Stanima Low Still After More Than 15 Years.

[Kathleen_Mc]

Just wonderng if there is anyone else around who is "long" past surgery and still has difficulty with stanima?
I am over 15 years post op from my orginal surgery and still I am very tired. I almost always wake up tired, I get naps whenever I can, I often all asleep on the couch before my son (who's 7) and I feel like I'm dragging myself everywhere.
Kathleen

[Rc Moser]

I can relate, I feel like crap most the time and fight headache's three to four times a week. IMO it drags you down where you just don't feel like doing anything,  :(luckily I can still make it to work most days, but by the time I get off I'm wore out, feel like crap, and my head usually hurts. :(  I find that the short drive home makes it worse. My ear starts buzzing, I get alittle dizzy from the movement and by the time I get home I almost got motion sickness. I sure hope you don't feel this way. Please give me some HOPE! But, I do think I'm getting better, my episodes don't last as long and I do have some good days.

[matti]

I am 8 years post-op and have not regained the stamina that I had pre-op. I find myself feeling very overwhelmed at the things I need to get done because of the lack of energy. I find that I need to pace myself during the day, so that I am not so tired in the evening. My doctors keep telling me that it is because I am getting older and also related to hormonal issues. Not sure I totally agree.

The good thing is that I never have problems falling asleep at night.

[Boppie]

I doubt anybody can tell you how much energy or staying power you should have in any given time because there are so many other factors.  I think one could compare themselves with a sibling, older or younger, and perhaps get some benchmark to go by.  But, in reference to aging...there is some amount of change in stamina over each advancing decade of life.  Having reached 64 I can say I had lots more stamina at 55 than I had pre-op.  I'd believe age 44-50 is the so called time of zest.  Then as menopause approaches (usually 52 or there about) the whole body shifts gears.  Men experience a similar shift, might have trouble sleeping, put on extra body weight, loose muscle mass.    I mean this might sound silly but as we get older we do slow down. 

As for feeling draggy, I'd say a blood workup, check thyroid, etcetera might give you an answer.  You might find out you are right on schedule and healthier than most people in your age group.   

The mistake we make as we age is comparing ourselves to young people.  We are bombarded every day with comparisons.

[Boppie]

RC,  I have sound induced tinnitus since my surgery.  I get a zzzttt after every sound I hear, after my own voice, and after these keys click on this keyboard.  On days when the humidity is high, it is worse.  I keep on keeping on, like you.  I am just too stubborn to pay attention to it.  I will find something more pleasurable to listen to.  When I drive, the road noise is very bad, so I play the radio low, this helps me.  I turn the TV low and listen.  Little by little I am adjusting, but it isn't easy is it?  We could all get jobs as endurance coaches.

[Rc Moser]

Boppie, Noise is really hard on me also. I cringe when ice drops from the ice machine. Silverware clacking drives me up the wall. Any high pitched noise makes me cringe. I have to have the TV so low my wife can verly hear it. I know I get on her nerves sometimes, but she understands having to set in the waiting room for 18 hours and taking me to who knows how many appointments. Life is definately different, but good! You probably know my motto: A day without a headache is a GREAT day!

[Captain Deb]

Since my surgery in 03, which felt like waking up 30 to 40 years older, my stamina has decreased in inverse proportion to my anxiety level.  Just leaving the house is a chore, especially for trips, Drs. appointments, etc. I work at home, and even though, I am able to work almost full-time again, I dread any kind of driving around chores (bank, grocery, etc.) I joined a gym to try to get myself out of the house more--didn't even go last week!

When I had my daily excruciating headaches, at least I had an excuse not to get out of bed!  Now I feel bad about myself when I feel like blowing everything off because my anxiety about it is overwhelming. I'm tired of kicking my own a** when I just DO NOT have the energy to get done what needs to get done. 

Woo! I needed that!  Thanks for listening (reading)

Capt Deb

[Battyp]

Deb I find my anxiety level climbing with leaving the house.  I've been avoiding grocery shopping for two days now.  I know how hard it is and how anxious I get while in the store.  I'm not able to work full time and figure when it comes to crunch time all my energy will be work and I'll not have much quality of life for anything else.  I can't tell is I'm depressed and that's why I'm sleeping so much or if I'm exhausted.  UGH!

[Captain Deb]

Believe me, Batty, you really are exhausted.  I think depression, anxiety and physical exhaustion all go hand-in hand with each other and feed off each other.  The core of it is the vestibular deficiency after surgery.  It takes a lot of physical energy to retrain your "other" systems--visual and skeletal-muscular.  Mine usually comes to a head in the form of a thumping mifraine --my body's way of telling me to "HEY!!! take the day OFF!!!!"  It does get better, though, but it's a bloody battle.  And it really doesn't improve by sitting around, either.  Getting up and getting out is hard WORK!!! No one understands this like someone who has been in your shoes, believe me!!!

Capt Deb

[Battyp]

I finally managed to go to the car wash and get some groceries and had a major anxiety attack.  I hate going out in public.  Some scarey dude came up behind me at the car wash and for a minute I freaked out as I realized I couldn't defend myself if I needed to.  Luckily I realized I wasn't out there alone and he was only looking to vaccum his car.  When he drove in all the windows were down and it didn't look dirty for a wash.  Mind games..they suck! 

[matti]

My anxiety level sky rockets when I leave the house. Not sure when the balance issues will surface, driving causes such sensory overload and then dealing with SSD. When I get back home, I am mentally/physically exhausted at trying to keep all these issues in check . Alot less anxious when I am with someone.

I suffer from panic/anxiety attacks. I had them 20+ years ago and worked through it and did not have any until last November. Working through them yet again.

Sorry what happened to you today BattyP. Take care!

matti

[Battyp]

Thanks Matti.

I've had anxitey attacks before surgery and was hoping they would go away but I guess that was a hope and a dream.  I'm still trying to get my heartbeat under control.  Darn didn't find those guys so had to wash my car myself 

[Larry]

Gee guys,

I had no idea that you have been affected this way. My concentration span has diminished and yeah, come to think of it, I do more of "can't be bothered" than I used to. Can't say that I have had panick attacks - gee that must be really hard to deal with. Can meds help? My wife had a breakdown some years ago and was put on a cocktail of drugs which she has now brought down to not a lot and is able to cope better with daily stresses, the kids and me.

I guess the AN and subsequent issues and side effects of the op creates a lowering of self confidence as well.

Anyway, relaxation does help but also confronting the issue helps - but you have to be ready for that. Confronting the issue like, doing the groceries but being aware of your surroundings especially at the beginning of recovery.

Laz

[DeniseSmith]

Sorry to hear about your anxiety attack.  i hope you all get them under control soon.


I have some advice about shopping at the grocery store.  In the beginning i always tried to have someone go with me and i would walk holding onto the cart and only go around the perimeter of the store.  Then whoever was with me would go up and down the isles.  As i got more comfortable, i would add an isle.  i am now able to go alone, sometimes it is still overwhelming and i leave before i have everything, but if my 13 yr old is home i usually make him go with me.  When he grows up he will be quite the bargain finder at the grocery store.   

I hope this helps.

D.

[thecakes]

   Your talking about shopping?  This is a killer,  in WalMart when you have a cart to hang on {thats good} but your looking for someone and you have to look up and down the isles and left and right too.