You betcha. Hallway ways are my friends and if I'm having a bad day I use a walker in public or at least hand onto a grocery cart.

I sure do, Jack. I frequently get vertigo after I stand up. Not right away mind, but when I'm halfway across the room with nothing to grab.

Balance has been an issue for me too, even without the vertigo. I keep a foldable cane with me so that if I'm having a hard day with my balance I can use the cane to keep me upright.

--Jenna

Yep. I'm sorry, Jack. I've been struggling with balance for years. It's really frustrating. Sometimes I break out into tears when I fall or trip. Every once in a while, the frustration of it just hits you. But, I agree with Nina about the grocery cart. It does help me at least not to fall at the store. So sorry you are having such a rough time. Many blessing on you, Jack.

thanks, all. you guys are great. i thinkj ill get a sollapsible cane too.

did i mention i've retired from the sp & grammar police? b/tw bfog and THe resultant FSFS, editting myself to understandabiliy takes enough time and frustration.

whatever... it is what it is. how i feel about it is the only thing that matters.

My inner ear is messed up, one year it was so bad I kept falling over ;-P It's not too bad this year but my doctor still checks it and yup it's still wonky.

well i just fell in the shower (i'm fine) -- that's new. today is a*really* bad dauy. going to get a tub seat

I sit on a seat in the shower. It's no big thing. I get just as clean and don't risk a fall.

Balance is an issue with me as well. Not a huge issue, but during a crash, dizziness is the thing that bothers me the most. It's one of the reasons I've basically given up driving unless I'm having really good days!!

I always err on the side of caution. I do have a cane (in my car...call it denial, I haz it!) and I will use it if my balance is in question. Like I said, it's not an every day thing. But once it starts, I know I'm headed into a crash. Use a tub seat! It's worth it! xo

It's been documented that ME/CFS people have problems with spatial orientation. I walk into doorways instead of through them...sometimes that can really hurt if I've got some velocity going on.

Maybe I should nail some pillows onto the door jambs about shoulder high. But that would be admitting defeat...instead I'll stay in denial and nurse my sore shoulders.

Jack, the tub seat is a good idea because the hot, steamy environment causes the balance issue to be worse. The doctor who diagnosed me warned me particularly about showering. I take baths, but that's not really much better because if I allow my body temperature to go up too much, I still get dizzy coming out of the tub. Once, I fell in shower and was bleeding from the head. So, yeah, I would advise extreme caution with that one.

Thanks everyone. I actually DID get a tub seat when I first came down with this hateful disease, but it;s still at my wife's house. Not a huge deal; I just have to go get it, we're still on good terms.

I AM getting a cane, tho... maybe two, one for the car and one for home. Then there's no danger of forgetting to bring it with me when I go out. (I do -- well, did) the same thing with small, handy tools. I try to get the density up to where the tool is right at hand, wherever I am, whenever I need it. I call that reaching the saturation level. It's not really that easy to stay there... ;-)

I feel like a ball in a pinball game. I use a cane when I go out. I would love to have a mobility dog but they are hard to find. I've fallen in the yard and out in public.

I know that feeling of being pulled one way. It happened to me at the mall. I ended up stuck against a wall. A kindly gentleman came to my rescue and pulled me away. Another time it happened in a parking garage. I called to my family and they were all oblivious except my dear granddaughter. She was three flights up but heard me and knew what I needed. She ran down and pulled me away from a car. My totally oblivious husband asked her how she knew what was going on? She said, "I pay attention to grandma. I know the strange things that happen to her. I also listen to her when she talks about things." She said this right to her grandfather.

I had a very sweet and very intuitive Golden retriever named Emma. When I was in the yard, she knew if my balance was reliable or not. If it wasn't, she stayed with me. She was always aware of where I was. Once I bent down to pick a weed and when I stood up I felt lightheaded. I fell and it would have been worse if Emma hadn't come running and broke my fall. She was my angel. She went to the Rainbow Bridge last June. I miss her so much.

Balance issues are common and annoying. I've only broken something once. I fell down the stairs outside and broke my ankle. Emma was very upset that she hadn't prevented the fall and couldn't help me get up.

I've had a concussion once and nearly cracked my head on a porcelain pedicure sink. I try to be careful but I also try not to obsess about it.

WOW! What a great kid! and dog! Dogs are truly amazing... I'm sorry you lost your girl... :-(

Glad to hear you're getting a cane, Jack. It makes all the difference to me. I keep the collapsible in my purse. I keep a standard one with a very comfortable handle in my car as well. Then I keep another comfort cane in the house.

yes,balance issues hear too.i think mine is from my left ear.It comes and goes.seems to get inflamed for no reason and goes away when it wants.I feel like i'm walking thru a fun house with the floors going up and down.And I have to only lay on one side when sleeping .If i turn my head while sleeping I will get a whipping vertigo.
another symptoms drs dont want to take the time to figure out.

I had similar issues, autumn. I could have those vertigo attacks when sitting still. The doctors spent a year checking me out. My regular doc, neurologists, other specialists, and they all concluded the same thing: No idea what the cause is. Helpful, eh? ;) I have learned that the cane is my friend and to stop worrying about the "why" of it. I hope you get some better answers!