Why are gas prices in New Jersey always cheaper than the surrounding states? It's pretty much always been that way, and I could never figure out why, especially since New Jersey mandates full-service gas stations, which you'd think would push the prices up.

Paging Jen (who I still think of as Jen K)!!!

I know you check in here rarely, but if you see this, I was wondering if you could enlighten me on the vestibular disorder you had last year (or the year before)?

I woke up this morning with vertigo so intense that I can't (that is, don't *want* to) even move my head. Seriously, you guys, I've never experienced anything like this. It's not like when you drink too much booze and get the spins; this is about 100 times worse than that. I can't get out of bed. Like I said, I don't want to even move my head. Any movement triggers vertigo so severe that I feel like I'm swinging and falling and spinning and cut loose into space.

My right ear is all blocked, too, so I assume it's all of a piece, though I suppose it wouldn't necessarily have to be so. Obviously I'm calling my doctor the minute they open tomorrow, but this shit is FREAKING ME OUT. I wish I could do something, or take something, or sacrifice a gourd to the inner-ear god.

It's really awful. I can use the laptop as long as I don't move my head. Which works, though not for long periods of time. So I'm looking on www.vestibular.org to see what could be occurring in my inner ear. But for some reason I remembered Jen having a vestibular problem a while ago, and I was just hoping for some first-hand insight.

Anyone else with severe vertigo? Vestibular disorders? Please fill me with reassurances that I won't be dizzy for the rest of my life.

Steph, have you started any new meds recently? I got severe vertigo a few years ago as a reaction to an NSAID, when my doctor switched me off Celebrex because of the cardiac issues. It went away within a few days after switch to a different drug.

Steph, have you started any new meds recently?

Nope. And the ones I take, I've been taking on schedule. (The Boy asked me that, too.) I want it to be something easy, like that, but I can't think of anything that's changed recently.

Plus there's the whole ear-I-can-barely-hear-out-of problem. I assume I must have an infection or something that's creating pressure on my vestibular nerve.

/ self-diagnosing fool

Plus there's the whole ear-I-can-barely-hear-out-of problem. I assume I must have an infection or something that's creating pressure on my vestibular nerve.

Most likely you've got a huge chunk of earwax built up in there. You should go send the boy to the pharmacy and get earwax removal stuff. Once you get your ear flushed out, the vertigo will probably alleviate.

Several buffistas have dealt with this before (myself included, and I recall Allyson dealing with it). It's gross but it's not that serious.

I have earwax-removal stuff, and despite faithful use, it hasn't removed shit. Would that it did.

Plus there's the whole ear-I-can-barely-hear-out-of problem. I assume I must have an infection or something that's creating pressure on my vestibular nerve.

Hec's suggestion sounds rational. And if that doesn't do the trick, then infection is another good bet. I've had ear infections that the main symptom was how much sitting on a sofa felt like a roller coaster ride.

Vertigo's not good! I hope you're feeling better soon, Teppy.

I get slight vertigo (well, dizzy spells) when I get really strong feelings of deja vu, which happens a few times a year. For as much as I'm a skeptic about certain things, I think I've got some minor precognition going on, because I've experienced deja vu occasionally my entire life, when the rewind feeling is so strong I can quote what someone's going to say as they say it. It's really bizarre.

Oh, and gas here in Chicagoland just went below $3.90 for the first time since spring.

Vertigo sounds really scary to me. I'd like things not to move around me much.

Good luck.

Hec's suggestion sounds rational.

I'm not trying to be difficult or a whiner, but the earwax removal stuff didn't remove anything. I'd be thrilled if it did.

Ah well. All I can do is hang out and wait until I can see the doctor tomorrow.