Keeping your balance and trouble with depth perception

General
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I am pretty new at this site and have not participated in discussions yet, but Marc's story inspired me. I am already 71 yrs.of age and have been carrying extra weight for the last 25 years. In late 80's early 90's my responsible job got extremely stressful as more and more responsibility was piled on me. In 1990 they added not just more responsibility but a whole additional job, not related at all to the one I was already doing (it even included quarterly reports about KEOGH customers to the IRS (man, I really hated those). Would you believe, I stuck it out for 13 mos. before I handed in my resignation. By then I had gained 35lbs. When I found another job with less work and responsibility for half the salary I was making before, it didn't last. The company grew exponentially within 6 mos. and I was back again with overtime (this time they paid me for it) skipping lunch (eating at my desk) having 2PM snacks, candy of course,so the pounds on my 5'2" frame kept coming. During all this time I had a family at home, was the only cook, and preparer all ingredients to cook (sometimes someone peeled potatoes for me), did all the laundry, walked up and down 29 stairs repeatedly to do it, we live on the 2nd floor (at least that was exercise). You see, I was the only female in the house, and while the BOYS were willing and able to vacuum and dust on a regular basis, that was about it.

In yr. 2000 had thyroid cancer surgery (but that odyssey is another story), and early retired with COBRA (man, is that expensive) til my 62nd bday .One good thing was, I did all kinds of needlework, which gave me a big sense of accomplishment) and soothed my nerves.

This was all while I was treated for various body pain which no one could give a name to until 1982 (they finally gave it a name but no tests that could prove one had it, plus they were calling it a syndrome, rejecting the word decease) and I started taking some antidepressants which did help, but I still needed aspirin or Tylenol. Before I got so terribly busy at work I belonged to Chicago Health Clubs and was swimming regularly and doing water aerobics. Well, that had to end.

The rest of my weight story is above this last paragraph. I am now stuck with 50 extra pounds, plus type 2 diabetes. I am controlling it pretty good, and my MD's are satisfied with my A1C results, so I am only on Metformin.

They tell me I should only eat veggies, lean protein and limited fruit (which I absolutely love in season). This is pretty hard when I am cooking for 2 men, one of whom (my husband) must have his baked goods, pasta, rice etc. When I prepare those it's hard to resist when I also like them, plus I really don't want to have to cook 2 different meals every day (think of all the pots/pans to wash) even if I had a commercial stove with multiple burners which could handle it. So I carry my extra 50 with me and that makes it hard to sustain a walk for more than 5 min. After that, looking at me from behind, you would think I was under the influence, I can't keep a straight line.

After all this, I am coping very well (much better than some of you), even manage a volunteer job at the Hospital every Tuesday. But since I was hospitalized for depression, I just can't pick up any of my crafts. I do spend much time on the internet, am with a couple of different groups,, like this one.

The point of this story isn't just my background, I do have a question for all of you:

I loose my balance in the last few years if I turn in any direction, and want to fall in that direction. Always have to be holding on to something, even if it's just a wall. I also want to fall in the direction I am bending (if it's a little too far, like 1ft. or more). If there is nothing to hold on to I would be falling a lot. When I fall, cant get up without propping myself on something, or someone helps me (this, I know, many of you, if not all, have trouble with).

My depth perception has always been poor, can't see to step down the stairs if it's not very light, don't dare step down unless I have something to hold. Can anyone identify with this?? Haven't ever mentioned this to my MD, I have so many other symptoms as it is, don't want to add another. If no one else has had this experience I will mention it, maybe it's something with the inner ear.

Thanks to all of you,

Violette

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Dear Violette,

This is something you really should address, my mom is in the rehab wing of a nursing home after breaking a hip. She got more and more sedentary, and wobbly. Add coming down a flight of stairs in the dark, thinking she was all the way down and falling.

As for me, I have had this problem when taking Neurontin, it was like being inside a spinning top. I still fall around a bit, especially on cold windy days like today when my SI joints tighten up, but I work hard at trying to stay as limber as possible.

Please don't keep this from the Doctor, you really do need to talk about this with them!

Wishing you well,

SK

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Dear SK, and thank you.

I do take Neurontin, 2 in AM, 1in PM. I'll mention this to my MD when I see him next month. How is your Mom doing? Patricia, right? I am still including her in my nightly Rosary prayers. (maybe I am the only Catholic in this group). If anyone has a question about Rosaries, please ask me. I'd be glad to explain, even if you are not Catholic.

Love to everyone whose discussions I have been reading so far,

Violette

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My mom is doing very well, though she got in trouble in PT today when they found out she was going to the bathroom and bathing unassisted, they told her she was not ready for that and is risking another fall, so we had the talk about that!

Here is some info on the Gaba and what you describe:

Gabapentin may cause vision changes, clumsiness, unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, sleepiness, or trouble with thinking. Make sure you know how you react to gabapentin before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well. If these side effects are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

No, you are not the only Catholic, I know one of our gals knits rosaries.

Take good care of yourself, I'm glad you posted! Hope to hear more from you!

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Hi MV, this is Maggi, I have Meniere's Disease. The inner ear bone starts crumbling & the chips of bone move freely within the inner ear cannal (yipee skippy). I absolutely agree w/ SK But call your Doctors' office tomorrow & leave the msg w/ his Nurse. Nurses are excellent triage(rs). She/He will make sure the doctor knows about this asap! Also let your Pharmacist know what you are experiencing. M

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Hi Mitzysviolet, I have both a diabetic eye disease and cataracts in both eyes. I’m a little younger at 64 but have been having balance problems since my eyes got bad and as my cataracts are getting worse so is my balance. I’m on a waiting list to get my cataracts done. Several years ago a physical therapist told me that with my vision problems my inner ears would have to compensate. I don’t dare go up or down stairs with out holding on to the railing because of my vision and balance. I find after walking for a few minutes I start to lose my balance, and stagger. I don’t fall now because I’ve been doing exercises to learn to shift my weight quickly.

I’d really suggest you talk to your MD and discuss getting referrals to an Opthamologist , Ear doctor ( sorry blanked on the name) and to a physiotherapist to help you work on your balance. As SK says falling is very dangerous, and I’ve had two concussions and 8 stitches on my scalp to prove it. That’s what got me to do these exercises. Don’t know if some is fibro related.

Please be very very careful and make sure you get help our bones seem to get more and more fragile.

Gentle Hugs, B2chi

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Hi Mitzysviolet, I have both a diabetic eye disease and cataracts in both eyes. I’m a little younger at 64 but have been having balance problems since my eyes got bad and as my cataracts are getting worse so is my balance. I’m on a waiting list to get my cataracts done. Several years ago a physical therapist told me that with my vision problems my inner ears would have to compensate. I don’t dare go up or down stairs with out holding on to the railing because of my vision and balance. I find after walking for a few minutes I start to lose my balance, and stagger. I don’t fall now because I’ve been doing exercises to learn to shift my weight quickly.

I’d really suggest you talk to your MD and discuss getting referrals to an Opthamologist , Ear doctor ( sorry blanked on the name) and to a physiotherapist to help you work on your balance. As SK says falling is very dangerous, and I’ve had two concussions and 8 stitches on my scalp to prove it. That’s what got me to do these exercises. Don’t know if some is fibro related.

Please be very very careful and make sure you get help our bones seem to get more and more fragile.

Gentle Hugs, B2chi

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Hi Violette and welcome! I'm sorry that you're part of the fibro club but this is a nice place to visit for some comfort and support. We try to help others with fibro issues. As you know, though, sometimes it can get really complicated!

Well you could mention your balance problem to your doctor, but I get it a lot due to my fibro plus the meds I am on. (You should definitely check the side effects of any meds you take to see if balance issues are noted.) I bought myself several very pretty and snazzy canes that look more like accessories than medical equipment and use one whenever I go out. I would have fallen down twice today in the supermarket due to balance issues if I hadn't had my trusty cane with me. I normally use the zoom chair but sometimes have to get out of it to reach things.

And yes, I also have depth perception issues (can't begin to tell you how many times I've hit the curb) due to strabismus in my left eye - the muscle isn't coordinated right so my depth perception is off. And like you, I need to use the light for basement stairs because shadows can make it hard for me to judge their depth.

Again, if you have any questions, you should ask your doctor. I'm just a layperson with an opinion. And I'm not sure if this applies, but my 83 year old mother is now experiencing this and said that several other women in her card group have mentioned this problem as they get older.

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Hello Violette

I was having balance problems and my doctor finally sent me to an ENT after numerous infections and problems. I had surgery on both ears not long ago. The balance problems have improved. I would call the doctor.