"The rug pulled out from under you "

In 1992, in the midst of preparing for his secondary education finals, Robert Huiskes had a violent epileptic seizure. Well over a year later he was struck by another epileptic attack. Tests revealed that Robert suffered from reading epilepsy. Looking back on that time, everything falls into place for Robert. "When I was cramming for my exams, I had to read ten books in two days." That visual overstimulation, combined with a lack of sleep, turned out to be too much of a good thing. With medication he was able to ward off any more seizures, but he did continue to have an indefinable feeling. "I had a feeling of inner unrest and sometimes it seemed as if I was floating outside my body.” 

Busy life

Robert blamed this on the intense, active life he led in the years that followed. "I went out on the town a lot in the years following the epileptic seizures. And I somehow always found myself employed in stressful jobs and eventually I started my own company in 2005. During that time I already felt my balance was not in order, but I didn’t really pay any attention to it." Other complaints gradually developed, such as migraine attacks, high blood pressure and muscle cramps. "I also suffered from tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and on more than one occasion one side of my face became paralysed." In April 2015, Robert’s life came crashing down when severe burnout hit him straight on. He was forced to sell his business that specialised in repairing and maintaining of old VW vans. “Everything was a blur, I couldn’t see anything clearly. I was severely stressed and I suffered from headaches, palpitations and high blood pressure. I also had irregular bowels. It’s during that time that I also stopped taking my epilepsy medication. And then when my relationship broke up as well, all the ingredients were in place to make the balance disorder that I had always felt, reach crisis levels. It felt like I was on a ship 24 hours a day.” 

Muscle cramps

When Robert stopped taking his epilepsy medication, his balance disorders became many times worse than before. "I weaved down the street and had to consciously keep every move under control. Even when I was sitting down I felt as if I could fall out of the chair at any moment." As a logical consequence, Robert suffered constant muscle cramps. Robert's quest for help led him to a mesologist, who recommended supplements, and to a neurologically savvy physiotherapist, who suspected MdDs (Mal de Debarquement Syndrome). Typically, patients who suffer MdDS continuously experience imbalance and dizziness. 

Ticket to the USA

Although Robert improved slightly, the MdDS kept him from functioning normally. Because conventional medicine had little effect on his disorder, Robert searched the internet for fellow sufferers and alternative therapies. "I spent months doing that." At a certain moment, Robert read a message posted by an American woman, who claimed to have made a lot of progress thanks to the use of the GyroStim. The GyroStim is a high-tech computer-controlled chair that can rotate around its axes in different directions, helping clinicians to cure patients of their neurological complaints. “While in the process of buying airline tickets to travel to the US, I decided to google and see if there might be a GyroStim in Europe. I could hardly believe it when I found one in Lisse." 

Integral treatment plan

A week later, Robert had an appointment at the Functional Neurology Institute. Professional specialist Ronald van der Kuil pointed out to Robert that the use of the GyroStim was part of an integrated treatment plan, involving a multitude of exercises and the use of XO-7 salmon oil. “We discovered that squeezing a ball while walking, for example, is an effective exercise for me. "After four GyroStim sessions and consistently repeating the prescribed exercises, Robert made good progress, especially with respect to his balance disorder. "The intensity of MdDS is expressed on a ten-point scale. Two and a half years ago I was at level 8; today, I think I score a 3.The future is bright. And it’s years since I have been able to say that!"

Personal approach

With two more GyroStim sessions ahead, Robert is glad he turned to the Functional Neurology Institute for help. "I have benefited tremendously. I find their personal approach particularly appealing. They draw up a personalised treatment plan for you and they are tremendously passionate about their work and hugely committed to the well-being of their patients. One of the first things they told me straight away and what I truly appreciated was that they would not treat me indefinitely, but would take stock after 4 sessions with the GyroStim. How good is that!”