Patient Perspective: Living a Fulfilled Life With Vestibular Migraine and PPPD

In this episode of Talk Dizzy To Me, vestibular physical therapists Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS and Dr. Danielle Tolman, PT sit down with Kayla McCain, who shares her lived experience with Vestibular Migraine and PPPD (Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness).Kayla opens up about what symptoms she experienced, the long road to getting correctly diagnosed, and the strategies that helped her get back to living life again and rebuilding her confidence. Key Takeaways:-Validation and education reduce fear-Vestibular migraine vs. PPPD presentations -Recovery is often multi-factorial-The “dizzy–anxious-dizzy cycle” is real-Small strategies matter in real life-Advocate for yourselfWhere to find Kayla: @true_kaylaismsHosted by:🎤 Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS🎤 Dr. Danielle Tolman, PTFor episode recommendations or requests, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Us:→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book a free call with us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get free resources straight to your inbox⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Dizzy Reset™ for FREE⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch podcast episodes (and more) on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a review!This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host(s).Timestamps02:10 Kayla’s background + work 03:03 The beginning: Halloween onset + “felt like a stroke” + terrifying dizziness05:23 ER visit, fever, CT scan, ruled out cancer, sent home with meclizine05:53 Misdiagnoses: anxiety dismissal + MS misdiagnosis (twice) + diagnosis finally at ~7 months06:49 Early clues: menstrual migraine patterns + computer screen symptoms08:43 Life impact: fear, avoiding leaving home, stopping running, weight gain, depression/anxiety09:10 Panic + MRI + “Alice in Wonderland syndrome” episode during a trip11:00 What is Alice in Wonderland syndrome? 11:58 How Kayla describes vestibular migraine13:54 Triggers: hormones, stress, overstimulation, lights/sounds, grocery stores, concerts15:22 Postpartum: aura/floaters, attacks while caring for an infant, fear of falling while holding baby17:13 Trust + parenting: setting limits, positioning for safety, saying “no” when needed19:33 Persistent vs episodic phases + supplements/therapy + later meds after kids20:29 Feeling “seen”: why diagnosis and education changed everything25:08 What helped most: counseling, vestibular therapy, exercise, pacing, rescue meds, acceptance29:51 Practical tips: shopping at low-traffic times, migraine glasses, planned breaks, quiet resets31:24 Resilience through chronic illness32:51 Message for people with vestibular migraine + suspected 3PD: same principles can work again36:13 VM vs 3PD: how symptoms felt different 39:03 3PD treatment journey: sensitive to meds, trying options, continued exercise, gradual dosing approach42:26 Improvements43:54 Advocacy + right provider: feeling heard is half the battle45:19 Don’t give up: treatment options + therapy + counseling + meds (if needed)46:16 Hope in action: Kayla races again47:14 Where to follow Kayla: Instagram @true_true_kaylaisims47:41 Closing thoughts: hope, mindset, and a path forward