Falling Down and Getting Up

By Barbara Moore

2 min read

This is the story of how I fell down, landed on my buttocks, and got myself back up again without help from anyone.

Embracing being home alone

Being home alone always makes me feel good. The solitude is good for the soul, and this was a nice day to have that solitude. I had washed and dressed and was getting ready to join a virtual group on Zoom.

Most of my days are spent in my office because I look out into the backyard, and I can see my flowers, birds, and some wildlife.

When I looked down, I realized I needed to vacuum the floor. Under my desk tends to gather lots of debris from the bottom of my feet.

Because my legs are short, I consistently keep a stool beneath my desk so that my feet can reach the floor.

Navigating calmness

I bent down to vacuum the floor with a hand-help vacuum I had just purchased. I was bending down in front of me, and my chair caught in my tubing and stuck.

As I reached forward, I lost my grip and was on the floor in a nanosecond.

The one thing that I've learned is that when something like this happens, it happens very quickly. We are often stunned, but if we're not careful, panic will set in, making everything worse than it already is.

So, I had to sit there and relax for a minute before I could form a plan to get up. After all, I couldn’t just be sitting around all day.

I used a calm voice to encourage myself without being judgmental. First and foremost, I was okay, and nothing was broken.

Overcoming challenges with determination

Then I looked around to see what tools I had that could help me. The two things I had at hand were my stool and my walker.

I quickly grabbed the stool. I knew I could lift myself onto the stool, which would get me halfway up. It was a good first step.

Getting on the stool raised me off the ground, but now my breathing was labored, and I had a strong urge to use the bathroom. I was not on my knees, and that was a good thing.

Then I had to get my breathing under control so I could get up. This would take some doing as my upper body isn’t as strong as it could be.

I panted for a minute, then began using pursed lips. I worked hard to catch my breath so I could stop gasping for air.

Putting the brakes on my walker took me a few tries, but it was eventually able to help pull me up. None the worse for wear, I was very proud of myself because I got through a difficult situation without any help, and I survived.

Editor’s Note: We are extremely saddened to say that on January 7th, 2024, Barbara Moore passed away. Barbara’s advocacy efforts and writing continue to reach many. She will be deeply missed.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The COPD.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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kloker Member
Falling is an interesting concept for me. I see how you fell forward and yet landed on your butt, but I'm not sure I could do that. Sounds like a rodeo trick to me. I like it when I fall and then nothing is injured. I fall a lot. I have fallen maybe 30 times or so in the last 90 days. So maybe I don't like it all that much, but I am somewhat used to it. I do have a good excuse, although my doctor disagrees. I am dizzy. 24-7 dizzy, as in all the time. Well, all the time when I am awake. I'm not sure if it continues while I sleep, but it is always there again (or still) when I wake up. So, the whole thing is puzzling in more ways than just one. I had Vertigo for a while last summer, but it was always only ever on my left side. They taught me exercises to do and now it is gone. But the dizziness ain't went nowhere. It is a constant companion. I went through a period where I fell an alarming number of times, and injured my right shoulder, which now likely has a torn rotator cuff. Interestingly, I always fall to the right. Enough that I have become adept at falling in a minimally painful way, maybe. Yet I've not fallen to the left even once. Ever. And I never fall back. I actually had to start using my walker in the house for a while. I now have to use it all the time when I go anywhere, but not in the house. But my PT guy has taught me new things to stop falling and it has worked! I have not fallen now in two months. Next week I go for inner ear and brain testing. Of course, as you pointed out, falling is only half the battle. Getting back up is the more challenging part. Since I always fall the same way I've learned and become pretty good at getting back up, except when my shoulder is hurting, which then adds a level of difficulty. That shoulder also makes me wake up in pain every morning and have a hard time getting up out of bed. So, gravity does keep us from flying odd the planet, but it can also keep us painfully attached to it. Also, the ground is hard. and, with the room always spinning, I find it difficult to accept it as normal rotation of the planet that everyone deals with just fine, except me. How annoying is that? Not only that, but am I standing up straight? I can't tell. Some days it is more vicious than funny.
1. Melissa.Arnold Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="kloker" user-id="4235094"/> Ah, balance therapy. The bane of my existence in my childhood. Please let me know if you meet my friend, the tilt board. I still have visit memories of learning to shift my weight from side to side, back to front ... I hope it helps a little. You may also want to talk with your therapy team about if they feel the walker style you have is right for you. There are a lot of different walkers out there, and frankly, many of them are not the greatest quality or too general for some people. I am currently shopping for a new walker for the first time in 20 years(!!!) and it has been like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I wish you all the best! -Melissa, <a href='http://copd.net' target='_blank'>copd.net</a> team
2. kloker Member
 <inline-mention username="Melissa.Arnold" user-id="4698523"/> Oh, heck. I don't know how that's going to work for me. Once I am outside and trying to walk or stand on any un-level surface, I have reached the point where I cannot stay upright, even with the walker, without help. So I don't know how that board is going to go. At the age of 4 I took ballet and martial arts. But I knew which way was up then. I seem to have lost that now, and according to the doctors, it isn't coming back. But I will try, and report back. Hmmm, the idea of a different type walker, eh? I've only seen one standard kind. I put the little ski-type feet on the back, and attached a carrier for my notebook, water, phone, etc. I have a very nice brand new rollator that the Red Cross gave me, but I've not used it as it is too wide and doesn't fold up to go in a vehicle. It has big wheels, lockable hand brakes, a seat with storage under it, etc. Slick, smooth, and red! I may have to give it a try. If you have any ideas about walkers that are different, I'd be interested in that, but I will go look some more on Amazon in the meantime. I never thought I'd find myself with this issue, it just never occurred to me. Standing on an un-level surface, like a ramp or tilted sidewalk or driveway has become so disoriented that even the walker is not enough. Crazy!
CommunityMember08d6d9 Member
Sorry your having problems. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Hope you can get some answers when you have some medical help.
1. Barbara Moore Moderator
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember08d6d9" user-id="7479026"/> :Thank you so much for your kind words. They means a lot to me. Barbara Moore (author)
Melissa.Arnold Community Admin
Loss of balance is so scary, especially when you've never dealt with it before. When I was a kid, a physical therapist actually worked with me on "practice falls" so that if I did lose my balance, I could prevent more serious injury and try to stay calm .... I love how you reasoned through it step by step, Barbara. Sometimes, you have to be resourceful when dealing with a chronic illness and clearly this was one instance where you did a great job of that! Thanks for telling this story. It might help people that are scared of falling but don't want to talk about it. -Melissa, <a href='http://copd.net' target='_blank'>copd.net</a> team
1. Barbara Moore Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Melissa.Arnold" user-id="4698523"/> thank you for your kind words. Barbara Moore (author)
Lizard Member
Hi all, my yoga teacher said that you can always get back up off the floor if you do a downward dog pose. So, whenever I'm playing with my dog on the floor and want to stand back up I always think of that. Do a downward dog plus fortunately a sturdy coffee table is right there too! (-:
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 <inline-mention username="Lizard" user-id="4580653"/> Hi again, Lizard, it is good to see you staying engaged with the community - we appreciate your participation here. Thanks for sharing this with the community. It sounds like it might be helpful for some folks (depending on their flexibility and mobility status), in terms of getting up off the floor, as your yoga teacher suggested. I am glad to hear this works so well for you. Keep up the good work! Leon (site moderator <a href='http://COPD.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)

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