Boy, do I HATE a crowd, a grocery store, department store or any place with too mcuh stimulation. My brain hates it and so so I. I too could not tolerate a car but after awhile I could tolerate an suv. the higher up the better. As a matter of fact I had jsut gotten a brand new audi 4 months before my diagnosis and after that it sat in the driveway because I hated riding in it. My husband too has one but I won't ride in it, too low, too much stimulation. We sold my audi(with <2500 miles) 1 1/2 years post op and bought 2 suvs. I still hardly ever drive, it exhausts me. I still use a cane for balance when I'm out and about, but it doesn't bother me, whatever I have to do to feel real in this world I will do. I do tend to avoid things which I know will be difficult for me like the movies or big parties. I am about to start fundraising for Obama soon and will have to put on some major parties so we shall see how I hold up. My last political event was a party I had for Elizabeth Edwards 10/04. That day I had an ocular migraine which sent me to the ER and I got diagnosed with the acoustic within two weeks. If you will recall, Mrs. Edwards got diagnosed within that same time period with breast cancer, how ironic. I still tire easily, still get shakes, but my life gets better now every day but it has taken more than two years to get here. don't despair, I wish I had known about this site way back when. These people have a wealth of information to share with all.
