dizzyinmissouri

Hi, All!

Just thought I should report on what happened with my trip to the Balance Center in Chicago.

First of all they tested me. Tested my brain stem to make sure all was well there. Then they did the water in the ear thing. That landed up being nothing like I thought. They had me track a red light back and forth. They had me stand in a circular device that had a cloth sky in front of me and the floor moved all around. I had to keep my balance without holding on to anything while they moved the sky and the floor. I never had to grab on to anything! Then the PT had me stand in place with my eyes shut and my arms in front of me and march in place. He circled me as I marched telling me to stay in one place. When I opened my eyes I was shocked to discover I was clear across the room!

From the tests they discovered that I do not have any permanent damage to my ear which was music to my ears!!! They discovered that what is keeping me feeling imbalanced and dizzy is that my eyes are overshooting everytime I look from left to right. So I am doing exercises to correct that.

Then they took me in to do some eye exercises. I followed a red light that went back and forth on a long bar and tracked it with a little laser light that was attached to a band around my head while I stood on a trampoline, on a 6 inch cushion! It got super challenging when they turned on the disco lights and those lights were swirling all over the room, changing direction every few seconds. Whoa! I felt like I was shooting off into space. But I made it thru and it seemed like I did it for a long time! Then I had to stand on a circle that had a ball in the middle and balance the circle while I pushed various dots that appeared on the screen in front of me with alternating hands. I pushed 200 dots! Then I had to work my feet on that circular thing I was standing on to make the dots disappear on the screen before me. I pushed 300 more dots like that!!

Anyway, the PT told me that he expects me to be normal in 6 - 8 weeks and if I am not he will be shocked. At that time he said I have no more chance of reocccurence than anyone else and I can do anything I want to do. Talk about being excited! I left the center SO happy. They are wonderful and so thorough. Jim, the head PT and founder was so good to take time to answer all my questions and hear all my story and to take care of me personally. I am SO glad I made the trip. It was 7 1/2 hours away but worth every mile!
Then as an added benefit, Chicago was fun and it is a gorgeous city. Had some wonderful meals and for the most part felt really good being out and about. I know I am going to be well soon and so hope the same for all of you!!!!

Vicki