Hi Guys
After having been on the migraine diet for suspected chronic MAV these past 2 years or so I have developed a small interest in food and have learned a little about clean foods and not so clean foods and the various chemicals and ingredients some foods contain. Another reason I am interested in good food is simply because I attempt to perform daily exercise at home and good nutrition is important for the body to fuel energy and repair itself after exercise.
The migraine diet has not cured my vertigo as I think the days that my symptoms are less intense are due to the medication I am taking, but who knows? Anyway due to my interest in food and because I am always searching for an answer to my dizziness, I happened to stumble upon a condition known as gluten ataxia which is caused by the consumption of wheat, rye and barley. For some reason or other it is only recently that I found that wheat is one of the foods you should not eat whilst on a migraine diet. Upon learning this I did nothing about it because if I took wheat out of my diet on top of the other foods I have eliminated I wouldn't know what to eat. I happen to eat plenty of wheat daily and am now wondering if the gluten intake is contributing to my dizziness and equilibrium problem. A gluten intolerance can cause many health issues some being problems with balance and equilibrium and vertigo (gluten ataxia).
I have never concerned myself about gluten before but have often wondered why for the past 12 years my upper abdomen and chest hurts after eating noodles,bread and cereal for example. I always brushed it of as one of those things that everybody deals with from time to time only its much more frequent for me these days. My stomach hurts maybe 4-5 times a week 20 min after eating certain things. So as of next week I am going gluten free for 2 months. I have found some gluten free alternatives to the food I eat and we shall see how it goes. If the abdomen pain goes away that would be a blessing. If going gluten free helps my overall wellness (as it appears to do for many people) then that would be quite something. No harm in trying. Like I always say exhaust all avenues.
Maybe it is something to think about guys
Here are some links about gluten ataxia and gluten intolerance:
Is dizziness a sign of gluten allergy
Gluten Ataxia
livingwithout.com - Gluten ataxia
Thursday 28 August 2014
Thursday 21 August 2014
The dentist
Hi Guys
The last week and half or so have been pretty poor head and balance wise. Constant head pressure and increased motion intolerance (all the usual stuff). I have actually just come back from my dentist appointment which proved to be a fairly uncomfortable experience having had to lay backwards two or three times whilst I had a clean and filling. It ain't fun watching the swirling ceiling up above. I was in a disorientated daze when trying to sit upright again and again to swill my mouth out. Oh, and what fun I had walking out of the building through it's swaying corridor. I had to take a few minutes outside to compose myself. I did ask my dentist about TMJ and how it may cause vertigo. The conversation didn't go very far as all he had to say on the subject was that he has heard of it but it's very rare (a lot of help that was). I felt like saying having bloody chronic vertigo for over seven years is rare but I have it.
Anyway once I had gained composure I decided I would walk through town and finally take a visit to my local Specsavers to ask them if they test for a specific eye condition that can cause dizziness and balance issues known as vertical heterophoria ( I have mentioned this condition in a previous post RIGHT HERE. I was pleasantly surprised when they said they can test for vertical heterophoria. Imagine if a simple pair of glasses could fix this never ending vertigo of mine. We shall see.
Swimmyhead
The last week and half or so have been pretty poor head and balance wise. Constant head pressure and increased motion intolerance (all the usual stuff). I have actually just come back from my dentist appointment which proved to be a fairly uncomfortable experience having had to lay backwards two or three times whilst I had a clean and filling. It ain't fun watching the swirling ceiling up above. I was in a disorientated daze when trying to sit upright again and again to swill my mouth out. Oh, and what fun I had walking out of the building through it's swaying corridor. I had to take a few minutes outside to compose myself. I did ask my dentist about TMJ and how it may cause vertigo. The conversation didn't go very far as all he had to say on the subject was that he has heard of it but it's very rare (a lot of help that was). I felt like saying having bloody chronic vertigo for over seven years is rare but I have it.
Anyway once I had gained composure I decided I would walk through town and finally take a visit to my local Specsavers to ask them if they test for a specific eye condition that can cause dizziness and balance issues known as vertical heterophoria ( I have mentioned this condition in a previous post RIGHT HERE. I was pleasantly surprised when they said they can test for vertical heterophoria. Imagine if a simple pair of glasses could fix this never ending vertigo of mine. We shall see.
Swimmyhead
Thursday 14 August 2014
MdDs
Thought I would share this totally relatable story from a MdDs (mal de debarquement syndrome) sufferer. I come across it on the MdDs foundation website:
http://mddsfoundation.wordpress.com/2014/08/01/my-disorder-may-be-invisible-however-i-refuse-to-be/
Swimmyhead
http://mddsfoundation.wordpress.com/2014/08/01/my-disorder-may-be-invisible-however-i-refuse-to-be/
Swimmyhead
TMJ
Feel really crappy upon waking today. Very heavy, full pressured and swaying head. It doesn't help feeling tired. It is also a dull start to the day so the rooms are darker in the house and that is probably contributing to the spaced out feeling and balance problems as it always does (weird). I have not felt this uncomfortable for some time. I have a dentist appointment next Thursday, I hope to god I do not wake up feeling like this having to walk into town and sit in the further vertigo inducing dentist chair.
I do actually have a question to ask my dentist next week. Over the years I have heard about a Jaw condition called TMJ. It is when your jaw is misaligned and it can cause issues opening your mouth and pain in the jaw as well as popping,crunching,clicking of the jaw. Anyway I have read that this condition may cause vertigo as it is so close to the ear. Now I have always thought it was nonsense that your jaw could cause vertigo so have never ever asked anybody about this problem. For many years now I have been unable to open my mouth wide without fear of it locking, it seems to dislocate and jump sharply to the right when doing so. I have a very loud snapping/crunching sound when opening my mouth wide and sometimes when I eat. The crunching can cause mild pain on the right side of my jaw. My father actually had TMJ when I was a child. I remember him having an operation on his jaw to stop the clicking he experienced when eating. However, I do not recall him ever experiencing vertigo or dizziness of any kind. It seems like I have inherited a wonky jaw.I guess it cannot do any harm asking my dentist next week about the TMJ and if it could be related to the constant dizziness I have. Exhaust all avenues I say.
Here are 2 links to videos about TMJ:
Michigan head and neck institute video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wii5Tcd_5ek
TMJ for Dummies Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUiQqwVknjhMHKmQM8LL_b5w&v=xjSlRZnfvIc#t=225
Swimmyhead
I do actually have a question to ask my dentist next week. Over the years I have heard about a Jaw condition called TMJ. It is when your jaw is misaligned and it can cause issues opening your mouth and pain in the jaw as well as popping,crunching,clicking of the jaw. Anyway I have read that this condition may cause vertigo as it is so close to the ear. Now I have always thought it was nonsense that your jaw could cause vertigo so have never ever asked anybody about this problem. For many years now I have been unable to open my mouth wide without fear of it locking, it seems to dislocate and jump sharply to the right when doing so. I have a very loud snapping/crunching sound when opening my mouth wide and sometimes when I eat. The crunching can cause mild pain on the right side of my jaw. My father actually had TMJ when I was a child. I remember him having an operation on his jaw to stop the clicking he experienced when eating. However, I do not recall him ever experiencing vertigo or dizziness of any kind. It seems like I have inherited a wonky jaw.I guess it cannot do any harm asking my dentist next week about the TMJ and if it could be related to the constant dizziness I have. Exhaust all avenues I say.
Here are 2 links to videos about TMJ:
Michigan head and neck institute video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wii5Tcd_5ek
TMJ for Dummies Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUiQqwVknjhMHKmQM8LL_b5w&v=xjSlRZnfvIc#t=225
Swimmyhead
Friday 8 August 2014
Dizzier
Hi Guys
After a pretty good couple of weeks I am back to being a little more dizzier again. Not terribly but but more than I would like. Those couple of weeks were certainly different, I actually felt nearly normal. Believe me when I say that I never thought I would ever get to say that. I have had a little taste of normality and I want it again. It just goes to show that even after so long disorientated with all the false sensations my brain can actually get to that better place. why it won't stick I do not know, then again I have no idea why it improved.
It's frustrating having to go back to moving a little slower and to concentrating harder visually but after experiencing such an improvement I remain hopeful easier days will occur again soon. Hopefully my good days will now increase and my harder days become less frequent, we shall see.
Words cannot describe all I have been through this past several years. The first 5 being absolutely horrendous.Only if you have experienced a severe vestibular upset can you understand how life changing it is truly is. How scary this disorder has been.
One day you are absolutely normal the next day life suddenly is robbed from you. You have to go through and try to make sense of the hellish symptoms day after day then you have to deal with all the months/years of worry trying finding out what is wrong, getting test after test then have to nervously wait for the results etc. We then have to face the vertigo enhancer called vestibular rehabilitation and also make radical adjustments to our diet eliminating this and eliminating that, the foods we all love we can no longer have. The dizziness is just one element to this life changing condition.The feeling of being isolated and alone with no one too talk to who understands. The feeling of letting friends and family down, being a burden and feeling like a drama queen and a fraud. Having to explain your symptoms or constantly tell people you are still not well really can drag you down. Watching everybody move on in life whilst you stand still unable to make future plans.
Some of us have to deal with strained relationships with family/friends because of our vestibular illness, many I guess have lost a loving relationship/partner because of the burden and stress this illness causes. I lost a 7 year relationship with a girl because I simply couldn't do anything and became depressed as hell. An ill person is not easy to live with.I don't blame her at all as it takes it's toll not only on you but everybody close around you. People lose jobs/careers and self worth because of a vestibular problem.We have to deal with a lot of background mental/psychological issues not only our physical problem. Most people will never understand the true full impact this invisible illness causes.
What I am trying to say is that our symptoms are one thing but all the other stuff going on in our heads in our minds are just as hard to deal with. As a dizzy person respect and sympathy is hard to come by. To all you dizzy/vertigo sufferers reading this YOU HAVE MY RESPECT. Deal with your vestibular disorder as best as you can. If people walk away from you during this difficult time then I say "let them walk" they are the ones you don't need in your life at this trying time. Focus on you and everything you can do to get better. I have had a brief taste of normality after several long years. If I can then so can you.
https://twitter.com/Swimmyhead
http://dizzinessandvertigo.weebly.com
Swimmyhead
After a pretty good couple of weeks I am back to being a little more dizzier again. Not terribly but but more than I would like. Those couple of weeks were certainly different, I actually felt nearly normal. Believe me when I say that I never thought I would ever get to say that. I have had a little taste of normality and I want it again. It just goes to show that even after so long disorientated with all the false sensations my brain can actually get to that better place. why it won't stick I do not know, then again I have no idea why it improved.
It's frustrating having to go back to moving a little slower and to concentrating harder visually but after experiencing such an improvement I remain hopeful easier days will occur again soon. Hopefully my good days will now increase and my harder days become less frequent, we shall see.
Words cannot describe all I have been through this past several years. The first 5 being absolutely horrendous.Only if you have experienced a severe vestibular upset can you understand how life changing it is truly is. How scary this disorder has been.
One day you are absolutely normal the next day life suddenly is robbed from you. You have to go through and try to make sense of the hellish symptoms day after day then you have to deal with all the months/years of worry trying finding out what is wrong, getting test after test then have to nervously wait for the results etc. We then have to face the vertigo enhancer called vestibular rehabilitation and also make radical adjustments to our diet eliminating this and eliminating that, the foods we all love we can no longer have. The dizziness is just one element to this life changing condition.The feeling of being isolated and alone with no one too talk to who understands. The feeling of letting friends and family down, being a burden and feeling like a drama queen and a fraud. Having to explain your symptoms or constantly tell people you are still not well really can drag you down. Watching everybody move on in life whilst you stand still unable to make future plans.
Some of us have to deal with strained relationships with family/friends because of our vestibular illness, many I guess have lost a loving relationship/partner because of the burden and stress this illness causes. I lost a 7 year relationship with a girl because I simply couldn't do anything and became depressed as hell. An ill person is not easy to live with.I don't blame her at all as it takes it's toll not only on you but everybody close around you. People lose jobs/careers and self worth because of a vestibular problem.We have to deal with a lot of background mental/psychological issues not only our physical problem. Most people will never understand the true full impact this invisible illness causes.
What I am trying to say is that our symptoms are one thing but all the other stuff going on in our heads in our minds are just as hard to deal with. As a dizzy person respect and sympathy is hard to come by. To all you dizzy/vertigo sufferers reading this YOU HAVE MY RESPECT. Deal with your vestibular disorder as best as you can. If people walk away from you during this difficult time then I say "let them walk" they are the ones you don't need in your life at this trying time. Focus on you and everything you can do to get better. I have had a brief taste of normality after several long years. If I can then so can you.
https://twitter.com/Swimmyhead
http://dizzinessandvertigo.weebly.com
Swimmyhead
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