How do you handle this

[emily06]

It seems I have dizziness/vertigo all the time to some degree or another. Since I am at the mercy of family/friends to get out at all, I have to be ready when they are available no matter how bad I'm doing.

Since apparently dizziness is a common MS problem, what do you all do? Do you just go out and tough it out - hanging on for dear life when necessary or do you stay at home inside?

I have free movie screening tickets tonight and I wanted to go. My brother was going to take me but my dizziness is at the point I would have to hold on to him to get into the theater. He thinks I'm making it up and could do fine if I just tried, and I could go get seated without his assistance if he went to go get popcorn and left me to walk in by myself to get seats. There's no way I could do that. So I just gave him the tickets. As I said I don't get out much so this would have been a treat for me. Oh well. what would you do?

[misslux]

Generally if I don't feel well, I don't go out. I have varying degrees of "feeling awful" all the time but if I feel especially unstable, I am not going to risk my safety for a social outing.

Having said that, my SO and my family are VERY supportive so there is never any question when I say I can't go out. Also, they accommodate me on days where I feel up to going out.

I think that your brother not believing you points to a larger issue of understanding and respect, or lack thereof. I would clear that one up ASAP for your own safety, well being and happiness.

Good luck!

[AriD]

My dizziness and vertigo was real bad at first then quiet for several years and back again sometimes severe the last few years.

If my vertigo is severe with vomiting nystagmus etc I'm in the house sometimes the hospital. Most days it's just a vague dizziness and imbalance that comes and goes. If I'm tired (most of the time) whoever I'm with will help me.

I'm not good about using assistive devices. I should be because I will probably have that bad fall one day. Have you tried using a cane/walker/wheelchair? Do you take meds to help the dizziness/vertigo? Valium and meclizine has been helpful for me.

[KitOP]

I too have issues with what my neuro calls "the dizzy wizzys". He sent me to an ent dr that specializes in patients with these issues that are caused my neurological disorders.

He has tried visualization with me which does work sometimes. I sit down, in a secure spot because we know that sitting can also be a challenge, close my eyes and visualize something off in the distance that I find calming and makes me happy.

Along with that some deep breathing as well.

If it gets really bad, I take Ativan. But there are times when all I can do is lay down, close my eyes, and hopefully fall asleep and hope it goes away.

It's too bad that you couldn't get out for the movie. I agree, it was pretty insensitive of your brother not to make the accommodations for you so you could go. I think it is very important for us to continue to get out and enjoy the things that we enjoy doing.

I hope you can get this worked out, maybe get things under control a little bit, and enjoy life!

Good Luck!

[emily06]

My neuro had prescibed Antivan and Valium but those didn't help the dizziness and just made me too drowsy to function enough. I am glad to hear that those meds do help you. I think you are the first person that I heard they actually worked.

[22cyclist]

Emily06: Valium works for me as well. You have to take a low dose not to get sleepy, but enough to work. I have to take about 5 mg every day to keep my chronic dizziness at bay. My MS specialist said this was the only thing that treats CNS dizziness. Perhaps you should look into the ENT side of things.
Maybe you have an ear problem.

Whatever it is I sincerely hope you feel better soon. I know that feeling of dizziness all to well and hate it.

Take care
Lisa