Pau Gasol calls having vertigo “a scary moment for me and my family”

With three liters of intravenous fluid just inserted into his ailing body, Pau Gasol struggled processing what had just happened.

Gasol just exited the Lakers’ win over Orlando last week after feeling dizzy and light-headed for no apparent reason. Soon after, he lay on a stretcher en route to an ambulance wondering when the pain would ever end.

“It was a nightmare. I was feeling terrible,” Gasol said. “Everyone that saw me felt bad. I was extremely pale and shivering and couldn’t move.”

Nearly a week later, Gasol looked like a much different person. He participated in Monday’s practice after missing the past four games because of vertigo. Gasol hopes to play when the Lakers (25-48) host the Portland Trail Blazers (48-27) Tuesday night at Staples Center so long as his body responds properly after a day’s workout. Gasol currently is wearing a patch behind his left ear stemmed from his inner ear being affected from the illness. He is also taking unspecified antibiotics to squash the remaining symptoms.

Gasol remains frustrated he has no idea how the symptoms emerged. He recalled spending the initial visit to the hospital entailed endless vomiting and an inability to open his eyes. He reported feeling similar ailments to when he suffered a concussion last season, an injury that sidelined him for five games.

“I was really light headed and dizzy and drowsy and staying for five days pretty much, six days at home without moving much and letting my system readjust,” Gasol said. “It was a scary moment for me and my family and the ones that love me.”

Gasol has experienced plenty of ailments this season, including recovering from offseason knee procedures, an upper respiratory infection, a strained right groin and a sore left foot. Gasol has remained frustrated with Mike D’Antoni’s fast-paced offense, though his 17.1 points per game average entails a stretch where he posted 20.8 points in January. Gasol also expressed hope he could play alongside Chris Kaman after he posted 28 points in the Lakers’ 125-99 win Sunday over the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center.

But the various ailments, reduced roles and never-ending trade rumors hardly compared to Gasol’s latest setback.

“Luckily I’m a pretty calm person and take things lightly for the most part,” Gasol said. “I don’t react emotionally very easyiy. I don’t dwell on things or think of the worst case scenario or get nervous. That helped me out.”

RELATED:


Ryan Kelly helps secure free tacos for fans in Lakers’ 125-99 win over Suns

Mike D’Antoni unsure how he will play Chris Kaman once Pau Gasol returns

Five things to take from Lakers’ 115-99 victory over Phoenix Suns

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com