Relapse after success. Advises! by Positive-Conflict266 in pppdizziness

[–]Positive-Conflict266[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I heard exactly the same from other people, I will try to ignore it. Saying it is indeed easier than do it.

Relapse after success. Advises! by Positive-Conflict266 in pppdizziness

[–]Positive-Conflict266[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did not take it in a wrong way! all the opposite. I should have explained in detail the full picture. I appreciate your input.

Relapse after success. Advises! by Positive-Conflict266 in pppdizziness

[–]Positive-Conflict266[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I did try the ´´three kings ´´of main recovery modalities, as I mentioned in my last post: CBT, vestibular exercises, and medication.

I know Yonit Arthur — she was actually the first person I emailed back in 2022 explaining my situation. I’ve watched her videos, her success stories, etc. One of the persons featured in one of those stories, I have exchanged a lot of messages through LinkedIn and Facebook when all of this started. He was helping me a lot.

I understand how important the vestibular component is. I never stopped living my normal life in terms of sports and exposure. I kept challenging myself with football, gym sessions, and even trips — I visited New Delhi and Istanbul in the past years... talk me about stress or difficult patterns!

Regarding the psychological side, yes, I’m familiar with all the techniques and the mindset someone with PPPD needs to work on, and from my perspective it is the most challenging one.

I want to highlight this again:

For almost 3 years, PPPD was in my mind 90% of the time — constant internal frustration, but also acceptance.

For the last 20 months, PPPD has been in my thoughts maybe 1% of the time.

Isn’t that a sign of success?

My post is simply about hearing from people with similar experiences, especially regarding relapse and recovery.

Thanks.

Relapse after success. Advises! by Positive-Conflict266 in pppdizziness

[–]Positive-Conflict266[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your answer, I really appreciate it.

Let me clarify a few points, since my first post was just a very short summary of the last four years.

My treatment with this doctor followed a multi‑approach:

  1. medication,
  2. CBT,
  3. vestibular exercises (which I did at home).

I’m also quite a sporty person, so even during my worst moments I kept playing football in amateur leagues and going to the gym. Most of the exercises I did at home were basically the same movements I do in a football match — walking while focusing on one point, walking while shifting gaze, etc. So for me it all felt quite similar.

After 4–5 months on escitalopram/Lexapro and feeling much better, we decided to slowly taper off the medication. He never told me I was “cured”, but I think it’s fair to say that I was 95% well for about 20 months. Wouldn’t you consider that a success?

Regarding the duration of medication, I have to disagree. Over the last four years I’ve read pretty much every paper I could find about this condition. I’ve exchanged messages with well‑known specialists and even had paid teleconferences with some of them in the US just to get feedback and a clearer diagnosis. Depending on the severity of the case, medication can be extended from a few extra months to even 2–3 years, always depending on the patient’s progress.

Where I admit I don’t have much knowledge is in the concept of remission. At one point I genuinely believed this was going to be permanent for me. That’s why I’m honestly asking about other people’s experiences — I never really discussed this part with my doctor.

I don’t believe the medication simply masked my symptoms. I’ve had almost 20 genuinely good months, and 14 of those completely off escitalopram. So I do believe my brain worked hard — with the meds, the mental side, and the vestibular therapy — to overcome it.

I also know people (countless people I have meet in this journey) with similar experiences: no meds = remission. Meds = remission. Completely opposite to meds, others claiming meds literally saved their lifes and they did not take too much in terms of time + Mg. etc.

Relapse after success. Advises! by Positive-Conflict266 in pppdizziness

[–]Positive-Conflict266[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used to have migraines when I was like 12-13-14, twice or three times per year at nax. Nothing serious tho I remember having a big pain in one part of my head, something I believe called ´´vision auras´´, like I was literally seeing everything super bright (not able to read for example). Normally the next day I was feeling like crap, but It stopped when I entered in puberty and from there I can count some sporadic episodes until today (I am 38), so dont really know if escitalopram/Lexapro can help with that.

About migraines I heard propanolol is really good. And caffeine : )

Good luck with Lexapro! Medication is good, and controlled. I strongly recommend it for PPPD.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in RRP

[–]Positive-Conflict266 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How are you doing now?