Crowded places make me dizzy...normal??

[amymeri]

Most of the time I am fine.

But in a bookstore, library, grocery store or other crowded, visually busy place I get a headache and dizzy.

I can ride my horse and jump him, and he can be a whirling dervish..no problem.  I am fine at work and home...just shopping anywhere or somewhere visually busy and always indoors I start to feel a little sick.

Is this common?

Amy

[Jeanlea]

Amy,

I do believe that is common.  I used to be a bit dizzy in stores.  You just have to keep doing it and it should get better.  I was just at the grocery store today and didn't notice any problems.  It was a bit of a problem for the first several months after my surgery.

Congrats on being able to ride your horse!  I was able to push our car out of almost being in the ditch today.  lol 

Jean

[Joef]

my take on this is .. when its crowded .. you can't see were you are going .. I notice this when taking the train to work .. crowded, lots of people getting off the train at the same time.. you tend to look down ... and "we" can't do that .. force yourself to look up ... and see the horizon, I bet you will feel better.... 

[Boppie]

Amy,

By around one year you should be seeing a positive improvement in the dizzy/sick feeling you get in stores, etc.  It seems shopping and moving amongst lots of people became easier for me at 12 months post op.  That symptom was the last one to leave me.  Once in a while I still sense some instability on foggy, grey days.

[Battyp]

Amy it's common.  My surgeon told me it's from sensory overload.  Funny I've had this overwhelming desire to ride a horse lately...That is suppose to be very therapeutic    It does get better with time.  I have a lot of problems if I'm tired at 16 mos out.  If I'm  not tired then I usually handle things pretty well.  Tired I want to lay on the floor and whimper  LOL

Jean why'd ya put the car in the ditch in the first place?  In FL we drive on these things called roads!  Hope you're ok!

[amymeri]

Thanks for the feedback.  It was really, really bad in the months right after my surgery. No I can go shopping but I find it disorienting and I get that headachey/sick feeling.  I suspect it is the sensory overload and I am relieved it should get better.  Its an unpleasant reminder of the tumor.

Its been 10 months and I am really getting tired of all this post surgical stuff!!

Amy

[Static]

I always hated going shopping not long after my surgery for just that reason.  The dizziness/sick feeling eventually went away for the most part, but sometimes it hits me for no reason at all!  I still can't take the noise overload of crowded stores, restaurants, malls, etc.  It has made me very antisocial!   I'm three years out today.  I guess it's just taking me a bit longer to adjust.  Everyone's different   

[matti]

I am almost 9 years out and it still hits me from time to time. I have had to alter my shopping/driving times to avoid the crowds. Costco on the weekends is especially brutal and I generally have to hang to my hubby while shopping.

Happy 3rd anniversary Static!!!

hugs,
Cheryl

[nancyann]

I hear ya guys, same thing with the crowds.  The most I've lasted in a mall was about 2 hours, once it starts getting crowded, I'm outta there.   Your right Joef, looking ahead & not down helps.

[Catflower]

I've been having that same problem for a long time (before I was diagnosed with AN).  This probably explains it.  My appointment with the surgeon has finally arrived (today, Monday, at 3:00 PM).  I'm really nervous.

Linda in WV

[nancyann]

Hey Linda,

Hang in there girlfriend,   good luck with the doc.
Will be putting out positive energies to you at 3pm today !!!
We're all with ya,     Nancy

[Jeanlea]

Linda, good luck at your appointment today.  We'll be thinking of you.

Static, happy 3rd anniversary!

Michelle, we have that white stuff called snow here.  lol  My husband wasn't handling the anti-lock brakes well.  Thought it would take so long to drive.  I'm not that skilled at finesse driving when trying to get out, so I opted to push. 

Jean

[Windsong]

Crowded grocery stores, huge lobbies with high ceilings and bouncing echoes of background noise drove me nuts and disoriented me about eight years before my An got diagnosed and treated. Too much sensory input, all affecting the balance and hearing nerves.

Malls? LOL I learned the hit and run technique.... pull up ouside the store as close as i can get, run in and buy what i needed, and get the heck out of there.... called one stop shoppping....

That list of helpful techniques had me smiling. I have used all of them, and still keep my sojourns short and sweet to preserve my sanity and keep the wonkies at bay.

Cheers,
W.

[Pembo]

2.5 years out and sometimes I still feel it. We were shopping before Christmas and all the crowds, lights, etc made me feel a little weird. I agree with those who said it is too much sensory input.

It definitely was VERY bad right after surgery and it is much better but there are still those times when I feel it.

[Obita]

Oh my gosh.  Same for me.  Just plain can't do the busy places.  I wouldn't say it makes me sick, just so overwhelmed I want to scream.  Another form of claustrophobia I guess.  ANphobia I call it.  I live 15 miles from the Mall of America.  I have never been in the place and doubt I ever will.  I can't imagine going to a huge mall like that with an amusement park inside to boot........no thank you.