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Weird lack of balance

Hey everybody!  

I have a question about balance issues experienced by those with MS - and those without a diagnosis too!  When I was 17 I started having this problems with staying upright.  In my head, everything felt totally normal - I mean, I didn't feel "dizzy" or like the room was spinning or like anything was wrong at all.  But, if I didn't pay attention, I'd start to totter over.  I think I'd just start leaning - like my head didn't quite have the balance thing down right - but it'd start out really subtle, so typically wouldn't notice it until I was starting to fall or already heading for the ground.  I remember walking around with one hand always on a wall, or on a friend's arm, because it was like it was without warning - I'd just start tipping!  Ooh, and the shower was kind of terrifying.  Is any of this ringing bells with anybody?  I think the key thing is that everything FELT fine.  Like if I closed my eyes and I wasn't watching the world tip, then I wouldn't notice it all, or at least not until I hit something, or I could feel the bend in my feet and ankles.  Has anybody else experienced this?  

I'm 22 now, by the way.  I think I've had some periods of this balance trouble since then, but not lately, and gosh I'm just so bad at keeping track!

I've got a pretty messy medical history, and I think a LOT of it can be explained by things that are much more benign than MS (maybe hyperventilation syndrome, some pretty major stressors, migraines...).  I've got a positive spinal tap that makes me think something is wrong with my nervous system, though - so I'm just trying to figure out all the symptoms that I can't explain through other means.  This is one of them.  I was just curious if this is something that is consistent with MS - or anything else, for that matter!  I really appreciate your input.  I'm going to see an internal specialist in a week, and I want to be prepared.

I hope you all had a good weekend!  Anybody do anything cool? :)  Okay, thanks all.  Best to you guys -
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Avatar universal
Thanks for posting, stella and Lulu!  :)  I'm sorry to hear about your balance issues, stella, and especially your problems with doctors - so frustrating!!  Lulu, I actually haven't seen an ENT but maybe that would be a good idea?  And about the spinal tap - the only things that were "positive" were the white blood cell count - 9, instead of 5 or under - and the oligoclonal bands (10 specific to the CSF).  My neurologist says it sounds like there's some kind of autoimmune response going on in there.  Okay, well again, thank you guys for your responses!
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572651 tn?1530999357
Hi Celery,
I can't add much to the conversation about the balance other than I assume you have been check out by an ENT doc.  I am off kilter a lot of the time so I can relate to you saying that you compensate to stay upright - I do that a lot.

You say your spinal tap was postitive?  Can you tell us what they found ?  

We'll watch for more info,
Lulu
Helpful - 0
1220551 tn?1269112178
Hey there

I'm not diagnosed with anything and pretty new here but I know exactly what you mean by tipping over and not feeling anyhting- until your face hit the wall or whatever. It happens to me alot but I feel dizzy alot too.

I do remember when I was in my early 20s that started happening to me just like you describe it and when I went to the dr she told me that I must have an ear infection then she checked my ears and sd thats not it... then after I kept pushing for answers she looked in my ears again and sd theres fluid behind your eardrums thats whats causing it. It still makes me mad because it was soo obvious she just wanted me out of there.

So anyway, I'm sure some more ppl will comment but my advice wd be to make a list of symptoms and try to remember around the time you had them you know, it doesn't have to be specific-just whatever you can remember. It may very well be that your symptoms all point to one thing but I think everyone will agree that it's too early to tell.

I'm glad you're going to see a specialist. Good luck! -and sorry I'm no help at all!

Stella

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