Poetry for Balance

A Symphony Disturbed by Stana Peete

In the realm of chaos, where balance falters,
Lies a silent struggle, unseen and unheard.
A dance disrupted, a symphony disturbed,
Vestibular dysfunction, a battle uncharted.

Within the inner ear, a delicate labyrinth,
Sits the vestibular system, a marvel of design.
But when it falters, a storm begins to brew,
A whirlwind of symptoms, wreaking havoc anew.

Vertigo spins, a relentless carousel,
Dizziness, a disorienting spell.
Nausea churns, an unwelcome companion,
Fatigue clings, an unyielding burden.

The world becomes a shifting tapestry,
Where solid ground feels like shifting sand.
The simplest tasks become a daunting feat,
As equilibrium's thread is gently unthreaded.

But through the struggle, a strength emerges,
A resilience forged in the fires of adversity.
With determination as the guiding light,
Victory in each step, shining ever bright.

Within the storm, a community stands,
Bound by understanding, lending helping hands.
Support and compassion, a lifeline extended,
Together we rise, our spirits never ended.

For in the depths of darkness, hope remains,
As science strives, knowledge ever gains.
A cure may yet be found, a future brighter,
Where vestibular dysfunction no longer blights her.

So let us stand united, hearts intertwined,
Embracing those with vestibular challenges entwined.
With empathy and advocacy, let our voices ring,
For a world where balance reigns, let us sing.

Swirls on the Ceiling by Rachel Brooker

I awoke one day at the start of a new year,
Feeling off balance, with double vision, my thoughts unclear.
I’d been here before, Labyrithitis was diagnosed,
I rested, I couldn’t work, slowly anxiety was exposed.
I didn’t leave the house, too scared of the world outside,
Months passed, all
I could do was sit and hope and hide.
This was at the time the world shut down,
Seeing a doctor was difficult, to my house I was bound.
Although I had the overwhelming urge to sit, to be still,
Itchy feet overtook, plus my stubbornness and my strong will.
So I walked, short distances, consistency was key,
Wobbly legs, shaking hands, I felt free.
Months later I grew stronger and eventually returned to work,
Loving the routine, some normality, but still the symptoms lurked.
Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness,
A diagnosis, never heard of, what is this?
Finally a name for the crazy mixture of feelings,
The floating, the tipping, the moving swirls on the ceiling.
An explanation for the sudden intense feeling of fear,
I sensed relief, my symptoms validated, my eyes filled with tears.
I kept pushing, testing my limits, exposure therapy,
Supermarkets, rollercoasters and holidays, I progressed wearily.
Daily dizziness is still present, though not as overwhelming,
The better days outweigh the bad, positive mindset is helping.
I may take more time, tire easily, lean on you and stumble,
PPPD is my condition, not my identity and I will not crumble.

Oh, my Vertigo by Randall Cox

GETTING UP
One morning, I awoke and inside my head was much twirling
And whirling
For a while, I had to sit up in bed before I was ready
To, on my feet, feel even slightly steady
I was in such a panic
I was close to being manic
To myself, I said, “Oh no,
Once again, I have vertigo!”
Slowly and carefully, I walked to my kitchen,
And thought, “This is not bitchin’”
There was so much spinning in my head
I just wanted to go back to bed
My head was spinning like a top
And I just couldn’t get it to stop
I was so dizzy
I was in a tizzy
Even if I did not travel far,
I was not fit to drive my car
In my vehicle, I could go
But that would require a tow
I could not drive,
Dance a jive,
Or even be at work until five
I wondered how I would be able to thrive
I didn't have a clue
As to what to do
Hence, to the heavens, did I emphatically say,
It would really make my day
If I could please just have no
Mo
Vertigo!”

MAKING THE BEST OF IT
Then, thinking that, for me,
Taking things into my own hands would be the key
I tried to embrace the platitude
That one should adopt an attitude
Of gratitude
My thoughts I tried to twist
To be more of an optimist
Though my balance could wax and wane,
I could carry a cane
If I were not so woozy, I could ride a bike
And be as fast as the hare
But, as with the tortoise, a slow, deliberate hike
Could still get me there
Sometimes, having vertigo
Can be a tough row
To hoe
Of this, I know
But, on that, I tried not to dwell
Rather, I tried to think of things that would make me feel swell
Because I didn’t really feel like me,
I decided to drink some calming chamomile tea
Though, at balancing, I had few skills,
I could still enjoy one of life’s small thrills
In spite of being dizzy,
I could sip some lemon water that was fizzy,
Although not at my best,
I could rest
I could do my best to cope
And have hope
Out
And about,
And to and fro,
It was hard for me go
Yet, I could still try my best see my home as a den
Where I could have some feeling of Zen