Anyone who has ever experienced vestibular dysfunction will tell you, vestibular symptoms are hard to describe. It can be difficult to explain the difference between symptoms like vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, spinning, disequilibrium, and more. Factors like acute symptoms and anxiety can make it even harder to paint a clear picture for your healthcare provider. 

In this episode, vestibular patient Joy Holten and medical student Marcus Paoletti discuss this issue and provide insight into how your symptoms can be best communicated to your physician.

About the guests:

Marcus Paoletti is a second-year medical student at Keck School of Medicine, USC. Before that, he attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he received a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology. He became interested in otolaryngology and healthcare related to the head and neck early in his training due to the complexity of the region’s anatomy and vital importance of these structures. He is also the co-president of the otolaryngology student interest group at his medical school.

Joy Holten is a 48-year-old mother of 2 who lives in Austin, TX. In 2018 she began experiencing constant dizziness after an infection. For 3 years she suffered daily symptoms but was still able to work from home. In 2021 that all changed. When her symptoms went from bad to worse she visited the ER 5 times. She was finally forced to take medical leave. Eventually, she found Dr. Shin Bey, one of the leading “dizzy” neurologists in the county, who diagnosed her with Vestibular Migraine and PPPD. Since then, Joy co-founded a YouTube series called “Finding Joy in your Vestibular Journey” and hosts a Zoom support group for fellow vestibular sufferers.

Hosts:

Cynthia Ryan, Executive Director of the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) https://vestibular.org/ 

Kimberly Warner, Founder and Director of Unfixed Media https://unfixedmedia.com/ 

This podcast is a co-production of the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) and Unfixed Media. 

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VeDA relies on your support to help vestibular patients on their journey to find a life rebalanced. You can make a real difference by making a donation at https://vestibular.org/donate/ 

If you are experiencing vertigo, tinnitus, dizziness, imbalance, brain fog, or other balance related symptoms, VeDA may be able to help. To learn more about vestibular conditions and get help finding a diagnosis, treatment, coping tools, and support visit https://vestibular.org/ 

For help finding a vestibular healthcare provider visit https://vestibular.org/healthcare-directory/ 

If you are a vestibular healthcare professional and want to reach more patients, join VeDA's Healthcare Provider Directory by becoming a member at https://vestibular.org/article/resources-for-professionals/professional-membership/. Additional benefits include patient education articles you can brand with your logo.