obispo I had a thing for walking the 12 miles to the beach. I'd leave a few hours before sunrise, get to the beach for the sunrise, stay all morning, walk back in the late afternoon. It was nice, very calming. When I first moved down here I still did it a lot, until gas went up to $4.50 a gallon. I'm still so tramautized by that I won't even drive to the grocery store anymore.

 

[Kurdt]

Ooh I have GAD. But I also have irritable bowel syndrome which is a terrible combination.