Feeling off, off balance, head pressure....what IS THIS? HELP!

[riverwild]

My problem started about 2 years ago. I've had 3 seperate episodes. The first one started off as my background vision not focusing in as quick as the rest. then I would get double vision for a short time after sleeping, and basicly felt off balance all day, everyday for 3 months. I was told it was probably an inner ear virus that threw off my balance and vision a little. They sent me for vision therapy. Im not sure it did anything, but in 3 months, it was just gone as suddenly as it appeared. I was tested for everything at the time...had a CT scan, MRI, saw eye doctors, had vision tests, saw audiologists, had hearing and dizzy tests, saw an ENT specialist and had a whole lot of blood testing. Nothing came back.

the 2nd episode was about half of what the first one was. This happened about 2-3 months after recovering from the 1st. It was this time mostly an off balance issue. I got sent to a neurologist who ran another bunch of blood tests and sent me for an EEG. That came back with some spikes and classified as abnormal even though I had no idea anything was off. She said I had a slight partial seizure disorder and when all this took place I was 2.5 months into things and by the time she put me on medication (Keppra) for it, I already felt better. So we all figured it did the trick and was helping and I was pretty good till a year and a half later...now.

my 3rd episode (now, 8 weeks into it) is again, much better than the last. This time I have a very light feeling of off balance and feeling "off", some head pressure now and then, but no visual stuff. Its very subtle and hard to describe. But its constant. My new neurologist upped my dose of Keppra and it has done nothing. In fact, I seem to now be getting alot of headaches, am tired alot, not sleeping well at night at all, and have had some bad dreams since the new dose. I even tried to take a nap today and woke up immediately every time I started to fall asleep with sudden heart pounding. (This tiredness and migranies started when I was put on Keppra in the begining, but got better, but I've never had a hsitory of migraines till then.) Hes confused, and isn't sure about the seizure disorder as they arent supposed to last constantly for 3 months at a time- which all of these episodes seem to have in common so far. I go in for another longer, 4 hour videotaped EEG soon. if it comes back normal then he will wean me off the anti seizure drugs and rethink things.
I've also had the heart pounding problem before all this started but was checked out a couple times and was only told that I had an extra few heartbeats after wearing a 30 day monitor...nothing major, but they could put me on heart meds if I wanted it.
I was adopted, but have info that anxiety and stress runs rampant thru my background. My birth mother was also an alcoholic and drank and used valium with all her three kids (me included.) My half sister had a stroke in her eye due to stress and has various anxiety/panic attack related health problems that sound a little like mine. Her daughter too. Plus my half brother has the same issues with panic attacks/anxiety. They've all checked out fine with doctors and it was all ruled severe anxiety.
Is there anything I might be missing with my symptoms or my neuro might be missing? Im desperate for help at this point. I've been to see alot of doctors now and everyone seems confused. Do partial seizures last 3 months long...like 24/7? Thats what my symptoms are right now...being off and feeling a little off balance ALL the time.
Could this be heart related? Stress related? Anything at all else I could look for?
I'm so TIRED of not feeling normal and being "off." I'm literally at my wits and pocket books end.
HELP?

[dodo987]

i have had the same thing on and off for the past 6 years. i am almost certain it is anxiety based!

[dodo987]

i have had the same thing on and off for the past 6 years. i am almost certain it is anxiety based!

[Lizzy8707]

Hi,

Have you received any diagnosis or experienced this again? I have similar symptoms and am wondering what it could be. The doctor thinks thats it is Multiple Sclerosis or Bells Palsy... Im hoping that it is neither and that you have an alternative to explore...

Hope you are well!

[tmann3323]

If you wear contacts try to not wear them for couple weeks instead wear glasses, i find it helpful not of course does not make the off balance feeling go away, do you feel sometimes really heavy like there is extra weight on you? The pressure in your head does it feel like a slight electrical shock sometimes?