Im 36. How old r u? Feel free to explain when u felt the affects of ataxia. I explain mine briefly on my profile.
Hi Terry
I am 52. I am still unsure about when I first felt symptoms. At least since my teen years, I have been uncoordinated, clumsy.
I'm 44 in a few days! (Accepting sympathy in bucket loads! lol :) )
After talks with GP and other medical folk, it has been agreed that I have most probably been affected most of my life by ataxia but not known it. (Profile has more detail.)
I was told I have ataxia about four years ago.
Hi Terry - I’m 42; and my AVM ( like a stroke) bled when I was turning 38. I was diagnosed with Ataxia shortly thereafter…as for signs, if I had any, I just poo-pooed them…thinking the headaches were a fluke, my struggle to feel balanced while doing turns as a ballroom dancing instructor was surely just my age, etc.
Michael - when I turned 40, one of my cousins said “welcome to the club”, and someone else said that it’s just a number…so I’ll pass those words-of-wisdom forward.
You’ll soon be in the exclusive 44-year-old club-congrats!; and, it’s just a number. Your “real” age is how happy you are with what you’ve done so far. That’s how I choose to look at it anyway. 
Michael said:
I’m 44 in a few days! (Accepting sympathy in bucket loads! lol
After talks with GP and other medical folk, it has been agreed that I have most probably been affected most of my life by ataxia but not known it. (Profile has more detail.)
I was told I have ataxia about four years ago.
:) :) :) !!!
Yeah! It's all just numbers!
I never look at a person and treat them as anything other than who they are regardles of age (or other factors). The person is always more important to me than a number. :)
(Thanks for kind words. :) )
Julie A. said:
Michael - when I turned 40, one of my cousins said "welcome to the club", and someone else said that it's just a number...so I'll pass those words-of-wisdom forward.
You'll soon be in the exclusive 44-year-old club-congrats!; and, it's just a number. Your "real" age is how happy you are with what you've done so far. That's how I choose to look at it anyway. :)
Michael said:I'm 44 in a few days! (Accepting sympathy in bucket loads! lol :) )
After talks with GP and other medical folk, it has been agreed that I have most probably been affected most of my life by ataxia but not known it. (Profile has more detail.)
I was told I have ataxia about four years ago.
I'm 46, SCA1 and either I've had symptoms since birth, or... I'm one of the most uncoordinated , clumsy people on planet earth! I couldn't run " right " , always falling and tripping over absolutely nothing, tripping bare footed on flat floor because I stumped my toe because I for some reason all of the sudden didn't pick up that foot enough during the step, randomly just having my hands "release" when holding something with no warning... We found out two years ago my dad has SCA and 6 of his cousins did.. found out last year his brother has it, and my test is at Athena right now. I am very much further progressed than my uncle ( he only has a CAG repeat of 39, walks fine and has no issues unless he closes his eyes , My dad just passed away from SCA and what it does to a person ).
Ha, Ha Micheal. Your a spring chicken yet!
I'm 52 and felt my ataxia at the age of 45. Down hill from then.
Hi
I am also 52
Diagnosed at 47 in 2008
Feel I have always had ataxia looking back clumsiness etc
Symptoms much worse since 2008 eg wheelchair
Regards
Barney
Hi Terry...I'm 49 .. My ataxia derives from severe brain injury in car accident 20 months ago... After the coma & initial reahab, I thought I would be much better in 1 year.. I was in great shape (a marathoner), but ataxia has plagued me. I could type over 80 words/min. (even 5 mos. post accident). It has taken me 15 minutes (countless typos) with one shaky index finger to type this. My speech is so bad commercial voice-to-text software doesn't work.
I am now 53 but four years ago I had no symptoms.Now I cannot speak or walk and old ladies help me instead of the other way around.I feel old before my time but at least I am still here and can enjoy the new chapter.
Marie,
Last winter I took a arthritic swim class. All the women in the class were 65 and older. Their were at least 10 women in the class. They were kind to me but shocked. They could do more then me. One time I got out of the pool and slipped a little. But of course fell, because I have no control.How do you think I felt when 85 year old women were faster and steadier then me. The first class they thought I came drunk. The second class I told them what I had when we were in the locker room and I couldn't just walk over a bench. Yes we do have a new chapter.
Hi Terry, I'm 52 and have had ataxia for about 23 years. First knew something was wrong when I couldn't walk straight one morning. Scary!
Lori
I did go swimming for about a year but now getting dressed once a day is bad enough and I can't even too that withhout help.Ladies in their 80s have to help me down steeps so I know how you feel. I get worried for them feel such a burden and I am usually the youngest.
I am 70. In 2011 I had some trouble with sudden turns, tripping over nothing occasionally, losing balance as in leaning over and just keep going. Last Jan., just over a year ago, we moved in to help my 91 yo mil. About that time hubby and I decided my balance problem was getting worse, The end of Jan.,2012 I took a pretty bad fall in bathroom. Fortunately, I was not hurt badly, but went to doctor shortly after that. She sent me to neurologist and they spent most of 2012 testing and ruling out causes for my "dizziness" I still don't have a diagnosis, but was using a cane and driving the end of Sept.,2012. Shortly after that I got a rollater, and I really need it to get around. Never had trouble driving, but at doctor's advise I haven't driven since before Christmas. I also had a 3 wheeled bike that I rode around town. I sold it in Dec. I never had trouble riding it, but because of weather conditions, had not ridden it in some time. I was afraid if I fell with it, the results would be bad.
After reading comments by others, I wonder if my clumsiness and lack of coordination all though my life was ataxia related. It was never bad but I always had trouble doing what seemed to be easy for others.
Hi Terry,
I'm 47. I had symptoms for 10 years off and on. Nero's were confused because they proved beyond a doubt I did not have MS, but didn't know what I had. The last three years I've progressed very quickly and they sent me to an Ataxia Specialist and Professor at UCLA. She is involved in the Ataxia research for a cure and was able to diagnose me Spinocerebella Ataxia #35. It's very rare, all she could find was four families in China with 35.
Nice to meet you,
Take care,
Robin
Hey Terry,
46 right now, physical symptoms started about 2 years ago. Had problems with depression and anxiety for about 10 years before that. So far no real diagnosis. Neuro has "spastic ataxia" in my file, which made my GP laugh, he was like "what the hell is that?" Gotta laugh:)
I am 61 (feb 16). I had Aortic valve replacement surgery 9/7/11 and my family noticed changes while still in ICU. It took until 2/12 for the diagnosis. (Cerrabellar Ataxia) to be made. Had never heard of Ataxia before.
Anyone in Central Florida interested in setting up a meeting/support group? I have free access to a great meeting place.