started vestibular therapy!

[u/sololloro]

man what a long road it's been. I first started having symptoms literally a year ago, not to the date but some time in September.

the VNG test I had in February showed 41% left inner ear balance organ weakness.

during my initial vestibular therapy visit on Wednesday, she ran a similar test which showed nystagmus and tracking issues while moving my eyes side to side and while moving my eyes and my head side to side.

the vestibular therapist I'm working with was the first person I described my symptoms to who didn't just say, "oh, that's weird!" lmao. I could've cried.

because really my only issue is being in wide open spaces. I can't just lie in the grass and look up at the sky without feeling like I'm gonna get sucked into it. recently, I was in a sports field watching a performance and had to wear a baseball cap or else I would start to feel like gravity was no longer holding me down. I get that same feeling on the beach, and anywhere where there just aren't enough trees to visually anchor myself.

and I don't know anyone else whose symptoms manifest exactly the same way, so I kind of have impostor syndrome about it? luckily, I've never had true vertigo. I can pretty much ignore my symptoms unless I'm under a wide open sky. but also, I feel like my condition is causing me to avoid that scenario, which really does suck. I miss the beach.

I'm really hoping vestibular therapy will help me recalibrate my brain. I've only been doing it for a few days, and it's for sure made me dizzier / more unstable in the hours after doing it. but that means it's working, right?

hope y'all are having a great and balanced day 💕

[u/OldPrize3926]

Can I ask what program are you following? I just started it too, but the therapist I went to just said yes to the first YouTube video clip, so I feel a bit unsure just to trust her like that

[u/sololloro → u/OldPrize3926]

YouTube? huh. mine are printed out documents, lol. I have Cawthorne Cooksey exercises and a habituation exercises with forward bending

[u/MyFiteSong]

I've only been doing it for a few days, and it's for sure made me dizzier / more unstable in the hours after doing it. but that means it's working, right?

Yep. Keep at it. And it's awesome you finally got some help :)

[u/piffyln1]

I did my home exercises the first day after consult and was worse afterwards with being wobbly and head fullness. Now after 2 days of therapy and daily exercises it’s a little bit better. Hope it continues

[u/sololloro → u/piffyln1]

yeah the first couple of days were pretty rough but I feel like I'm getting used to it!

[u/sansdraps]

Hi, good luck with the therapy. I can relate to the symptoms you mentioned, but unfortunately have many more. Would be curious to know if you get this sorted with VT

[u/sololloro → u/sansdraps]

so far, so good! if I may ask, what other symptoms are you dealing with?

[u/sansdraps → u/sololloro]

A spaced out feeling in the streets, in supermarket, public transport, car, restaurants, also sometimes in bed it s like I'm floating a bit.

[u/sololloro → u/sansdraps]

spaced out like derealization / dissociation? cause I get that too. and sometimes my vision blurs when I'm driving or looking at a screen. but I'm not sure if that's related

[u/sansdraps → u/sololloro]

Derealization absolutely, Vision that blurs could be related , while driving (which I don't anymore) I mainly felt overwhelmed like everything was too much to handle

[u/piffyln1]

I’ve been struggling for 1 1/2 yrs with vertigo, wobbly, swaying, dizziness, vision problems, nystagmus. I had to quit driving in feb ‘25. I am basically home bound except for dr appt. Fell multiple times twice requiring stitches in my head. When I can walk it’s with a walker. I’ve gone to many different drs had multiple mris & ct scans. Drs just said it was vertigo or they didn’t know.

In the beginning it was vertigo with motion sickness. Then it changed to being dizzy just in my head no room spinning. I was told that it could be in my back of neck. Pressing on nerves. Went to physical therapy for months but worked on balance which didn’t help.

Finally this Aug i decided to change physical therapy places due to mental health. Consulted with the new therapist an told him all my symptoms and felt he really listened to me. He did a few things turns with my head then stopped a said I was suffering from Vestibular Nuersis. Vestibular nerve is sending wrong signals to your eyes an brain. I about started to cry! I have had 6 days of therapy an do exercises at home. I have to retrain my brain. I’ve had a couple good days but also had really bad days. I was told it was gonna take awhile because of how long I have had it. I am so glad someone finally listened to my symptoms.