Hi to you both! Hope you are having a coping day!
Julianne, here are the eye exercises I have been doing. I am doing alot better tho' not perfect all the time yet. There are definitely getting to be more and more normal moments and the off balance feeling when walking around is disappearing. How are you doing on the Klonopin?

Here are the exercises:

Standing: Hold object in front of you at arm's length. Move object side to side, up and down, and in diagonal directions. Track the object with the eyes, but do not move the head.

Standing: Find point to focus on and shake head up and down (short, quick movements) then back and forth while keeping eyes focused on the point.

Standing: Hold object in front of you at arms length. While moving the object back and forth, keep eyes focused on the object while you move your head the opposite direction, then repeat doing the same up and down.

Standing: Find two objects to focus on apart from each other within the range of your vision. Looking straight ahead move your eyes to the left and focus on left object, then follow with your head, then move only your eyes to the right object then follow with your head. Eyes first, focus, then head.

Standing: Find focus point. Focus, then close eyes and shake head back and forth with quick motions for a few seconds, open eyes and focus back on the object, close eyes and repeat above.

Standing: Hold object at arms length and bring it slowly to your nose about 5 inches away while you hold the focus then move the object at arms length. Go slowly back and forth for a minute.

(One minute each direction-go as fast as you can but keep focus (Except for the last exercise, it is a slow one!)

If any of these don't make sense let me know. I am supposed to do them twice to three times a day. Also, don't have to do them all at once, can spread them out.

Belle, have you heard from the Balance Center yet? I am looking for the paperwork in the mail and am anxious to get the information on my visit and tests. I am still having alot of neck stiffness and am going to have to have a PT from our town that will work with Chicago in helping me recover. Hope your day is going better!!!

Prayers to you both!!

Vicki

Hi Vicki,
Thanks for the info, I will study this further tonight. I just posted on a Klonopin thread about what's been happening, but in short, today stunk again! I had two fairly good days and now I am back to spacey headed. So IS the medication working or not? How about you?
Julianne

Hi Vicki, I am so glad for you. God does indeed answer prayers!! The guy on the site to email is great. He answered me right back 3 times now! He thinks it sure is BPPV and that after the epley I have not stayed upright long enough, letting the rocks fall back in. SO if the B-D exercises do not stop this and I have to go to the doc--I know they will do the epley and I will sleep upright for 3 or 4 nights instead of the 48 hrs!!! He said he has seen many people like this and after they finally got rid of the rocks--they were JUST FINE...I cried reading that. I am giving the B-D exercises my all this time and am praying very hard they kick it out. IF not--then epley here I come,either at the docs or here at home. I am so amazed at the guy from the balance center--the people here won't even talk to you about it. He has taken his time and answered all my email and told me what to try! What a gem. Prayers, Belle

Vicki - have copied your eye exercises down, think will combine them with the ones I am doing. Can I ask, forgive me if youve explained this but I am spaced and dizzy! - For each exercise, are there a set number of repetitions or are they for 1 min each did you say? So 6 mins for all?

Thanks xxx

Vicki - have copied your eye exercises down, think will combine them with the ones I am doing. Can I ask, forgive me if youve explained this but I am spaced and dizzy! - For each exercise, are there a set number of repetitions or are they for 1 min each did you say? So 6 mins for all?

Thanks xxx

Hi! For each exercise you go one minute with each movement, like one minute for back and forth and then one minute for up and down. The first exercise I listed will be four minutes all together cause you go back and forth, up and down, then diagonally one way and then the other and each direction will be one minute.
Hope that makes sense. Let me know if it doesn't!
Hope you are getting better!
Vicki

Hi Vicki,
Thanks for the info, I will study this further tonight. I just posted on a Klonopin thread about what's been happening, but in short, today stunk again! I had two fairly good days and now I am back to spacey headed. So IS the medication working or not? How about you?
Julianne

Hi, Julianne!

So far with the Klonopin I am experiencing a mild headache which I don't have all the time but fairly often, like right now. And it is definitely making me feel more groggy thru the day. Not real extreme, but definitely more tired. But both of the side effects for me are very mild. I think I mentioned this but the PT at Chicago said the Klonopin would help get rid of the terrible struggle and sensation that I get when going to restaurants and going shopping. The last time I went to the grocery store felt totally normal. So it seems to be helping in that way. I also have been going back to church. In fact, revival is this week and have been to church Sunday morning, night, Monday and Tues. night so far. Been doing good. Still not perfect but much, much better. Did the eye exercises make sense? Also, how is your overall sense of balance? There are exercises that they gave me for that as well, but didn't require me to do them since I am as well as I am. But I can pass them on to you if you would like?

I still am having ups and downs. One day will seem so good then the next just don't feel as good. I know that is part of it. It isn't like any other illness that would steadily get better. This sure isn't steadily!!!

Hope you have a better day today!!!!!

Vicki

Hi Vicki, I am so glad for you. God does indeed answer prayers!! The guy on the site to email is great. He answered me right back 3 times now! He thinks it sure is BPPV and that after the epley I have not stayed upright long enough, letting the rocks fall back in. SO if the B-D exercises do not stop this and I have to go to the doc--I know they will do the epley and I will sleep upright for 3 or 4 nights instead of the 48 hrs!!! He said he has seen many people like this and after they finally got rid of the rocks--they were JUST FINE...I cried reading that. I am giving the B-D exercises my all this time and am praying very hard they kick it out. IF not--then epley here I come,either at the docs or here at home. I am so amazed at the guy from the balance center--the people here won't even talk to you about it. He has taken his time and answered all my email and told me what to try! What a gem. Prayers, Belle

Oh, Belle! I am so excited that you are in connection with Chicago. They really do care for us dizzy folks! They really know what they are doing and they can really restore hope! When I first called Chicago back in October the PT I talked to assured me that something can be done to help me get better. I knew she understood and that was the beginning of my improvement. She warned me it would be slow, but it will come. If they recommend exercises it is very important to do them religiously! I have to do 12 a day total. None of them take a long time but I have to make myself stop and do them. I know it is worth it.
Has the guy at the Balance Center told you his name? If it is Jim you are talking to one of the top guys of the world!!! He is an amazing guy and very compassionate about helping us.
Keep me posted with what you find out. Blessings and healing!!!! It is coming!!! :)

Vicki

Hi guys,
Wish me luck. Tomorrow I fly! I haven't done this since the beginning of this mess. Lots to do today to get ready, and I will be on a computer at my sister's house, so I'll be checking in with ya'll.

Julianne

Well, no well wishes, but that's ok, I am here now, in NC, safe and sound! The airplane trip wasn't painless, but it wasn't traumatic either. The pressure was uncomfortable, and the movement was disconcerting, but I survived. Hope everyone is well.
Julianne

Well, no well wishes, but that's ok, I am here now, in NC, safe and sound! The airplane trip wasn't painless, but it wasn't traumatic either. The pressure was uncomfortable, and the movement was disconcerting, but I survived. Hope everyone is well.
Julianne

Hi, Julianne!
I am so glad you made it ok and hope that things continue to go ok for you! I have been praying for your trip! I don't know when I will ever fly again but I am sure I will be plenty nervous about it! You are brave!
I am still doing pretty well. Getting these eye exercises done is a challenge. I have been so busy that it is just plain hard to stop and do them, but I know it is important.
We had revival this week at church and I didn't miss! I made it Sunday morn thru Wed. night. Everyone has been surprised to see me so much. Now that I know that I am on the mend I am doing my best to ignore the symptoms I still am having and doing things as normal. Some moments are better than others, but I am definitely having more and more 100% moments.
I hope you have a good trip! Is it to visit family?
Now that I am getting better my daughter is anxious for us to come to Albuquerque to see her. I look forward to doing that!
Take care Julianne!
Vicki

Hi, Julianne!
I am so glad you made it ok and hope that things continue to go ok for you! I have been praying for your trip! I don't know when I will ever fly again but I am sure I will be plenty nervous about it! You are brave!
I am still doing pretty well. Getting these eye exercises done is a challenge. I have been so busy that it is just plain hard to stop and do them, but I know it is important.
We had revival this week at church and I didn't miss! I made it Sunday morn thru Wed. night. Everyone has been surprised to see me so much. Now that I know that I am on the mend I am doing my best to ignore the symptoms I still am having and doing things as normal. Some moments are better than others, but I am definitely having more and more 100% moments.
I hope you have a good trip! Is it to visit family?
Now that I am getting better my daughter is anxious for us to come to Albuquerque to see her. I look forward to doing that!
Take care Julianne!
Vicki

Hey Vicki,
Yes I am visiting my family. My husband is gone for an extended period of time for work, so we are going to spend a month here. My sister home schools as well. It should be a lot of fun, and hopefully my symptoms won't be so bad, lower altitude around here too...We'll see what that does for me. This morning is rough, but the kids were up late and got up early to play, so I am tired which along with vestibular issues is a bad mix.

I am so glad you are having some chances to go to church. That's wonderful. The Lord is really holding your hand right now getting you through this and bringing Him to His house! My "home" church is here in NC, and I can't wait to go this weekend. It's also a contemporary Gen X style worship service, and they have a new pastor, so it should be fun to see what's been happening while I have been gone.

Well, gotta eat some breakfast. Take care!
Julianne

What a pain, I am continuing to have these symptoms, even on vacation. I guess I fantasized that I wouldn't be symptom free since I'm on a trip! Not true.

I wonder about the Klonopin. Is it doing ANYTHING? That's the big question. How are you all getting along?
Julianne