ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Balance Issues => Topic started by: cincinnati on August 26, 2008, 08:45:28 am
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I am 8 weeks post-op and still have terrible vertigo. :-\ I am terrified to drive, since I can't even walk straight. ;D When do you start to see improvement and are able to drive???? I am doing the exercises for balance and the nausea is gone, thank goodness, but, does anyone have any other suggestions??? ???
Thanks :)
Charlene
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Start slow, get used to how things look now, and don't worry if you're driving like a granny. If you can, go out to a parkway with another driver and give it a go. That way, if you need to, you can have that person drive home.
I just took a deep breath and jumped in (about 5 weeks post-op). Things still look weird (with some vertigo) when I turn my head quickly to look for traffic, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Best wishes,
Tammy
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Charlene,
Glad to hear your balance is improving, even if it's not as fast as you'd like. You're doing exercises which will help. If you aren't working with a Physical Therapist (Physical Terrorist ;) ), try working with PT that is familiar with Vestibular Retraining, it helps speed things along. If you're already working with a PT, then I'd say taking long daily walks seemed to help me the most.
My PT suggested that I wait until I could turn my head suddenly without the swooning wonkyheaded feeling before starting to drive again.
Keep working at it, it does get better.
Regards,
Rob
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Too funny, Donna-Lynn. ;D I actually figured out you meant 3 months. ;)
Thank you sooooooo much!!!!!!!!! ;D I feel tons better!!!!!!!!!! It helps to know that I am healing normally.
Every bump we go over in the car or brake movement I feel like a bobble head. :o
I am not walking very much and will definately start doing more of that.(It seems like the more I do the worse I feel, so, I will definately take the advice of baby steps and work up to it)
I will see Pensak today at 2:45 and will ask all the questions.
Charlene
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it took me 6 months
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Well, I am going to start physical therapy at the Center For Balance. They feel it should really help. Also, Pensak mentioned a sugical procedure they can do if the therapy doesn't help. Has anyone had this done???? The first appt. I could get is not until Sept. 8th.
I am also going to see a lady for my tinnitus. I am anxious to see if she what she can do to help.
Also, they said I am a good candidate for BAHA. But, they are back ordered right now and will have to call me. Interesting. ::)
Pensak did say it could take up to 6 months to get back to a good game of golf. Guess I had better start now since I don't play golf. :D
I am going to practice driving this weekend and see how it goes. :o
Charlene
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Charlene...PT at the Center for Balance is a great idea. They helped me both pre and post op.
I did not drive until right before I returned to work at 9 weeks. I still cannot multitask while driving--or even listen to the radio.
Interesting about the BAHA because I am supposed to have mine on Sept. 17th if my insurance company quits stalling about a decision. I had my BAHA eval in June, so maybe they already ordered it. Did they do a BAHA eval and trial on you?
I'm 5 months post op and still haven't learned to play golf. ;) I guess I still have another month to learn. ;D
I'd love to know who you are seeing for the tinnitus. PM me if you wish. Also, I forgot what part of Cincinnati you are from...we should get together sometime.
Hang in there. Things really do get better.
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Driving is way easier than walking, especially at night. Riding in the car is a whole different story because that still makes me dizzy and I'm almost 5 years post op. You don't have to balance while driving because the car is already balanced on its tires and you are sitting! Good luck!
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Well I finally did it yesterday being 4 weeks post-op. I decided to try driving and going to my bank which is just around the block. I did very well, then since I was in the same plaza I stopped and picked up a few things at the grocery store. When I asked my doctor how soon can I drive he told me "You'll know". I'm not a bit sorry I tried. I will try again tomorrow. A little at a time. I still have a balance issue, but as it was said, you don't need balance to drive, just keep your eyes focus........I live by myself and getting tired of waiting to get a ride......
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Good for you Lamsue! My first driving trip was a whole 5 blocks to Walgreen's. After that each time out was easier and easier. You'll be back to "normal" sooner than you think!
Tammy
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Personally, I think the driving is a whole lot easier than the stores! I still avoid Wal-Mart on weekends - just too much going on for my brain. Haven't tried night driving yet - but with winter coming, that will be next! I always have blurry vision from drops and eye-goo, so not sure how headlight glare will affect that.
Debbi
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Just a note on the subject of driving and wonder if anyone has noticed this...
I have a short memory and don't remember just when I started driving :-\... but here I am 14 month
post op and still get dizzy and nauseated riding in a vehicle... driving is OK...it is riding with someone
else driving that I have problems with ...I am thinking holding the steering wheel gives me more
stability or something...
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All the comments about driving have been very reassuring. I've been doing pretty darn good with the walking. I went to Gordman's the other day with my mom (middle of the day, so not busy) and lasted an hour before I got tired. It was a little more difficult that walking outside, but i did it! I've been contemplating if I can drive yet. Riding with someone else driving doesn't really bother me anymore, and turning my head fast doesn't really make me unbalanced, but more of a second of whoa, ok, I'm here (if that makes any sense). Like Sue, I live alone and am so tired of waiting for people to give me a ride somewhere. I am very close to giving it a try to my son's house, which is about 5 min away in a small little dinky town. :)
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I am very close to giving it a try to my son's house, which is about 5 min away in a small little dinky town. :)
Go For it! I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how you've adapted!
Happy Driving,
Tammy
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Congratulations, Lamsue ;D ;D ;D
Dog Lover -
the key to driving again is to start with short trips on local streets. Once you can master that, move on to farther trips and more heavily traveled roads.
You'll get there - no pun intended ;)
Good luck,
Jan
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I did it. I drove today! I wasn't planning to, because I was really tired, and didn't feel as good as I did yesterday (I think I overdid it a little bit yesterday because I was feeling so good). But after a nap and my son coming over to mow my yard for me, we got in my car and I drove it to his house and to the little "grocery store" that we have. We live in a little town, so all local roads and short distances. I am excited. Another step in the right direction!!
Cathy
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Yay Cathy! Way to go! :D
Tammy
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You get the big K WHOO-HOO!!! Good Job!
K ;D
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Way to go Cathy! Keep it up and you'll be taking a road trip soon!
Brenda
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Well, I am 10 weeks post-op today. And I am driving like a pro. Turning my head side to side doesn't bother me, and I even noticed the other day that looking in the rear view mirrors when driving doesn't give me the weird feeling anymore either. And I drive at night just as well as I ever did (lol - meaning it's always been harder at night, but I do it).
At 8 weeks post-op I got up my nerve and went on the Interstate to an appointment. I did fine. I agree with the others - driving is easier than walking. ;D
Cheri - when I first got out of the hospital and would be riding in the car, I would focus on an object - like a stop sign or a traffic light - until we got to that point, then would focus on another object down the road a bit. One of the PT's I saw in the hospital gave me that tip and it really worked well. I noticed after a few days that I would start to look around when I was riding and only have to focus when going on a curvy road. Soon that got better too. If you haven't tried that, maybe it will help.
Here's to a speedy recovery - and being a taxi cab again!
Cathy
PS. I still don't like bumpy roads, but as with anything, the more you do it, the better it gets. :-\
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I just started driving (I'm at 5 1/2 weeks) and it's funny (well not really funny) how we have similar experiences.
It's definitely easier for me to drive than I thought based on the balance and wonky head issues I was having walking. I guess that has something to do with the motion of your head. You are typically sitting rather still when driving.
I get a little bit disoriented when I'm on a bumpy road.
Intersections, stop signs, and changing lanes are a bit of an issue because I have to turn my head to look around quickly.
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Hi all,
I'm just reading this thread for the first time from a curiosity point of view (almost 2 months till my surgery and I'm trying to get prepared for what's to follow!)... in terms of balance issues - I'm looking at the sizes of the AN's... am I right in thinking that generally the smaller the AN the worse the balance symptoms post op? I've noticed a lot of the smaller AN's seem to result in fairly full on balance issues. I could be totally generalising - just something I noticed. I know it's probably not wise to try and predict my post op balance issues based on the size of my AN - probably a fairly natural thing to try and do though.
Hope everyone is doing well with the driving!
JB
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This is one thing which can vary widely too. I was told of this by my surgeon with my first surgery. I am NF2 and now have had 4 surgeries. I think some varies by tumor location and how long you have had it before surgery. I was unusual and am not sure why in that I have never been dizzy. Some wake up and the room is spinning. I have always been up and walked well from day 2. I found out I did have balance issues when went outside to walk. The weird head feel was quite there. Keeping yourself walking helps. it does improve. Malls and big bright stores will bother you. Dusk and the dark will too so make sure to have night lights post op. I was also unusual when last spring had surgery on the other side than my 3 other and did fine walking post op. I was expecting to do poorly and need PT.
I do always have some balance issues but walk ok. I may weave some and do have some wide based gait. I am used to it but my granddaughter a while back asked why I walk funny. She knows of my ear problems so told her it was from that. I can not walk on slippery conditions so this time of year is not fun.
It is normal to wonder how it is all going to be. Cheryl R
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I have read that typically the larger the tumor, the more likely that it has done some damage to the balance nerve on the impacted side. So the other side of your brain has already started to compensate. That would make for less balance issues post op. I'm not sure how reliable that correlation is though. I think you should count on some balance issues post op and if you are lucky enough to not have them, consider yourself lucky.
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I had a 3.7 cm AN removed and I didn't attempt to drive for 3 months. I have vision and balance issues. Turning my head results in dizziness and nausua. I started out taking short drives in the country where there is less traffic and I didn't have to turn my head so much. I slowly built my self confidence up to driving short distance in town. I still don't drive far from home and definitly no long road trips but, I can drive to the store, take and pick my children up from school, and drive myself to Dr.s appointments. Everyone is different in there recovery. Who knows you may be driving right away. Stay POSITIVE. After surgery everything is on your terms. Don't rush yourself into anything YOU don't want to do.
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golden,
When did you have your surgery?
Edit: OK I see that you had surgery in April 2007. I think you will find a lot of the help you need here.
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Hi Charlene: For me, driving was much easier than walking - the only thing I had to learn to negotiate quickly was turning my head from side to side - looking at the side-view mirrors. I began driving 3 weeks post op out of necessity.
& I just passed my vision test at the DMV, so I'm a happy camper !
Always good thoughts, Nancy
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Cheryl and Wcrimi,
In regards to size of AN and correlation with pre-op balance issues/post op, just had my pre-op vestibular assessment the other day at the hospital... good times, 3 hours of testing resulting in me falling on top of an elderly lady in a tram just afterwards... nice! Anyway, despite the tram incident, looks like my balance system is really good. Not quite as good as the left side, but the lady testing said considering the size (2.7cm at last look) it's in excellent shape. She said that will probably mean that my balance after the op will be all over the show, but we'll see! Stay tuned!
JB
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"She said that will probably mean that my balance after the op will be all over the show, but we'll see! Stay tuned!"
What do you exactly mean by "all over the show"? I never heard that expression. ???
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Ha ha, sorry, it's probably an Australian expression... umm all over the show means, very messed up. So if I said, I saw my mate down the pub last night and he was all over the show he would be pretty drunk and staggering etc. So if my balance is all over the show, I mean I'll probably be quite dizzy and unable to walk in a straight line etc. Hope that helps... I forgot that most people wouldn't understand that!!
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Thanks. I figured that was it, but wasn't sure. ;)
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JB:
I'm always amused by pithy Australian colloquialisms (including 'all over the show') as I suspect Australians are somewhat amused by by what must seem like incomprehensible American slang. :)
Jim
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WCRIMI,
I had to have my left balancing nerve removed during surgery. I couldn't figure out why my balance was so horrible post surgery. So during a follow up visit I asked my Dr. why this was? That is when I found out that it was gone. I have learned to have some what of a sense of humor when people stare when I am walking in public. I look like I have had a little much to drink. I couldn't walk a straight line if I wanted to. I guess I have to have a sense of humor or I would crawl in a corner and cry. Good luck and you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Golden