Jun 13, 2008
Exercise, dizziness and balance.
I just got back from the gym, where I did some running on the treadmill and about another 15 minutes on the elliptical machine. I followed that with a bit of light weights, and a some stretching.
I’ve noticed that while I’m on the elliptical, or especially while I’m running, my balance seems to be horrible. Well, it’s not my balance itself exactly, it’s that I feel completely off balance.
And when I get off the treadmill, I actually feel like the room is spinning around — it takes about 5 minutes of walking around the room for the feeling to go away. But several hours later, I actually feel better than I did before I went to exercise. Then again, maybe I’m just pleased with myself that I went and got some exercise. 
11 Comments, Comment or Ping
Dizzy Dame
I always feel like i’ve just gotten off a very long suspension bridge when i’ve used the treadmill. The sensation is quite insane and irritating. 0.o
The difficult part, at times, is actually getting from point A to B. (driving/being driven)
Jun 18th, 2008
Vertigo Guy
It certainly is irritating. Driving/being driven somewhere doesn’t really work very well either — I’m usually quite dizzy during any kind of motion.
Then again, I’m also dizzy when I’m sitting still lots of the time, so there’s not much relief there either unfortunately. I think I just need to keep with the exercise and hopefully it will make me feel better in the long term.
Jun 18th, 2008
Dizzy Dame
I think it is harder for people to understand when the underlying sensation lasts 24 hours a day. It is a bit tiring dealing with the fluctuations sometimes; I’ve seen some of the these unexpected episodes referred to as “drop attacks.”
Does it get randomly worse for you at any time? (on top of the underlying dizziness?)
Jun 18th, 2008
Vertigo Guy
It certainly does. “Drop attacks” is actually a very apropos description of what it feels like — when it’s at its worst, it feels like I’m constantly falling every few seconds, which as I’m sure you know, is not a fun feeling. The unexpectedness can really get you down sometimes, since you think you’re having a ‘good’ day, which all of a sudden turns into a very bad day.
While the dizziness is always there, the random episodes come on completely randomly sometimes. I joke sometimes that they only come on if I oversleep, don’t sleep enough, eat too much, don’t eat enough, am too relaxed, too stressed, etc. It’s seems like no matter what I do I can’t really avoid them.
I’ve also noticed that while the meclizine was helping for a while, I’m pretty much right back to where I was before I started it. I don’t know why, but it seems to be having no effect on my dizziness any more.
Jun 18th, 2008
Dizzy Dame
I’m sorry to hear the meclizine isn’t working anymore.
Your doctor will hopefully have more suggestions.
One thing I am trying to distinguish are the differences, if any, between balance disorder origins. The first year and a half straight having this condition it was to bed, to the couch, to “business,” and/or to the kitchen only. I felt like a prisoner to inactivity. (which gets me thinking…)
Jun 19th, 2008
Vertigo Guy
Your comment got me thinking that it might be worth trying to catalogue some of the common causes of balance disorders. It might be helpful to us and maybe others in determining what could potentially be going wrong.
In my case, I wonder if the meclizine not really working means that the origin of the balance problem is not (purely anyway) vestibular in nature.
Jun 20th, 2008
Dizzy Dame
That may be a good idea. I spent many months a year trying to discover new potentials when one proved not to be the cause of my issues. By now I should have some sort of honorary degree. lol.
I planned on including all the steps I have taken in order to get to where I am today, but I found the post I made cumbersome. (it has since been made private)
Hopefully someone will find this information helpful.
Jun 20th, 2008
Vertigo Guy
I’ve started to work on a draft of a post about this, and you’re right, it does get cumbersome quickly — there ends up being lots of information there. I’m going to keep working at it though and see if I can get something half-way coherent out of it. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
Jun 22nd, 2008
Dizzy Dame
It is always good to compare notes and should be interesting to see how things come about with us trying to compile something sensible out of the mammoth amounts of information we’ve accumulated over the years.
Thank you for commenting in my journal; it has been helpful to me already.
Jun 23rd, 2008
Vertigo Guy
My pleasure! The more we help each other out the better. The way I see it, we’re all in this together, so we might as well share what we know!
Jun 27th, 2008
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