Thanks everyone for your feedback. It's been very helpful. I had originally planned on 4 weeks loff work. I've now extended that to 6 to 8 weeks.
I would describe loosing vestibular function on one side as being cut adrift. Our sense of balance allows use to move our eyes, our heads, our bodies, etc., and still feel "grounded" in one place. When the vestibulat nerve is severed, you have to re-develop that grounded abiliity.
Here's a brief description of retraining balance, so far (two and a half weeks post-op).
First 24-30 hours in ICU, even moving your eyes around the room gives you a kind of lurching feeling. I kept my eyes closed a lot the first 24 hours.
Next few days, moved my eyes around the room more after one my Drs explained that it helped with re-aquiring a sense of balance. Moving you body or head around still gives a lurching feeling. It's hard to describe, but is kind of like being very inebriated.
Day two, walked around the ward with the help of a walker. Looking down seemed easier than looking up and out while walking. Therapist wanted me to look up and out to speed re-calibration.
Day four, the ride home was a real experience, everything seemed to be in motion. It was even hard to look at the car in front of us, it was moving around too much.
Two and a half weeks out, I'm walking around OK No lurching with eye movements. Still some lurching with moving the head while looking at one thing. Ridung in the car is much better, but still not really comfortable. I don't feel capable of driviing yet. Things improving daily.
