Episode Summary

In this powerful episode, host Bridgett Wallace presents an interview with Sarah, who shares her personal journey living with vestibular migraines and Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (3PD). Following the theme of hope explored in Episode 1, Sarah's story illustrates the real-world impact of finding hope while managing chronic vestibular conditions. She describes her initial terrifying symptoms, challenges navigating the healthcare system, and how finding proper diagnosis and treatment transformed her life. Despite ongoing symptoms, Sarah shares how knowledge, proper treatment, and realistic hope have helped her reclaim a meaningful life and develop effective coping strategies.

Key Topics

• 00:00:33 - Connection to Episode 1's theme on hope
• 00:00:50 - Introduction to Sarah's story with vestibular migraines and 3PD
• 00:01:24 - Sarah describes her first vertigo episode and ongoing symptoms
• 00:02:40 - Impact on daily life and social activities
• 00:04:45 - Sarah's challenging experience navigating the healthcare system
• 00:05:31 - Isolation and dismissal of invisible symptoms
• 00:06:47 - Finding validation and proper diagnosis with Bridgett
• 00:07:37 - Overview of Sarah's treatment journey
• 00:08:20 - Importance of symptom tracking and identifying triggers
• 00:09:01 - How knowledge empowered Sarah to manage her condition
• 00:09:58 - Sarah's current life with vestibular conditions
• 00:10:55 - How hope has been transformative in Sarah's journey
• 00:12:31 - Sarah's closing advice for listeners with vestibular conditions
• 00:13:59 - Bridgett's reflections connecting Sarah's story to previous episodes

Episode Highlights

• Sarah experienced her first severe vertigo attack while driving, leading to an ER visit where she was told it was "just an inner ear thing"
• After the initial spinning episodes, Sarah developed constant unsteadiness that severely impacted her daily life
• She saw seven different doctors who offered conflicting diagnoses before finding proper care
• The turning point came when Sarah received a proper diagnosis of vestibular migraines with 3PD after 18 months of searching
• Sarah's comprehensive treatment included the SEEDS approach (Sleep, Exercise, Eat/Drink, and Stress management)
• Vestibular rehabilitation exercises, lifestyle modifications, and medication helped manage her symptoms
• Finding patterns through symptom tracking helped Sarah identify that inadequate sleep and dehydration were major triggers
• Three years later, Sarah still has symptoms but has developed effective coping strategies and adaptations
• Tools that help Sarah include rose-colored glasses for visual challenges and noise-canceling headphones for auditory overload
• Sarah emphasizes that hope has been her "most valuable medicine" - not hope for a cure, but hope in her capacity to adapt

Resources Mentioned

• SEEDS framework for vestibular management: Sleep, Exercise, Eat/Drink, and Stress management
• Vestibular rehabilitation exercises
• Rose-colored glasses for visually challenging environments
• Noise-canceling headphones for auditory overload
• Symptom journaling to identify patterns and triggers
• References to Episode 1 (importance of hope) and Episode 2 (dizziness as a "silent syndrome")

Connect with Us

Visit 360livingbalanced.com to learn more about the VITALITY framework and connect with our supportive community. If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and share with someone who might benefit, whether a healthcare practitioner or someone seeking answers about vestibular health.

Remember, true progress happens when expertise and lived experience come together.