I have vertigo, can I be a nurse?

Published

Hi all! I did do a search previously and read through any posts referencing vertigo, but it doesn't appear anything I read matches what I experience.

I have vertigo (not BPPV, possibly Meniere's Disease, cause is yet to be determined) and have been trying to find the cause for the last 5 years. I have mild issues about 5 days per week, and maybe 3-5 days per month will I have more moderate-severe problems. I am still able to walk, but I am unsteady.

Florescent lighting is a BIG trigger for me, and I know being in it for extended periods cause my vertigo to be more prominent. I am still working with my neurologist to find a medication that helps lessen the vertigo, but doesn't cause a whole slew of other issues.

Am I kidding myself by wanting to get into nursing school and become an RN? I currently have a career in IT, but I really want to switch to nursing. Do you think it is possible?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How do you currently minimize your exposure to florescent lighting in the workplace? Do you turn the overhead lights off? If so, you may find the work environment in ultrasonography more suitable than nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Working in the type of IT that I do, the lighting is kept low, which helps a lot. Sometimes the lighting doesn't bother me, I guess it just depends on how my overall symptoms are for the day. Some offices/hospitals are worse than others for me.

I will look into ultrasonography as well, the low-lighting conditions would be really optimal.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

I have had bilateral Menieres Disease since 1998. I have had bilat endolymphatic shunt placements which has allowed me to continue to work full time.

At first, right after diagnosis and between surgeries, I had daily, severe vertigo with vomiting and hearing loss. There were shifts when it seemed that I spent more time vomiting from vertigo, than I did working. I used my FMLA a bunch.

I have since leveled out to where I have what I call "daily dizzies"-dizzy/light headed, tinnitus and off balance, but able to function well.

My advice is- if you feel that your vertigo will come under enough control that you can function clear headedly in the fast paced world of nursing 8-15 hours 3-5 days weekly, with rapidly changing body positions and movements and flickering lights, loud noises, bending, lifting and walking and turning-- Then go for it.

Not meaning to be discouraging, just realistic as I have BTDT for many many years. It IS possible, after school and after experience -1-several years- to find a type of nursing that may be easier to tolerate, but, again, that WILL take time.

I found that slightly limiting salt, judicious use of valium(at first) and OTC anti-vert(meclizine) that I functioned very well in the hospital. I did have nights when I struggled and it was hard to push through and sometimes I would have to call off or go home early. Now, I have a non-bedside position in case management and find it MUCH easier on my old Meniere's body to tolerate.

Best wishes and If I can help/advise or just listen, let me know.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

They keep saying it might be MD, but they can't catch the hearing loss in testing, so of course they won't diagnose it. I've been on and off meclizine, it makes no difference for me other than feel really drugged. They wanted to try me on valium, but since I have sleep apnea and you aren't supposed to take valium with OSA, I refused it.

I probably get what you call your daily dizzies. I've learned to push through and just be aware of it, but some days are just plain bad and I need to cut out early or call in, like you mentioned.

I have a low sodium diet anyway due to my husband's blood pressure issues. I don't drink any caffeine and have very limited chocolate.

How does your tinnitus affect using a stethoscope? That was my other concern.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I hate to be too discouraging, but I think you should think twice about starting a nursing career until you have a better handle on your diagnosis and prognosis. It would be a shame to invest all the time, effort, and money ... only to find that you condition deteriorating with time and that you have trouble launching your nursing career.

I have mild balance and hearing loss issues -- but I developed them after I already had been a nurse for 16 years and had a Master's Degree. I had already left the bedside and worked in nursing staff development. In that role, my hearing/balance losses are no big deal. And with my experience and education (I was in PhD school at the time), I had plenty of career options for "office type jobs" that I can do as I age. Also, the cause of my hearing/balance loss is non-progressive. It was a one-time event that is unlikely to happen again and it does not get worse with age.

However, your position will be very different from what mine was/is. You will be a beginner ... with fewer job options and not much power/influence in the job market. The types of jobs that are available to new grads with no experience are hard on the body and your disabilities might be a problem. On top of that, you don't know if your condition is stable or it will get worse. That seems awfully risky to me.

I wish you luck, though, with whatever you decide. But if it were me, I would gamble that much with my time and money. I would at least wait until I got a got diagnosis and prognosis so that you can know what to expect in the future.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've been trying to get a diagnosis for 5 years, and I won't be able to get one for at least another year (I am currently deployed overseas until Feb 2016), and have a whole slew of testing the VA hospital still wants to do to narrow it down. I do know the ENT and the otolaryngology departments say it is not an issue with my inner ear, so that leaves the brain. Things have been fairly stable over the last 4 years, the 1st year was the worst. It is just a constant lightheadedness/dizziness that won't go away and tinnitus.

I appreciate you being frank, because it really is a concern of mine. It isn't discouraging, it is the truth and I need to hear it from someone already in the field.

Perhaps I will work on the sonography program, as it will have me more in darker settings usually. I was researching between sonography and radiological technician, there are just not many jobs for them it appears.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

I use an electronic stethoscope that works great!! There are several on the market with a variety of price levels! Mine is old enough, I doubt it is still available, but still works great!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
I hate to be too discouraging, but I think you should think twice about starting a nursing career until you have a better handle on your diagnosis and prognosis. It would be a shame to invest all the time, effort, and money ... only to find that you condition deteriorating with time and that you have trouble launching your nursing career.

I have mild balance and hearing loss issues -- but I developed them after I already had been a nurse for 16 years and had a Master's Degree. I had already left the bedside and worked in nursing staff development. In that role, my hearing/balance losses are no big deal. And with my experience and education (I was in PhD school at the time), I had plenty of career options for "office type jobs" that I can do as I age. Also, the cause of my hearing/balance loss is non-progressive. It was a one-time event that is unlikely to happen again and it does not get worse with age.

However, your position will be very different from what mine was/is. You will be a beginner ... with fewer job options and not much power/influence in the job market. The types of jobs that are available to new grads with no experience are hard on the body and your disabilities might be a problem. On top of that, you don't know if your condition is stable or it will get worse. That seems awfully risky to me.

I wish you luck, though, with whatever you decide. But if it were me, I would gamble that much with my time and money. I would at least wait until I got a got diagnosis and prognosis so that you can know what to expect in the future.

I agree with this. I know 5 years is a long time but it will be worth it not to waste your money. I do not think you can do this especially with the issue of florescent lighting. I was originally diagnosed with epilepsy in 2001. We could not get me on the right mix of meds until late 2010. That was my last seizure. I made sure I worked with my doctor on how to do this as I would never put a patient at risk of me having a seizure. Realistically, what are you going to do in a code? Those are things I had to ask myself and get right with me before even considering going back to school and then obtaining a job as a nurse. They have actually lowered my meds now and am hoping to be medication free sometime next year before I graduate.

Just keep finding the right doctors to get you the right diagnosis. I finally had to seek out one of the best neurologists that specialize in epilepsy before getting the right mix of meds. I will never regret my decision to keep advocating for myself and getting the right doctor. If I had listened years ago, it would have been, it's something you just need to learn to live with and deal with. I wouldn't take that for an answer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I guess its different for me. I have had tinnitus and vertigo all my life. It has been assumed by my doctors that it is related to my migraines. There are days it is very difficult but it is possible to be a nurse with vertigo and tinnitus. I work nights so the lights are turned down. That probably helps. Just keep trying for the right diagnosis and don't give up if its nursing you want to do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the positive response!

I actually started a new herbal-based supplement last week, and I think it is helping. If anyone is interested, its called Vertisil, it is supposed to help with dizziness, head spinning and equilibrium issues.

I am also in my first semester of my pre-requisite courses. I hope to be applying to nursing school in January.

As far as finding the right doctors, I am only able to go to the VA doctors, since that is where my insurance is through. So I am pretty limited :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNS Pediatric Surgery, now retired.

If ENT says the problem is not in your inner ear, then it is not Meniere's disease.

Do you have any history of migraines in you or family members? There is a diagnosis of migraine vertigo that is treated with migraine medications. A neurologist would treat for this.

You say you are deployed. Have you been exposed to any explosions? Some soldiers have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with vestibular symptoms like vertigo, tinnitus, etc., after being exposed to explosions. A VA Hospital in Tenn is doing a clinical trial with these soldiers.

Good luck and don't give up until you get a definitive diagnosis. Sometimes it does a long time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion