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.

[Lucille125]

I  have some problem I can't live my life I would do nothing

[Lucille125]

I have same exact problem would like to talk to you

[tam121]

Hi Im suffering the same thing 6 years now and at the moment the dizziness and tinnitus is getting a little worse at the moment, I have been to 2 neurologists, ENT, 2 MRI's, CT scan, ECG, im going to see another neurologist soon I will request a spinal tap hopefully something comes up.... Has anyone found an answer to their problems yet??? I know this post is afew years old..

[Osslot]

yes! mine started this September. all the symptoms you described but any doctor (2 neuro, ENT, cardiologist...) was able to establish a diagnosis.

[jr991]

Hello, I also am experiencing these symptoms and have been for 8 years now.  I don't have any answers for anyone and I wish I could say it gets easier but it hasn't for me.

Up until a year and a half ago the spaced out / always drunk feeling was really my only symptom.  I was then hit with several other equally and more disturbing symptoms.

Here’s the symptoms I’ve been experiencing over the last several years:

• Feeling spaced out all the time, brain fog, mental clarity off, eyes feel unfocused/dazed
This has been the worst of my symptoms over the years and it’s there 24/7… some days are better than others, but it’s always noticeable. This is especially worse when in busy visual environments, and under fluorescent lighting.

• Unable to Concentrate
I have a hard time concentrating or focusing on things. This is especially troublesome when talking to people, I often hear what they are saying but my concentration isn’t there so I don’t comprehend or remember most of the conversation.

• Fatigue / Always yawning
• Chronic Sinus/Nasal Stuffiness/Ear Fullness
• Dizzy, wooziness, off balance feeling
• Severe Eye Floaters
• Tinnitus
• After Images / Images get burned into my eyes
• Mild Visual Snow/Static on certain backgrounds
• Near constant eye/ear/temple pain
• Headaches the start at the base of my skull
• Muscle Twitching, Weakness and Aches

If anyone has any ideas or shares similar symptoms I would like to hear from you.  Please send me a private message so we can discuss.

[robi44th]

yes, i do have the same problem,,but in the beginning it was just heart palpitation,,i read so many article,,among all of them one thing is common and that is sinus problem(allergic to dust),my symptoms changing constantly and worsening except one that is off balance. now i m in doubt that doc would,  be able to find anything, because we know very little of our body.i thing we all r either suffering fm MS or something that is yet to be found out , or could remain unknown to the medical science.

[predzy]

Its been yrs since this post.  please tell me you found a cure

[erinta]

I've been feeling the exact way for a couple of years (at least). It's not vertigo..

[Lucille125]

I don't know what to do been to million doctors

[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.

[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

[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.....