The abridged version
I (Melanie) feel the need to write a quick update on what happened and how we’re doing as many of you know I was sick and others don’t and most of you have questions about how I’m/we’re doing etc.
Tuesday 3rd of April, I wasn’t feeling well. My first thoughts were that I’d been sitting at the computer too long and needed some fresh air to clear my head. A few hours later, I wasn’t feeling any better and was still feeling headache prone, and a bit nauseous. I went to the kitchen sink thinking maybe I’d throw up (and then maybe feel better) and while there the world started spinning violently. Piecing things together later, I apparently blacked out, fell and hit my head, and “awoke” on the kitchen floor, though I have no recollection of waking up. Things spun rather out of control the rest of the day and moving generally caused me to vomit. I was able, with some assistance from my mother-in-law who was visiting, to make my way to our bed where I attempted to not move, and to rest. I felt slightly better the next day and a friend took me to the doctor’s office. The verdict was twofold; a concussion, and vertigo caused by either a blockage in the inner ear canal or a viral infection in the inner ear. By afternoon, I had stopped vomitting, and while the world still spun, if I stayed still, I was “ok”. By evening, the anti-vertigo medicine he prescribed me had kicked in enough that I felt ok to move a little bit as needed without the world spinning out of control. I was semi-functional and after a few more days, while tired and still dizzy, I could do most of the things I needed to do, though it took effort and concentration, esp. things that involved eye and head movement (like copying things from one page to another).
It’s now been two and a half weeks and I’m off the medication but still nowhere near 100%. I probably had an inner ear infection and the concussion was probably a much bigger factor than we’d even remotely suspected at the time. I’m pretty much completely functional, but I tire easily, I’m frequently a bit dizzy, and I find myself unsteady and borderline nauseous at times. Carrying Jonathan, esp. up and down stairs is something I do carefully and avoid if/when things are particulary unsteady which they sometimes are, particularly when I’m tired and at the end of the day. Walking any distance or up and down stairs w/o a wall to touch or a stroller to be able to lean on, can be particularly stressful as it requires particular concentration. Activities outside the house wear me out. The headaches are better though not completely gone, and the back/top of my head is still tender to the touch and I have trouble concentrating for lengths of time. If you’re looking to pray, please pray for stamina and wisdom as to what to do and what not to do activity and errand wise for the forseeable future. And if you’re looking for “what can I do to help,” there’s really not much since I can do what’s needed. The one exception to this is I’m always looking for folks to help take the older kids to and from school for me. That said, if you really insist, as a few have, I won’t turn down anyone who wants to bring us a meal or vaccuum the carpets or do light yardwork since then it’d be one less thing either Steve or I needs to do and while not needed (we are truly doing fine and able to do these things ourselves), it is nonetheless helpful if you feel so compelled.
