ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Balance Issues => Topic started by: 4cm in Pacific Northwest on September 26, 2007, 06:09:27 pm
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Drunken Sailors in the Wind?
I am 5 weeks, today, post op here. I am out being a ‘good little patient’ and walking laps on our farm. I first started out like a drunken sailor, after getting home from surgery … but since improved to a middle aged women who appears to have dipped into a mai tai or two (no of course I am not consuming any alcoholic bevies at this stage of recovery) to looking almost (not quite) sober in my walk. I was really thinking I was on the road to recovery. Today it is windy out and I cannot keep my balance… and have regressed to a drunken sailor (ok ok a drunken pirate with one eye patch – “arby dar!)
Do any other AN forum’ers have issues in the wind (it is really more breezy than windy- but the sound just howls SO in my head)
4
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Two steps forward one step back, that is what recovery is all about. You are improving, your poor brain is working hard at it. There are all kinds of things that can throw you off, grocery shopping, wind, noise, lights, etc. hang in there. Deb
PS I walk like a drunken sailor more that I care to
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Yes wind throws me off and even bright sun. Any wide open space of outdoors does me in and very frustrating as I live in the country! I dread it if someone drives by when I am walking down the driveway to get the mail while I weave this way aand that!
I am out of town tonight to go to a cont ed class tomorrow and the mall has their next years calender booth already. I saw one on Pirateology! Pirates are everywhere I am finding!
Cheryl R
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If I am out and it is windy I plug my hearing ear... funny I never noticed wind noise unless
it was really blowing hard (as in tornado on the way ) when I had both ears...
Something else that throws me are long halls... at school I walk with a finger or back of hand on
wall or I end up staggering to opposite side of hall ... just contact with the wall keeps me
reasonably in line...
Like Deb said it is a two steps forward one bask sort of game and the best you can do is roll with
it
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We is all Pirates here--missin' a few body parts we is, and luchin' about to boot! The lurchin' gets better with time and ye learns ta "go wiv the flow" and heave to when the wind is a bit brisk. Wiv 5 years o' this under me belt, it don't bother me a bit! I just lurch on! Just gotta get your sea legs is all! And remember, we are all in the same boat on this here voyage.
Cheers!
Capt Deb 8)
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we have a thing the Cub Scouts call the plank...
it is a 2x6 about 3 feet long with a block of 2x4 screwed on about 6 inches in from each end...
we have chunks of concrete that were made by filling 3 liter drink bottles and letting them harden...
the object is to balance on the plank with it balanced across concrete chunk and whack your
opponent with a fun-noodle sword...last one that comes off wins...
you know what I learned today?..... I should not try to stand on them things... it were a very interesting
situation... the only thing that would have amused the kids more would have been for me to hurl... :o
7 -9 year old boys are kinda gross little beings
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I'm almost a year out of my surgery and my balance is still "getting there". I found one of those little blue balance pillows to be a big help. You can find them at most sporting stores. Swimming has been a great help as well. I am confident I will snowboard again. It takes a while to dail this stuff back in and the progress is slow and can be discouraging at times. Getting used to all the hearing issues are crazy as well, sorry to say I don't have any advice in that department other than patients.
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oH MY, I look drunk all the time and right now i look like I was beat up. I have bruises all over me from falling because once I lose the baLANCE iM DOWN FOR THE COUNT. I JUST TAKE IT SLOW. good luck. Grrrrrrrr ;D
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I am gonna be a pirate nest week at our school Harvest Festival... already have a get
up cause we were pirates at Cub Scout Day Camp in June... I took my Girl Scout Troop
to Build A Bear last week while we were out on fall break and built me a bear... named
her Maggie Jinx and she is dress as a pirate wench...
I built a bear I named Bennie (also my tumors name) about a year ago on the way home
from a long day of MRIs,balance and hearing tests...my last good appointment with little
growth noted... he is nekkid but has patches on him as if he had been patched up and a
potion of his purchase went to a children's hospital in the area...So now the two of them
represent me ...Patched up and wobbly :) ... have Erin who is dressed as an Irish
step dancer just because...she keeps the other two in line :o
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The Mall was a challenge ...I was suppose to take my troop in July but my
surgery got bumped to July ND which knocked that plan out of the water...we
went during the week and since Alabama schools were in session there was not a big
crowd in the mall and especially in Build A Bear... I did count to 7 repeatedly and
kept thinking I lost someone... but my husband also counted and assured me we
were all still there... I did have one girl not come and my brain refused to believe that
she was not there ...
The echo and looking down from upper level to lower level got my head spinning... I plugged
my good ear and staggered around behind the troop with my husband in the lead and
the girls between...by the time we had built bears , ate lunch and wandered thru the
mall for a bit I was more than ready to get home ...
But with pirate teddy in arms staggering a bit I survived...
was dreading it but glad I went on and did it ... got home about 4:30 and slept til 8 just
in time to get up ,take a shower and go to bed
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This morning I woke up with a MAJOR hang over. No No not from drinking alcohol or partying…
Yesterday was a day at a noisy institution :-\ while standing in line for a flu shot. (When I would much rather be having an afternoon nap)… Followed by trying to get the kids to do their homework, trying to rush one off to ballet lessons… getting ‘the youngest’ to eat peas on the plate …and ‘the teenager rolling’ her eyes ::) when told “lights out now!� >:(
This morning I had major AN post-surgery “wonky head� as it was mad scramble to get the kids out-the-door ...on time for school.
(Just in case you “newbie’s� do not know what AN “wonky head� - is go here ;D )
2006 thread
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=1612.0
2007 thread
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=5189.0
This little gem of a video I found in my inbox seemed to be the best cure for my hangover
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=5189.0
…and I just could not stop laughing. ;D :D :)
I started thinking if “Jeff� who posted Chateau Deaf can learn to lip read, sign language and go back to the school system… “Marg� can be proactive on finding a doctor to order her a trans-ear and go back to brave the noisy classroom… “Soundy� can lead a group of noisy cub scouts and still say “kids are neat beings... even if noisy"…
Check her story on this "classroon noise" thread
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=5313.0
…If Super duper “Satman� can endure all that physical therapy after the removal of a 8cm tumor (no typo!) and still go to “the mall� (gasp!) … then I got to just get out there and “Keep Moving Forward !�
The sun was shining and the wind was blowing something else on my hill this morning. I collected my dog (who was bursting as he was almost crossing his legs), put on the funky wrap-around sunglasses 8) , pushed in a foam earplug and set sail for a power walk around my just under 13 acres of uneven farmland. The William Tell overture going on in my wonky head...
Just us… and the wind... and the zillion gopher holes to dodge...
I actually power walked 3 laps … with my faithful Labrador retriever lagging behind in the last lap.
I did it!
I did it in the same amount of time I did it in before my AN surgery – 9 weeks ago!
I even turned my head and did some sightseeing along the way – without getting even a little tipsy.
SO healing does happen!
Laughter and exercise can be the best medicine.
Thanks for being there oh fellow drunken sailors!
Cheers,
4
Hmmm :-\ … I wonder if there were steroids in that flu vaccine??? …
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I just thought about my ANA buddy “Jeff� and a few others who might not be able to catch the audio part of the “video clip� I pasted above
Here is the link to the lyrics that hilarious Mom’s performance as she sings it to the melody of the William Tell Overture
http://www.squidoo.com/anitarenfroelyrics/
Cheers,
4
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4,
I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO proud of you doing the power walk ;D ... ! Things will keep getting better... you just keep setting goals and going after them...... but try not to wear your poor Lab out too much :D .
Marg
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I am one that has that problem if I am walking but if I wear my patch it helps or sunglasses that are big enough to cover my left eye
eve
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This is just more of an observation, but it seemed like this was a good category to post this in.
I have to go to a banquet in a few weeks and had to buy a new dress, etc... Do you know how hard it is to find dressy shoes without a 6 inch heel on them??? I picked up one pair that had a little bit of a heel, and my husband just started laughing he said my balance was so bad normally that he couldn't imagine what I'd be like trying to walk in heels. Ah, just another minor inconvenience caused by this darn AN.
Fortunately for me, it's a Navy banquet, so there is a good chance I will be literally surrounded by drunken sailors. I may fit in quite nicely!
Lori
p.s. Sorry guys, I think this applies more to the women in the group. At least I hope so.... ???
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Lorie67
Ask your husband to be a gentle man and have him walk with you so you can hold on to him. We all like to look pretty.
When I am in environment with a lot of people or the acoustics are bad I hold on to him or a friend. Or take it @ a very slow pace
I do get a little frighten to wear a small pump but I do.
eve
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For the ANA symposium semi formal I found flats that were very glitzy with rhinstones and such. If ya can't have height ya might as well have BLING!!!!!
I also painted my toenails red for portside and green for starboardside. Batty has the picture to prove it!
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/pirate2.gif)
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Captain Deb,
You are SO :) wonderfully wildly funny and creative! :D
Cheers mate,
4
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(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/funkstar_pirate_penguins.gif)
AAAARRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!! Let's all walk like this!
Capt Deb 8)
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Capt Deb,
Love it! This brought a huge smile to my face (thank God I can smile evenly). Sometimes , when I am tired, I still walk like this! I walked like this for a long time after the second surgery!
Eve
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Deb, sounds like a good plan! Can I have the sword instead of the hook? Wouldn't want to accidently poke myself in the eye I can't close. ;)
Jerseygirl - I grew up in Jersey too. Where are you from? Don't worry, I won't ask "what exit?" because I don't think that's a funny joke! I grew up in Ringwood - North Jersey.
Lori
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:D :D :D
Captain Deb,
You are a total scream! ;)
4
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Hey... Captain Deb,
I saw the game LIFE with Pirate stuff (instead of the regular jobs) yesterday ... made me think of you :o..... what fun we could all have with that !
Margaret
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I was informed they have a Pirates of The Caribbeans Monopoly out too...
probably at Disney Store
I kinda walk like a penguin in the dark... in the house it isn't bad but
outside can be tricky ...
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For the last 3 months since surgery I have pretty much stayed close to home just doing short daytime trips to the store, doctor or to collect kids from school.
I am always home before dark (unlike when I was a teenager :D) so Ihave not paid much attention to walking out in the dark. This evening we had the family in town to do some holiday shopping. My husband drove home in the dark and I sure felt tired just looking at the road. We live in the country so no street lights on the way home. Once I got out of the car , in the dark, I could absolutely not walk straight and my youngest,a 3rd grader, had to help her staggering mother to the door.
If we had any neighbors close enough to see (such as living in the suburbs as we once did) I am sure word would have spread that her mother was a “real drinker� (still have not had any alcohol since my AN surgery).
I never quite figured out the “staggering in the dark� you-all had mentioned until tonight, Wowzers… does it get better?
Maybe I should just have a rum and eggnog –it could actually help LOL
Cheers,
4
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They make these itty bitty camping flashlights that can hook onto a keychain--mine's about 3 inches long and is extremely powerful and was about $20.00. I bought it at an outdoor outfitter type place.
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/pirate2.gif)
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I have a camping headlight that is light weight with tiny LED light... I
use it when I can find it ... the kids like it
I have discovered something to make me walk or rather stagger like a
drunken sailor... rode in Christmas parade yesterday... 6 miles on an open
sided trailer with pavement whizzing (not that 5 mph is really whizzing) by
made my head spin ... I held my hands cupped at side of eyes like horse
blinders a good part of the time ... driving or riding in a closed vehicle is
fine but the pavement rushing by did a number on me ...
when I got of the thing I gave everyone a good Foster Brooks inpersonation...and
they were very amused ... it didn't make me head achy but made me really tired...
got home around 5 fell in bed at 5:30 and except my husband waking me to ask if I
was gonna sleep in my clothes around 10 , I slept thru til about 5:30 this morning
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I also would not recommend riding on a merry-go-round. Whoa... who knew those things went so fast????? You know it's bad when you have to rely on your 5 year old to get you safely off the ride and to the rest of my family that was seated on a non-spinning bench - laughing at the whole thing. Ah, family ... what would we do without them? ???
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I myself would like to know how long the balamce issue last. I am tired of going into place and having to hold on to things or person to stay stead. I also get tired of being asked if I am ok.
eve
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The balance issue differs greatly from person to person and depends on a huge number of facts which include tumor size and how much compensation had already occurred prior to surgery. Balance has to be in part, forced to recompensate for that lost balance nerve. The key is to work at it. Walk, walk, walk if you can. It will only come back so far on it's own. The rest you have to work at. Eye excercises with playing cards were great for me when I couldn't walk due to the headaches. The other day I stood on a padded barstool and changed a lightbulb in my studio which has a vaulted ceiling. Believe me it does get better!
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/pirate2.gif)
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Wow ! Brave Capt. Deb. You give great hope to those of us further behind in the recovery experience. Thanks,
Margaret
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Wow ...padded stool ... I stood on a solod bottom chair to get something out of a shelf the other day
and thought I was a goner... I do things I know will make me wobbly as the doctor said same thing as
Deb... you have to work at it and make the balance come back... but don't push it with something that
could be dangerous...
I have my kitchen cabinets dropped down from ceiling and have cookie jars ,some
antique toys and other collectables along the tops...I usually walk along counter to dust them and they are
looking grubby... husband to big to do it and the two girls not big enough... so that is a goal of mine... get
enough balacne to get up there and dust.. but it is in the future...
What bothers me more than balance is fatique... coming in and sleeping near 12 hours is a bit much and
things that need doing don't get done ...
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This topic is hilarious b/c this is exactly what my brother told me I looked like walking! Thankfully after 5 months I'm finally getting my gait back!
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I tried to ride my son's new bike to the car and almost ran into a curb, a car, another car and I almost face-planted off the darn thing!!! No riding bikes for me :'(
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well, between my zapped AN and my chiari 1... I walk into walks, bruise the walls, then apologize to the walls for my warbly-walk. Go figure! :)
Phyl
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Yea, Brave me!
Today I went to Lowe's and bought me a nice sturdy stepstool that locks in place with a big platform to stand on. No need to tempt fate!
Capt deb 8)
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Talk about about a drunken sailor.....you gotta see me walking up here in the great white north with all of this snow. There's snow banks on the the side of the road.....snow banks on the edge of the lawns and Anne Marie walking down the middle of the sidewalk try to walk straight....yeah right!!!
I look funnier than H E double hockey sticks ;D
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Oh I miss the snow ... sigh... :-\
When will it ever stop raining in Oregon???
Pining for Canada ... ho ho ho... hum
4 ;)
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Went for MRI Wednesday and it came back good ... do have hearing loss in good
ear... it is puffy inside so he thinks it is just a loss due to blockage and gave me
stronger steroids ...
I had my grown son go with me to watch the 8 and 10 year old ... when I was done they
wanted to go over to Centennial Park and walk the loop around it... walking on the flat part
with the rippling water in peripheral vision was rough... too much movement
when we got to far side of lake where the paved path is sloped a little toward lake to let rain
water go in lake not make puddles it got funny... I wobbled ... grabbed at plants ...had to get one
of the girls to walk near me to have a shoulder to hold ...
at this point I was about half a mile into the loop that is a mile long circle around the lake... every
time I passed a mark that told me how far was left I thanked God it was drawing to an end... the
slant and water movement was tooooooo much... my 27 year old thought it was halarious...he even
shook me by shoulder a few times til I threatened to leave him in Nashville with a 100 mile walk home
and I got many looks from people and they would stop and side step around me ... especially got looks
from the park security guy... when I got back to my truck I almost hugged it but figured that was a sure
way to get checked for public drunk...
During ordeal I was thinking I needed an eye patch and my pirate hat... did have a pigeon on my shoulder
for a little bit... I guess he was trying to help me by impersonating a parrot
I am going to get me a walking stick... have resisted but there have been a time or two I
have really needed one...
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My balance seemed to level off pretty well after the therapy but since then it has gone down hill and I fell a few times and have been stumbling alot. I spoke with my neuro about it and he says that I need to do those stupid balance exercises every day, probably forever, to maintain my balance. I figured that since I had been doing pretty good, I would be okay, but he told me that I needed to keep up with it every day. Ugh, I really am a slacker when it comes to that stuff. I'll be, wow, I'll be 4 years out this January! I think I'll have a few Mojitos for Christmas and New Years so I can really be a drunken sailor! ;D
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I frequently have that "head disconnected" feeling, and the feeling like I just got off a roller coaster. Worse case of Vertigo happened recently...I got up and tried to get ready for work. I showered...but it was a challenge - had to hold onto the soap dish. Went to get dressed and couldn't seem to get my pants on right or to put my arms through the arm holes... Finally figured out I couldn't drive (Duhhh!) and tried to work from home. I had one thing I couldn't change - a conference call with a major client - I explained to him I was experiencing Vertigo so if I sounded a bit "loopy" he'd understand why...he was a jerk about it and in a very snide voice made the comment of "well thanks for sharing that with us". The deal never materialized...but that's ok...he was a huge Yankees fan...I'm a die-hard Red Sox Fan!
I've decided I'm glad I like roller coasters...I live perpetually in an after bliss state!
Happy 2008 Everyone!
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Hi,
I am still in recovery mode and find that if I miss exercise even for two days, I pay for it dearly. My balance and movement coordiantion go back in time as if it were a month ago. I regain both in a matter of days when I am back on my exercise program but it is hard to be perfect! Sometimes, I feel that I pay for only being human.
Eve
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Hi Distressed DB,
I had my husband put a grab bar in the shower for me before I had my surgery. It was a pride thing and I didn't want to do it - but I decided that safety was more important than pride ( I had to say that to myself because I'd had to talk my dad into a grab bar for his shower). I don't need it all the time but once in a while I have needed it and I know I can rely on it holding me up much better than a soap dish would be able to :D. Maybe some kind person can put one up for you. Believe it or not it is an added plus when selling ...weird huh ::) .
marg
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I agree with you about the grab bar thing. I had the idea that I was going to recover faster than what I thought and when I got home from the hospital my parents had one put in. When I got to the stage that I could shower by myself I don't think I could of done it with out that grab bar!
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I swallowed my pride and got a shower bench. I have a separate shower stall in my bathroom - trying to shave my legs while standing on one foot like a wobbly flamingo was not easy. Okay, maybe you men can't sympathize with that.. but you can imagine how difficult that would be. :o
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Pride could take a big hit here for me if I have to install the shower bar...I turn 50 in 19 days...it's bad enough I'm struggling with that hurdle... Glad to hear it's a selling feature...I may put the house on the market next year and do a "downsize" now that my son is off in college...
I'm thinking there may be a better option...is it possible to find a good single guy who could double as a shower bar?!?!? Heeheehee ;D
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You could always say you put the shower grab bar in as a selling feature for when you put the house on the market - not for your own personal use, of course... ;)
I do like your other option though... not sure if you can buy single men at the medical supply store.. and I'm sure you can't write it off as a medical expense on your taxes.
Lori
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I frequently have that "head disconnected" feeling, and the feeling like I just got off a roller coaster.
Girl! You got WONKYHEAD! That's what we call it around here. No other word really describes it quite like wonkyhead.
WONKYHEADS UNITE!is our motto!
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/pirate2.gif)
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Hi There, fellow Wonky head sufferer here, Like the good Cap'n Deb said, best word to describes it.
However, lets not forget BALLOON HEAD, and FISHBOWL HEAD, not to be confused with Wonky Head, but certainly good descriptions as well. LOL You know that sinus med comercial where the woman blows her nose, and as she does, her head blows up like a balloon........ we know that feeling, especially with barometric changes.
Patti UT
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My worst time with the WONKYHEAD feeling is when I am tryinig to do more than 3 things at a time for extended periods....oh .... I guess that would describe me at the end of many school days after working with my 24 kiddo's , teachers and parents..... especially when several last minute 'changes' happen.... that I am not informed of.... My schedule and people I work with was changed 5 times in the last 4 school days ..... and that makes me WONKYHEADED..... I was SO glad there was no school yesterday because of ice..... I got a chance to think about only one thing at a time :D I'm ready to go back with a 'clear head'...well at least until noon .
Marg
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I am Wonkyheaded so much of the time it has gotten to feel normal...found out not to lean
forward to wrap a towel turban style around head... stood back up ,staggered back wards and
hit wall... glad for wall...had it not stopped me I would have been belly up in floor and it
probably would have hurt...
as for balloon head woman on TV... I have felt like that to the point I have looked in mirror to
see if I looked different
I am still doing my funny rocking to tip toes and back down on flat feet dance move... feels like my
head is moving to the front then back instead of the normal spin and I will got to take a step and
do the rocking thing a time or two before getting all body parts working together... people that
know me still watch out for me but don't freak out anymore ... and knock wood haven't went to ground...
I manage that by keeping close to walls ,furniture and other people...
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Soundy,
I too am grateful for walls. I knew there was a reason they were there besides to hold pictures. :D
marg
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Wind, darkness, noises (especially amplified sounds and machinery), uneven terrain, and carrying heavy things all give me balance problems. I've learned to cope by holding onto things and people. I also walk like a toddler, with my feet apart, and my arms out.....It's pretty comical, but it helps.
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WHWT... all those bother me and getting from truck to steps the other night in semi darkness
with wild wind blowing had my family in fits of laughter...
someone thought a wild front yard
with fair size rocks collected on the farm scattered about was a neat idea...low maintenance
and all that... but she has changed her mind since surgery and thinks a nice flat lawn would
be better...but stubborn and likes her rocks so is holding out before changing anything...just
don't walk thru it as much...rocks tend to be hard when you fall on them
And I know the todler walk well... when I get tired I really todddle about
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WHWT,
I know what you mean about carrying heavy things and balance. I think as we get used to our new single sided vestibular input, we get used to our walking gait and how much our body sways as we walk. I notice that when I carry something heavy, and my gait changes, I notice some of the slightly off balance effects.
Regards,
Rob
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With my adjusting to a 'new balance walk' I noticed my legs hurt ..... using muscles I didn't use the same way before. It hurt so much for a while I was taking Tylenol for that instead of head pain lol. Anyway, going to a massage therapist a few times helped a lot.
marg