Update

Hi guys

Today I completed the Insanity Asylum workout regime. It was really, really tough for sure but I did it and I am proud of myself. It was a 30 day workout regime but I completed it in 35 days due to the fact that I woke up last week looking like the elephant man and in enormous pain. I had developed an abscess on my gum. It has to be one of the most painful things I have ever experienced. Fortunately I saw the dentist and was given some antibiotics and was told I have to have a wisdom tooth pulled (oh the joy).

So after nearly four months of Insanity workouts I have to say I feel physically great but my head still is the dizzy vertigo ridden thing it was before I began all this. As I have said before, the medication I have been taking this past year has helped reduce the daily symptoms intensity but has not completely relieved me of the vertigo with some days, evenings and weeks still pretty vile. All this exercise has not cured me but I certainly gave it my best shot. I will relax now over Christmas and I hope that next year I will find a solution and become vertigo/dizzy free.

Merry christmas

Swimmyhead

Hi Guys

I have taken a turn for the worse this weekend, all of my symptoms are back in full force once again making moving my head or tracking movement pretty much unbearable. it is so frustrating. Another year passes and I am still stuck dealing with these symptoms every minute of everyday. I was 27 when the vertigo hit me and in 1 month I will be 34. Life is passing me by and I getting really worried for my future.

This past year I have been having major issues in trying to arrange a referral to the specialist that I saw way back in 2012. He was brilliant and gave me hope. The medications I am currently taking are because of him and they have been the only thing that have helped me somewhat. Unfortunately due to referral issues I have not been able to push on with my treatment, I have been left in limbo. Anyway I won't go into it all here but my aim is to see him again in the new year and start the proposed treatment plan that I very much need. This Christmas will be my 7th Christmas plagued still by vertigo. Next year has to be different.

Part of the reason I have been working out is because I have felt that I needed to be pro active whilst waiting for my referral to be sorted.

I am still working out with just 10 workouts left of Insanity the Asylum. These workouts are the hardest workouts ever. My coordination and balance can go crazy whilst trying to complete the exercises. It's damn hard fighting the visual vertigo and the accompanying sensations but I push through it sill determined to beat the vertigo out of me. I am amazed that I have been able to perform and continue such a demanding fitness regime given the circumstances. These workouts are designed to exhaust already fit guys and girls. How I am doing it I don't know. Physically I am in great shape, my body visually looks and feels healthy. Toned and lean with a six pack to boot. Yet my head still doesn't work. How can this be?

I still have major trouble balance wise in the dark, I still have to be aware of turning to quickly or bending over. My head always feels like it is pressured and swimming and my vision is still out of sync and bouncy. Simple tasks such as walking down the drive or crossing the road are still difficult because of the vertigo sensations. Yet I am doing insanity workouts everyday. How can this be? I am a walking contradiction.

Last night I went for a walk. I began to cross the road (in the dark). As I stepped off the pavement into the road a car came flying towards me from my right and another appeared on my left. If you suffer from vertigo you will know just how frightening and what a sudden attack on the senses this truly is. The movement of the cars, the dark environment, the stepping off of the curb and the inability to look both ways quickly enough all combine to cause some horrible vertigo sensations. The road suddenly feels like it slides(drops) beneath me, what feels like G force inside my head pushes and pulls in all direction, my vision becomes blurred and out of sync whilst any sense I have of myself in space completely dissolves. Only fellow sufferers will understand what I have just said. I expect others will think I am crazy.

Seriously, simply crossing the road has become a dangerous task. I should not have to live like this at my age or any age for that matter.

Here is an informative article about vertigo and the different causes and treatments.

Keep going people

Swimmyhead

Here comes the Asylum

It has not been a bad few days I am happy to say. My vertigo is moderate and I am able to potter about pretty well as long as I avoid turning too quickly, then a sudden jerk of the environment will occur but all in all not bad.

Call me insane but I have been missing my daily Insanity workout that I completed a few weeks back so I have decided to jump head first into the next Insanity workout volume called Insanity the ASYLUM. It is more sports training and focuses on motor coordination and balance aswell as strength and cardio. An agility ladder comes with the dvd set and you use this to focus and improve speed,agility, Motor coordination and balance.

Now I can honestly say that this workout series looks hardcore. I am hoping this will be beneficial to my vestibular system. I am at a place now where I can workout and I will continue what I like to call my extreme form of vestibular rehabilitation. It is 30 days long and I swear I will complete it.

Now I certainly DO NOT recommend that anyone with vestibular dysfunction go and perform such extreme workouts. I myself could not have done any such thing for the first 5 years of my disorientated hell but due to time or medication or both I don't know, I can work through my vertigo most days. Sure I pay for it and it is really hard performing the moves as I still cannot move as quickly as I would like but I am at a place vertigo intensity wise that I can endure the vertigo.

I think I have said it before but the reason I am doing this is because I have completed the standard VRT many times over through the years to no avail and I am simply fed up living like this. I swear I will fix my wonky vision and spinning brain and as you can see I am willing to try anything at this point.

I actually filmed myself working out one day and when I played it back I saw just how normal and healthy I look to everybody else. I mean no wonder people look at us with confused disbelief. The man in the video looked fit and able with not a problem in the world. I just wish that this was the reality. Unfortunately the reality is that the guy in the video has been seriously depressed because of having to endure a never ending level of disorientation that has simply robbed him of living life for 6.5 years. The guy in the video is doing all he can and suffering the consequences of these workouts to simply get better and feel normal again.

Keep pushing on.

Swimmyhead

What is your worst symptom?

These symptoms are forever with me. They are less intense some of the time these days but at my worst I have a combination of symptoms that can be overwhelming:

• The sensation of falling even when standing still or sudden sensations of falling through the back of a chair when sitting down.
• Huge sensitivity to my body motion and motion of others/objects. Forget about tracking moving vehicles or people. People moving their hands during conversation can be disorientating and hard to track.
• Vision is fuzzy and feels slow and sluggish as if capturing the world frame by frame if that makes sense.
• The sensation of the floor moving and lifting up and down with every step and shift of weight.
• Can become extremely spaced out/ distant and uncomfortable when holding conversation with someone which in turn increases all the other symptoms. I have had to leave get togethers early because of this.
• Darkness or even just dim environments cause a sense of not being able to feel where I am in space. That sounds weird I know but it is true. Spatial awareness goes out of the window and I feel like I am floating and trying my best to balance.
• My speech and short term memory have been effected. I stutter more/mumble find it harder to get out what I want to say. It can be embarrassing. It's normal for people to forget what they are talking about from time to time but since my vestibular upset this happens to me several times a day mid conversation especially on bad days/weeks.
• The environment bobs back and forth up and down and jerks left and right. This is daily be it good or bad day.
• Heaviness or pressured feeling in head. This can be awful. I would have to say this is one of my most relentless symptoms.
• Loud sounds can disorientate me when my symptoms are full on. The sound of plates clanging in the kitchen when being cleaned can be almost to much.
• My peripheral vision can cause me to see objects that are stationary being bounced around or appear is if they are floating. A few examples would be the sofa in the lounge appears to be hovering. When walking past parked cars they appear to be floating/bobbing. Sometimes I swear I see something move suddenly in the corner of my eye but nothing there.
• Shops/supermarkets cause all of my symptoms to go into overdrive. They are hell on earth.
• The only symptom that has truly improved for me is that initial detached from the world feeling that took hold of me. It took about 3 years for this horrible sensation to actually decrease in intensity but still can flare up from time to time. This can be very uncomfortable and disconcerting. I hated it.
• When sitting or standing or even lying down the simplest of movements of my leg or a small shift in position can cause a sudden feeling of falling through the chair or bed or through a wall I may be leaning against at the time. This sudden dropping sensation in my head still gets my heart pumping to this day. This is not so frequent these days but still occurs every so often.

And the list goes on and on. Everything I have listed I have had to endure 24/7 since the 25th may 2007. Granted I have had 14 months where symptoms are of a less intensity some of the time but they are forever present even on my so called good days. As you can imagine my good days are not all that great compared to the person next to me but what can I do. Ill keep searching.

Swimmyhead

Insanity Complete

Well guys I did it, I completed the Insanity Workout challenge. Today is day 63 of the insanity calendar and is the last day. Working out 6 days a week for nine weeks has been very hard work and has taken it's toll on the old knees but it was so worth it. The sense of accomplishment is amazing.

This past year or so I have become more active thanks to my vestibular migraine medication, I spent the previous five years in hell not moving much  because of the intensity of the dizziness I was living daily with. I still live with an uncomfortable level of dizziness all day everyday and it still worsens some days or weeks for no reason but I have improved some of the time and so this past year has been about getting fitter and doing more in the hope I will improve my vestibular problem. I had been doing mild cardio workouts 3 times a week along with my Migraine diet and I managed to lose nearly 3 stone and get a bit fitter. I was hoping that in time the mild cardio workouts would improve my dizziness and vertigo, it did not and so I decided to go all out and really blast my mind and body and so insanity began.

Before I started Insanity I was not sure I could do it, I know I wanted to but I wasn't sure my dizziness and vertigo would allow me to exercise so extremely. I mean fit healthy people have a tough time taking the insanity challenge never mind Mr bloody vertigo here.

I won't lie, everyday has been tough. Waking up every morning feeling out of it being pushed and pulled in all directions having to psyche myself up to press play and workout. I am proud to say that is what I did regardless of how bad I felt. There have been days were I have felt completely exhausted which certainly ramped up all the vertigo and vision problems. I wondered at times if I was hurting myself rather than helping myself. Some of the exercise movements were damn hard and had me falling over, usually the balance exercises and turning exercises but I got straight back up and continued. After each workout I was in no state to talk or walk. The exercise massively increased my vertigo and balance issues and I had a job walking in a straight line to my sofa to sit down and recuperate after each workout.

I did this challenge to prove to myself that this damn vestibular issue cannot and will not hold me back anymore. I did it in the hope that all of the extreme exercise movements would kick start my brain in to gear and improve my vestibular condition. I thought it would be an extreme form of vestibular rehabilitation (I guess it is). Doctors have always said to keep moving, well I can honestly say I have never moved so much in all my life. After every workout I felt like I had stomped and defeated the vertigo and I felt very proud.

I can honestly say I have enjoyed the journey as difficult as it has been. I now have a six pack and a body that looks 15 years younger. Insanity pushed me physically and mentally to my limits everyday. Much more than this is that I now know I can dig deeper and can fight my vestibular dysfunction even if its for only 45-60min a day. For that hour I am in charge NOT the vertigo. The vertigo has been in total control of my life for 6.5 years, I won't have it anymore.

The dizziness and vertigo is still ever present,  Insanity did not get rid of my problem but it has given me confidence and health in other areas. I have often joked with friends and family that I am the healthiest looking ill person ever, this is certainly true now. We all  know this is an invisible condition and that we all look fine to other people. They have no idea what we go through living with vestibular dysfunction. My family and friends have seen me jumping up and down to Insanity and I know how ridiculous it must look to them, me complaining of unrelenting vertigo and ill well being yet completing the hardest workout put on DVD. If only they knew what it takes to push myself this hard, how truly difficult it is for me to function nevermind workout living with chronic vertigo. The thing is I KNOW and that is what counts and  I am very very proud of myself.

Swimmyhead

Yep, this is me. I have told so many friends to spin around a stick fast and then try and walk forward. Many do not believe that living with a vestibular condition could feel that bad. Hell, if only they knew. Living with a vestibular disorder means you never get away from that dizzy, out of it feeling , instead you are stuck, fighting hard to maintain posture every single minute of every single day. Every step feels so wrong it is hard to describe. Saying I feel  out of it doesn't quite do it justice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDIpKthRteg

I must be Insane

An inspiring story  https://vestibular.org/civicrm/pcp/info?reset=1&id=19 of a young woman competing in a triathlon despite living with a chronic vestibular disorder.

The link above prompted me to write a new post and give you an update. If you have read any of my previous posts you will know that I try to maintain a strict exercise regime in the hope that it will someday help my balance/vestibular issues. Now I am certainly not training for something as challenging as a triathlon like the brave young woman in the story above but I have took on a small challenge of my own recently.

That challenge being the infamous INSANITY workout. If you have not heard of the Insanity workout, I will quickly explain. The Insanity workout is a 60 day total body conditioning programme developed by fitness instructor/dancer Shaun T and is considered to be the hardest workout ever to be put on dvd. It is high intensity interval training and you do it 45min- 60min six days a week for 60 days.

Now I know what you are thinking, you are thinking maybe my vestibular issue is not as bad as I have made out or that I am truly INSANE attempting such a feat whilst living with a chronic vestibular disorder. after all exercise generally requires a fully functioning vestibular system. the truth is i must be a little insane.

My condition has impacted my life profoundly, at times I have wondered how I have kept on going. Waking up day after day having to constantly think about putting one foot in front of the other, always aware about how I move my body and head so as to try and control the dizziness. It has robbed me of my life and after having to deal with it for so long and watch everything crumble around me I am battling it head on and I mean head on. I have done everything I can to get better but cannot shake it. Therefore I am now pushing my body to the absolute limit to see if I can improve my circumstances. INSANE I might just be.

The truth is I wake up every morning feeling like crap. Head swaying, vision bouncing so I may as well workout with my head swaying and vision bouncing at least my body gets to move instead of sitting or lying down like I spent most of these past years. The insanity workout as you can imagine is a real struggle not least for a person afflicted with the horror of vestibular dysfunction. Jumping and moving quickly is a true assault on the senses for me. When I jump or jog on the spot the sensation I feel is not one of  a healthy person. When I jump or jog the spot the floor feels like it is lifting up and down or being pulled from underneath me. When I jump or jog or bend over the world around me shifts left to right in my fuzzy slow motion like vision that comes in and out of focus all the while my head is swimming and swaying inside. Hell all these symptoms and sensations continue to occur when I am standing completely still. working out is an extremely difficult experience for me and I do wonder why on earth I am putting myself through such an insane challenge.

There are many reasons why I am doing this such as:

• To hopefully retrain my vestibular system (countless attempts at standard vestibular rehabilitation and mild exercise and medication didn't do it maybe Insanity will)
• It is a goal ( I haven't had a goal in a long time)
• It makes me feel like I am trying my best and exhausting every route to get better
• It gives me an enormous sense of pride after every workout 
• Completing it everyday is like a big F*** you to my vestibular dysfunction
• I enjoy the challenge
• It has gotten the rest of me in great condition (Unfortunately not my head)
• I am INSANE

It is 45 min to an hour a day and I certainly pay for my efforts. I usually have to just lie down or sit for the remainder of each day as it takes so much out of me and my vertigo can become much more sensitive. It has not cured me of my vertigo (yet) but it has given me a great sense of pride knowing I can do this given my circumstances. I WILL complete the 60 days of Insanity, hell I only have 14 days to go.

I should say that I could not have attempted such a workout (any kind of workout for that matter) until last year when I was given medication that has helped me somewhat. I DO NOT advise any fellow sufferer to attempt such a workout. No doctor has advised me to do this, I have taken it upon myself to complete the challenge.

Swimmyhead

Caught a cold

Thought I would let you know that for the last week I have had to deal with a cold. I was hoping it would only last a couple of days but as the week progressed it decided to worsen and settle on my chest which has given me a lovely rattle. Today it has hit my ears, every time I blow my nose my ears become full and pressured leaving me slightly deaf. Now my vertigo is very uncomfortable. All the head swaying, pushing and pulling sensations, vision problems and visual movement are back in full swing. I am back to moving and turning very slowly and carefully, I am sinking through the floor with every step, hell just tracking my typing on my keyboard right now is a blur. I am finding myself having to lean on the walls as I am standing. I am uncomfortably disorientated.

I am usually very good at avoiding catching colds, probably only had 1 or 2 these past 5 years or so. When they strike they play havoc with my vertigo and dizziness. People generally feel unwell when they have a cold well try living with vertigo on top of it.

So yeah, my head and balance is a REAL mess today, I am good for nothing. Hopefully it will ease soon.

Swimmyhead

Vestibular Rehabilitation Exercises

Here is a link to a website that has some simple vestibular rehabilitation exercises one can perform. It is my understanding that if you have an unstable conditions such as vestibular migraine or menieres disease as opposed to a stable condition such as Labyrinthitis then these exercises may not be suitable as they may further aggravate your symptoms. It is best to talk to your doctor before attempting such exercises but I thought it would be worth sharing.

http://www.brainandspine.org.uk/vestibular-rehabilitation-exercises

Swimmyhead

Vestibular Migraine Diet

I have been pretty strict regarding my diet these past 16 months eliminating so called migraine triggers. Some of my favourite foods such as cheese and pizza no longer pass my lips but I am slimmer for it. Some foods that are considered migraine triggers and which I no longer consume are:

• Chocolate
• Citrus
• Cheese
• Pizza
• Dairy
• Yogurt
• Cakes
• Biscuits
• Sweets
• Packaged/processed foods
• White bread
• Crisps - actually I do eat crisps but make sure that they have no MSG (monosodium glutamate)
• Soups
• Desserts
• McDonalds
• Chinese
• Caffeine
• Fizzy drinks 

In all honesty I cannot say if eliminating specific foods like the above has helped my condition. It is hard to tell if I have a trigger as I am always dealing with a level of vertigo and dizziness. Foods do not make the vertigo appear as it is always present. I have had a slightly better 16 months since my migraine diagnoses but I feel any improvements have been because of the medication I have been given. Of course the diet may be playing a role too but I honestly don't know. I have read that for some migraine sufferers small diet change is all it takes to recover. So it is worth a shot. I will say I have had less headaches but again it's probably the migraine preventative medications I am taking.

 Here is some advice and info regarding diet and vestibular migraine:

http://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorders/treatment/vestibular-diet

A link to a page on my dizziness and vertigo website that has a link to a more detailed migraine diet list: The link is in blue and is titled migraine diet.

 http://dizzinessandvertigo.weebly.com/migraine-asscociated-vertigo-mav.html

Swimmyhead

Shock the vertigo out of me

I  have not posted in a couple of weeks so I thought I best had as I don't want you thinking I had ran off. I didn't want to bore you with the same old I'm dizzy blah blah blah so I thought it best to take a little break from blogging.

Anyway during this last couple of weeks I have ramped up my cardio exercise schedule like I said I would and have really gone for it. I have repeatedly pushed my body to the limit, deciding that my vertigo is not going to beat me. I have been working out hard daily convinced that if I push myself and move that not only will my body and fitness be better but also my vertigo.

Unfortunately I am still dizzy 24/7 and the dizziness immediately increases upon starting my routine and continues to worsen as the workout progresses which leaves me at the end of each workout absolutely disorientated, unable to walk from room to room and utterly zoned out for about 30min afterwards. When feeling like this I just accept it and sit down not moving my head and I eventually come back down to my familiar base dizzy level. I am now starting to fling my body side to side, bend over (still not great bending over) and jumping up, down, left and right all the while dealing with the vertigo and visual problems. I am going to pummel and shock the vertigo out of me I swear.

I have to admit that I do worry a little about maybe over doing it and possibly causing myself more harm than good as there have been a few days here and there that have not been too nice with frequent waves of nausea as a result of all the exercise but hey just exercising alone is a huge improvement for me so if I can do it then I am going to do it and go all out.

I sometimes wonder where on earth my will power comes from. To get up everyday and workout whilst dealing with a chronic vestibular issue. I am sure many of you fellow sufferers think I am bonkers for even attempting it but I have a plan and that is to batter the vertigo out of me. If my fitness improves then shouldn't my brain and vestibular system also improve? My brain must adapt it simply MUST.

So there you go, nothing new to speak of but I thought I would give you a little update. Until next time

Swimmyhead

Got to keep trying

After my previous post last Thursday I expected to be in for a very rough week but fortunately it has been manageable, not great but ok. It's just so discouraging when my symptoms decide to fire on all cylinders for no particular reason and I immediately assume I am back to square one for good. I don't ever want to feel as bad as I did for the first 5 years of this thing ever again. So sorry for the negativity in my last post, that dramatic increase in my vertigo/symptoms scared me a little. Stupid really as I know this is what happens, I know symptoms are up and down but even after all this time I cannot get used to it. I think I am getting somewhere then boom reality check. It pains me that I still have this issue after so long.

Anyway this week has not been bad really. I have really tried to increase the intensity of my current mild cardio workouts. This I know could be the wrong thing to do as I am sure exercise irritates the brain further (maybe this is why I feel so rough lately) but I figure that I have tried everything else and since I can exercise again some of these days I may as well go for it and try to get my body fit in the hope it might have a positive effect on my brain and vestibular system. Maybe it will kick start my brain and vestibular system in to gear (I don't know but I am going to give it my best shot). It is difficult working out as I have to constantly balance myself and fight the pull/push sensations and the moving environment. Dizziness or visual vertigo is not a friend when simply standing still nevermind trying to hold a yoga position, bend over or jump to the floor and back up. I am sure you vertigo sufferers understand what I am saying.

Got to keep trying

Swimmyhead

What on earth do I have to do?

Not feeling very good at all tonight. My head is full and pressured and my vision is fuzzy. The sensation of being pushed and pulled is back in full swing. Just moving my head an inch is causing me to feel like I am falling or that the floor is moving from underneath me. I have just got back home from a 5 minute walk around my estate. It was not very pleasant at all. It is dark outside and that ramps up the vertigo and disorientation up a notch. My head is very sensitive indeed.

I have walked the estate a thousand times over the years since my vertigo began and many times I had to psych myself up just to walk those 5 minutes because it was so difficult and such a disorientating balancing act to do so. I guess I am bummed out tonight because after all my effort and all this time I am still having to feel like this much of the time. I have had better days this past 12 months or so but am never ever free of the sensations and walking around my estate just now almost feels like I am back to square one. What on earth do I have to do?

I have taken medications given to me, Undergone all the tests available to me, completed vestibular rehabilitation numerous times and recently started to exercise as much as I can tolerate which is pretty good going given the fact I have chronic vertigo. I have eaten correctly and time has certainly gone by but here I am dealing with the same issues day after day, week after week and year after year. Nights like this make me wonder why I keep trying and putting in so much effort. If only people knew how bad I feel daily they would wonder how the hell I keep going and keep trying so hard.

If people have seen me stroll by on nights like this they wouldn't have a clue anything was wrong. They wouldn't see a man struggling to maintain his balance, struggling to visually focus and observe the world and all that is going on around him, they do not know that this man's walking in a world very different to theirs, a world where solid buildings bend and breathe, where the floor dips and slides with every step or shift of balance, a world that morphs and sways, a world that is so disorientating and relentless. Know one knows except the few of us how hard it is!

I know some days recently have been better and I am thankful but I am just sick to death with it. Tired of opening my eyes and having to do another 24 hours of vertigo,dizziness,motion intolerance, whatever you want to call this thing. Sick of having to tolerate any level of dizziness.

Hopefully Ill be a little more upbeat and optimistic for my next post. Rant over

Swimmyhead

Dizziness in bed

Last night I experienced that awful rocking sensation pulsing through my head and body whilst lying in bed and dozing off. I was lying on my right side at the time and promptly awoke due to the horrible pulsing, swaying sensation that felt like it ran right through me. .

I have experienced this sensation many times over the last 6 years but fortunately it has been quite sometime since I have had to deal with it. I hate it, it is so disorientating. My body and bed feels like they are moving in rhythmic manner and because it is dark in my room I am unable to focus on anything except the little crack of light coming through my curtains which is now bobbing and swaying quite violently. So I did what I always do and that is to sit up straight, compose myself and get up and turn the light on. The sensation then goes away and I am back to my usual dizzy state. The experience concerned me a little as I have not experienced this kind of dizziness in bed so powerfully in quite sometime.

Swimmyhead

Dizziness and Vertigo video resource's

Here is a link to my dizziness and vertigo website specifically to the video resource section, where I have provided links to various videos regarding different dizziness and vertigo causes etc.  I will continue to update this page. I Hope some are of value to you.

http://dizzinessandvertigo.weebly.com/informative-video-links.html

Swimmyhead

Back To It

Well it's back to it then. My vertigo has once again ramped up a notch after having an unusual 2 week period of reduced intensity. The fuzzy/pressured head is back, motion sensitivity is back in full swing, turning and walking is yet again more difficult and all the other unwanted push, pull, lifting, falling sensations have elevated. The hoover is being dragged around the house as I type and the noise it is producing is sending me over the edge effecting my thought process.

So I guess I have to persevere and endure until my next better day whenever that may be? Hopefully not in another 6 years.

Swimmyhead

Living with Chronic Vertigo

Whilst browsing youtube I found a very informative video from a young woman describing her experience living with vestibular dysfunction. I am sure that just like me you will be able to relate to all that she has to say. Link below:

 http://youtu.be/sVD1KUIV89A

I actually feel sad after watching it, as it reminds me that many others have to live life the way I have been living. I mean I read about other people's experiences dealing with dizziness and vertigo but to actually see their faces in video form really drills it home. It makes me sad that us vertigo sufferers feel like we need to explain our illness and our actions because of it's invisible nature. However, it is personal videos like this one that help provide vertigo sufferers like me comfort and reassurance that we are not alone battling such a debilitating disorder. I appreciate how brave these guys are going on video and sharing such a personal story. Maybe I will make a video in the future.

Dizziness and vertigo is not a mental issue that we make up or can just stop thinking about. It is a real physical disorder of the inner ear and brain that manifests in debilitating visual and physical symptoms/sensations. The only mental aspect to a vestibular disorder is the depression one might experience due to the sudden life altering effects of vestibular dysfunction. Many think it's depression or anxiety that makes us feel dizzy. In actual fact we are depressed and anxious because of battling overwhelming disorientation all day everyday, not the other way around.

Who wouldn't be depressed living with such a isolating, debilitating and poorly understood/treated chronic condition? Our family life, social life, work life and everyday life are hugely affected and in many cases completely halted by our relentless symptoms.

It is not an illness that will get better overnight, it is not an illness that their is a magic pill for and it isn't an illness that one can learn to live with as there is no consistency (base level) and symptoms fluctuate and intensify and morph from one hour to the next. For many long term sufferers there is not a straightforward linear recovery. instead it's half a step forward and 6 giant steps back.

Swimmyhead

1 week and counting

It has been 1 full week and my vertigo has remained at a more manageable level. I have no idea why but I am not complaining. I have not experienced a full week in these past 6 years were my symptoms have not intensified. I did have one wobbly evening a couple of days ago and thought my good luck had run out but surprisingly the next day was pretty good.

Of course I am all to aware that better days do not mean I am suddenly going to get better. I am well aware that rare good days have occurred before only to go back to complete and utter disorientation. However, maybe I am turning a corner ,maybe this week will turn into 2 weeks. I am trying to not get my hopes up and remain realistic.

There was one day especially ( I think it was Thursday ) that was the best of the bunch. I went for walk and my vision was pretty damn clear (no fuzz whatsoever) the world looked different, dare I say it looked almost normal. there was much less visual vertigo and that blurring of moving objects that we vertigo sufferers experience was so much better. It felt amazing to watch the traffic go by and actually be able to track the cars and not feel an overwhelming sensation of being pushed and pulled or falling because of the visual movement. How lovely it was to feel like the floor was not lifting me up and down with every step I took. My head felt clearer, my vision sharper , my balance more stable and no headaches. I hope that this positive story helps others living like me. It goes to show that even after 6 years feeling overwhelmingly disorientated better days are possible. For so long I felt like i would never ever improve.

Today is not as wonderful as last Thursday but today's symptoms do not compare to the horror of years gone by. I am keeping my fingers and my toes firmly crossed.


Swimmyhead

Dizzytimes

Today I headed over to Dizzytimes.com. I have not visited the site in quite a while. It is such a brilliant place for dizziness and vertigo sufferers. So many stories and helpful advice from fellow sufferers. If you are experiencing dizziness and vertigo and have yet to visit Dizzytimes.com then I wholeheartedly advise you to do so.

 www.dizzytimes.com

Swimmyhead

Hope

Today has been one of those very rare less dizzy days for me. If only my symptoms would stay at this level instead of going back to the very uncomfortable disorientation that I have had to deal with for so long.  It just goes to show that my brain or whatever is causing the vertigo can actually improve albeit a very rare occasion. Sure, I do not feel normal but days like this are a massive improvement and make my life much easier. How good it feels to see the world clearly instead of through fuzzy vision. What a pleasure it is to walk and not feel the intense sensation of the floor moving up and down or slipping from beneath me. What a delight it is to walk and not see buildings sway left and right or for parked cars to not appear to move in my peripheral vision etc. What a crazy illness!

I really do not know how the hell I have managed to cope with this life altering condition for so long. Better days like this I do not take for granted.

I have had a handful of days like today during the last 12-15 months and they give me hope and lead me to believe that I will eventually get better. I just wish that day would hurry up and appear.

Swimmyhead

Barometric pressure and dizziness

I thought it would be worth mentioning that every time there is a sudden change in barometric pressure my vertigo and dizziness go insane. I know that it sounds rather stupid but I promise you I can honestly "feel when a storm is coming". During the past 6 years there have been a number of thunder storms and each time my vertigo (illusion of movement) and balance problems become much more intense and my vision fuzzes up greatly. The constant pressure and fullness in my head also increases. It is as if I am looking at the world through a haze or static, rooms appear smokey. It is hard to describe, I simply go back to feeling completely "out of it". This completely "out of it " sensation is a feeling that I am all too familiar with as I was completely "out of it" for the entire first 5 years of my vestibular illness.

Anyway, a couple of nights ago there was a few rumblings of thunder off in the distance and my symptoms heightened and I was back in my very fuzzy swaying world. There is a link between Migraine/vestibular migraine and barometric pressure. I have read about how pressure changes can increase headaches, vertigo and dizziness symptoms. This I can most certainly vouch for.

Still, everyday changes in weather effect me a great deal. For example a sunny day tends to lessen my vertigo somewhat. On the other hand a dull grey day increases my symptoms. I don't know, I must sound absolutely crazy but a vestibular problem can cause many crazy symptoms.

The thunder has heightened my symptoms again so I'm just sitting it out waiting for those rarer milder vertigo days I now occasionally experience.

 http://dizzinessandvertigo.weebly.com/

 https://twitter.com/Swimmyhead

Swimmyhead

1-8 weeks

I thought I should make a quick post and say that I do not want to alarm anybody who is experiencing vertigo and dizziness for the first time. If you have been reading my previous posts you will know that I am a long time vertigo sufferer but this absolutely does not mean you will be too. I think it is important to say that the majority of people who experience dizziness and vertigo make a full recovery usually within 1 - 8 weeks. Some might have to deal with the issue a little longer and may need vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) exercises to help speed up recovery. Of course you must go and see your doctor and get his/her professional medical opinion if you are experiencing vertigo and dizziness.

Long term cases like mine are rare and it is very likely you will be back to feeling fit and healthy sooner than you think.

Swimmyhead

My Workout and a little Rant

I have just this second finished a 30min cardio workout and to say I am sweating a little would be an understatement. The weather is glorious, sunny and hot but the heat made my workout extra hard. I have been battling to keep up with my workout routines lately, I mean I have done them all but I have been feeling a little sorry for myself during my workouts this week. I perform a lot of turns and punches whilst working out and of course every turn I make or every punch I throw causes the world in front of me to jerk and shift in my field of vision along with the awful head sensations that go along with the visual movement. Throughout I constantly have to keep myself from falling sideways and correct my balance. A workout is tough enough without having vertigo whilst doing it. I guess I hoped that all this movement would have corrected the balance issue a little more after a year of exercising, unfortunately not. I have spent all my late 20s and early 30s having to deal with this damn vertigo. I shouldn't have to feel like this at 33. I am supposedly in my prime. Some prime it is!

However I have much to be thankful for. If you have visited my website or read my previous posts here you will know that up until 12 months ago I had a job standing or walking never mind exercising. So it's a massive improvement really.

Since I am still constantly dizzy all day long I can sometimes forget just how much I have improved this past 12 months. It is simply because the level of vertigo on my better days that I live with now is still not good enough and still does not allow me to function normally. I am grateful for any improvement  but I want the dizziness gone. Nobody should have to live with any level of dizziness. My consultant told me this. Any level of dizziness is simply not acceptable. Due to the erratic nature of my condition I have not learned to live with it and I never will. I want it gone. Sounds ridiculous I know, here I am writing a post about me working out surely I can function normally?

Nope I cannot. I just have very strong will power and push myself hard to exercise in the hope that my brain and balance will just sync up. This is what motivates me to workout feeling the way I do. It is not because I feel great, it is simply my need and want to get better and live life again.

Living with vestibular dysfunction whatever the cause is very very hard no matter what level you are effected by it. You may have a mild or sporadic vestibular issue lasting a couple of weeks or months or you may be hit very hard with a chronic problem lasting years. Whatever the case, I am sure fellow sufferers will agree it is very difficult condition to live with. I know people who have had a typical 2 week vertigo problem then fortunately recovered. These people said it was the worst thing they have ever experienced. I also remember reading about a women who had beaten cancer and then developed a vestibular problem (labyrinthitis I think). She said that her vestibular issue was much much harder and made her feel much worse than the chemotherapy she had been through.

Evidently I am a mixture of emotions today. I came here to write about my workout and have ended up ranting.

Even after all the ranting, I have to say I am glad I worked out as it gives me a sense of satisfaction knowing that I am helping myself. I think I will give myself a slap on the back and say well done to myself. Well done for dealing with all I have dealt with these past 6 years, well done for always picking myself back up from those low moments, Well done for staying motivated and hopeful for a complete recovery regardless of how bad the vertigo, dizziness, vestibular rehab, medication side effects and exercise over the years have made me feel.

If you live with vertigo and dizziness which I guess you might since you found my blog then give yourself a slap on the back and say well done to yourself for coping. You will be hard pressed to find any sympathy or respect from others regarding this invisible illness. So give it it to yourself , respect yourself and say well done. Keep going.

Swimmyhead

A regular sleep pattern

This morning I feel rather tired. I have a slight headache and the sensation of the floor lifting me up and down is more present. I managed to get 6 hours sleep last night which in my former dizzy free life used to be more than enough for me but ever since the dizziness I have found that 6 hours tends to worsen my symptoms. Its too little. However, If I sleep for 8 hours which I hardly ever do then that amount of time can also increase my vertigo. It seems that the magic number is 7 hours. For some weird reason 7 hours is not too little or not too much, my dizziness and vertigo reacts better to 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep. The trouble is that lately I seem to waking up every couple of hours.

Talking of sleeping, I know many people enjoy what are called power naps. For me they make my balance and vertigo 10 times worse. I have never enjoyed a quick nap during the day or evening and it is something I have hardly ever done. These days I avoid it as best as I can because of how it effects my symptoms. Power naps are supposed to make you feel refreshed and recharge your batteries but they just drain me. I do recall a physiotherapist of mine telling me that napping must be avoided by people suffering from vestibular migraine and I guess migraine in general. People with migraine issues are supposed to stick to a strict sleeping routine with no variation. You are supposed to go to bed at night at the same time every night and get up in the morning the same time every morning. No napping in between. Vestibular dysfunction of any kind will tire you and many times I have had to fight my bodies want to nap. I hate those times when you lie down and your eyes begin to close as you begin to nod off and your not quite asleep but at the same time sort of dreaming. They always makes me more disorientated and nauseous.

A regular sleep pattern is something I find very hard to stick to. Sometimes I get 5 hours of broken sleep unable to nod off again and other times 8 hours completely uninterrupted. The times I go to sleep and wake up generally vary also. It is something that I must try to be stricter with as I am very strict when it comes to exercise, migraine diet,water intake and medication. I don't think including a regular sleeping pattern will magically cure me of my vertigo but it may help reduce symptoms from time to time.

http://dizzinessandvertigo.weebly.com/

Swimmyhead

Invisible Illness

One of the hardest aspects of living with a vestibular disorder is the fact that you look completely normal on the outside. This "looking  normal" makes it very hard to find a sympathetic ear. The many life altering, outrageous symptoms of a vestibular disorder combined with the "looking Normal" can understandably make it very difficult for someone to truly empathise with your situation.

People may think that you are exaggerating your symptoms or looking for attention especially if the condition goes on and on. I have heard comments like  "Get out more" "Is it really that bad" "Stop thinking about it" "It's all in your head" but have largely ignored such wisdom and it is best if you do the same.

The truth is you can tell somebody until your blue in the face about your vestibular symptoms and the impact it has on your daily life but they will never ever understand or truly appreciate what you are going through. They will never appreciate just how difficult simple tasks like crossing the road, taking a shower, cleaning your teeth, standing, walking, turning from one room to the next or trying to hold a conversation actually are. You have an invisible illness and unfortunately this is the way it is.

However "looking normal" has its benefits as no one knows you are ill or have a disability unless of course you want them to. People won't treat you differently and make you feel self conscious about your condition.

Whilst most people look terrible when they are ill, you can take joy in the fact that when you look in the mirror even on your worst days, you still see a super sexy beast staring straight back at you, lol

Swimmyhead

Improvements

A few days back I posted a vertigo and dizziness symptom list and whilst I still experience most of those symptoms daily their severity has decreased somewhat this past year. I thought I would share the symptoms that have improved (they are still present but less severe). I am certain that I owe these small but very welcome improvements to my migraine medication, exercise and diet.

1. The awful detached feeling and fuzzy vision that plagued me for many years is much better these days. I absolutely hated the detached feeling I used to live with. It was as if I was observing the world from afar, seperate. I am sure the additional visual fuzz increased this "feeling out of it" state. The visual fuzz will still increase in the evening but is not always constant in the day now.
2. Unless I am having a bad few days when my symptoms decide to ramp up, I have found that the sensation of the floor lifting me up and down with every step is less severe most of the time. I still experience the sensation just not as powerfully.
3. Headaches are less frequent these days. I never experienced headaches until my vertigo journey started. I then found I was having headaches at least 4-5 days a week year after year. I assumed they were due to the fact that my eyes and brain simply had to work harder to balance and concentrate because of the vertigo problem. Now they are a little less frequent usually 1-2  a week.
4. Sleeping on my side was an absolute no no for the first 3 years but it got better. This is probably the first improvement that I experienced. I still might have a little spin now and again when I  sleep on my side but the sensation is much less severe.
5. Bouncing vision upon waking seems to be less intense these days.
6. Turning a corner, say from room to room is easier most of the time. I still cannot turn around as quick as I would like (still feel like a robot) but it is better compared to  the amount of motion I used to endure and witness when turning. 
7. The in and out of focus,video camera like world that we dizzies see is generally less intense most of the time. Sure I still deal with it all day long just not as consistently severe or as disorientating.
8. Thinking and multitasking has improved unless it is a bad day.
9. The ability to visually focus on an object is better most of the time. There was a time when I would try to look at an object and it was if my vision could not pin point it's location. It would have to bounce around before settling somewhat. It felt like I was looking through the object or person.
10. There were times when walking that the world appeared to bounce quite violently. This is better most of the time.
11. The bending and arcing of walls and floor etc is less severe.
12. Depth perception is better most of the time

Again I should state that all of the above are still constantly present but thanks to my medication they have improved. I do get bad moments,days and weeks but now I just wait them out knowing I will at least have a few days when symptoms are less intense and more manageable. Before my migraine medication all of the symptoms were severe all of the time with absolutely no let up.

A Slightly Dizzy Day ( A welcome change)

I am happy to say that I am having a very rare "slightly dizzy" day today. I love "slightly dizzy" as it allows me to somewhat function like a normal human being. "Slightly dizzy" is a walk in the park compared to the usual level of disorientation my vertigo causes. I can honestly count on one hand the amount of times I have felt this good over the past 6 years.

I would say that the intensity of the motion of self and the environment has reduced greatly. The dizziness and light head are still present but the visual motion is less. Unfortunately "slightly dizzy" days are a very rare and short lived occurrence. If only I could stay like this from now on, life would be much more manageable. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed. Onwards and upwards.

Dizziness and vertigo Symptoms

I first saw this symptom list at Dizzytimes.com. It is a list of symptoms published by the Vestibular Disorders Association and it describes my experience perfectly. I have modified the list somewhat to better suit my situation. These symptoms can be overwhelming at times and are always present. I am sure many of you will relate.

Vertigo and dizziness
▪ True spinning vertigo attacks, Constant visual vertigo or whirling sensation; an illusion of movement of self and the world
▪ Lightheaded, floating, or rocking sensation
▪ Sensation of being heavily weighted or pulled in one direction. Detached, spaced out feeling all of the time.

Balance Problems and spatial orientation issues
▪ Imbalance, stumbling, difficulty walking straight or turning a corner. Floor feels like it is lifting me up and down when standing or walking
▪ Clumsiness or difficulty with coordination
▪ Tendency to look downward to confirm the location of the
  ground
▪ Tendency to touch or hold onto something when standing, Activity increases Imbalance
▪ Sensitivity to changes in walking surfaces or footwear

Vision
▪ Trouble focusing or tracking objects with the eyes; objects or words on a page seem to jump, bounce,
float, or blur or may appear doubled. Eyes feel stiff and slow
▪ Discomfort from busy visual environments such as traffic, crowds, stores, and patterns. Walls and floors appear to arc and bend
▪ Sensitivity to light, glare, and moving or flickering lights
▪ Tendency to focus on nearby objects; increased discomfort when focusing at a distance
▪ Increased night blindness; difficulty walking in the dark
▪ Poor depth perception, Bouncing vision whilst walking, Fuzzy, static like vision

Hearing
▪ Fluctuating hearing
▪ Tinnitus (ringing ears, roaring)
▪ Sudden loud sounds increase symptoms of vertigo, dizziness, or imbalance

Cognitive and psychological
▪ Difficulty concentrating and paying attention
▪ Forgetfulness and short-term memory lapses
▪ Confusion, disorientation, difficulty comprehending directions or instructions
▪ Difficulty following speakers in conversations, meetings, etc., especially when there is background
noise or movement
▪ Mental and/or physical fatigue out of proportion to activity
▪ Loss of self-reliance, self-confidence, self-esteem
▪ Anxiety, panic

Other ( These luckily don't really effect me except for mild headaches)
▪ Nausea or vomiting
▪ "Hangover" or "seasick" feeling in the head
▪ Motion sickness
▪ Ear pain
▪ Sensation of fullness in the ears
▪ Headaches
▪ Sensitivity to pressure or temperature changes and wind currents

Labyrinthitis

For many years I was led to believe that I was living with uncompensated labyrinthitis as the onset of my vertigo and my symptoms were typical of this particular condition. Below is an insightful video interview with a labyrinthitis sufferer describing the symptoms and experience of living with a vestibular disorder.

Dizziness and Vertigo: Mal de debarquement Syndrome

I thought I would share a news report about two Mal de debarquement sufferers that I saw about 5 years ago. This particular news report always stuck in my mind because the symptoms and experience the two women describe in the video are exactly the same for me. I mean even the camera motion in the video is a perfect representation of how I see the world since my vertigo started.

It seems to me that all the different vestibular disorders be it Migraine associated vertigo, Bppv, Labyrinthitis, Meniere's disease, perilymph fistuala etc all share common symptoms. The root cause of the dizziness and vertigo that someone is experiencing may be different but people living with any of these conditions tend to share a similar experience. After all vertigo is vertigo.

I have been diagnosed with migraine associated vertigo but I can absolutely relate to mal de debarquement symptoms. This is a fantastic video to show your friends and family in order to give them some understanding of what life is like living with dizziness/vertigo.

Link Below:
 
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video?id=4180415#.Ua3GR9fYWbo.twitter

Dizziness: What NOT to say to a Person living with Dizziness and Vertigo

• Stop thinking about it so much
• Get out more it will do you good
• Is it really that bad?
• You look steady to me (giggle)
• I also felt dizzy for 5 min the other day
• Could be worse
• At least it won't kill you
• What, you feel drunk all the time, It sounds like fun
• There must be moments when you feel normal?
• I know exactly how you feel
• Is it psychological
• I guess it's the best you will be
• Learn to live with it
• Chin up
• I have migraine too
• There is nothing else we can do for you
• You are looking well
• How are you today, better?
• Are you just depressed?

There you go, some of the most annoying things you can say to a person living with chronic dizziness and vertigo. I have heard all of the above many time over the years. Some of which made me consider drop kicking their ass, lol.

In all seriousness the condition we suffer with is not only hard on us but on our friends and family. Comments like the above are not intended maliciously but are usually good natured. People don't know how bad we feel and cannot imagine an illness with such bizarre constant symptoms and why should they. I guess many of the above are said to motivate us and keep us positive through this tough time. They are not said to belittle us or make our situation seem trivial.

It is an invisible illness ( I look fit as a fiddle) so I can understand the bewildered look on people's faces when I tell them what I am going through, I mean it must be very hard for friends and family to understand and find the right things to say.

So if you ever hear any advice or comments similar to those above then I suggest you smile and shrug it off. What am I saying? I sound just as bad).

The best thing to do is smile, take 10 steps back and then dropkick their healthy ass!!

Dizzinessandvertigo.weebly.com

https://twitter.com/Swimmyhead

Dizziness and vertigo website

My website that I am slowly creating using the great tools Weebly.com provide. I am really enjoying the process and have some great ideas forming. It is early days so there is plenty to do aesthetically speaking and of course there is much more information and resources I want to add. I really hope that in time, I will eventually design a great looking website that is informative and helpful for other people who are living with dizziness and vertigo.

www.dizzinessandvertigo.weebly.com

Better day today

Today has been better than the last few weeks. I mentioned in an earlier post that I have had a tougher time lately. The vertigo intensified and headaches have been more frequent. I have just had a headache for 3 continuous days. I have been going to bed with a headache and waking up with a headache.

Thankfully today the headache has past and what do you know my vertigo has tamed somewhat. The ache, heaviness and pressure a headache brings worsens balance and the illusion of movement dramatically. The visual fuzziness was full on last night so much so that the rooms in my house looked as if they were filled with smoke.

Anyway today has been better and the weather has been nice which always helps. Hopefully I can have a few more days at this more manageable level before my symptoms intensify again like they always do.

I feel dizzy or do I?

When I first became ill, I had no clue about how to describe my symptoms or the powerful sensations of motion I was experiencing. I went to the doctor and simply told him I felt really dizzy. I did not know that what I was really experiencing was vertigo. I had always assumed that vertigo was a fear of heights anyway. Once I learned about vertigo and that it was vertigo I was suffering from, I began to use the term to describe my symptoms to friends, family and people who asked how I was. It quickly became apparent that they had no idea what I was talking about. So to keep things simple I would substitute the word vertigo and tell them I was really dizzy (most people can relate to feeling dizzy or lightheaded). I have to admit it pains me to this day to describe my relentless and often overwhelming symptoms simply as dizziness. Yes I am dizzy but vertigo dizziness is so much more than that.

 So I thought I would give you my understanding of both terms to help you better describe your situation:

Dizziness:
Dizziness is a feeling of light-headedness or could be described as a "spaced out" sensation. An example of dizziness could be when you stand up too quickly and you become light headed and need a couple of seconds to compose yourself. You do not feel as though you or the world around you is moving. A nauseous feeling may accompany dizziness. A person may feel faint.

Vertigo:
Is the illusion of motion inside your head and of the outside environment. Your surroundings feel and appear as if they are moving when in reality there is no movement at all. This movement can be violent. If you feel like me, you will experience a whole host of symptoms at any one time. You may feel as though you are spinning, falling, or being pushed and pulled. The world may appear to sway side to side or up and down, floors and walls may appear to bend or arc. The floor may feel like it's lifting you up and down or being dragged out from under you. You will also feel dizzy, light headed and "spaced out" The world may look like you are seeing it through the heat of a flame or from inside a goldfish bowl. 

I have often told friends and family that it is like I am permanently walking around wearing someone else's prescription glasses (imagine how uncomfortable that would be). I am sure everybody has at one time or another put on a family members or friends glasses only to see how distorted, bendy and wrong the world appears through them. Well my visual vertigo is similar to that but without the magnification. Add some intense constant motion to the mix and that is my world.

  
Here is  a link to a Youtube video about the difference between dizziness and vertigo:  http://youtu.be/rMgOM_HzUKg


I hope this helps the next time someone asks how you are feeling.

Swimmyhead
 

Top 5 Things That Increase My Dizziness

1. Tiredness
2. Busy environments
3. Dark or dull environments
4. Noise
5. Periods of long Concentration 

     I could make a top 20 list quite easily but I thought I would keep it short and sweet.

     http://dizzinessandvertigo.weebly.com/

Waking up Feeling Tired

Before the Vertigo struck me way back in 2007 I never had sleeping problems. I would sleep eight hours and wake up with a spring in my step. That all changed with the onset of my balance disorder. For the first three years I had to sleep with my head upright every night as lying on either side would cause my world to spin, hell even keeping still and my head upright would cause my head to spin somewhat but it was my only option. I noticed that instead of waking up raring to go, I would wake up feeling tired all the time convinced I had just gone ten rounds with mike Tyson. This wasn't just a few morning here and there but every single morning year after year. I just felt exhausted.  One of the worst aspects of waking up with a vestibular disorder was and still is the fact that my vision bounces the very second I open my eyes, I cannot maintain my gaze in one place so the room appears as if it is moving and jerking. It's not a pleasant experience. I have to sit upright in order for the bouncing to calm somewhat. Once up, the next 30-60min of pottering around the house becomes a balancing act with vertigo, foggy head.

The reason I bring this up is because the past 12 months have given me some better days/weeks and mornings. The exercise I do and the new medication have helped. I now can sleep on either side and have been waking up with more energy and less tiredness with my constant symptoms being less intense throughout the day. The bouncing vision upon opening my eyes continues but it settles once upright.

However, this past few weeks I am waking up feeling like I have just done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson again. Exhausted with a foggy head and increased illusion of motion. Symptoms seemed to have ramped up and are more intense all day long. I am also going to bed with a slight headache and waking up with one.

The only reason I can think of for the tiredness and increase in my symptoms is that for the past few weeks I have been working on a creating a website daily, typing this blog, producing music all of which requires long hours in front of a computer screen, add to this the exercise I force myself to do. I think my vestibular system has been overloaded. To a normal person this probably sounds ridiculous but I tell you even the smallest amount of concentration spent by a dizzy person can increase their vestibular symptoms and quickly wear them out. Anyway, the tired stiff eyes ,headache and heaviness in the morning is more than likely because of the time spent staring at the computer screen. I think I will cut down and take a few more breaks which will hopefully result in better mornings and more manageable days again.

My 10 Tips To help Dizziness

1. Keep away from big screen TVs ( Fellow dizzies I know you understand)
2. Maintain a regular sleep pattern (Doctors have always told me this)
3. Limit alcohol consumption ( It makes many peoples symptoms much worse. Others find it has no effect on there dizziness. all I will say is a hangover is never fun especially when you also have to deal with dizziness and vertigo)
4. If possible limit computer use ( computers can quickly increase the fuzziness and balance issues)
5. Do some light exercise ( If your dizziness permits and you are able to do so)
6. Try to keep emotions in check (It's hard when you have a vestibular disorder but anger and stress will increase the dizziness)
7. keep to well lit environments ( dark/dull environments and bad artificial lighting such as fluorescent lights or just old fading light bulbs around the house can increase symptoms)
8. Don't over do it (Be as active and as sociable as you can but trying to please everyone and running around here and there can certainly take it's toll)
9. Limit your exposure to busy environments (city streets,supermarkets can increase disorientation fast for somebody with a vestibular disorder)
10. Have time alone (If possible remove yourself for 30min from busy visual stimuli and noise. Find a quiet spot and relax and accept the dizziness)

Of course some of the above may be hard to achieve especially if you have a part time/full time job and are a mother or father with children to run around and mouths to feed.

So there you have it. My quick 10 tips to help dizziness

 My website Dizziness and Vertigo: http://dizzinessandvertigo.weebly.com/

My twitter profile is @Swimmyhead

James Gandolfini Has Died

I cannot believe James Gandolfini has passed away at just 51 years of age. This news has saddened me. I am a huge Sopranos Fan. His portrayal of Tony soprano had me hooked on the show. Such a talented actor. One of the best Television shows ever created. R.I.P big man

Another Fuzzy Day

It has been another fuzzy day so far, the dull weather has not helped. It never does. Strange how the weather seems to effect how intense the vertigo is. A bright sunny day is better for everyone especially a dizzy (well in my case anyway).

For over six years I have spent every waking second disorientated, living in a dizzy hell after waking up one morning to a sudden acute attack of spinning vertigo. Most who experience this terrifying ordeal make a full natural recovery usually within weeks. Unfortunately I did not. Instead I have had to live with severe balance, visual problems every second since. I know that may be hard to swallow but I swear I have not had one second of relief since that morning. It has been difficult to say the least.

I cannot believe this is my seventh summer still looking out at the world through fuzzy, bendy, distorted vision as if I have a permanent goldfish bowl placed over my head. Every summer since 2007 I have sat in my backyard and said to myself  "Ill be better next summer". That summer has yet to appear. However, a year ago I was finally diagnosed with Migraine associated vertigo. It took nearly 5 years to finally get this firm diagnoses as I have had everything from Bppv to Labyrinthitis etc.

So began a new treatment plan of migraine preventative medication, migraine diet, vestibular rehabilitation and light exercise. I am not jumping for joy just yet as I still have worse days and weeks and still have to deal with all the daily balance/visual symptoms but at a lesser intensity most of the time. For so long I had trouble just walking and standing so working out was never an option but now I can workout again. Sure, i have to force myself to workout as I am dizzy before I even begin but I push myself through it and have found it to help that heavy head feeling I have every morning.  I don't lift weights like I used to. Instead I perform some light cardio 3-4 times a week.

Thanks to the combination of exercise and a very strict (no Fun) migraine diet of NO chocolate ,caffeine, cheese, crisps, fresh bread, dairy, red wine and MSGs etc) I have lost nearly 40 pounds which feels great and is quite the achievement given the circumstances.  Over the first 5 years of relentless vertigo I piled on 40 pounds due to the amount of inactivity but I am proud to say it has dropped off resulting in a fitter, better looking 156 pound dizzy these days. I just wish the dizziness would fall off like the weight has.

Dizziness aside, I am contemplating what I should do this evening. I am a card magic lover and have done my daily practice today. I also have a small music studio as I love to remix and create music but have spent all weekend doing that and now my migraine brain and ears need a rest. Therefore it is a toss up between the finale of the third season of Game of Thrones (last episode was immense) or the show Hannibal. Actually, I think I might watch them both whilst practicing my card moves.

Swimmyhead

Hello

Well this is my first post on blogger in fact it is my first blog post ever and I have no idea what I am doing. Anyway, I should introduce myself. My name is @Swimmyhead (well not really but it is my online/twitter alter ego). I have been living with dizziness and vertigo for many years now and I am currently creating a simple site where I will share my own experience living with vertigo. It is a place to let fellow dizzies know that they are not alone and the way they feel is very real indeed. The site is not finished yet but I have already included some useful information ,links and videos about dizziness causes and dizziness treatment etc.

The address is: http://dizzinessandvertigo.weebly.com/

My twitter profile is @Swimmyhead