Paula @ Gracefilled Moments I’m linking up with friends for Share Four Somethings end of July 2025 link up over @ Jennifer’s place, Overflowing With Thankfulness; each month, we share some things we loved, some things we learned, some things that went well, and some things we let go of this month. We also talk about things we liked or disliked, accomplished, improved upon/needs improvement, and noticed.
Battling BPPV
The first week of July was a rough one as I struggled with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This condition, often described as “room-spinning” dizziness, is caused by tiny calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) that become dislodged in your inner ear.
Normally, these crystals are in a different part of your ear and help with balance. When they move into the semicircular canals, they send confusing signals to your brain, leading to intense, brief episodes of vertigo, often triggered by specific head movements. It was a truly horrible experience, and the dizziness has unfortunately continued to flare up occasionally since then.
A Welcome Panera Treat
Amidst the challenging week, a trip to Panera with my Aunt Dee was a much-needed delight. Since there isn’t a Panera in my immediate area, it felt like a special treat to enjoy their food and company.
Staying Connected (and Organized!)
I’m still working on getting a better handle on responding to blog comments. Please be assured that even if it takes me a little time, I will always respond to you. I genuinely enjoy connecting with all of you through your comments.
On a more positive note, I’ve been doing a great job of keeping my email inboxes clean and under control!
Why McDonald’s Fries Are a Big Deal
So, why am I talking about McDonald’s french fries, you ask? Well, it all goes back to Monday when I had surgery to remove my Lap-Band (adjustable laparoscopic gastric band).
These fries might seem like a small thing, but they’re actually a huge deal for me. I’ve had the Lap-Band for 17 years. While I lost a lot of weight in the beginning, chronic illnesses eventually caused me to gain it back. For the past five years, the band and port have been malfunctioning. This meant food frequently got stuck (requiring me to induce vomiting), and I experienced cramping around the port site and constant stomach pain.
But today? Today was different. With the band finally gone, I was able to savor McDonald’s french fries for the first time in 17 years without any stomach problems! It’s truly amazing how much better I’m feeling since the removal. My belly feels great! Aside from the lingering surgical soreness, which is fading, I’m just so relieved. I won’t be able to lift anything until my doctor’s appointment on August 7th, but I was even able to drive today.
Sneak Peek blog post to come: My Dog’s Dramatic Reaction to My Outpatient Surgery
Get ready soon for a story about my outpatient surgery that involves an unexpected visit from the state police and my apartment complex’s housing staff! Apparently, my car being parked outside while I was in surgery led to a welfare check – all thanks to my incredibly drama-queen dog.
Spoiler alert: I was perfectly fine, and so was she. Though I did get the stink eye from her all day after I got home!
As July wraps up, I’m feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. It’s been a month of unexpected challenges, from battling BPPV to navigating post-surgery recovery. But it’s also been a month of small victories: savoring those McDonald’s fries, making progress on email organization, and even anticipating the humorous tale of my dog’s dramatic flair.
I’m linking up this month with these AMAZING Blog Hop/Link-Up party hostesses!
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That panera meal looks like a real treat! I am so glad your surgery went well and hope the vertigo goes away soon.
Vertigo is the worst! I hope you are feeling better from that and your surgery soon!
I am feeling much better Cindy. Thank you for your kind words.
Wow, that’s a lot for a month! I have vertigo sometimes–they gave me some exercises to do that help the crystals in the ear get back to the right place, but it usually subsides for me without needing to do them. It’s nice to know they’re available, though.
I’m glad you’re healing well from your surgery and got to have fries again! How neat to have Panera with your aunt!
I was giving meclizine to keep on hand for when it happens now and it works well in about an hour.
I used to get tinnitus and vertigo about once every other month, sometimes so severe that I ended up in capacitated and nauseated for the better part of the day. I got a medication called betahistine to take during the episodes which helped. I checked natural remedies sites and noticed that daily dose of magnesium is effective. I take a magnesium supplement daily, now I go a year at a time with no issue. The few times a bit of dizziness hits, I take the betahistine with an increased dose of magnesium which stops the problem. It has been a real life saver, of course you would want to do your own research re this. Good luck.
Daily magnesium supplements are an effective treatment for tinnitis and vertigo.
Oh Paula, I trust that each day finds you less dizzy and more confident on your feet. Please be kind to yourself, especially with all the blogging stuff. No one is going to walk off in a huff if you don’t comment on their post! You are in the company of friends, dear.
I’m feeling better Linda. The dizzy comes and goes at times. The doctor gave me meclizine to keep on hand and it takes about an hour to work. Sometimes it’s hard to be kind to myself but I am trying. I so appreciate your kind words. I hold you guys so dear to me.
Oh my, it has been an eventful month for you, Paula! I’m glad you are doing better, and I look forward to hearing your story about your dog’s drama queen scenario as I can’t imagine what would solicit the state police. (Visiting from Maryleigh’s site.)
So glad to hear that your are no longer dealing with stomach pain and choking! Now I hope that vertigo will clear up completely!! Hooray for being able to eat french fries. My weakness:)
Thank you for your kind words Jen. French fries are my weakness too.
That’s a long and eventful month. I liked that meal. Thank you for sharing.
I feel for you! That dizziness must have been awful. But how lovely you were finally able to eat french fries again. That must have been so good!
Vertigo is so miserable, glad you are better and your surgery went well. I would miss Panera so much if one wasn’t accessible. And even though I don’t go to McDonalds often, I do love their fries. Your doggie is so cute, what a sweet face to come home to. see you in August Paula.
Thank you ALetha, and I’m all healed up now and my belly feels great.
Oh goodness, Paula! You’ve had quite the July! I’m happy to see that you had a few savored treats (Panera and McDonald’s french fries would do it for me!) and that you’ve made good strides in the healing department! Vertigo does sound so life altering and I know others who have had similar experiences following Lap-Band surgery. I’ll look forward to the humorous story to come!
You’ve been through so much! I hope your recovery continues smoothly!
Thank you so much, yes my recovery went well and I’m feeling so good now.
I’m so so glad you got to enjoy some of those fries! Oh my goodness they are delightful, although I’m almost positive its not real food lol, I’ve found them in my car after awhile and they still look pretty much the same as they did when I ordered them lol, but I keep going back again and again! I know someone who had that surgery and they say food makes them sick as well- I would love to lose weight but I don’t think I could handle that!
When I have dizzy spells my Dad brought home something from Thailand (I can’t read it so I dunno what its called) but its something you smell to calm dizziness. I remember back in the day women used to carry ‘smelling salts’ that helped dizziness. It has a peppermint scent to it, so maybe you could research that? I have high BP and that is usually what connects those feelings with.
And Panera is one of my favorite restaurants! Their soup is amazing! I hope you have a wonderful August!
Thank you for stopping by Stacy, thanks for letting me know about those remedies.