Dizziness. Giddiness. Vertigo. Lightheadedness. Wooziness. Disequilibrium. Unsteadiness. Faintness.
Whatever word you choose to describe it, dizziness is defined as “having or involving a sensation of spinning around and losing one’s balance.”
It is also a symptom that I have lived with since early childhood. The reasons for the dizziness is as a result of my neurological condition; a long-standing brain stem lesion. Although we know the cause of the dizziness, we are unsure of the reason why the dizziness and vertigo occurs, and what it worse we have no way to treat or cure this very life-limiting symptom. In the past I have tried various medications as well as undertaking vestibular rehabilitation exercises but unfortunately nothing has worked in even decreasing the severity of the moving sensations that I have to live with twenty-four seven every day.
Dizziness is not just an unpleasant symptom; it is also one which is life-limiting (Click to Tweet)
This condition and the symptoms, such as the dizziness has changed me. It has also affected every part of my life.
Dizziness has not only changed me but it also affects every part of my life (Click to Tweet)
I cannot stand without feeling my body swaying due to the balance problems that the dizziness and vertigo causes; I find it difficult to be able to leave the house on my own due to the disorientation that dizziness and vertigo can cause. Some days that I am so dizzy and the spinning is so extreme that I am unable to get out of bed.
Through this whole experience and after living with dizziness for so long, I have come to learn how little dizziness and vertigo is understood within the medical community. According to some online resources, dizziness is one of the most difficult complaints to assess because it is a subjective sensation with many differing descriptions of the experience. Furthermore, doctors are also unable to directly and objectively measure dizziness. And mirroring my own experiences, patients complaining of dizziness and vertigo will see a number of different specialists, as dizziness and vertigo can be caused by a multitude of different pathophysiological processes, thereby making diagnosis particularly difficult.
As a result of it not being understood within the medical community, it is therefore also not understood within the wider community. That is why awareness events are so important. Now, there may not be an awareness week for my particular diagnosis, but the American organisation VEDA (Vestibular Disorders Association) is this week helping to raise awareness of Balance or Vestibular Disorders this week (September 15th – September 21st) of which dizziness and vertigo is a classic symptom.
The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that process the sensory information involved with controlling balance and eye movements. If disease or injury damages these processing areas, vestibular disorders can result. – VEDA website
Vestibular disorders can also include the following symptoms:
- Visual-spatial problems
- Clumsiness
- Fatigue
- Holding head in a tilted position
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Tendency to touch or hold onto something when standing
- Poor hand-eye coordination
See this informative infographic from VEDA to find out more about these disorders.
There may not be an awareness week for my neurological condition anytime soon but I am happy to support an awareness event to raise awareness of a symptom that greatly affects my life. I may not live with a vestibular condition myself, but after living with dizziness and vertigo for so long, I can understand and empathise with those who do. So, I will help VEDA and stand in solidarity with everyone affected by dizziness, vertigo and balance conditions and do so whilst wearing my ‘Dizzy not Drunk’ t-shirt!!
Throughout my teenage years, I was a massive fan of the television show ‘Friends’. Not only was the show incredibly funny but I also loved the relationships between the six main characters – their strong bond of friendship and how they were constantly there for each other. However, although the show was entirely fictitious, I also found myself feeling envious of the close friendship as; unfortunately, I had none of my own after my so-called friends abandoned when symptoms, especially the dizziness started interfering with my everyday life. There is nothing like a diagnosis of a neurological condition, or any other chronic illness to show who your real friends are. After leaving university and entering adulthood, the problems regarding friendships have not improved. Many friends that I have made, unfortunately no longer in contact with me; despite my attempts to do so. This is something that has hurt me deeply over the years, especially as I thought of them as close friends. I am not sure the reasons behind the now lack of contact – the reason may lie in their own prejudices towards my conditions, or perhaps they failed to understand the reasons behind my inability to go out to places that I find uncomfortable and can precipitate an attack of vertigo. Whatever the reason, however, it hurts deeply and has often led to a decrease in self-esteem and self-confidence as a result. In my last 
A favourite saying of mine is “Friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you always know that they’re there…” and it is certainly true regarding my fellow chronically ill friends. Just because I don’t see them, it does not make the friendship any the less relevant or real – what is important, however, is that they continually are there for me during my struggles and even through the good; and also that they show concern and support when I need it.