The background
I woke up yesterday morning just like any other morning to watch my wife rise from the bed but fall immediately to the ground. Half asleep, I paid little attention as she laid on the side of the bed- I half believed she just changed her mind about getting up. But when I asked if she was okay, her response was really scary, she wasn’t being cute, she said she couldn’t see, and what she could see was just moving around. I asked if she had really fallen back in the bed or was she being cute, her next response was she couldn’t walk- this is no way to wake a sleeping bear, I mean, I haven’t even had coffee yet and I am to play a leading role in a Dr. House Episode… but this is not funny- at all.
Is this really happening?
Oh boy, she can’t see, she can’t walk, and here comes the uncontrollable vomiting. This is when things really got crazy. In order for her not to be sick, she couldn’t move, in order for her not to move, meant she must lay awake or asleep in a steady position- constantly. Nausea from the vision problems, or was it totally seperate- ug, who knows- “I’m fine if I just lay here with my eyes closed.” This is not exactly comforting but she asks for a few hours of sleep- “Lets try to reset me she says.”This after an hour of violent vomiting and realizing that crawling is the answer to not walking.
Absolutely unsure of what to do, hours of googling symptoms Vertigo seems to be the only answer, but which kind, some scenarios are horrible, some give hope, but three or four hours later, the symptoms are worse not better. We decide that it isn’t going to reset- to vomit more than 4 or 5 times is one thing, but 20 – 30 rounds is frightening.
It took us an hour just to get from the bedroom to the car, 25 minutes from the car into the ER, but a bed was immediately offered to her. Describing the symptoms her bloodpressure showed huge spikes when moving, but the good news was she didn’t lose pressure when vertical. Two bags of fluid later, no improvement in the nausea, heavy doses of mediacation are given to stabalize and calm her so that her movement wouldn’t cause further vomiting, and on top of that a heavy duty anti-nausea medication. The trip home proved to be just as complicated, no improvement from medication, and violent vomiting the whole way home.
A cat scan revealed that there are no abnormalities, her bloodwork revealed no sign of infection of the middle ear- they just don’t know why a healthy beautiful girl would suddenly be stricken with the most violent and immobilizing case of Vertigo the DR. had ever seen.
We’ll be seeing a specialist in the coming days as we are not sure if this is something she will have to live with for the long term. It is possible it could go as fast as it came, for the moment there will be plenty of sleep and we’ll worry about the management of it tomorrow.
I did ask Lani if we should share these events with you are, afterall, she is loved by thousands and there will likely be no contact with her by computer for at least the coming days. She reluctantly agreed by saying “they’re like family“, and says thank you to all of your thoughts and prayers. I thank all of you as well.
Nick
February 26, 2008 at 10:07 am
Wow, I saw @gotbob ‘s twit and came running here. Thanks for the update and I’ll be thinking of both of you and wishing for the best. You guys are great people and like I tell my family, “Bad things don’t happen to good people, sometimes we just get tested briefly.”
Bob Wilson
February 26, 2008 at 10:08 am
Wow, when I first started reading this, I was afraid the word ‘stroke’ was imminent. I’ll be praying for her.
Jeremy Hart
February 26, 2008 at 10:08 am
Praying for you guys …
Ines
February 26, 2008 at 10:14 am
Damn! I was praying for you guys all night – how scary is that! Please get better my friend, we really miss you!
toby & sadie
February 26, 2008 at 10:14 am
prayer is all we cano offer from Ohio.
If you need anything don’t hesitate to give me a call.
Candy Lynn
February 26, 2008 at 10:14 am
Good thoughts are with you both. Your Tweet family is here wishing you well.
Steven Stearns
February 26, 2008 at 10:16 am
I will keep you in thought and prayer, like everyone else.
Steve
Cheryl Allin
February 26, 2008 at 10:16 am
Oh how awful having to go through that – not only poor Lani enduring all of that, but you having the worry and now frustration at not quite knowing what the bleep is going on. If only Greg House was real, you could get some answers, argh. May you both continue to be buoyed by the thoughts and prayers we send your way – we’ll all scrunch up our faces, close our eyes, focus really hard and send all kinds of positive thoughts and energy her way! If you guys need anything, let me know!
Kim Wood
February 26, 2008 at 10:16 am
Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this. Bless her! Bless you! How scarey indeed!
Many of us have been on the edge of our desks, seats, beds waiting for some word….. thank you!
Tom at The Real Estate Bloggers
February 26, 2008 at 10:18 am
Benn
Send my best to Lani and I hope she has a speedy recovery. I wonder if you could set up a laptop perpendicular to her in bed with voice commands so she can twitter.
After chatting with her online and the prodigious quantity of twitts that Lani generates I could see her going stir crazy just laying down.
Thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Tom
Sarah Cooper
February 26, 2008 at 10:18 am
Lani, hang in there. We’ll keep you in our prayers. We miss you, and we’re here to help with anything you need. Give us a shout out and we’ll do whatever we can for you.
Julie Jalone
February 26, 2008 at 10:18 am
Wow….that is darn scary. Keep us posted on twitter and I will be thinking good thoughts for you and your wife.
Stephen Wolfe
February 26, 2008 at 10:24 am
Thanks for sharing! Her twitter family has been in much discussion and she has been in much prayers. We will continue to lift you both up as her healing progresses.
Dale Chumbley
February 26, 2008 at 10:26 am
Thank you Benn for the update! Hugs to Lani and you. You are both in my prayers and look forward to hearing of continual healing in her. I’ll be keeping my new Twitter avatar around while she is healing since she created it for me. She had a busy day of avatar creation prior to getting sick!
Blessings to you both!
Linda Davis
February 26, 2008 at 10:31 am
Yikes! Prayers and hugs heading your way from Connecticut. I’ll be watching for good news soon.
irina Netchaev
February 26, 2008 at 10:33 am
Very, very, very scary! I will be thinking about you and Lani. Tell her that she has a lot of people thinking and praying for her. She WILL get well soon.
Kris Berg
February 26, 2008 at 10:36 am
I was with Bob on that one, and thank goodness we were wrong – Our prayers are indeed with you. How much can one family handle? San Diego sends much love and our wishes for a speedy recovery.
Michelle De
February 26, 2008 at 10:37 am
I’m hoping for good news soon! My thoughts and prayers are with you – she’ll be at the top of my “laptop” list. Let me know if there is anything we can do for the tow of you, other than prayer of course.
@mikeneumann
February 26, 2008 at 10:38 am
Lani, like many others, I’ve been praying for you every waking moment. Still doing so in the midst of this silly meeting I’m sitting in. Thanks @Ines for tweeting out this link and strength and understanding to you, Benn. Staying tuned. Whatever I can do, however small…
KC Investments
February 26, 2008 at 10:38 am
Benn & Lani,
Marie and I offer our heartfelt prayers.
gotbob
February 26, 2008 at 10:39 am
Thoughts and prayers are still with you and her, Benn. My wife suffers from Vertigo, but not to this extreme. It’s definitely not fun and a multitude of things can trigger it (some for apparently no reason) I am glad it’s nothing more serious than that. Peppermint seems to be a little magic for Vertigo.
Please continue to keep us posted of her progress.
Heather Elias
February 26, 2008 at 10:42 am
Thanks so much for the update. Prayers for healing…I’m thinking of you both!
Mariana
February 26, 2008 at 10:47 am
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Lani (and Benn). Heal quickly. We love you.
Ginger Wilcox
February 26, 2008 at 10:48 am
Thank you for the update. That is terribly scary for both of you. I will be thinking and praying for Lani. Please let us know if we can do anything.
Hi, I'm Jeff Turner You Are In My Prayers
February 26, 2008 at 10:54 am
The entire RE.net is sending good thoughts and prayers, Lani and Benn. We’re here for you if you need us.
Jonathan Dalton
February 26, 2008 at 10:58 am
Hugs and prayers from Phoenix …
Benjamin Bach
February 26, 2008 at 11:01 am
Lani’s a tough cookie. I have a good feeling about all of this working out well 🙂
Canada’s praying for you …
Chris Shouse
February 26, 2008 at 11:03 am
Give Lani my best and my thoughts and prayers will be with her everyday until she is better. I love you Lani and know you will beat whatever this is.
Chris
Joel Burslem
February 26, 2008 at 11:05 am
Wishing Lani a speedy recovery from everyone at Inman News!
Greg Swann
February 26, 2008 at 11:09 am
Holy cow! Godspeed, Lani. Benn, please let us know if there’s anything we can do.
Norm Fisher
February 26, 2008 at 11:14 am
Thinking of you both and wishing Lani a speedy recovery. Take care!
Todd Carpenter
February 26, 2008 at 11:17 am
My thoughts & prayers are with you both. Hang in there.
Teri Lussier
February 26, 2008 at 11:24 am
Thoughts and prayers. …
Jay Thompson
February 26, 2008 at 11:35 am
Ugh. How utterly frightening. Francy and I are sending our thoughts and prayers as well. Call if you need anything. And keep us posted.
Mike Price
February 26, 2008 at 11:41 am
Wow. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Im just a phone call and a 3 hour drive away if you need anything at all.
Jim Duncan
February 26, 2008 at 11:46 am
Please let us know if there is anything we can do for ya’ll. Our prayers are with you all.
Andy Kaufman
February 26, 2008 at 11:48 am
Thanks for the update Benn.
Get well soon Lani!
Good thoughts & energy headed your way
#8- “we’ll all scrunch up our faces, close our eyes, focus really hard and send all kinds of positive thoughts and energy her way!” – this made me smile
Kara Soluri
February 26, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I just met Lani at the Austin tweet-up and she is delightful. I’d been missing her voice on Twitter, so thank you for letting us know. She will have lots of prayers. I had an unexplained episode with vertigo that lasted a month and it was so scary, but it eventually went away. Odds are, Lani’s will too. Please find good specialists, and keep calling until you get someone to see you immediately. The first doctor I saw was an ENT, who didn’t seem to know anything, and just told me to “wait” after all my tests came back negative. If I “waited” as he said I still would be profoundly deaf in one ear. My prayers are that you have all the resources you need to get Lani feeling back to her joy-filled self.
larry cragun
February 26, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I am adding my prayers to those ahead of me. We find we are all family aren’t we?
Rocky VanBrimmer
February 26, 2008 at 12:49 pm
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers!!!
Charles Woodall
February 26, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Thoughts and prayers from Alabama. I have a good friend that has Meniere’s disease, and Lani’s symptoms sound similar.
Susan Reynolds
February 26, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Benn, you both were so wonderful to me Saturday night and I appreciate all the supportive things the community has done for me during my sudden cancer diagnosis and in the two months since. I know that we will pull together in the same way for Lani, brainstorm for her, pray for her, and do whatever we can from here.
I have known Lani such a short period of time but yet she feels like a dear niece to me and I am heartsick about her sudden illness. Please follow me on twitter so I can DM you,or pass on to Connie Reece a way I can get in touch.
Tell us what would amust her or make her smile even. If I made a little flipcam video message would she be able to watch it if you brought the laptop over to bed, without getting sick all over again? I can’t do much from here but I want to do what I can.
Tell her we love her – and we love you for taking such good care of her. And if I thought it would help, tell her I’d send frozen peas 🙂
Shailesh Ghimire
February 26, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Lani and Benn,
How scary! Aimee and I will be praying for you Lani. Keep us posted!
Charleston real estate blog
February 26, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Lani and Benn, my thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Teresa Boardman
February 26, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Sorry it took me so long to see this. Tell Lani i love her and I hope she will be OK soon.
Daniel Rothamel
February 26, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Benn and Lani,
You are both in my thoughts and prayers. And while that is always true, I shall pray especially hard this time.
Get well soon, Lani!
Connie Reece
February 26, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Benn, I was so upset when I heard from Susan Reynolds that something had happened to Lani. Please, please, if there is anything I can do, let me know. If you need someone to come sit with her for a while I can do that. Above all, I can pray.
Lani, I’ve known you for such a short while, but I love your sparkling personality. I can tell you are not the kind of person who slows down unless forced to. It’s hard to picture you lying in bed, unable to do things. Keep a positive attitude, have faith, and remember that a lot of people out here are thinking about you and sending best wishes for a full and speedy recovery
Cesar
February 26, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Wow, I am so very sorry to hear this happened. Just a few days ago we were all chatting away on Twitter and everything was great. I hope everything is okay and that she feels better real soon. You guys will definitely be in my thoughts.
Benn, make sure to tell Lani to be ready for coffee as soon as she’s better (or maybe a hot tea). <3 Please keep us all updated with anything you guys need!
mack collier
February 26, 2008 at 2:29 pm
So sorry to hear about this and my thoughts and prayers are with you and Lani! Lani all your many friends on Twitter are thinking about you!
Brad Coy
February 26, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Benn and Lani,
My thoughts and prayers our with you as well. Lani your banter is missed through out the web. Looking forward to hearing your voice again soon. My heart felt well wishes to you both. Let us know in SF if there is anything we can do to help.
Jennifer Wilson - Agent Solutions
February 26, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Benn and Lani you are in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there and know you have the support of all of us.
Hi! I'm Rudy from Trulia and hope you feel better soon...
February 26, 2008 at 2:53 pm
OMG! Our thoughts and prayers are with you guys.
Rudy + 4
Kelley Koehler
February 26, 2008 at 2:55 pm
LOL LOVE FOR LANI
Vicki Lloyd
February 26, 2008 at 3:17 pm
More thoughts and prayers here too. Hopefully, it will turn out to be something simple like an odd flu that will just go away soon. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Drew Meyers
February 26, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Best wishes to you both
Lucretia
February 26, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I got here from Susan Reynold’s and read this with my heart sinking – but also with hope.
I will keep Lani in my thoughts and prayers, and hope that you are as lucky as we were.
I hope it helps to know that my husband went through something similar a couple of months ago – not to the point of not being able to see, but of the point to having to pull over the car and call an ambulance.
We met him at the E.R. – that was one of the worst nights of my life, believe me. The ambulance took him across town during rush hour and it took nearly an hour to get there with my 5 y.o. panicking in the back seat and me trying to stay calm.
Apparently, whatever it was – still no actual diagnosis ever – the extreme vomiting led to throwing his electrolytes and the rest of his system so out of whack that it kept perpetuating and making it worse.
It sounds very similar to what she went through – and they thought perhaps it was something viral that caused the vertigo and that put everything into overdrive.
Several IVs and lots of Zofran later, he spent 2 days getting ‘back to normal’ – but he did get back to normal.
I will pray that this is what Lani is going thru – it’s scary, but no lasting effects other than the memory. Which makes it the best of all possible worlds.
((((hug)))))
Maureen Francis
February 26, 2008 at 6:13 pm
You are both in our thoughts and prayers.
Kim Haynes
February 26, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Benn – Wow! Had no idea. Praying for Lani’s complete and speedy recovery!
Matthew Rathbun
February 26, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I am sorry that I hadn’t read this earlier. I’ve been de-twittered and blogged for a few days at a church conference and high workload… I am very sorry to see that your sick and truly will pray for you till we hear that your better. I am sure that you’ll be up and picking on me on the Twitter soon enough. GOD BLESS! We need more super nice people like you on RE.net.
Frances Flynn Thorsen
February 26, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Benn and Lani, Sending healing energy and lots and lots of good thoughts and wishes. I hope this passes quickly. Warmest regards.
Athol Kay
February 26, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Two things.
First, I hope Lani gets better and fast.
Second… I hate to sound grumpy on this point, but seriously
JUST DIAL 911
It’s like having a Sam Adams…
And I do love you guys.
Kristal Kraft
February 26, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Thinking good thoughts here in Denver. Hope you are both doing well and feeling the power of the well wishing in the re.net
Mariana and Derek Love Lani
February 26, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Lani, You’re stressing me out! You have been on my mind constantly, all day! I love you, Girl! Get better and come back and play with us on Twitter again soon! We all are all praying for you.
TracyTC
February 26, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Sending healing love and light from Los Angeles, and hoping all is just a crazy blip.
blair
February 26, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Chris and I are praying for a speedy resolution to this. I can only imagine how terrifying this must be for the two of you, I hope the support from us in the virtual world will be at least some comfort. I wish I could bring you guys dinner!
Rebekah
February 26, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Please know I’m praying for Lani and all your family. I know you’ll take good care of her.
Ryan Hukill
February 26, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Wow guys, I’m so sorry to hear you’re facing such a scary, uncomfortable situation and, as little as it may comfort you to hear, the reality of our prayers is very real. Please keep us posted, and take care of each other hardcore right now. God Bless!
Thomas Johnson
February 26, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Linda and I are praying for you both.
John Novak
February 26, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Sending good thoughts and prayers your way for a quick and full recovery … and then looking forward to a post with attitude about how you beat this thing!
Andrew
February 27, 2008 at 1:19 am
what is your address?
Laurie Manny
February 27, 2008 at 1:52 am
How Frightening! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
JB
February 27, 2008 at 2:43 am
Our faith, as is yours, is in the power of prayer. Based on all the previous comments, I’m betting He’s already on it. God Bless you guys…
Ann Cummings
February 27, 2008 at 4:22 am
Scary! I hope this passes VERY quickly, and sending good thoughts and wishes to both of you.
Missy Caulk
February 27, 2008 at 6:03 am
Benn and Lani, many prayers sent up to you today.
Tracy Gibson
February 27, 2008 at 6:38 am
Joining the prayer chain. Praying for healing, strength, and wisdom for the doctors. We love you Lani and Benn.
Robert D. Ashby
February 27, 2008 at 8:32 am
I was stuck on an airplane all day yesterday, so I am sorry I have been unable to join the prayer chain until now. Rest assured I will be praying fervently, trusting God to provide answers to you and for a quick healing. You guys have been through so much already and I can only think of Job’s life in comparison.
Doug Quance
February 27, 2008 at 8:38 am
Pretty scary stuff… but I have a feeling this, too, will pass.
You’ve got my prayers.
Cyndee Haydon
February 27, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Ben wishing Lani a speedy recovery and you both are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sandy
February 27, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Feel better Lani!
Kay aka taxtweet
February 27, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Lani, just wanted to let you know that you’re in my thoughts. Kay
Matt Collinge - the 604homesguy
February 27, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Just get better!
Mark Harrison
February 28, 2008 at 10:35 am
I get in.
I sit down.
I come here to check whether there’s an update on how Lani is.
I’ve been following Lani since the days of RealtorsWives… Hoping and praying she’ll be back blogging, totally tweeting, and generally GenY-ing ASAP.
Mark in West Sussex, England
Jim Cronin
February 28, 2008 at 11:52 am
Oh my, *gasp*
Was all I could do when I started reading this post. Lani, we’re praying for you. Get well soon. We miss you.
Robin Sing
May 21, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Reading through your archives as I have stumbled upon AG and wow..this happened to my aunt 6 months ago. Glad I see from reading the current posts that she is fine now. Must have been very scary