I had GK 10/21/08 on left AN. Started having some balance issues around Jan. 09. Balance issues were slow to develop before I consulted with my AN Doctor in July to see what was up. Had a balance test and it showed that my balance nerve was compromised 71%. Past balance tests (before and after GK) showed that I had 5% which is within the normal range. Started vestibular therapy in Sept., and I quit going the beginning of Dec. because of insurance issues, and I was doing great anyway. I had made tremendous progress, and the PT said I could just check in with her as needed. Well, I got lazy over the holidays (being busy, and all), and I quit doing my at home exercises. But, all was going well until a couple of weeks ago. I am having this thing that I can only describe as my eyes "wigging" out. It's like my eyeballs are jumping around, and my vision seems to get blurry at times. But, the most bothersome is the dizziness, nausea, and minor headaches. I'm walking like a drunk again. I am wondering if I have messed up the "good stuff" that was happening in my physical therapy, and now maybe my brain in "unlearning" what I was learning. Or, is it possible that the hearing nerve is starting to die off even more? I haven't called my doctor yet. Just checking to see if any of you can chirp in about this....especially those who have gone through vestibular therapy. When I was in PT, I was referred for a vision evaluation with a vision specialist. Turns out I have convergence insufficiency and pursuits/saccades. The vision therapist thinks I have had it for a long time, but it has never shown up in a routine eye exam. I always fail the pendulum tracking in my balance tests, but they never seem to worry about it...can be caused by medication I take, is what they say. I don't wear glasses so the eye doctor prescribed regular glasses and reading glasses with prisms....thought they might help with the balance issues. I've been wearing them for a couple of months. It has been an adjustment (more so, I think, because I have never worn glasses), and they have seemed to help some....especially when watching TV and reading. Now I can't stand the dang things. They make my eyes hurt, more like tired, and I have decided not to use them today just to experiment. By the way, I have good eyesight and would normally not need glasses. The eye doc said the glasses were to train my eyes, and I wouldn't have to wear them forever.
I am also wondering if it is possible that I am having migraine headaches since these problems just started a couple of weeks ago. I have a long history of migraines, but they have never manifested this way. Perhaps I have three phone calls to make: AN doc, PT and Vision doc. Just thought some of you might have an idea. Also wondering if I should get back to the home exercises the PT gave me. I just hate them because they make me sick, and maybe that is why I quit them in the first place once I was sorta "released" from PT. I really was doing well when I quit....kinda thought I was "cured".
Thanks for listening.
Nancy
