Drunk, unsteady, tiltled feeling, and heart-beat like feeling in brain

[kelly_k]

SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!! I am a 27 year old woman, and I have been having an array of symptoms that despite seeing doctor after doctor, they cannot find a diagnosis.

I feel unsteady on my feet, especially when walking. I feel that I tilt to the right when I walk, and cannot walk in a straight line. It's feels like I'm "drunk" or on a moving boat, but I do not drink AT ALL, and never have. It is especially bad when I look up and then down at the ground. I also feel my brain "beats", just like a heart beat would. And everytime that "beat" happens it makes me feel like i've just moved an inch to the side and then back, even though I keep my head steady, so this distorts my vision in that way.

I also have been getting migraine headaches, especially over my left eye socket.

I also am extremely fatigued. I sleep about 8-9 hours a day. If I dont sleep when I feel the need, the "drunk" feeling increases, and I have to get to bed ASAP.  In the mornings, If I dont get enough sleep, I wake up feeling like I am in a daze and  half-asleep and stumbly. So when this happens, I have to go back to bed and sleep more. This is really disruptive to my life. My eyes also feel very tired, burning and irratated when this sleep-thing happens, I dont know why.

This  unsteadyness has been going on for about 6 years now. It came on all of a sudden. The fatigue came on about 3 years ago. I have never hit my head, fallen or have had anything happen that would maybe explain why I feel that way with my head. I went to a neurologist who was rushed and busy. He sent me for an MRI (without the ink dye). It came back saying that I have a "Crowded Foramen Magnum", but the Dr. didnt really explain what it was (he was very rushed and busy) and only said that would not be the cause of my dizziness.

I've had blood tests done (CBC, Mono, Thyroid, etc..) but they have all come back "normal".  Yet I still feel this way.
This is not related to stress, anxiety or any other psychological problem. Doctors cannot seem to find the cause and often look at my "normal" test results and dismiss it as "just stress". I know that this is not the case. I lead a healthy lifestyle, do not smoke, drink, do drugs, I eat well and sleep a lot.

I cannot play sports (due to the balance problem), go to places like busy malls, grocery stores,  or downtown, where people walk into me and i have to step out of the way, since this totally throws me off balance, so I simply avoid going to malls, busy places, places without rails, and I avoid going on escaltors etc..

I also have hypoglycemia and have to eat every 2 hours and snack constantly, yet I stay the same weight.
I also have seasonal allergies, and allergies to dust, pollen etc..

I have seen and Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor and he says there are no problems with my ears.
I have seen an Optometrist, since the Dr. thought it might be my glasses prescription. It is not. This was ruled out.
I am awaiting to have a ultrasound of my eyes done next month (March 2009).

With all these health symptoms mixed together I feel really awful and frustrated. I used to be very active, social, like to go places, play sports, but since this started all of a sudden 6 years ago, I haven't been able to do any of that.

Please PLEASE help me. If anyone can give me any advice, or tips on what to do, or what to look for, or on what it could possibly be, please do so, I appriciate it SO very much.

I live in Ontario, Canada. If anyone knows of a Neurologist who specialized in balance/dizziness problems, please let me know. Thank you so much.




This discussion is related to Loss Of Balance weird Feeling Like Im Stoned Or Drunk.

[selmaS]

Hi..a crowded forum magmum can be chiari malformation...how long ago was ur MRI and do u have copies of the MRI and the report?

Many of the symptoms u described r very similar to this condition...however u do have other dx's that could be causing many of ur symptoms.
If u do have chiari along with ur other conditions u will ned to seek out a NS that specializes in chiari.I do not know of ne offhand in Canada....stop by the chiari forum here on MedHelp and see our chiari specialist thread.
May I ask did u have a fall or trauma to ur back or neck 6 yrs ago?...a car accident?

For more info please see the health pages.....

[kelly_k]

Hi Selma,

Thanks for the info. I had the MRI in November 2007, and I do have a photocopy of the report. I never had a fall or trauma of any kind to my back or neck 6 years ago. That is why I find it so strange that these symptoms came all of a sudden and out-of-no-where.

I will check out the chiari forum page.

Thanks

[evesjr]

vertigo? sounds like it---there are excercises you can do to correct inner ear imbalance. My doctor also told me to take dramamine when the symptoms are really bad. An ENT I saw a few years ago didn't see anything abnormal in my ears and my MRI was normal.