Throughout the month of August, I continued to have some improvement in the movement of my mouth muscles and very slight improvement of the eye muscles. I was experiencing episodes of twitching and spasms, apparent facial swelling. The pain still existed and I was trying to curb it with Tylenol, Advil or Aleve. Nothing seemed to help much, but I still feared the possibility of the Neurontin causing vertigo. I was also experiencing pain in the back of my head, and down into my shoulder, and more frequently in the temple and forehead region. I constantly felt dizzy and was having trouble with over all balance, but still associated it with the pain and overwhelming fatigue.

I was having episodes of weepiness and depression as our vacation plans had to be cancelled, and even rides to take the dogs up north were continually rescheduled. It was looking as though I would never feel well enough to go anywhere other than to the doctors!

One thing was very evident. There was no way that I could have returned to work. I was thankful that my husband convinced me, and the neuro, that I needed to take time off.

In the mid August, I suffered another horrible, spinning out of control, vertigo attack! Now I was getting more concerned. I had been off of the Neurontin for a month, so I couldn’t blame it. The vertigo attack lasted about 4 days, then simmered down to swaying, rocking sensations and feeling as though my eyes were hooked up to a vibrating machine. My balance was shot!

What I had read about RHS was creeping back into my mind! I still chose to deny it. The neuro said BP, and never mentioned RHS, so that was good enough for me. And, hey, my facial paralysis was making improvements.

But, as the month went on, I was beginning to wonder if I was going to be able to return to work at the beginning of September. I felt as though I was getting worse in many ways…the pain, balance, fatigue. I kept hoping for a miraculous change when the calendar clicked over to my 3 month date.

As my return to work date approached, it was apparent that I needed to extend my leave from work. I began the process by contacting my doctor’s Nurse Practitioner.