Finally, an Update After Two Years of No Changes to My Condition

 

I began this blog, not only to educate friends and family about my condition, but to share my experiences with others who may be in the same situation; to give them the comfort of knowing that they are not alone.   For those reading it for the first time, while I encourage you to respond with your experiences and advice, I hope that you will read from the beginning and not respond until you've caught up with me on this adventure of discovery.  I am learning as I go.  

You haven't heard from me since June of 2018.  One reason being that I had no assurance that any, but a few of you, were reading it and, further, see my note about that below.  (Previous posts are listed from the bottom up to the right.  When you click on a date, you must scroll down to read the first one in date order.) 

"Fiona Flamingo" is the logo for Vestibular Disorder Association "VEDA".  

I have not blogged for a couple years because there was nothing new to say.  My balance had improved a bit due to lack of stress and walking with friends a lot for balance exercise.  However, during this COVID pandemic and general election issues, 2020 has been a stressful year.  

I have moved into an Atria Senior Independent Living apartment where they take such good care of us but my allergy congestion due to our lack of humidity in Tucson has worsened and caused restless nights of little sleep which worsens my balance and, I spent July 4th weekend in the hospital due to a fall and gash in my head.  I have been super wobbly ever since.

Neighbors and staff who see me straining to keep my balance often suggest that I should use a walker.  I have watched neighbors using walkers go up and down over curbs by tilting it ahead of them, then leveling the back wheels on the ground while leaning toward the walker before stepping down while holding onto it.  Tilting would make me fall and flip the walker.  I am able to walk slowly and carefully without any walker or cane which would just fall with me and my most difficult steps are over curbs or on ramps/slopes with no hand rails.  I manage to take those steps like a tight-rope walker with my arms out and deep concentration.

A United Healthcare House Call nurse practitioner wrote a note for my Primary Care Physician that I need a sturdy walker.  When I saw my PCP, I told him about my watching neighbors and that VEDA recommends walking sticks that I plan to order.  Another reason for not wanting a sturdy walker is that my patio is so crowded that I would have to leave it by the entry gate and would not have it by my front door to take with me in my car.  I could use it only in/out of the front door but that means longer trips around the neighborhood than if I walked from my patio.

I am still driving but only short distances and in areas that I am familiar with because my oscillopsia makes it difficult to read street signs or house numbers.  When I must drive in an unfamiliar area, I go to Google Earth maps to see a 3-D image of my destination so I can envision what the building looks like and where the entrance and parking is and use my iPad GPS so that Siri can yell at me when to turn, etc.