Falling over
 

Im sorry if this has been covered before, but I was just wondering if any of you have had this?

This morning I got out of bed, stood up and then immediately fell back onto the bed. I didn't feel weak or dizzy just a bit surprised. I got myself up again but noticed I was walking a bit like I was drunk.

I then went around the end of the bed and accidently stood on one of the dogs paws. Luckily just as I put my foot down I managed to pull it back so I literally just brushed the dog. However the action of doing this made me fall over again (luckily onto the bed).

I then proceeded to the bathroom, clinging onto the railing for support. When I rose from the toilet I fell back again.

I am feeling a bit swimmy headed, but not dizzy.

Has anyone else experienced this? Luckily hubby is home today so if I fall he will be around to catch me! LOL If I dont injure him by landing on him!

Love
Rach

Hello,
Your not alone in this feeling. I have been like this almost daily for the last week now. I think I am feeling okay until I get out of bed, then I walk like I am drunk and sometimes I even have that hung over feeling in my head like I was up partying all night. I have fallen over my 3 german shepherd too. It doesn't take much to throw me on balance when I am this weak. I fall into the walls at times too. My legs and arms have been really weak all week. I drop things all the time and I have to have my hubby wash my hair in the shower for me because my arms get to weak to hold up over my head. At least I manage to do the shower by myself with the help of a shower seat. I also just got a toilet seat riser, it was getting to hard to get off the toilet with my weak legs. It is much better now. Going up stairs is so very hard for me. If I get to tired, my breathing becomes an issue. It feels like a tight band around my lower rib cage,awful pressure and then I get gasping for air. It is only relieved by laying down on either one of my sides.This with the breathing all started on Thanksgiving morning. I had to go to ER and spent a week in the hospital getting all kinds of tests done. Still no answers. I am waiting to get in to a MG Neuro my regular Neuro managed to set up for me. These hospital just don't see enough MG to understand it.
Well good luck and take care and don't fall and get hurt, that is all we need as if we don't have enough problems. I reall feel what your going through and it isn't any fun at all. I tell my friends, I feel just like a rubberband, when my legs get tired, I say I HAVE to sit down before I fall down.:eek:

Yup, happens all the time, but silly me, I usually fall "up" the stairs. I did it bad yesterday and spent the evening in the E.R. thinking I broke my leg, thankfully no broken bones but think I tore my calf muscle {ouch}

We with MG have to be very careful! I often feel like an idiot because I look "drunk" at times and heck I don't even drink..LOL

Rach, I've done this as a result of MG AND as a result of my low BP (average 90/60). Have you been drinking enough -- eating some salting foods? Have you checked your blood pressure? (Everybody needs to have a blood pressure thingy -- not sure of the "scientific name" -- at home.) Low blood pressure is especially bad early in the morning -- when you haven't had anything to eat or drink all night long -- and then you raise your head too quickly. I've had to learn to move slowly to allow my body to adjust.

MG, of course, makes us very unstable, too. I have wobbled ALL over the place and have had to hold on to stuff. I look VERY drunk, sometimes -- hehehehe -- Joanmarie, I don't drink, either. I even carry a card in my purse AND in my car SAYING that although I look and sound drunk I am NOT. *sigh*

I have this problem of being unsteady on my feet. I think that it's a balance issue. My husband has commented that I am always tripping or falling and I always say that it is my balance. I don't know if it is that or weak limbs. I just kind of live with it now that it has been happening for so long. Falling into your hubbys arms could really be a good thing Rach. ;) Take care ~Mel

I've always had a lot of confidence in my sense of balance, but lately, not so much. I feel 'tipsy' too often, even though I don't drink either. I find myself holding onto things around me more often, especially if there's a wire, or anything on the floor that I have to walk over, and especially with my left leg.

I think I know why you're falling up the stairs, Joan. Do you have a weak ankle? I find that my ankle is sorta weak, mainly my left one. It's kinda scary. Sorry you were in the hopsital, and I'm very glad that you didn't break your leg!

Rach- EDIT: Re-read your post and realized you said that you weren't dizzy...I've had the falling back into bed thing...It was when my chest or neck or something up there was really weak. I attempted to get up, and could not at all! I had to roll out of bed onto my side to get out. That was when I first started prednisone, and I was really weak then...When you say 'swimmy' do you mean foggy? It could be your BP, like what Jana said...Maybe you're having some weakness in the chest/neck area...This can throw off your balance too...

hi
 

Thanks for all your replies.

A friend of mine suggested it could be blood pressure, I know my is on the low side. So I am wondering as it happened first thing if it was that. I also wondered if it could be catarrah in my ears due to the chest infection, but Ive not really had a cold.

The swimmy feeling- its hard to describe its like you aren't really all there, a little disorientated.

I haven't fallen over again yet....... but I have noticed when I turn my head quickly my eyes seem to be taking some time to catch up.

I am glad Im not the only one staggering around like a drunk LOL

Love
Rach

Hi Rach, I get these symptoms when my adrenal insufficiency is acting up ...if I have a infection and need more cortisone ( sick day rules). If you say you often have low BP then you should be checked. One type of AI is caused by autoimmune probs and once you have one a/immune disease you are more likely to have others. I know a person with Addisons Disease who has just been dx with MG. A GP can test electrolytes and 8am serum cortisol for you. Do you take steroids already for MG ? In the meantime try to have lots of salty soups and keep up the fluids. ( if you are having the blood test keep to a normal diet though) Try to see the Dr soon. AI can be very serious if not cared for. There is a great UK Assoc. I will send the link to you.

Hi Xanadu
 

Im not currently taken steroids, Ive been off them for 11 months. The only medication I take other than the contraceptive pill is Mestinon and probanthine/

My blood pressure is on the low side (110/ 70, has been down to the 95/60 range when in hospital) but still considered normal. Usually I will know if its low as I feel spaced out and dizzy when I stand up. Today I didn't feel that. Maybe I was still asleep LOL!

I have read the links that you very kindly sent me. I dont think I fit the profile, but you never know so it maybe worth mentioning to my GP when I see him next. I certainly dont have any weightloss, which is the only symptom I really would have liked (LOL). I do however crave salty food, but its not a regular thing.

I will keep an eye on it though. I can be very unsteady on my feet due to MG. I am weak today, but it was first thing in the morning Im usually worse about an hour after getting out of bed.

Im wondering if Im having a bit of a flair up due to this lingering chest infection and the allergic reaction to penicillin. I will keep you all posted.

Thank you all again so much for your replies

Love
Rach:hug:

There are a few checks that can be done. The BP that drops rapidly when standing can be a diagnostic. I love my Florinef! I reduced recently as I thought it may help the weight gain I have and today have been so giddy that I am almost falling over everytime I move- so have gone back to normal tablet now!! Its magic ( if you need it). I was not underweight when dx - by the time you get to that stage you are a stretcher case and near crisis/death. I think having MG makes us less active and gain weight ... and I also have low thyroid. But shades of grey re the adrenal symptoms- its not always black and white. Just be on the lookout. Hope you feel better soon.

Rach, You are getting over an infection, right? I think it's worth going in to see your doc for a recheck x-ray. If you have aspiration pneumonia or a pneumonia that isn't getting better on the meds, that could cause dizziness. It could be the MG but don't assume that, ok?

You have to drink lots while on antibiotics. Dehydration can cause a low BP.

Do you have a BP cuff? If so, take your BP after lying down for a couple minutes. However long it takes for your BP cuff to inflate, subtract that from 60. Then, stand up and wait that amount of time (the time left over after subtracting the BP cuff inflation time) and then start your BP cuff. Complicated? Not really but I'm probably not saying it right. You want the amount of time standing to be 60 seconds until the BP reads.

If the systolic/upper amount drops 20 or more, you are probably dehydrated. There are other reasons for that too like orthostatic intolerance but it's the main one.

Xanadu, good catch. When I had pneumonia, my adrenals tanked. And then your BP can go down too.

Whatever is causing you to drop like a brick, I hope you will bring it up to one or another doctor! ;)

Annie

hi
 

Chest X-ray! You make me laugh this is the nhs we are talking about. You only get a chest x-ray if you still have an infection 6 weeks after your infection started! You get an x-ray if they suspect pnuemonia straight away. I know they should do a chest xray but they dont.

I dont have a temperature anymore and my cough is hardly anything now. At one point I could hardly breathe for coughing. I have a very slight ache in my right back bottom of my lung. Oxygen sats are ok.

I dont have a blood pressure cuff unfortunately so I can't tell you what its doing. A few years ago I was at the drs as I was dizzy and they did my blood pressure sitting down and then standing up and it plummeted but it was never followed up. It was just assumed it was doing this because I was sick.

With the weather as it is at the moment - snow and sub zero temperatures, Im just going to take it easy. Britain has basically come to a standstill so Im just going to wait until the craziness eases up!

Thanks again for all your replies

Love
Rach

Have you recently switched medications ?
I'm currently experiencing equilibrium problems . Stagger to the right and bump off walls ...I'm thinking it may be a result of my blood pressure medication .When I was diagnosed with MG , my primary doctor noted that beta blockers were on the list of drugs that could adversely affect MG , so he took me off of Norvac and put me on Benicar .That was several months ago ..It seems that about 5-6 days after using Benicar daily ,I get the off balance reactions .then .I go onto Norvasc for 3 days and symptoms disappear .I'm going to check with DR next week to swith BP medication ..
Anyone else noted similar problems ?
Jack

Hi Rach73, just something I noticed that helps me is walking a bit bow legged down steps in the morning, that way if I do have to fall I can just sit back on my but, also mestinon as well as any ache inhibitor will cause that dizzy feeling if you stand up to quick, I experience it often myself

hi
 

Thanks for the replies.

I haven't had any change in medication and I dont take blood pressure pills.

Im wondering if its catarrah in my ears even though I dont have a cold my sinuses feel blocked.

I can be pretty unsteady on my feet especially during the night. My bedroom door is right at the top of the stairs so Ive had a safety banister fitted so I grab hold of that if I get up in the night. I was so scared before that I would lose my balance and take a tumble.

Thanks again for everyones responses

Love
Rach

That was how I was a few years ago too. And lots of chest infections that I could not shake off. It was only when I started thyroid meds ( and got ill) that the Dr started to work it all out.

Are you better if you use a torch? Night blindness/ giddy can be a symptom of Pernicious Anemia /low B12 .. If its night and we don't 'see' the ground... our feedback loop doesn't work properly ( or something like that ) and we lose our way. I had a bad fall 2 years ago at night for this reason and now have to use a torch or I can't walk. Some people on the forum actually have to crawl if its dark.

Hope the weather is a bit better over there ! I have family there and hope they are all OK. It looks really bad on the news.

hi
 

Hi Xanadu,

I always put the light on now when Im moving around at night. I just can't see in low level lighting.

The weather - Its freezing! My husband went out with the dogs this morning at 5am and it was minus 8 degrees centigrade. A new record low temperature was recorded in Devon last night of minus 10 degrees centigrade. Its unheard of down here. Its supposed to be clear and bright today but more snow is forecast for Friday, Saturday and severe weather warning of heavy snow Sunday. Britain has basically come to a standstill as we just dont really get weather like this.

Scotland and northern England have got it far worse than Devon. They've had snow since before Christmas!

All good fun, the pictures of snowmen and sculptures have been great on the news. It was lovely yesterday seeing the kids play in the snow! Plus the dogs love it!

Love
Rach