Worst day ever !

[civilian]

Like RSKY, I can wash my hair and face with my eyes closed in the shower, but as I turn around to rinse my face from soap, I hve a hand on the wall. Same with putting pants on, something needs to stbilize me. I usually lean against a wall while standing to get my pants on. Or sit down to get both legs in, then stand up on both feet to pull them up. Kind of like the climbing ladders safety way, 3 point of contact, 2 feet and one hand or 2 hands and one foot. And like someone earlier posted, when changing oil and laying on the floor, I have to be careful as I roll over to get up. Balance and vertigo issues suck and I am very aware of mine. Jon

 

[ruffdog]

Like RSKY, I can wash my hair and face with my eyes closed in the shower, but as I turn around to rinse my face from soap, I hve a hand on the wall. Same with putting pants on, something needs to stbilize me. I usually lean against a wall while standing to get my pants on. Or sit down to get both legs in, then stand up on both feet to pull them up. Kind of like the climbing ladders safety way, 3 point of contact, 2 feet and one hand or 2 hands and one foot. And like someone earlier posted, when changing oil and laying on the floor, I have to be careful as I roll over to get up. Balance and vertigo issues suck and I am very aware of mine. Jon

Same here......yes, it sucks.

 

[MossRoad]

Since I've had my back surgery I'm a bit unsteady. I have to put my hand ever so slightly on the shower wall when I turn around. When I put my pants on, I've noticed I rest my calf against the bed or dresser when I'm pulling them on the opposite leg. Never realized I did that until a couple days ago.

Sometimes just the slightest touch on a solid object makes your brain relax and your balance seems fine.

Kinda like being drunk and putting your foot out of bed onto the floor to stop the room from spinning.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

The doctor emphasized that I not have a cane or any other support while walking. No canes, no stroller with grand baby in it, no shopping cart at grocery. Went to the grocery and Walmart last night with the wife and I think my staggering around embarrassed her. She finally told me to push the cart before I fell. She thought people were thinking I was drunk.

That doesn't make sense. A treadmill you're getting necessary exercise and you can hold both sides, then try just one hand...it's still exercise and way less chance of falling. Stationary bicycle also seems good.

 

[newbury]

Glad to read you are doing better. Going to the ground unexpectedly can be bad for your health. My late MIL (RIP) fell in her kitchen and broke her hip (at age 97). Her son, a practicing doctor was 10 feet away. She got help and an ambulance immediately, but passed away within 2 months because it didn't heal.
60 years ago I rode motorcycles and learned to always plan where you are going to "lay her down". 4 years ago my right knee went out and I went to the floor. Since then I started carrying a cane most of the time AND wearing a knee brace. I'm constantly planning on falling. So even working around the house I plan on where to grab for support. I still climb ladders (slowly) and work on roofs and in trees (carefully) but am much stricter with my self on maintaining 3 points of contact.
Perhaps you should go to more bars and outdoor festivals and not drink alcoholic beverages, but you can practice walking around without attracting attention. But I think it may be too late in the year for Oktoborfest

 

[kenmbz]

I see people doing rehab at malls, no bumps, holes or other tripping hazards.

 

[Molalla1]

I am extremely frustrated and don't want to vent to my family so I am doing it here. Gotta be cheerful and optimistic around the family. I am afraid this constant dizziness and vertigo will be permanent and I will end up sitting on my constantly growing rear end and watching soap operas for the rest of my life. I have always kept the one acre lot we live on in tip top shape and have done nothing this year.

As part of the 'therapy' for my ongoing inner ear problems I was instructed to walk two miles a day "rain or shine". Before all this started I could make it in forty minutes. Takes me fifty minutes now. Yesterday while going up a slight incline the ground suddenly tilted down to the left and I staggered to the right and nearly took out a neighbor's mailbox, while on foot. The 4x4 it was mounted on must have been weak anyway and I made it weaker. I will fix it for her when I get a little better. Yep you read that right I collided with a mailbox while walking and nearly took it down. If it hadn't been there I would have been face down in the side ditch. I hung on to that mailbox for a while and the ground suddenly snapped back level and I made it back to the house.

We couldn't take our fall vacation this year because I am not allowed to drive. Wife, daughter, and granddaughter wouldn't let me get on the roof and clean out the gutters. They had to be cleaned out because the screens over them were piled up with leaves and a crew is coming to paint the house next week. So the daughter called a teacher friend in the neighborhood that she used to work with and he came and cleaned them. It was embarrassing to me. Cannot help son it law clear a thicket because they won't let me run a chainsaw. I am allowed to drive my little Kioti and the Bad Boy. Granddaughter took me to Lowes and wouldn't let me get out of arms reach because she was afraid I would fall. Can't walk thru the house without bouncing off walls and door facings.

I am frustrated!!

RSKY

I'm late here . . . do you suffer from "neuropathy" ?