Karen,
As a fellow AN traveler I can appreciate your sympathy! But we can help ourselves here!
Where low light situations occur, the answer that we all are seeking is that we have to constantly be aware of our lighting levels to help ourselves from falling off balance. It forces us to walk more slowly.Where there is darkness, specifically sudden darkness, there always has to be a fully charged flashlight close at hand or other source of light.
Apart from having bruised shins and egos,we must not let this become a handicap, if at all possible..... Our balance systems have been compromised ---fine, but there is something that we can do about it. ADAPT!
I don't want to hold myself out as an example here but it is something that I have been doing for a long time (since I was 17) I have learned that instead of feeling sorry for myself (as a victim of multiple strokes at ages 10, 13, and 17) I feel proud of myself for having adapted so well. Having an additional handicap, as an AN is, is certainly challenging, but not insurmountable.
Sometimes you have to pick yourself up analyze the situation or the reason you fell (low light)and adapt (get a flashlight or put on a lamp) or else you will fall again.
Certainly, there are others here with other handicaps than an AN.
In all cases, we mustn't be lulled into feeling sorry for ourselves, we MUST adapt.
I will reiterate my statement, it helps us to illuminate dark places, for the eyes are much more than merely "windows on the soul" they are our brains feelers or mapping devices they are constantly working (except when we are sleeping). Our bodies have learned to adapt, our eyes have replaced our disconnected vestibular nerve in functionality. That is why we seem "lost" in darkness.
My AN friends, I am 55 now, I intend to live a great deal longer, I won't let my lack of balance at night slow me down, not when I am getting up from bed, I will merely turn on one more light! I remain determined throughout this!
Mike
