balance problems at night

[0224]

I have chiari malformation and POTS. I noticed my balance did improve after surgery. My surgery was 9 months ago. I notice now that my balance is still bad at night. When it is light out I do pretty good but when the sun goes down I notice my balance is off. I wonder why this is? Please help?

[selmaS]

  Yes I feel that way too...even in a crowded room...it can get over whelming....hard to explain to most people....

Biggest problem is, it is hard to trust all the other drivers out on the road...lol...

[0224]

Good for you!!! I feel like when I drive it is hard to focus because there is to much coming at me like my brain can't think right it is very weird.

[selmaS]

  I am 6 yrs post op and it is much better then it was....it can take time and we each will have our own time table.......

Just recently I have decided to try and drive again...just during the day to start....but not sure how it will go....lol...

[0224]

I'm 9 months out have you seen improvement post surgery or I wonder if it something I will have to deal with?

[selmaS]

  It is the lack of light so our depth perception is off.

[0224]

Do you know the reason why your balance is worse at night?

[selmaS]

  Hi...yes !! it is as soon as it gets to be dusk...and I was told to avoid darkened rooms...our depth perception can be the issue and when it is dark we can not tell where the floor is....I also had issues with checkerboard floors...dark and light .....and the worst situation I was in was in NYC on the High Line...one area had a bridge that was open steel structure...so you could see thru it to the ground....well when I got to it I was not aware and I felt as if I was falling and lost my balance pretty bad, lucky for me my daughter caught me.

I hope this helps and makes sense....I still do not drive due to my depth perception issues...and I am doing better at night....but can tend to lose my balance at the top of the stairs if a light is not on....so be careful and carry a small flash light.