Seniors! – some notes on my dizziness experience

Dear editor,

Seniors, I’m sure you recognize that as we age we are all randomly encountering new health challenges. One of my new experiences was related to morning balance. 

About a year ago, when I rolled out of bed, as I stood up, my head felt heavy, like I was being pulled toward a wall. I put my hand out to prop against the nearest wall pause for a few seconds before I dared to take any steps. I then cautiously moved into the living room and sat on the couch. There I noticed it seemed like the features in the room were ‘moving’. This was an ‘eye only’ phenomenon — looked like wallpaper was moving, curtains were moving, rug was moving, etc. I wasn’t dizzy and the room wasn’t moving, but features of the room seemed to be moving.

So, I closed my eyes to fend off any nausea feelings and within a couple of minutes, with eyes re-opened the movement had slowed. A few minutes later my eyes worked normally and the movements had ended. 

This sequence happened a few times and eventually I also encountered some actual dizziness associated with it. When the dizziness came, I noticed some stuffed sinuses at the same time. [Seeing a doctor lead to a prescription of Meclizine for the dizziness, if and when it occurred, and a nasal decongestant, Flonase, for the sinuses, if they were stuffed]. Awhile later, after a short vertigo incident (room spinning with colored circles), I had had enough.

What was going on? Time for some serious introspection and seriously looking at my diet, schedule, medicines, habits….etc. My questioning to myself went like this. Was it a circulation issue? (blood pressure)? Was it a hydration issue? Was it a muscle issue? Was it a pinched nerve issue? Was it a sleep issue? Was it a medication issue? Or, was it an age only issue? No one doctor could connect the dots for me. So, not being a doctor myself, here’s what ‘worked’ for me.

I became aware of a connection between intestinal activity and the dizziness. So, I added a daily soft-stool pill and the dizziness got minimal. I doubled my daily intake of water and eliminated my HCTZ prescription (water drainer) and my dizziness went away. I added some Omega 3 and Aged Garlic extracts to my daily repertoire along with a daily vitamin and some ginkgo biloba, and some extra Vitamin B complex. My blood pressure stabilized at about 130/78. Now, I don’t know what I’ve really done, but I’ve had no symptoms related to balance, or dizziness issues for the last 6 months and I have more energy.

All this to say, take charge of your health.  Only you know you best. Good Luck.

JIM MOORE

Pace 

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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Seniors! – some notes on my dizziness experience