looking up and down

[lora]

I am doing pretty well full speed ahead--but still want to topple if I have to look up or down.  I am going to follow which ever direction my head is going!  Does this improve over time??

[leapyrtwins]

Lora -

I had retrosigmoid surgery on 5/31/07 and this was a big problem for me post surgery.  It's gotten better over time.  I think one of the tricks is to focus on something directly in front of you and not look up or down too much.  Once you reach the object you are focused on, pick another object that is farther away, focus on it, etc.  In my experience, you'll get better over time.

Good luck,

Jan

[nancyann]

Hi Lora:  yes, it DOES get better over time.  I started going for balance therapy 4 months post op as it wasn't getting better fast enough for me, now, 14 months post op, there are days I don't much notice it.  If I'm extra tired then I still get a bit wobbly, but NOTHING like the 1st few months.    HANG IN THERE !!!!    Nancy

[HeadCase2]

lora,
  Many AN'ers on this forum have reported that they sometimes turn toward the direction that they turn their head.  It does get better with more time.  For me this happened for a several months after AN surgery (lost one vestibular nerve).  When walking on a flat level area and noting the direction I was headed, then shut my eyes and turned my head a few times, when I opened my eyes I was no longer headed in the original direction.  This has gotten much better with time, and doesn't really affect me much now.  Lot's of walking also helps recover balance capabilities.
  If you haven't signed up for Vestibular Retraining with a Physical Therapist, see if your doctors can refer you to a PT that is versed in Vestibular Retraining.   The retraining helped me a lot.  I've been reading lately that Vestibular Training may have a time period when it is most affective-- the article was actually about people with balance problems after a stroke, but it wouldn't surprise me to find out that AN patients have a "sweet spot" in time after AN treatment where Vestibular Retraining will be most beneficial.
Regards,
  Rob

[yardtick]

Hi,
I'm a teller @ credit union.  I count a lot of money.  I have to focus on my left thumb and keep my head very still when I whip throught the bills.  Some days nothing stops my head from swimming.

Anne Marie