Dana White (UFC president) and Menieres Disease

I am a big fan of the UFC and only just found out that ultimate fighting championship president Dana White suffers from vertigo attacks caused by Menieres disease.There are more interviews on youtube where Dana White discusses his experience and life with vertigo.

Swimmyhead

Mal de Débarquement Syndrome

A link to a recent interview with a Mal de Debarquement sufferer on the Tv show The Doctors that might be of some interest. I tried to post the video but blogger wont let me.

The Doctors

Swimmyhead

Feeling S*****

Since my diagnoses of chronic vestibular migraine (two years ago) I decided I would do everything to help myself. If you have read my Blog. you will know that I have done just that. From taking the medication prescribed to me and completing numerous rounds of vestibular rehabilitation to changing my whole diet and getting rid of all junk (the foods I love). As you know I also began to workout daily despite the fact I feel like S*** every waking hour (Sorry to be so vulgar but s*** is exactly how I feel). I figured that if i got the rest of my body in shape then maybe my vestibular issue would correct itself. I can tell you that I have done more squats, burpees, press ups, lunges and runs than I care to think of.  All the while dealing with a head that simply hates movement of any kind.It's been tough and much harder than one can imagine (unless you also live with vertigo daily) All this exercise and wishful thinking has not helped my vertigo brain at all. I really thought it would. Not many people suffering vertigo would attempt to walk never mind exercise, and that's fair enough because it is a bloody horrendous thing to live with. I decided to do it for me and have to say I am gutted that it has not improved my condition.

However, what it has done is improved my health and body. Sure, I really cannot feel the true benefits because of how crappy my head and vision is daily but I know I am fitter, I know I treat myself better diet wise and I know I have improved my physique. I am stronger and fitter than I have been in about 15 years.

Working out may not have been the answer to curing vestibular dysfunction but it's taught me that dedication,will power and perseverance can work wonders. I will continue my fitness journey and hope it will eventually correct whatever went wrong with me back in 2007.

Anyway despite the relentless head issue I was successful at losing weight and toning up. Here is why:

1. The WANT to workout and be fitter, healthier, stronger (It begins with you)
2. Dedication 
3. Perseverance (results come in time. Those first few weeks are hardest and you want to give up because nothing seems to change but carry on because all that initial effort eventually starts to appear).
4. Substitute bad food for good healthy food(very important)
5. PORTION CONTROL Very important, I love digestive biscuits and pizza and I still allow myself to eat them. However instead of eating half a pack of biscuits or eating a whole pizza I practice portion control. I eat 2 digestive biscuits daily and have 2-3 slices of pizza once a week (not the whole thing). Do I want the whole pizza or the whole pack of biscuit? hell yeah but I control myself. 

Crazy  isn't it. I am fit as hell but dizzy as F***. Keep positive guys

Swimmyhead

dizzinessandvertigo.weebly.com
https://twitter.com/Swimmyhead

Vision

When trying to explain my condition to a friend or family member I use a number of phrases such as Dizzy, lightheaded, heavy headed, swaying, spinning, swimming, wobbly, off balance, lost in space etc..... Simple layman terms that most people could at least imagine somewhat. What I do not talk about as much are the visual problems that go hand in hand with a vestibular disorder. My vision issues (fuzziness,blurred, inability to hold gaze or track movement very well) are constantly present and are as problematic as the spinning head sensations. I have said it before but I hate using the term "dizzy" not only because it sounds cute but it's as if that is all I am dealing with. A damaged or poor functioning vestibular system causes numerous problems especially visual issues.

Swimmyhead

When the world spins......

I saw this on twitter posted by VEDA and thought It would be a good idea to share.  It is a book written by a VEDA member Linda Zonana who was diagnosed with Meniere's disease. She wrote this book to share her own personal experience and also to describe vestibular disorders and the impact and frustrations of living with such a condition. It might be very useful for friends and family to read to better understand our predicament.

CLICK HERE to go to the Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) facebook page for more details.

Swimmyhead

Here we go again

Here we go again..........

Groundhog Day

Hi guys

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post. I wish I could say that my vertigo ridden hell is over but that would be a big fat lie.  If only normality would appear as fast as it was taken away. Anyway the last few weeks have been neither here nor there really. My days have not felt great nor have they been the worst symptom wise. I'm living my very own groundhog day. I eat the same things, do the same things and feel the same way day after day. I hate the fact I cannot be spontaneous or make exciting plans because of this condition. On the bright side it looks hopeful that I will be commencing my treatment in the near future, fingers crossed.

Swimmyhead