I seem to have had my first vestibular episode in May 2016. It wasn’t prolonged – just a day or two of feeling dizzy in getting out of bed. But thereafter I began to lose my confidence and posture.
A couple of years ago, I came across this photo of me confidently doing a plant survey the previous year in 2015. It was only when I saw this picture that I realised how much capacity I was losing. I could no longer even think of standing on rough ground, let alone bending over and moving about to mark the position of plants. It made me realise how bad my balance had become.
I was prescribed Betahistine hydrochloride which seemed to have negligible effect. A friend, who is a doctor commented on my unsteady gait in October that year. I remember asking him at the time if a walking stick would do the same job as the Betahistine. So, I was obviously worried about the likelihood of falls, even that long ago.
Over the years, I have been referred to NHS ENT clinics. I always knew that, unless the person I saw was a specialist in Balance, I would just come away having had a hearing test and found that my hearing was good, and so it proved.
In the intervening years I have been recommended to see various private practitioners who could ‘sort me out’. They all tried the various manipulations, but to no avail, and gave me the heel/toe, head shaking and gaze stabilisation exercises to go home and practise.
My GP was inspired, eighteen months ago, to refer me to the ‘Frailty Clinic’, (fully acknowledging that I wouldn’t have put myself in the ‘Frailty’ category!). I received excellent attention from this facility, starting with a health check, including an ECG and an MRI. Then there was a thorough grilling by an Occupational Therapist checking the safety aspects of our house. I then had several sessions with a Physiotherapist who really tried her hardest to sort me out, but eventually sent me home to continue with the exercises (which I knew I wouldn’t)! The only apparent revelation from the MRI was that, as expected from my age, I had ‘Small Vessel Disease’. The ECG helpfully showed I had Atrial Fibrillation.
I have never received any specific diagnosis of my condition.
Fast Forward to December 2023.
By chance, I became aware of the VeDA organisation. Almost as soon as I contacted them, they seemed to be desperate for funds. I sent them £20, and thus seemed to become a supporter.
In February, they advertised a live transmission by Doctor Kingma demonstrating his BalanceBelt. The rest is, almost, history. I filled in and submitted the form https://balancebelt.net/en/do-the-test/ .
The very next day I had a call from Erland asking question about the balance test, asking about my mobility and if I could travel to Edinburgh to enter a free two-week trial. There then ensued a delay, when Dill Hurwitz, the identified Scottish Physiotherapist, was not able to book me in until March 4th.
I took a bus into Edinburgh, but was a bit confused as to where to get off. I said I was looking for the Balance Clinic, but got off the bus too soon. As I tottered my way along the street, a lady who had been on the bus came and caught up with me. She said I had looked worryingly wobbly, and sought me out to help me get to my destination. What a kind lady!
Dill welcomed me to her clinic where she gave me a thorough assessment of my instability and the effect it was having on my well-being. It seemed that I did indeed have a problem!
The time had come to try on the BalanceBelt. Its effect was immediate and miraculous. My smile after walking twice up and down the studio says it all.
Dill took me for a walk outside. We had to cross the road. I looked right, and left, and right again, without feeling the need to grab the nearest lamp-post. I took the kerbs in my stride. We took a weaving walk among the clumps of crocuses in the spring sunshine.
We said our farewells, and I caught my bus home, the proud and delighted wearer of a BalanceBelt. What a transformation!
My husband, Malcolm has deemed my theme tune to be ‘Good Vibrations’ by the Beach Boys!
The day after receiving it we spent two sunny days on the west coast of Scotland, where the terrain is like this – boggy, uneven, rocky outcrops, and stony beaches.
I seemed suddenly to have the confidence to tackle it all! I’m a very contented new user.
”My smile after walking twice up and down the studio says it all.
