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 -