Balance issues

[lcd8]

Has anyone had problems with people naively thinking they are drunk because they don't have great balance/coordination? This happened to me last week when I was accused of drink driving after collecting my daughter from an extra-curricular club. I felt very embarrassed/humiliated.

[headwayuk Partner Headway]

Hi lcd8,

Many thanks for your message and I'm sorry to hear of this really difficult situation. In addition to the great advice I'm sure our members will give you, you might find our Brain Injury ID Card could help in these circumstances. It's available to anyone with an acquired brain injury in the UK, and is free of charge.

You can find out more on our website at headway.org.uk/supporting-y...

Best wishes,

Andrew

[lcd8 in reply to headwayuk]

Thanks Andrew. I do have one but had forgotten about it!

[maxinebird]

Hello Icd8,

My coordination is pants, i drop lots of things as well as walking into doors etc. but worse for me is my speech is not as it was. I feel and sound if i am drunk myself. I hate to think what others think. but an the end of the day, if people are talking about me , they are not talking about others.

Maxine

[Kavib]

I still wake up some mornings and feel I have a hangover! It’s a side effect of balancing since my SAH in 2015. I try and sit and meditate or drink plenty of fluids . If you feel dizzy or imbalanced when driving then stop at the side and wait. Put some easy listening music to help focus also ( that helps me)

[lcd8]

Thanks Kavib. Yes music helps me a lot too. Its a very powerful thing. Fortunately I don't seem to suffer with dizziness. Its just a job to stand still without swaying slightly and walk in a perfectly straight line. All the best.

[1949liz]

Hi 👋 I suffered from a stroke many years ago and then believe I had improved. Then 2014 I had a accident which I sustained a TBI and another stroke. The strange thing was although I kept losing my balance I just thought it was me, as I truly was not aware that I had a problem until I went to the physiotherapist during a Knee replacement. He asked me to do certain things like standing on my right leg, then my left each time I fell Also closing my eyes and just standing still NO I could not do that, he also lay me down on the bed and asked me to lift my bottom up with the legs bent and many other things. He said my core muscles were not working and he believes it followed my first stroke. So maybe you need to have a physiotherapist report and then keep it in the car so you can prove you have a medical problem. Hope my rambling helps Liz x

[lcd8 in reply to 1949liz]

Thanks a lot Liz. That sounds like a sensible suggestion. Lulu

[Cornishwaves247]

Hi 👋I have balance issues, I'm only 10 months on from my bleed on the brain so I'm still correcting I guess and hope. I can't do anything independently at the moment. My balance has really affected my walking (I only manage round the home coz I hold on to everything) It seems quite a common side effect of brain injury from what I have read. I hope it passes for you, I'm positive it will. All the best with it.

[lcd8]

Thanks so much Cornishwaves. And for you. To be honest though I suspect I will always suffer with a bit of bad balance. Don't get me wrong and it isn't terrible. And I don't get dizzy or anything. But I also can't tell that I'm uncoordinated or swaying or staggering. It was a bit of a shock when I was first told. I agree this is very common after BI though. Ho hum.... Best wishes.

[0101]

Yup. I have still have balance issues and then I feel self-conscious which doesn't help if you're concentrating on trying not to wobble or behave 'normally'. After using the card a few times I learnt how to be a bit more direct if someone said something or I got funny looks. It takes real confidence to do, and I'm so sorry this happened. It takes quick thinking to assertively say, no it's a brain injury or something short and sweet if you need and you want to disclose. It's noone's business really, and if they were genuinely concerned I would have hoped they would have found out a few facts and by talking to you. I still struggle with putting numbers in a pin machine if it's in an odd position and I can't lean at the right angle.

I have a range of things I say when seemingly every stranger comments or looks! I'm told it often comes from a good place, or concern of a kind, but still. 'What's wrong with you?' seems to be asked a lot of late. Tempting to say, 'Nothing, what's your excuse?'.

Have you tried vestibular rehabilitation? If there's something you liked before like walking, or dance, that might help.

[lcd8 in reply to 0101]

Thanks 0101. I liked the question you were tempted to ask!! I feel really rather angry that I was put in this position by an interfering busybody. Sometimes I wish the general public weren't so ignorant.