5 everyday things they never told would change with Vestibular Dysfunction
Originally Published on LinkedIn: Article Source
Living with vestibular dysfunction is rollercoaster... literally and figuratively.
I have a permanent vestibular issue as a result of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which left me with 89% dysfunction in my effected side. Overall my recovery and ability to adapt has been really fantastic. If I didn't mention the issue the average person wouldn't notice it, only those that have known me for a long time can easily spot the differences.
(trigger warning - this article contains animated gifs)
Here are 5 everyday things that are different for me now that I have vestibular dysfunction:
Driving
When I first got RHS driving was not possible, my vertigo was severe and driving would not have been safe. Over time as I adjusted to life being dizzy I also learned how to do the everyday activities, like driving.
First, driving during the day is much easier compared to driving at night, the headlights and street lamps are a trigger for dizziness. I started driving in the day on light local roads, before working on highways, bridges, tunnels and busy streets. It's not much different from when you first learned to drive.
There is one major thing with driving that I had to permanently change, turning my head. You know when you are merging onto a highway or parallel parking and need to look over your shoulder? You do not want to do that with my condition, that movement will trigger an episode and that would be unsafe for everyone.
This is when technology becomes your best friend... lane departure and blindspot warnings, rear view cameras and proximity sensors are my best friend! These assistive technologies enable me to drive and do the things I need to with less head turning. Enter my independence once again!
I also have a heads-up display but I am on the fence about that being a great AT (assistive technology) for my condition because it requires a type of visual focus shift and adjustment that I am still finding challenging. It's still early, maybe in time the visual aspect of my vestibular issue will be trained to better adapt to that.
2. Phone Calls
I cover my hearing issues in more detail here, but in general I now favor taking calls on speaker over having the phone to my ear or headsets. More importantly though the change is focused on what those on the phone with me need to make.
I have a very difficult time on calls where the person on the line has background noises. I'm not talking about taking a call from a loud restaurant, I'm referring to the person doing anything else while on the phone with me. Running water in the sink, crumpling paper, emptying a dishwasher and so on. These sounds come through extremely amplified and they are a combination of painful and distracting so much that I can't even process what the person is saying.
While this was my preference even before RHS, I would say texting has become a much more preferred method of communication for me.
3. Walking my dog
Bend and snap... (a Legally Blonde reference for those that aren't familiar).
Let's talk about poop, dog poop, picking up dog poop. Glamorous I know! However any dog owner knows, this is part of the job. Sure when my little Maltese goes insane picking fights with the big dogs in the neighborhood and starts with her shrill barking that is challenging. But more challenging in bending down to pick up after her. This is when you have to remember the advice to "bend your knees". We are talking better to perform a squat over a deadlift here, otherwise there is an 80% chance I will topple over and likely land in poop. It's happened! in NYC, I'm still traumatized...
4. Drinking Alcohol
My neurotologist refers to this as "woozy", thats the feeling I have 24/7. There is a constant feeling you have in your head with vestibular issues that is part of the imbalance. I usually explain it as always feeling a little drunk, or like you took too much cold medicine, or that your head is not fully attached to your body. This means, I am much more careful when drinking alcohol. Since I start at 2 drink feeling before having a sip, I need to be extra mindful about the effects of booze on my balance. In short, I have become a lightweight.
Some people opt to not drink at all. That works too.
5. Shoes
RIP stilettos... OK, this is not the biggest deal, but it definitely wasn't something I was thinking about when I first had RHS. As I return to a more "normal" lifestyle I have definitely noticed by ability to wear the less practical footwear as I major adjustment in my life. It seems obvious, balance issue = don't wear heels. I like to think of it as more thoughtful consideration as to what I'm doing, where I'm going and what my walking surface will be when making that selection.
I can tell you a funny story about attending a friends wedding... I went in thinking I had this all figured out. I got a pair of shoes with a more stable heel, I was ready to try dancing for the first time and everything. I overlooked the ceremony, and the sudden rainstorm that turned the grass into very squishy mud. For a typical person this would be challenging to navigate, for me it was absolute PANIC. Fortunately I was surrounded by super kind friends that literally held me up and helped me from resembling a pig rolling around in a fresh mud puddle. Looking back it's very funny, in the moment I was seconds from tears.
So now I rock my most fashionable sneakers and save those less practical footwear options for activities that require mostly just sitting. It's not a big deal, it's just one of those things you didn't think you were going to need to change in your life because of an ear injury.
Hopefully this article made you laugh a little.
I recognize how incredibly fortunate I have been in my recovery and ability to adapt with RHS. My attitude is if you can't laugh about it a little bit you are looking at it all wrong.
