Finding Balance: Healing From A Decade of Vestibular Disorders

by Sue Hickey

Overview

Over 10 million adults in the United States have chronic problems with dizziness and imbalance - vestibular problems. This compares to 400,000 with multiple sclerosis or 1.5 million with autism for example, both chronic illnesses with much greater name recognition. Vestibular problems are difficult to diagnose and treat. While vestibular problems come with various medical names (Meniere's, Perilymph Fistula, Endolymphatic Hydrops, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Mal de Debarquement (MdDS), and others) they present a common challenge for the affected person on how to deal with the dizziness and eventually find balance.

Finding Balance addresses over a decade of illness, from the initial two years searching for a diagnosis, through the long years of treatment and finally to the period of rebuilding a life within the confines of what dizziness and vertigo will allow. Finding Balance provides a detailed description of symptoms, what can trigger them, the emotional reactions to symptoms, how to recognize their subtle differences, and how to track them in order to contribute to your own diagnosis. It also emphasizes the patient's responsibility for healing and eventually how to find the inner balance in life that will be necessary to equitably live with these symptoms over time. And it provides a sense of time, of patience.

Special Features of Finding Balance Include:

• Call-out boxes presenting facts and tips for dealing with the disorder
• All of the medical information in the book has been reviewed by vestibular specialists for accuracy
• Bulleted lists at the end of chapter with advice to the reader on next steps

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Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936303144
Publisher:	Springer Publishing Company
Publication date:	03/17/2011
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	994,245
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Sue Hickey is a retired executive who was diagnosed twelve years ago with vestibular disorders, commonly known as balance disorders. She has focused her full time attention for the past twelve years on healing from the series of balance disorders she lives with.

Table of Contents

Foreword Dr. F. Owen Black vii

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

1 Losing Balance: March 1996-April 1996 1

2 Denial: Is Anything Really Wrong With Me?: April 1996-August 1996 9

3 The Pendulum Swings Wildly: September 1996-January 1997 19

4 The Medical Fog Clears: January 1997-May 1997 29

5 The Surprise End of a Satisfying Career: June 1997-October 1997 39

6 A Clear Diagnosis at Last: November 1997-December 1997 49

7 Perilymph Fistulas-Bed Rest: January 1998-February 1998 57

8 Perilymph Fistulas-Neighborhood Rest: March 1998-May 1998 67

9 Hydrops Holding Me Back: June 1998-August 1998 75

10 Vestibular Rehabilitation: August 1998-October 1998 85

11 Life Lessons: October 1998-December 1998 95

12 A Transitional Life: January 1999-May 1999 105

13 Taking Flight: May 1999-July 1999 117

14 Vacation Home: July 1999-August 1999 129

15 Managing My Recovery: September 1999-October 1999 135

16 Life's Ups and Downs: November 1999-December 1999 149

17 Rotation Therapy: January 2000-October 2000 157

18 Testing Acceptance: November 2000-September 2002 169

19 A Genuine Breakthrough: October 2002-October 2003 179

20 A Giant Step Backward: January 2004-December 2004 191

21 Finding Balance: December 2004-October 2006 205

Epilogue 217

Index 219

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Alan Micco, MD (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description: This is an actual account of various balance disorders experienced by a patient.
Purpose: The purpose is to let other patients know how she felt and how she weathered it all. These are aspects that physicians do not often talk about or understand. The author accomplishes her goal by weaving personal stories with salient medical facts.
Audience: The book is written for patients as well as for medical professionals in otolaryngology and primary care who want to understand their patients' perspectives better.
Features: It chronicles the personal journey of one patient's experience with various balance disorders such as Meniere's disease, BPPV and mal de debarquement over a period of 10 years. It shows how she was transformed from a frustrated, passive patient into an active patient educator/advocate. It is a helpful book in that it gives a detailed account of what symptoms occurred in what settings. Interwoven throughout are italicized sections that represent the internal thinking or emotions experienced by either the author or her acquaintances.
Assessment: This book is quite effective in commiserating with patients who feel alone in their condition and not understood by physicians. Balance disorder in general is an entity that is difficult to diagnose correctly without eliciting all of a patient's history and predicaments. The book is unique in the way it provides a patient expert's viewpoint of balance disorder.

Doody's Review Service

"This book is quite effective in commiserating with patients who feel alone in their condition and not understood by physicians. Balance disorder in general is an entity that is difficult to diagnose correctly without eliciting all of a patient's history and predicaments. The book is unique in the way it provides a patient expert's viewpoint of balance disorder."-Doody's Reviews
"Vestibular disorders can cause overwhelming dizziness, vertigo, and other symptoms that can't be seen, and are difficult for others--sometimes, even close friends and family members--to understand. People struggle with their profound impacts on health, rela¬tion¬ships, and finances. Many people struggle alone. Finding Balance gives voice to these experiences, and in the process, brings needed recognition to the true hardships associated with having a chronic vestibular disorder. "--Lisa Haven, Executive Director, Vestibular Disorders Association
"I wept when I finished this book, because finally I see someone else, the author, truly understands my daily challenges with a vestibular disorder. It's comforting to know that I'm not alone. ...family and friends will read this book as well as co-workers. Yet, I hope even grocery store clerks, bus drivers, restaurant waitresses, airline agents, and others working with the public will too. Then, they will understand when I ask for fewer loud noises and less fast motion around me that I'm balancing my life."--Suzanne Hall Johnson, RN, MN, Editor Emerita, Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing
..". includes a series of approaches, from symptom tracking to personal reflection, the author devised to assist in her recovery. This book will be valuable to vestibular patients facing similar challenges as well as medical practitioners seeking further insight into their patient's experience."--F. Owen Black, Director of Neurotology Research, Legacy Health
""Finding Balance" is a must-read if you have a vestibular disorder, or know so

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