I was just diagnosed last month but been knocked down repeatedly by this disease since october. I just started a diuretic and that has helped but I am still only able to half function for a day or two. Then I get the dizzy reminder! I would welcome any advice, encouragement or anything that might be helpful. Thank you!
I don't know what advice to give you but I think it does become easier to get adjusted to the new normal. The first years were very unnerving for me. I think, over time, your brain starts to compensate in various ways and you get less anxious about it all. Rotational vertigo is something I will never get used to but daily dizziness, yes, I've pretty much learned to live with it.
when you feel off balance or dizzy (not vertigo) focus your eyes on one spot in the near distance, it helps to feel more stable.
Yes, your brain will make adjustments and you may also find treatments that help as well. It takes some time thought, so stay hopeful.
Meclizine helped me a lot in this area and learning where to look to gain my balance helped as well. Like not moving my head fast, finding a horizontal line to concentrate on and I got my self a walking stick for those days where the weather is changing and my head can't keep up with it.
Hey Mary. I am so sorry you are going through this. It does get easier to deal with. I had vestibular therapy last year and the exercises do help. The therapists told me to write the letter "E" on a sheet of paper and write the "E" as big as the paper. Then tape it at eye level to a wall. Then step back around 8 feet or so and then look at the letter. While doing this, move your head side to side and just keep focusing on the "E". Now it does feel weird and is hard to do, but if you do that for 30 seconds each time, 5 times a day, it eventually does help. Hope you feel better!
Good advise Fanofinz--I may try that too. I was told by the therapist to take post-it notes and put around the house with a single black dot--just large enough to see, at various points and when I was feeling dizzy, to focus on them and to do the exercises you are doing with the E at times too. I kept them up for months. Now, I focus on an object when walking, and also try not to turn my head too quickly. Sometimes I'm wobbly--but have never fallen anymore so that's good--no drop attacks (those made me fall and no vertigo either). I have awful head pressure though--daily (mild to awful), and just have to keep on going. No fun but it seems to help when I get out for awhile and get focused on something other than my symptoms. Hope this helps to know.