Thanks again everyone.  Feeling fine now except for being a bit dozy (no difference there then ).  Son and girlfriend have now returned to their own home as I'm back to normal and son has a really bad cold which we would rather not catch.

The two of us and Dudley have settled down as usual.  Looking forward to the two-week break coming up - lots of treats planned! 

It wouldn't have been apparent from my postings last weekend (or maybe it was, rambling nonsensical stuff that is was) but anyway I did have a lousy weekend which started with a light-headed feeling Thursday night, and Friday I was staggering around the house like a drunk (I have Fridays off any work), my sense of balance was disturbed, not really dizzy spells or vertigo, just couldn't walk straight, had to hang on to furniture and walls, and so I couldn't drive, I couldn't walk with a hot drink, I couldn't help with the cooking, I couldn't pop down the pub for a pint etc. I could just sit here, listen to music or watch telly but not much else, it was like I was resident in an old folks' home. My impatient missus would occassionally shout at me for unnecessarily trying to walk fast 

By Saturday it was a bit scary. I tried to be brave and walked to the supermarket but in the shop I still couldn't walk straight and my head felt a bit numb, hope none of the neighbours saw me, I couldn't really think straight, sounds horrible and it was. My wife just made me rest and told me what to do on Monday - make appointment with doctor/nurse at the surgery, and since I'm 55 ask for a middle-aged check-up/MOT.

So I did that yesterday, and nurse said it sounds just like maybe an infection in the balance labyrinth. I was already feeling a bit better and did drive the three miles to the surgery (wife at work). I've got some anti-nausea tablets which might help speed recovery and, today, just been to the hospital giving a blood sample which they will screen for various middle-aged ailments.

Another sign that I'm getting on a bit; for a brief while on Sunday I thought a zimmer frame might come in handy 

Sounds terrifying, John. I don't know that it's anything to do with age, is it? I got just as many things wrong with me when I was young as I do now, if not more. Admittedly I'm nearer to the Zimmer frame though .

Anyway, I'm really glad you're feeling better.

Nasty thing labrynthitis, it varies in severity. I've known a few people who have had it. The good news is that it does finally resolve.

Thanks for all the sympathetic messages, and informed advice. Maybe it's not anything to do with age then. Much better today, stayed at home to rest.

As time goes on I do sense my brain becoming much easier to become befuddled, not at work but at home with day-to-day things which does annoy my wife who has the same problem at times and she's not 50 yet 

Yes, best wishes John for a speedy recovery. 

I'm fine now, went into my main customer today, sat at a computer most of the morning 

I have to say I have had 2 nasty 'cold type ' things lately ( past 3 weeks) sore throat, very heavy head and nose.. they seem to pass very quickly when they eventually decide to go !!! This last one has left me with rather a cough though.. ah well, hope you are soon better JW 

A