I received confirmation from my doctor that the vertigo I’ve been experiencing for almost three months is caused by Meniere’s disease. In addition to vertigo, patients with Meniere’s disease also experience a ringing sensation in the ears, known as tinnitus.

Meniere’s makes me extremely weak, and I lose my enthusiasm for life. The dizziness comes suddenly while I’m at work or wakes me up in the middle of the night because my head is spinning. I usually vomit and have diarrhea. It takes hours for the dizziness to go away. Afterward, I feel exhausted and can’t do anything but lie down and sleep for the rest of the day.

I’ve been diligently checking with my doctor and taking medication, but nothing has helped. I’ve also changed some of my daily habits that trigger the condition, such as drinking less coffee. When I asked the doctor why no progress, she just suggested taking medication and trying to rest.

It’s incredibly frustrating. With no significant progress after two months of treatment, how can I rest? I discussed this with my son, and he suggested I seek a second opinion at a hospital in Malaysia, our neighboring country. My youngest son supported me and agreed to take time off work to go there.

Finally, we went. The three of us—my husband, my youngest son, and I—arrived in the small town where the specialist hospital is located. The hospital correspondent came to the port to pick us up and take us to our hotel. The service was truly excellent. I received invaluable support at a time when my body and mind were weak.

It didn’t stop there. The next morning, we were picked up and taken to the hospital for several tests. My husband had a general examination, while I met with a specialist. All the necessary tests were performed from morning until noon.

I can tell you how refreshing everything was at the hospital. The rooms, the doctors, and the paramedics—there was no rush of patients like I’d experienced in my hometown. Everything was very calm here.

The situation was a stark contrast to what happened at the hospital in my hometown. There were usually more than 20 patients in line, the doctor was often late (she also worked at another hospital), and the nurses called out in a high-pitched voice over the noise in the waiting room. It’s no wonder the doctor wanted to send every patient home as quickly as possible. If a patient asked a lot of questions, she would rush to answer. Whether I was satisfied or not with the answers was up to me.

In the Malaysian hospital, the doctor explained my illness in great detail. I took as much time as I needed. He always smiled and understood my suffering. If hospitals in my country were like that, many Indonesians would certainly not choose to travel abroad for treatment.

I’m currently still undergoing treatment. I have strong hopes that I will recover. If you’re sick and feel like no cure is effective, your mental health will definitely suffer. That’s what I felt some time ago.