problems with passing out and feeling drunk

[madgrannyb]

I have had this problem for over 25 years without a diagnosis.  I am dizzy 24 hours a day.  I feel and act drunk all the time.  I pass out 3 or more times a day, sometimes I am awake but cannot move (like cataplexy), sometimes I am fully out, either time my heart races fast.  I get a headache on the right side middle of my head before I pass out that lasts for a few minutes to a few hours. any pressure to my right side of my head and my dizziness gets worse. I am very tired all the time.  I cannot walk across the room without falling into something.  I have been using a wheelchair for a while now. I still pass out even while sitting.  I have had CT scans, MRI's, blood tests, ex rays, tested for Meniers, MS, brains tumors, diabetes, hypoglycemia and have none of these things.  I have had three heart attacks, high blood pressure, IBS, ulcers.  but it is not related to my heart either. I have flashes of light that go from one eye to another around the edges of my view.  I also have sleep paralysis. It has steadily gotten worse over the last few years from once a month dizzy spells and sometimes being a klutz to 24 hours a day. I am never hungry anymore, but am always thirsty.  the doctors have told me that there is nothing they can do, that I just have one of those mystery problems and have to learn how to live with it.  I would love to hold my grandchildren without fear, and go for a few walks.  If anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate them.  I am very tired and don't even leave the house anymore unless I have to.  Its to frustrating to pass out in front of people and have them stare at me and me not even know why I am doing this.  I am getting quit a few concussions and cuts and injuries because of this too. I cannot sleep but I am always so tired.  I have no pain except spurs in my neck.  My family has had a lot of cancers, strokes and heart disease, according to the doctors, I do not have any of these.  also they said that this is not caused by anxiety, that there is a cause they just can't find it.  been to neurologists, family, surgical, and a few other kinds of doctors and specialists they all say the same thing, something is not right, but they don't know what it is.  at least they have not said that I am crazy.

[Hannah33]

Just a thought-  I have been going through debilitating symptoms similar, some not quite as bad.  Years of going from Dr. to Dr., only to hear " we know what you DON'T have".  Quite frustrating.  I have been tested (false) negative for Lyme disease for years,  The other day positive.  I looked into it and realized most of the previous tests were claimed to be very unreliable tests.  I have read the symptoms and said that is me, but knew I was tested so many times before and it was negative.  
   I know how frustrating it can be,  the many times I wanted to quit.  It's hard to find the Dr. who is going to care to listen.  Sir William Olsers said,  " If you listen long enough, the patient will give you the answer:"   It is probably something you have over looked.  

[ChickenBoo]

I would pay close attention to your thyroid levels and your vitamin D levels. Both can have awful effects on the body if they are low.

I have very similar symptoms to you - I have right sided weakness/pain and terible mirgraines that start in my right temple. I had a stroke-like episode that brought all this on but I have been suffering fatigue for longer than that.

I too feel dizzy and drunk ALL THE TIME, sometimes it's more pronounced and severe than other times.

Next week I am having my vitamin D levels tested, but I already know I have an underactive thryoid - this was causing me to tilt over even more and walk into doorways etc - I was always bumping off the walls before it was diagnosed, been much better on the meds.

The key thing is that I was diagnosed even though my bloods were in the reference range - they were very low in range and I also had high antibodies to the thyroid -worth checking. I've been reading a lot about the relationship between thyroid disorders and vitamin D deficiency - and it's often overlooked.

Both of those problems *could* explain the heart attacks too.

A couple of other things to think about is a PFO (patent foramen ovale) but that's an outside shot if they've examined your heart correctly or Chiari 1 Malformation - it should be picked up on an MRI scan but not all neuros think it is a significant finding unless it's over a certain size - it's bascially where your brain is being pushed down through a hole at the base of the skull but lots of people with the problem know that it causes a LOT of symptoms even when the problem appears to be minor.

I don't think you should give up! I think you'll find an answer if you keep looking.

Good luck.

[LivingInHope]

Have they ever run a plasma free metanephrines fasting blood test on you to rule out pheochromocytoma, which can give you a racing heart and high blood pressure?  This is considered to be perhaps the very BEST test for detecting that kind of rare tumor.  Did they also do more specific than a general brain scan an MRA/MRV, looking at the blood vessels in your head?

Have they never run a tilt table test on you at a cardiologist or more specifically an electrophysiologist's?  NCS or neurocardiogenic syncope, which is a form of dysautonomia is something you should look into.  There is a forum on medhelp where others who suffer from frequent fainting and thirst post. I myself have another form of dysautonomia called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, diagnosed through tilt table test. At times, I have extreme thirst.  Some do, but many with POTS do not faint, while NCS sufferers all do.  Hypovolemia can be a real problem.    
See PM as well.