I kept a journal for me but the did an edit before taking my list to the Doctor. I did not want to present so much that they just dismissed me as crazy. I picked the things that were worrying me the most even though I had the list for later when I knew they were listening to me and helping me. I got grey outs or at least that is what I called them to the Dr. Vision dims and darkens and I grab for a wall, my doctor seemed to understand this wording just fine. I guess I will take grey outs over black outs any day! :)
Forgot (ironically) to include one more thing...I kept a headache log for a couple months. If you can put together a spreadsheet, 1 per symptom (1 for drop attacks, 1 for headaches, etc), you can easily see the patterns & progression. My dr seemed to like it.
I have kept a dated log since the day my symptoms began. I'm very forgetful naturally and even more so when in pain, so it comes in handy. I also bring a copy of it whenever I go to the first appointment with a new dr. They make you fill out forms about your symptoms usually, so having that with me allows me to be extremely specific.
Hi...some do keep journals.....
A drop attack can be a little diff for each o f us....but what u describe is pretty close to what I had happen.,..except for the gray area in ur vision.,...
During my drop attack I was standing one minute and the next...I was mid fall and could not respond to stop or get up once I hit the ground , but I was aware I was falling at the mid fall point....
My NS explained a Drop attack as like flipping a light switch....imagine the CSF blockage as a way of turning off all signals ...how to stand, move, etc.....so the switch gets flipped off and then back on so quickly we r not out for more than a few seconds and y I was aware I was falling mid fall.....
I was very confused right after as well as very nauseated....
My drop attack I had was on concrete ....I had injuries from that fall....a really badly sprained left ankle, and a torn meniscus in my right knee which needed surgery to repair.
This is what helped me push for answers...Drs felt I had lupus for a few yrs prior, did more tests after my knee surgery and found the chiari.,
"selma"