I'm going to list out for you all the different things that were recommended to me to combat the year-long feeling that I was the captain of my very own, constantly rocking, boat. Some were good, some were bad, and some were just downright weird! Here's my verdict on each one.
Diet - after seeing a Functional Medicine Doctor and Vertigo Specialist it was recommended to me to cut out almost EVERYTHING from my diet, to essentially detox my body then slowly add things back in again to see what triggered my vertigo. I cut out dairy, gluten, legumes, nightshades (except I kept eating potatoes because I was dumb and didn't realize they were a nightshade), refined sugar, soy, caffeine (yes, caffeine.), alcohol, deli meat, and even Spinach (ever heard of tyramine?). I basically ate steamed white rice, boiled green beans, and lightly seasoned chicken that I made in the oven every day for 3 months. In the morning I would have plain chex cereal with plain rice milk and tea or hot water with lemon.
Verdict - this was beneficial in many ways. I got what I like to call "vertigo skinny" and, oddly enough, I started sleeping better. I have since discovered that to much sugar, alcohol, caffeine, dairy, gluten, and hilariously - not eating enough - trigger my vertigo. The most obvious one is caffeine. I haven't had a milligram in almost 2 years. I miss coffee but it's worth it.
Supplements - Many of the Doctors I saw and tests I took (have I explained why I can never look at one of those cardboard french fry containers the same way again) showed that my hormones and my vitamins/minerals/electrolytes seemed off. I was recommended to take a slew of different supplements, most of which I do still take. This includes: Magnesium, feverfew, CoQ10, Butterbur (not the frothy Harry Potter kind), B6, B12, B2, D3, Turmeric, Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Maca root, C, and a couple things for better digestion. You should see my bag of drugs - I am a walking pharmacy.
Verdict - WHO KNOWS?!?!? but I feel better these days so I'm not going to stop anything I'm doing
Truly bizarre brain exercises - Someone I know recommended I see a Neuro Rehab specialist. So I tried it. After an hours long evaluation where I looked at laser dots in the dark, and had water poured into my ears to induce severe spinning I was prescribed a series of um.......interesting exercises to do on my own. I had to spin on a chair with my eyes closed 12 times in one direction. I had to turn my head violently to one side repeatedly. Wearing a weighted vest over my shoulders all day every day. AND I had to wear vibrating toothbrushes attached to one arm and leg for 30 minutes at a time. Feel free to read that last one again, because yes, that's what I said.
Verdict - At this point of my vertigo I was going on 6 months with no relief and I was willing to cut off my own arm if someone told me to so I tried these techniques. I mean I honestly gave it a real college try. From what I could tell, these exercises didn't do anything for me except make me feel a bit ridiculous but more power to people they work for as I have heard they do help with certain neurological problems. Keep on keepin on but these were not for me.
Chiropractic care and Physical Therapy - One of the more traditional routes I tried. Neck adjustments, dry needling (longer needles and shorter time than acupuncture, active release technique, Neuro and vestibular retraining exercises were all done.
Verdict - This is an easy one. THIS STUFF WORKS, DO IT. It is the only thing that gave me immediate relief and then after consistent work at it, lasting relief. I have really tight shoulders and neck muscles from working at desks and answering phones all day for my work. I also did some emotional release sessions that really helped to align things for me. Basically my nerves were SHOT and the one behind my ear that runs down my neck was hyperstimulated all the time and was affecting my equilibrium. So thankful for my amazing Chiros and PTs.
Wearing seasickness bands - Ya know those things that are supposed to push on your pressure points.
Verdict - Pointless and did nothing, sorry to smash the illusion.
Taking Dramamine - ya know the tablets I've had to take all my life for motion sickness that my mom had to crush into powder and sneak into ice cream for me for road trips when I was little, that stuff.
Verdict - kind of works but not sure if it just makes you so sleepy that you don't notice you are dizzy or if it actually helps with the vertigo. Unsustainable due to drowsiness. Non-drowsy not strong enough.
Taking anti-depressants - At some point these were prescribed for me and I took them to try to kill two birds with one stone since having chronic vertigo tends to make one kind of sad.
Verdict - They did work to stop the vertigo, I felt more even emotionally and slept better. One tiny problem though.... they gave me a heart arrhythmia and permanent tachycardia. So that's fun. I had to stop taking them because of the side effects. My body HATES almost all medications and I'm a lightweight.
Taking migraine medication - I was actually prescribed migraine medication (which is also used to treat arrhythmias coincidentally) at the beginning of my journey by an ENT who just had a "hunch" that my problem was migraines since my vertigo would just come on suddenly and last a long time and I did have sensitivity to light. However, when I went to pick up the prescription at the pharmacy the pharmacist said "what are you taking this for?" and I said "Vertigo" and he looked at me sideways and said "Sweetie, these will make you dizzy". So I decided to hold of taking them until I saw more Doctors.
Verdict - So far this has worked the best to keep my vertigo episodes in check. They are less frequent, shorter, and less severe. I curse that damn pharmacist every day and would like to hunt him down and request that 6 months of my life back please.
I may have missed some things because I swear I tried it all! I hope this post can be found by one person suffering the same issues and they can see that if you just keep on trying and don't give up you will find something that works and helps you. You just have to let it.
I also want to add that one of the most important things I did was to seek the help of a therapist that specialized in helping people cope with chronic illness. She was integral in what I like to call my "dealing and healing" phase and I highly recommend that anyone dealing with something like chronic vertigo or another phantom illness that really has no surefire diagnosis methods or cures get on board with exploring their feelings with a professional. It's important. Thanks everyone! Til next time - Keep Dancing.
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