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Falling down...symptom or clumsiness?

Messages
38
Location
Wales
I'm wondering if anyone else gets this as a symptom of CFS?
In the last year I've fallen down the stairs twice whilst ill with other symptoms. The first time was when I had arm pain due to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I don't know what happened but suddenly I was slipping down the stairs but was stopped at the bottom by the closed dog gate.

The second time was this morning. I had strep throat before Christmas, finished the antibiotics on Christmas Eve and felt fine. Now I've caught a virus that's going around and feel dreadful again. I slipped again with no knowledge of how I fell.

I've always been clumsy and have lots of falling down stories. I'm not sure if this is something that's normal and it's a coincidence that both falls have been whilst my body is under stress. Or is this a symptom of CFS that flares up the same as any other?

Thinking back I have lots of memories where my legs just suddenly stop working, where they forget how stairs work, trouble getting onto escalators and wobbly legs etc. I always assumed that happened to everyone at times (I had glandular fever aged 7 which is where my symptoms started).

I'd be really interested to hear if anyone else has had similar experiences.
 

Valentijn

Senior Member
Messages
15,786
The second time was this morning. I had strep throat before Christmas, finished the antibiotics on Christmas Eve and felt fine. Now I've caught a virus that's going around and feel dreadful again. I slipped again with no knowledge of how I fell.
My guess would be hypotension or similar form of orthostatic intolerance (OI). Viruses can cause hypotension, which might be especially bad if you already have some OI as a common ME symptom.

But it's probably best to get it checked out with a doctor. If you have OI on a chronic basis, it can probably be diagnosed and possibly treated.
 

Little Bluestem

All Good Things Must Come to an End
Messages
4,930
I stumble and fall occasionally. I fumble and drop a lot and it has become worse. This did not happen before the ME/CFS, so I think it is a symptom.