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Head Issues

Hi, My name is Mike. I'm 43, and I'm having issues with a feeling like I'm drunk and I haven't touched alcohol since 2004. It started on Saturday, April 12th after I had been standing outside at work(I work at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas) for 4 1/2 hours in 35-40 mile an hour steady winds with extremely high tree pollen counts this year. I was fine the the whole time being there, but driving home I started getting this dizzying, almost drunk feeling in my head and I had to put extra effort in concentrating on driving. Now it's almost 2 weeks and this feeling has not gone away. I originally thought that it might have been allergies, but it just doesn't seem like it to me. I have no insurance until my wife adds me to her's when her open enrollment comes around later this year. The feeling only gets worse when I drive or walk, or when I lay down. When I sit up it's not as bad, but moving my head in any direction can affect it. Please help me figure out what's wrong, because, like I told my wife, driving with her and/or my son in the car scares me when I'm feeling like this. I also don't have any choice but to drive since my son's school schedule and my wife's work schedule during the week don't work well together.

I am a smoker, one half to a pack a day, I'm 5'6" tall, 190lbs., and I honestly don't eat the healthiest either. My wife says I don't drink enough water. I drink water hear and there daily, but she's probably right.
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Avatar universal
One other thing I forgot to mention is the other research I have done about my head thing this stuff about there being crystals in the inner ear and if they get moved somehow, that can cause Vertigo. Could this be a possibility as well?
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Avatar universal
Dear Cathleen,

It's now almost 3 weeks since this started. There is no dizzying feeling really. It's more like my head is being shaken even though it's obviously not. There doesn't seem to be any fluid in my ear, at least that I can tell. Normally, if I go swimming and water gets into the inner part of my ear, I can hear a kind of sloshing sound. Not present here. It's just a feeling of being shaken. I can move my head in any direction and it gives me that feeling like my brain is over compensating for the movements. Like I said before, it's worse driving and walking, but siting and sometimes laying down are fine. The day it started was a gorgeous day, maybe lower to mid 70's and I was drinking water and Gatorade non-stop.  

Now, just about half an hour ago, I noticed indentations in both of my shins about 5" above my ankles going across the front, horizontally. I have had no injuries to my shins that I can remember. I don't know if these things are related in some way. I have done some research and some of the sites suggest that sodium intake can be a factor with the indentations. Table salt has completely been omitted from our meals at home or out at restaurants. And I do know there is still sodium in almost everything nowadays. I can't afford to go see a doctor with no insurance, but this does concern me since my father died from heart problems. The only thing I have really been diagnosed with was high blood pressure, but that was after an injury to my back in 2006 which resulted in 4 bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, and arthritis in my spine. Needless to say, I was in pain and the rise in blood pressure might have just been a result of the pain.

Thank you for responding to my question and I hope to hear from you again.
Helpful - 0
5289563 tn?1366048434
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for using the forum.

A couple of possibilities come to mind, but I do suggest that you get checked out by a doctor. If you are outside a lot and it is hot where you are, it is possible that you have become dehydrated. That feeling should go away if you increase your fluid intake. I don't think that this is what is causing your problem. You mention that it was windy, and that you have had allergy problems. I wonder if it could be an ear issue. If you have fluid in you ear, it can make you feel lightheaded. Your balance can be affected by any changes to the fluid in your ear. This would be something I would have checked.

I hope this helps.

Cathy
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