Exercise?

I have heard that yoga is beneficial in helping retrain your balance as well as tai chi. Go slow in the beginning, especially anything involving the need to maintain safety by balance. I started by walking with a cane (because I was having difficulty walking a straight line) with short bursts of faster walking. Using treadmills and stationary bicycles are generally okay because you have something to hols on to but keep the speed down on the treadmill in case you do get dizzy you can step off easier. You may find more difficulty with things that are going to require faster head movement so take it slow and try things out before going full bore.

My ENT suggested that as soon as I wake up in the morning that I immediately get up and go for a walk. He said it helps to reset and retrain the brain. Since we have been doing this, I see a marked difference in the mornings. We take the dog and walk about 2 miles in my neighborhood. I also skate on a roller derby team. That has been challenging since getting diagnosed with Meniere's. I live in Arizona and the heat has been brutal. I cannot overexert myself when it is 115 outside so I had to lay off practices for the last month. I went to a scrimmage last week and managed to play the entire scrimmage with no major issues. The full contact does not seem to bother me, nor does the actual skating around the track. However, when I have to look behind me, that causes me to get a little woozy but it's manageable. With cooler weather on the horizon, I'm hoping that will make things easier on me so I can get back to doing what I love. I also recently took up kayaking which surprisingly has not been a problem given it is on the water and has motion. I think it works for me because the water is cold and is constantly splashing me or the temperatures are cooler (we go up to the lakes in the mountains). It didn't require a lot of exertion on my part so I didn't get overheated. My advice is start slow - walking, yoga, etc. You will find your triggers and know just how far you can push your body without hitting the tipping point. I still experience vertigo every day but it is on the low end of the spectrum unless I eat something too high in sodium or overdo it on the activity.

I've started with Yoga, so far ok, but I am also taking meclizine. It's OTC but they keep it at the pharmacy, so you have to ask for it. It has helped with the vertigo.

Dear Kelsey,

First of all, congratulations on having your daughter!  I'm also a December girl! :-). You must be a very strong lady to have suffered through symptoms of MD while taking care of a newborn.  I had terrible trouble just taking care of myself!

Before I was diagnosed 15 months ago, I was at the gym 6 days/week and feeling very strong.   In fact, I don't think I'd felt as.healthy in my entire adult life. That's partly why the MD was such a shock;  One day I was on top of the world, and the next, I was on the floor vomiting with the room spinning around me 600 mph, deaf in one ear, and unable to walk straight in between frequent attacks.  I spent virtually one year lying down. I keep hearing about doctors telling their patients that exercise is so good for Meniere's. Honestly,  I don't entirely understand why, if exercise is so good for you after-the-fact, why it doesn't help to prevent it in the first place!  Well, I guess that as long as it's safe, and as long as it doesn't induce symptoms, then exercise can never be bad for you, 

After 9 inner ear injections, I'm finally experiencing a wonderful reprieve from the vertigo, and realize how lazy and flabby I've become over the past year.  I'm ready to start exercising, too.   My doctor has given me his blessing to start walking.  Just 20 minutes at a time, until that gets easy, and then I'll add probably 10 minutes at a time.  That way, there's no dangerous equipment to worry about.  And, I f I feel anything coming over me, I can just sink down to the ground like I was taught in physical therapy.  I seem to be triggered by overheating and over exertion, so walking is a good start for me.  Also, I've started doing bicep curls with 5 lb weights, while seated.  It took me a lot longer to get into shape than it did to get out of shape, so I know this will require patience and compassion with myself.

As I write this, I realize that I actually DID experience a blessing as the result of this horrendous diseases!  I believe that I have learned to be more patient with myself and more compassionate with myself about my limitations.  I've always been someone who was mercilessly self-critical when I couldn't perform as well as I wanted to.  But facing the facts that I simply couldn't do much at all for an entire year, has helped me to change that. There were days when the circular motion of wiping down the counter would trigger a whopping episode of vertigo....so my expectations of what a successful day consists of, have changed dramatically!  And maybe that's not such a bad thing.  May my harsh Inner Critic rest in peace!  :-)

So, my advice in terms of exercise is to keep it simple and safe. And, to go slow.  If it doesn't feel right for your body, try something else.  Way back when, when. I started my journey into fitness, I used home exercise videos.  They were "walking at home" videos for the exercise beginner, and they were just what I needed to start me on my way.  That's also a good way to try different things, and to gain some confidence.  They were a huge source of encouragement for me.  Try a browser search for home exercise videos, and you might be surprsised to see how much is out there.  But go slow, so you don't trigger any symptoms, and especially, so that you don't get discouraged.  

Take good care of yourself!

J-

Some say it bothers them I run or bike daily and it seems to keep it at bay sometimes if I overdo it and get dehydrated it acts up so drink plenty of water possibly some Gatorade everyone seems to react different though good luck!