How BC Balance and Dizziness Made a Difference

Read testimonials from our members.

Finding BC Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society was like coming home for me. From the first meeting I attended, I felt understood, I felt empathy and I felt hope!

I'm not a joiner and I don't like meetings, so it was a struggle to make the decision to join, but I'm so glad I did. I've attended every meeting so far and wouldn't want to miss any, as they are so incredibly informative and helpful.

On my application form, I checked "No" in the "Would you consider volunteering?" box, but here I am working on the website for BC Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society and loving every second of it! ~ Andrea Wilson, Port Coquitlam, BC

My dizziness used to emerge a few days or immediately after flying. At one of the BC Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society meetings I asked the speaker, a vestibular physiotherapist, if she had a suggestion for dizziness caused by flying. She said, “Sit by the window. Then the brain knows you’re moving. On the aisle, although you are travelling at tremendous speed, it can perceive you as stationary and get confused.”

I have benefited so much from that piece of information – three little sentences – l learned through BC Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society. Until then, I really thought I might never fly again. ~ Wendy Noble, Vancouver, BC

After over two years of struggling with constant (and permanent) dizziness as a result of a viral infection, I was able to drive into Vancouver to attend Teruko Ueda’s tai chi and qi gong sessions for dizzy people on Friday mornings. I experienced a huge improvement in both strength and balance. Teruko is a knowledgeable and gifted instructor who shows tremendous patience and support. But it’s not just Teruko – I found a wonderful new group of people who knew not only what it’s like to be dizzy, but also how to cope and how to share their experience in a supportive way.

After skiing for forty years, I feared that I’d never be able to ski again because of the dizziness. My return was nothing like before I became dizzy (I had to promise my doctors that I would go slowly and take it easy on the bunny run), but it was still one of the most liberating moments of my “new normal.” The work we’ve done in Teruko’s tai chi class is a very significant part of that successful return.

For anyone trying to deal with dizziness, this is a “fantastic” place to be, as our friend and group founder Muriel would say. I moved to Victoria recently but found a marvelous tai chi/qi gong class and continue to benefit from that initial experience of tai chi and coffee with Teruko and Muriel. Volunteering for BC Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society is an opportunity for me to say, “Thank you all!” ~ Jock Wylie, Victoria, BC

Thank you for your article shedding some light on Ménière's disease. I have suffered with this problem for 14 years and have never met anyone else with this problem. Searching for help online, since none was available in Ottawa, I found BC Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society.

They have been a wonderful source of information and articles through their newsletters. They also have meetings and lecturers in Vancouver for those lucky enough to live there. Through them I heard about vestibular exercises which really helped me to improve my balance after attacks. ~ Nickola Budd, Stittsville, Ontario

(Lori was awarded a grant from BC Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society in 2016 to take advanced training in vestibular rehabilitation therapy) Thank you to BC Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society for the financial assistance to advance my education regarding dizziness and balance disorders. I work in Northern BC and co-own Cedar River Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre, a clinic serving an area with over 40,000 people but a geographical area of 21,000 square kilometers.

The recent addition of three physiotherapists has allowed us to focus on areas of need within our communities. Disorders of balance and dizziness were very high on our priority list, as we know the research regarding the costs of falls, including immediate and future care as well as societal costs. Although we choose to live in the northern half of the province, we are no less dedicated to continuing education. The costs, however, are sometimes prohibitive and any assistance is appreciated more than you can imagine.

We have already been able to make a significant difference in the lives of many of our individual patients. We are working to facilitate more group education and workshops. Once again, thank you for supporting rural education in this really important area of practice. ~ Lori Janzen, Terrace, BC

Has BC Balance and Dizziness made a difference for you?

We want to hear your story! If you would like to add your story to this page, please contact us.

View Interviews with BC Balance and Dizziness Members on YouTube

In this 13-minute video, several BC Balance and Dizziness members, including the husband of a dizzy wife, share how chronic dizziness changed their lives. It is inspiring to learn how diligent practice of the exercises demonstrated on our Gaining Balance video helped them cope with dizziness and get on with their lives.

After doing the [Gaining Balance] exercises there are certain movements I can do now, like putting my head back and looking at the ceiling without feeling any dizziness. Now I can cope with my life and do more - I have more confidence in myself. ~ Cynthia Wu

Pauline [Pauline Martin is the instructor on the Gaining Balance video] always pushed us to the point of feeling dizzy and encouraged us that that was where we needed to work. We were to do the things that made us dizzy so that we could learn to cope with them. The exercises really helped me. I have not had to use a cane for three years. Although I’m still dizzy, I’m able to cope. Life is definitely worth living again. ~ Rae Smith

I learned to trust Pauline [Pauline Martin is the instructor on the Gaining Balance video]. With time I found that the more often I did the movement the better I could cope with it. There are movements I can do now that don’t make me dizzy at all. It’s marvellous. ~ Muriel Kauffmann