Joystick and altitude hold

This has probably been covered before but I could not get a hit on Search.I am using the MS Sidewinder FF joystick. When I fly on autopilot with altitude hold (etc.) and I move the joystick, even slightly, when I want to use the hat switch the aircraft responds to the joystick. In other words, the joystick overrides the A/P altitude hold.I don't think it is the MS joystick causing the problem since a friend has the Logitech force feedback joystick and has the same problem.Is there a solution to this or do we hope that the next release of FS will fix it?Bill