I’ve often complained that I constantly feel like I’m falling or dropping when sitting still. It’s a terrible feeling, and it really drives me nuts. For me, the feeling comes and goes — it’s worse when I’m tired or hungry.

I just came across a post about Cheryl Schiltz, who constantly feels that she’s falling (here’s the link to the original Telegraph article) because she has lost 95 to 100 percent of her vestibular system.

A case like Cheryl’s would normally be completely hopeless. But due to a specially-fitted construction hat that’s connected to her tongue (yes, you read that right, her tongue), she’s able to actually regain her sense of balance while wearing the hat.

Here’s the Wired Science report on how this device actually works (which I originally found through Dr. X’s Free Associations post on the same subject):

I went to a physiotherapy clinic for an assessment with a physiotherapist that specializes in vestibular rehabilitation therapy, and I got some extremely good news. She thinks she can have my functioning almost back to normal in about 6 weeks!

The physiotherapist videotaped my eyes using some goggles (they resemble scuba goggles, and this is the third time I’ve had to wear them for this particular type of test). They’re very tight-fitting and a bit uncomfortable, and they make things very dark.

Apparently there are infrared cameras inside the goggles that record your eye movements; so after the physiotherapist shook my head back and forth with her hands, I had to look up and to the left, and then up and to the right.

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I visited the neurotologist this week after getting my appointment changed from July to now. I was hoping that after getting the caloric testing done, we would finally have some answers about what exactly could be done to make me feel better.

So I went in with my fingers crossed, not quite knowing what to expect. I saw the same doctor as last time, and he had the results of my caloric test in hand.

I was completely shocked when he said, as he was flipping through the pages, “It looks like your results were normal.” I didn’t quite know what to say.

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I’m due to start vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) very soon, and I’m very hopeful that it’s going to allow me to feel better. I know I probably should have started it after my initial episode of severe vertigo three years ago, but I didn’t really know about it then. I just hope it’s not too late to start it now.

I’m also a big fan of gaming on the Nintendo Wii, and I’m excited for the Wii Fit to come out in North America on May 21st — in case you haven’t seen or heard of the Wii Fit, here’s a short video explaining what it is and what it can do:

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