I've had some combo of MM and MAV since 2011. Thankfully things seem to have stabilized in the last couple years, at least in the fact I haven't had any recent serious vertigo episodes and my hearing loss has stabilized. My fullness and tinnitus have been greatly helped with the addition of a hearing aid in the last 5 months or so. Clearly though, I have some permanent vestibular damage. I know a lot of folks on here have issues in moving cars and other types of movements. I'm just the opposite. In general, I feel most comfortable when moving -- walking, or riding in a car as either driver or passenger. Movement seems to "cancel out" the constant vague dizziness I otherwise feel. Dizziness isn't even the exact word... imbalance? Unsteady? I'm at my most unstable/dizzy when stuck seated in one spot for a long time. Waiting rooms at a doctor's office, being a spectator -- especially sitting on bleachers -- for my kids' sports (I have one kid in marching band, one is a competitive irish dancer, and now a wrestler so add in lots of noise for good measure). When driving, I feel 100% fine behind the wheel... until I stop moving after a long stretch of movement. Like at a red light. I work freelance from home and find that I subconsciously keep myself slightly moving all the time, rotating back and forth in my swivel desk chair. So I can work most days without much issue. And lying down, being as sedentary as one can be, I'm typically ok, if all my body is touching the couch/bed. I am just wondering if motion feels "good" for others, and it's when you stop moving that you get uncomfortable.
That is probably a good thing because it will keep you moving and my PT said the worst thing people do after a vertigo attack is stay motionless. She said as soon as I feel better to get moving. I think she said it retrains your brain.
I notice this, it was way worse before AVs. I would much rather lay down on the couch than sit up. I cannot sit in church without wiggling around a lot. I can't sit for long at a restaurant and just relax in my seat. If I am eating I am good but I wouldn't want to sit and watch a ballgame or something. I get it!
PleaseNoDizzy, that's pretty odd. I'm at a loss for advice. So are you saying you're better off driving drunk than sitting in your living room drunk?
The majority of my vertigo attacks occurred while I was sitting down. I do recall one occasion where I had an attack and had to be driven home. I felt much better once I was in a moving car. I've always suffered from motion sickness (limited to boats and spinning amusement park rides) even way before I developed MM. I wonder if it's sort of the opposite effect, where if you're in a moving object it counteracts the vertigo.
This is totally what I'm talking about. I used to sit still just fine, for hours if I had to (like for work, or long kids' sports things). Now I am fidgeting around all the time when seated. Bleacher seating -- with no back of the chair -- is 10x worse than regular seating too. When we attend HS football games, mainly to watch my son perform at half time, I'm much happier walking around during the actual game part and running the little one to the bathroom or to fetch snacks for everyone else. Sitting for hours like that is so much harder and uncomfortable these days. And the multiple rounds of my daughter's dance competitions take at least half a day. It's a lot of sitting and waiting. With blasting accordian type music the whole time. I think I'm more tired at the end and she's the one competing! No, that's not it at all. When in motion, like in a car, my dizziness is pretty much nonexistent. It's when I am seated and not moving that it gets uncomfortable. You know what's weird? For most of my life I was one of those people who couldn't read in a moving car. I wasn't prone to motion sickness otherwise, but reading as a passenger was a no go. Since MM, and several long road trips, I've found I can read for hours while in the moving car. So bizarre!
Please no dizzy- do you think this am MAV component? I haven't EVER had anyone know what I am talking about when I describe this! Most days I let my kids sit at the bar in my kitchen so I can stand up to eat....
To think aloud, if one of the body's balance systems—visual, vestibular, or proprioceptive—assumes motion at rest, motion (or a position) in harmony with the system in error may prevent the brain from recognising what would otherwise be contradictory, or incompatible input.
I AGREE!!!!!!!!!! I feel a lot better when I'm moving. I don't notice the dizziness while riding my bike. Keep in mind that I ride competitively in pelotons (groups) moving at 23-30+ mph and I'm inches away for the other riders. I also feel great when I go jogging. You are right, it feels as if the movement cancels the dizziness out. But when I stop, it's then that I notice things slightly shifting and the dizziness. I have to say that it also depends on the level of dizziness. During a vertigo attack, of course, I can't even walk.
Karina - I also run and feel great when I am running. I do notice when I stop running it takes me a little while to "settle down" from the run, I am usually worse than when I started, but only for a little while. Do you notice that? I think overall running helps my mood and overall health. I have become addicted. I never ran much before MM.
I notice when I stop running on the treadmill I have to sit down as I feel like things are moving around me, but it goes away in minute or so. But while running I feel no issues.
I agree. After finishing my ride or run I go into my house through my garage. As I sit down to cool down and have a drink things move around a bit if I'm having a dizzy day until I settle down. I feel that higher intensity exercise helps the overall mood for sure.
I rode my bike all through my worst times. In fact it was the best part of the worst part. I actually learned to ride with no hands during this period. In fact i took up regular bike riding as an older adult when i lost one balance nerve. I tend to get a little migraine like unsteadiness in the head sometimes when i have been in the sun.
I'm not sure. My oto thinks I am not strictly MM only, though of course there's no way to know for sure. I don't have a migraine (headache) history, though my dad does. In the last 3 years, I have had a series of occasional migraine visual auras (no pain though -- just the visual component that comes on suddenly and passes in about 20 mins). The only reason I knew what on earth was going on the first time that happened, was because I'd read up on migraine/MAV in relation to MM. I don't think there's a way to know for sure which to attribute the dizziness when sitting still thing. It's either MAV or the result of permanent damage to my vestibular system from the bad vertigo attacks I had early on.
I understand. I was so happy (not for you, but just to know someone else was out there that understood) to hear of someone else with these symptoms. No one knows what I am talking about with this. I hope yours gets better! In the mean time, we deal with strange things.
I'm not if this relates, but i always felt more dizzy when standing still compared to walking or riding, etc.