The reason I made this page is to spread awareness about vesibular disorders, since I have one but not a whole lot of people know what they are, or even what the vesibular system is, and how a disorder like this can just absolutely fuck your life up. The definition of a vestibular balance disorder, specifically vesibular neuritis, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, is:
"Vestibular balance disorders can affect orientation and balance. Vestibular neuritis is a condition that affects the vestibular nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain, causing prolonged vertigo usually in the absence of significant hearing loss. Viral etiologies are considered the primary cause of vestibular neuritis. Symptoms include continuous vertigo (the sensation of spinning or tilting), inability to balance or walk straight, nausea/vomiting, and reduced ability to focus or concentrate."
I developed this disorder in 2021, and was in the ER on two different occasions for severe nausea and vertigo. The hospital misdiagnosed me both times and it took 5 weeks to get an accurate diagnosis from a combination of visits to an audiologist, ENT, neurologist, & physical therapist. The physical therapist in particular had a strong inkling that I got this disorder as a result of covid, since an antibody test I got was positive & this was also a month before the vaccine became available for my age group. (I probably got it from a coworker who sneezed into their hand or something bc tbh my job at the time was not the best work environment). Because I got my diagnosis so late, the damage to my nervous system was already done, and there was nothing I could do to try and mitigate the symptoms besides physical therapy. I had to relearn how to walk, how to drive a car, how to ride a bike, and how to turn my head without falling over.
