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.

I agree, I too wish we could all return this unwanted, dreadful stuff!! I am sure we all 'try' not to complain, because we are always sort of worrying about that worse thing that may be just around the corner. Then we know we will look back at today and wish we were here again. Sorry if I mis-spoke for anyone. But that is how I feel. I always tell myself...I know it can be worse...and most likely will be worse. But that doesn't help the pain and discomforts of today.

UUGGHH!! How I remember those days - cane or walker would never work for me as my arms have absolutely no strength to even move the critters - and I didn't even have strength to use a finger to change the tv channel let alone strength to manipulate the joy stick on a rolling cart at stores.

When I did try the stores carts, twice I ended up at the far back of the store when the cart decided to run out of energy and there I would be - stuck - with all the items and no way to get to the front of the store carrying them.

So I got up each time and just shuffled drunkenly out of store without anything - ****** me off. So, try and make sure the store cart is fully recharged before getting on one - I didnt know about that - LOL

My imbalance, drunkenness, falling etc alwats happens when I am in a relapse/flare. Its due to inflammation for me and usually begins in bowels/urinary area and when it hits the brain, then there is a very powerful ROLLERCOASTER running rampant in my brain. The slightest movement and it feels as if my brain races to one side of my head or other andit has been powerrful enough to knock me down to the floor. THROWS me off of the bed/chair. During the inflammatory periods (which is where there is increased fatigue/sleepiness/weakness etc) I just put myself on recoup mode, settle down for a long week of cuddle me time and WAIT for it to pass.

Which can actually take up to three months. UGH. I'm scared of the next one coming and I'll be outside in some freaking field with the dog and unable to walk or move - I get total body paralysis at times. They can last up to an hour before passing.

My next flare is due in a few weeks and I can feel it coming. At docs the other day I had gained the usual 8 lbs (indicating inflammation) and I have already gone into bitchy mode because fatigue is creeping up on me.

My walks are slugging down and its harder to go the distance compared to last week.

Only made it around the block this AM - hoping I can force myself to a better walk later this AM.

I force myself to walk with the chant "If you walk it wont get as bad...if you walk it wont be as bad as the last time" Which almost put me in a nursing home and a wheelchair!

Walk it off...walk it off...walk it off...oh PLEEZ walk it away!

My legs are still drunk. (where are they getting the alcohol?)

I got my new Wii hooked up today. Played tennis, bowled and played two baseball games while sitting in a computer chair. (lost the baseball games, lost the tennis games, but did fairly well at the bowling) Then I went hunting on a Cabela's hunting video game. (I actually shot a couple of big animals. That was fun, but it'd be more realistic if I had a plastic gun instead of the nunchuks.) I went to Blockbusters and rented a few games because I wanted to try them out before buying them.

I did notice that the game makes my eyes feel weird. My favorite game was the hunting game, but it made me dizzy if I made it go too fast.

I wanted the Wii game so that I'd actually get up off my butt and move around, and right now I feel so sick that I just cant really get up and move around. I feel like crap. I tried to knit some today, but had to put that down for fear that I'd be dropping stitches every time I started to fall asleep in mid-stitch.

I dont think I've felt as bad as I felt today in a long time. Maybe back when I had mononucleosis in 1996...this definitely equals how bad I felt back then.

It almost feels like I have a migraine and vertigo, without my head hurting or being actually dizzy. I took a little Meclizine this afternoon to see if would help. I'm not sure if it worked tho, because it pretty much knocked me out and I slept thru the medication working.

If this is a flare, I hope it goes away really soon and isnt going to ruin my Xmas. I wont be surprised if it screws everything up for me. I had to have help getting my Xmas tree put up. My sister and b-in-law did that for me today. They're the ones who got the box out for me last week and I guess they were surprised to see it still sitting on the floor where they left it last week. Now all I have to do is put lights on it and decorate it. The way I'm feeling, I might not be putting my blown glass ornaments on it. Scared that I'll fall over into the tree and break them all.

Ok, I'm done whining (for now). I think I'll make the attempt at sleeping in my bed and not in my computer chair.

Erin - Im sorry you feel so bad. Those games sound like so much fun. Addicting too!

This morn I have fallen backwards twice as I am trying to move forward. I knew the beast was waking up again.

Landed on my butt outside and it is frigid here - had taken buddy out to pee and down I went. UGH a Bug. So embarrassing - even if no one was around to see.

I'd be caution with that XMAS tree too - still scares me to put one up - Murphy's law would make sure I landed all twisted up inside the tree. A nightmare I avoid like the plague. Little bitty tree on top of table is all I dare to decorate anymore.

Have a great xmas - even if it is viewed from your computer chair. Which really sounds like fun.