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 yourself

Where to find Kayla: @true_kaylaisms

Hosted by:

🎤 Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS

🎤 Dr. Danielle Tolman, PT

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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).

Timestamps
02:10 Kayla’s background + work
03:03 The beginning: Halloween onset + “felt like a stroke” + terrifying dizziness
05:23 ER visit, fever, CT scan, ruled out cancer, sent home with meclizine
05:53 Misdiagnoses: anxiety dismissal + MS misdiagnosis (twice) + diagnosis finally at ~7 months
06:49 Early clues: menstrual migraine patterns + computer screen symptoms
08:43 Life impact: fear, avoiding leaving home, stopping running, weight gain, depression/anxiety
09:10 Panic + MRI + “Alice in Wonderland syndrome” episode during a trip
11:00 What is Alice in Wonderland syndrome?
11:58 How Kayla describes vestibular migraine
13:54 Triggers: hormones, stress, overstimulation, lights/sounds, grocery stores, concerts
15:22 Postpartum: aura/floaters, attacks while caring for an infant, fear of falling while holding baby
17:13 Trust + parenting: setting limits, positioning for safety, saying “no” when needed
19:33 Persistent vs episodic phases + supplements/therapy + later meds after kids
20:29 Feeling “seen”: why diagnosis and education changed everything
25:08 What helped most: counseling, vestibular therapy, exercise, pacing, rescue meds, acceptance
29:51 Practical tips: shopping at low-traffic times, migraine glasses, planned breaks, quiet resets
31:24 Resilience through chronic illness
32:51 Message for people with vestibular migraine + suspected 3PD: same principles can work again
36:13 VM vs 3PD: how symptoms felt different
39:03 3PD treatment journey: sensitive to meds, trying options, continued exercise, gradual dosing approach
42:26 Improvements
43:54 Advocacy + right provider: feeling heard is half the battle
45:19 Don’t give up: treatment options + therapy + counseling + meds (if needed)
46:16 Hope in action: Kayla races again
47:14 Where to follow Kayla: Instagram @true_true_kaylaisims
47:41 Closing thoughts: hope, mindset, and a path forward