Vertigo

[EddieM]

The old Fred Dibnah vids got me thinking.

Anyone else had this? Never used to be afraid of heights whatsoever, was happy to walk right up to the edge of cliffs and peer over, go up tall buildings, climb high ladders etc. Now suffer terribly from really debilitating vertigo. Just thank god I'm only 6ft tall or I'd permanently feel sick. Anyone else? Sure it's an age thing! (wobbly legs probably)

 

[holmslaw]

I've got no problem with heights as long as I can touch something. I've worked on tower cranes, massive silos and never had a problem.

But if you told me to stand on a 500mm high wall without touching anything, I would lose my balance very quickly and have to jump off before I feel off - weird.

And, that Fred Dibnah video where he's building a chimney platform 200 foot up, made me want to puke.

 

[conny]

Don't like heights and would prefer not to work at them but sometimes have to.
Always glad when it is over.

 

[namsag]

Not vertigo but had a really strange feeling just before going up the hip side of a roof other week to put a flue in ,
As if something was going to happen.
First time ever but listened to the wee voice
Rearranged everything so i didnt have to work on that bit then just walked up tiles as normal....
This week working on 50 foot high roof not a prob..

Eddie at least your still getting a knee trembler at your age

 

[JohnD]

It often hits people as they got older. I used to have no problem looking over cliffs, climbing down Gaping Gill, walking along Edges etc

now it scares me working on the top platform of scaffolding

have heard of mountain guides who have to give up as they get older.

 

[ColJack]

I've no problems with height, it's falling I have a problem with..
if I go up on a lifter, the first hour or so I'm clinging onto the sides for dear life.. after that first hour, my brain must get the idea that it's safe and that it's not going to collapse so the feeling of unease goes away..

same with structures and such.. once it seeps in that I'm not going to fall off it or that it's not going to collapse, then I'm fine at heights..

 

[tim west]

perhaps your balance mechanism gives you giddy spells when its being pushed?

 

[EddieM]

Not vertigo but had a really strange feeling just before going up the hip side of a roof other week to put a flue in ,
As if something was going to happen.
First time ever but listened to the wee voice
Rearranged everything so i didnt have to work on that bit then just walked up tiles as normal....
This week working on 50 foot high roof not a prob..

Eddie at least your still getting a knee trembler at your age

If it were just the knees

Put it into perspective though, when I was about 19, I was working pretty much from the top of a three length ladder, painting the eaves of a reasonable tall house. Needless to say I overstretched, and the ladder probably about 35ft fully extended, did a 180 degree flip. Without really batting an eyelid, I automatically held onto the ladder with one hand, and stedied the paint pot with the other. Climbed down the ladder, and flipped the ladder back. These days, I reckon I'd be dead. The point being, although what I did was staggeringly stupid, I can honestly remember hardly batting an eyelid. Just went straight back up the ladder.

 

[wotan]

My most frightening experience was in Morocco, had climbed up the minaret of a mosque and stood out on the platform, where the wailer usually stands.
Swaying back and to, I have never been so relieved, to eventually reach backwards and grab the doorframe.

Wotan

 

[tim west]

stop drinking so much wotan

 

[EddieM]

I went up a similar structure, a tower / folly type thing, it's not particualrly high, perhaps 100ft, it was a pretty bright day and blustery day, the wispy clouds were moving rapidly overhead, and I swear the tower was moving with 'em. I honestly nearly threw up.

 

[wotan]

stop drinking so much wotan

Never drank during the day, I think it was the combination of the heat and heat haze.

 

[geraint]

if you had the condition... vertigo.. you could not even leave your bed...
let alone go to work....

 

[ricicle]

Fear of heights is actually called Acrophobia, not Vertigo !

 

[wotan]

Fear of heights is actually called Acrophobia, not Vertigo !

you are quite right, thank you.

Wotan