I swear, someone keeps slipping me mickeys and they're not wearing off because I feel drunk all the time for about the past week.

It's like vertigo, but without the spinning. I just feel like I'm stumble bunnying around.

Went to a movie last night, and they had an intermission (technically, it wasnt a movie, but a live event that was being telecast to the movie theatre) and they didnt turn up the house lights during the intermission. So, I had to be really really careful when I got up from my seat to go use the potty. (good thing I had a nice spot right near the exit and no steps to go down but one)

I'm feeling really weak too.

I've fallen down once since the drunk walking started (at home, while trying to decorate for Xmas) I dont know if an anti-dizzy med would help this. Anyone have any suggestions?

Would using a cane when walking help the drunk feeling not feel so drunk? Or at least would using a cane kind of tell people around me that I'm not drunk, I have a walking problem?

I noticed that when I write stuff, it seems like I miss words in my writing. Or I use the wrong word. That seems to be happening more than usual. I wonder if that has something to do with the weird feeling in my head, or if it's another symptom. The MS is giving me some weird dyslexia or something.

I find myself walking like this more and more. It seems to get worse when the weather gets colder or more humid. Some days I can walk fairly evenly but others I'm weaving all over the place. My cane really doesn't help matters but I use it when I go out anyway.....more to just let others know I'm not drunk. I've found that walking as I hold onto a shopping cart really helps but I'm just not ready to admit that I might be ready for a rollator.

I can identify with you both. I ended up having to get a rollator and only use it when I HAVE to...my neuro made me get it. but I'm finding that to be more and more often. I hate the progression I'm seeing in myself.

It seems in the last year and half, anything I've hoped was a relapse didn't ever get better again. I try a cane, but like you say, it really doesn't help. when I lose my balance the rollator is the only thing that can save me from going down.

I can't use it in Walmart. I have to drive the electronic cart thingy. I don't hardly ever go shopping anymore, because when I do I just don't even look around, but just straight ahead to where I'm going. I don't want to see anyone I know. I don't think they want to see me either, so I just try to avoid it.

Until this year, I have went to visit my friends at my old school, but not this year. I don't even want people there to see my decline I doubt that this is a good trend I'm getting into but don't really know what to do about it.

ANYWAY.... I can sure understand how you feel.

I use the shopping cart at the grocery store too. At home, I just walk, but if I wanted to use a rollator we've got three of them here. (my mom has had two knee surgeries)

I'm tempted to toss one of the rollators into the back of my RAV4.

About two or three months ago, I had a week where I felt like I do now, but actually felt worse physically. (couldnt stay awake at all and felt sick from being so sleepy) I used the electric cart in a Lowe's for the first time ever. Havent done that in a Walmart or the grocery store we use yet.

I felt better about a week after that. Even a week ago I went to the grocery store with my dad and didnt use the shopping cart (dad needed it more) but earlier this week when I fell down trying to put up an Xmas decoration, I've been feeling crappier as the week has gone on. Not feeling as sick as I did earlier this year, but my legs do feel a little more rubbery

I'm just still not used to this part of the MS yet. Having no balance. I used to rollerskate every weekend when I was younger. I was a fast skater, and I used to like to do spins and some figure skating. I had GREAT balance. Now I feel like I'm going to fall of my chair while typing this. I havent skated since I was about 25, but I still had my good balance earlier this year. (my 6yr old cousin and I were heel-to-toe walking on a brick wall back at Eastertime when she came over to visit...ok, the wall was only 2 landscaping bricks high, but right now I cant even walk heel-to-toe on a flat surface)

I just dont like the sensation that I'm going to fall every time I get up.

My skin is burning right now too...started out at the feet, but it's at my waist now, and I have a weird feeling in my throat like I cant swallow or like something is numb inside my chest. I just dont like this. I feel like I'm being tortured.

I know what you mean. While other parts of me seem to be better (numbness) my balance seems to be getting worse. I don't know if it's the cold weather, the humidity, or just me slowly progressing.

I am simply unable to shop unless I have a cart to hang onto. if it were not for using a cart like a walker, I would not be able to do it. The DH keeps running off with the cart, and I snap at him that I need that!

There are days I am tempted into the scooters in the store.

its amazing that your body uses 8% more energy to stand than it does to sit. Sitting is much harder on your back then standing or laying down. and laying down makes me wanna doze off during the day which would keep me awake all night.

This is such a stupid disease. Can I return mine, its busted.

The drunk walking is the worse. I wouldn't mind it so much if I were actually drunk. Boy I miss my martinis. I used to wear 3-4 inch heels all the time and looked like I was stomping down the runway at New York fashion week. Now I 'm lucky if I can make it out of my car without falling in sneakers. I go to the grocery store to buy one thing and use a cart to hold me up. I used to love shopping but now I dread it.

I always say things could be worse. Now my job has announced a downsizing and I 'm on pins and needles and I'm worried most about my blood work and MRI's. But other than that, it's the drunk walking and fatigue that gets me down.

Just keep trying to be positive and be thankful for what you can do and what you have. That's how I make it through the day. My puppy only weighs 4 pounds and walks me when I take her for a walk but I love her to death.

I got up this morning and was really disappointed to find that my legs, and now my upper body, seem to have gone out and partied even more while I was asleep. I get stuck with their hangover.

I dont know if this has anything to do with the drunk walking or the MS, but my ears feel plugged. They hurt and sometimes when I'm talking, it feels like someone is either sucking out the air or pushing air into my ears. I'm probably going to go to my doctor tomorrow to see if they can look in my ears and tell me if I have an ear infection or something... (I could ask my aunt to look. She's a nurse practitioner and I know she has an otoscope at home.)

I called my neuro's office this morning and left a message for him to call me. Hopefully he'll get back to me really soon to tell me if there's something to make my legs sober up. I'm betting there isnt any medication for that. I tried Meclizine yesterday and all it did was make me sleep.

I'm so tired and I'm starting to get really frustrated with everything.

Erin, if you have an ear infection that can mess with your balance. I've noticed that when I have sinus issues my balance is off.....or more off than it usually is.

It's so hard to tell if it's the disease progressing or if it's just residual sx from an already existing condition....like a sinus issue or an ear infection.

I just talked to my neuro. He suggested IV steroids, or some oral steroids. I decided to go for the $5 bottle of oral pred, since it's cheap and he said there would probably be no difference in taking them, except for the fact that IV steroids might work faster. (and the IV steroids are harder and nastier on the body)

He said to start them tonight. I think I'm going to wait till tomorrow to start them, and I'm going to go to my regular doctor to see if there's an issue with my ears first. I dont think it's an ear infection, but I want to make sure of that before I start popping the steroids.

I just want to feel normal (or at least less MSish) for awhile. Hopefully over Xmas. I hate feeling like crap like I do now. I hate steroids, but I hate falling down too. Really hate people looking at me and thinking I'm drunk.