No question that this latest Omicron BA.2 subvariant is increasing COVID-19 cases in the U.S. There is a one week delay before hospitalizations increase, but early signs indicate that this effect will be minimal, and maybe not even that, for a combination of vaccinations and past infections have resulted in few serious illnesses. From the New York Times this morning:
- It was stricken down by Florida federal judge Kathryn Mizelle (right). She was appointed to this position by Donald Trump after he had lost re-election, and she snuck through the Senate on a party-line vote before the Democrats assumed leadership. She clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and at the age of 33, is now in a lifetime judgeship role.
- You would think that this decision was typically partisan, and that it would be a simple matter for the White House to appeal that decision. Eventually the Supreme Court would uphold Mizelle's judgement, but the whole point is that society would gain a few weeks, if not months, before all that transpire. This period seems crucial today as COVID-19 cases are increasing in the country.
- But the only comment from the Biden administration is that it is pondering on what next to do. Incredible.
- I also got nauseous, and could only get back to the toilet with help.
- Well, I now have a partner, and her immediate statement was vertigo, something she had suffered twice.
- Never had this ailment before, so I did not know what to expect.
- Did not eat anything until soup in the mid-afternoon. Good to reduce my weight, I thought.
- Had a three-hour nap.
- Did my daily blog.
- I could not walk around all day, and got to the living room aided.
- Barely ate a light dinner. I was happy not to throw that up.
- Was barely able to get to the bathroom and back at night.
- Woke up Sunday morning and felt better.
- The dizziness was gone.
- Could walk around by holding on to the walls.
- Had breakfast and completed my daily blog.
- Pretty good lunch, with beer.
- Performed my morning exercise in the afternoon.
- Enjoyed the 15 Craigside Easter dinner of steak, shrimp and scallops, with an excellent Hess Cabernet.
- Went to bed early, but could not sleep much.
- Woke up Monday morning and felt much better.
- Could get around, but shakily.
- Ate breakfast.
- Day went well, so went for a walk in the hallway.
- Had a good lunch.
- Thought I had progressed well enough, so went down to the Wellness Center and did my usual one-hour series of exercises with weights and cross-trainer.
- Had a scotch on rocks with my bath.
- Had a decent Japanese meal with hot sake and cold beer.
- Went to bed and slept well.
- Woke up this morning and feel even better.
- Plan to go shopping today.
- If I succeed, I might actually be able to golf tomorrow as scheduled.
- Amazing if this occurs, considering I had my worst day of living only four days earlier.
Went to Wikipedia, and what I read scared me a bit:
The most common disorders that result in vertigo are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Ménière's disease, and labyrinthitis.[1][2]Less common causes include stroke, brain tumors, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, migraines, trauma, and uneven pressures between the middle ears.[2][4][5] Physiologic vertigo may occur following being exposed to motion for a prolonged period such as when on a ship or simply following spinning with the eyes closed.[6][7] Other causes may include toxin exposures such as to carbon monoxide, alcohol, or aspirin.[8]Vertigo typically indicates a problem in a part of the vestibular system.[2] Other causes of dizziness include presyncope, disequilibrium, and non-specific dizziness.[2]
Dizziness affects approximately 20–40% of people at some point in time, while about 7.5–10% have vertigo.[3] About 5% have vertigo in a given year.[10] It becomes more common with age and affects women two to three times more often than men.[10] Vertigo accounts for about 2–3% of emergency department visits in the developed world.[10]
But about my vertigo, I should contact my personal physician to get his opinion. Maybe there can be a medical solution to prevent or ameliorate any future incident: Common drug treatment options for vertigo may include the following:[48]
- Anticholinergics such as hyoscine hydrobromide (scopolamine)[49]
- Anticonvulsants such as topiramate or valproic acid for vestibular migraines
- Antihistamines such as betahistine, dimenhydrinate, or meclizine, which may have antiemetic properties[citation needed]
- Beta blockers such as metoprolol for vestibular migraine
- Corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone for inflammatory conditions such as vestibular neuritis or dexamethasone as a second-line agent for Ménière's disease
If you have vertigo problems, here is another source for additional information. Or a more readable summary from VeryWellHealth.
Of course I can't end this posting without saying something about the 1958 Vertigo, the film by Alfred Hitchcock, starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, which placed 9th of their 100 best by the American Film Institute. Rotten Tomatoes rated it 94/93. I identify with this movie because it premiered in San Francisco just around the time I was starting school at Stanford. The production showed various spots throughout the city and the surrounding Northern California region familiar to me. Now even more so, as both Stewart and I experienced vertigo.
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