Dizziness and ear issues are starting to scare me :(

[Natalie323]

Hi All,

I've been here talking about the same issue the past couple of weeks but it's just getting worse.  I went to a nuero-tologist here in LA and she said she thinks it's all MS-related and told me to come back in a month or so if it doesn't go away so she can run more tests.  She tested my hearing but it came back fine with a tiny drop in my right ear, but she said it wasn't significant enough to worry about. And she doesn't think it's Meniere's because I have MS and no significant hearing loss. But could it just be early or could it be MS? Here are my symptoms:

1) Dizziness: It used to come and go a few months ago but now it's constant (it's one of the reasons I went and saw a neuro before my diagnoses).  It feels like I'm on a rocking boat and it's REALLY unsettling.  I'm starting to have lower back pain, possibly from compensating from walking differently?

2) 3 weeks ago the pressure in the ears started.  It comes and goes in both ears, but it's more in might right ear.

3) A few days after the pressure, ringing started.  It's high-pitched and I hear it in both ears, and it also comes and goes but is mostly there.

4) I've become SUPER sensitive to sounds in just the past 3 weeks.  First it was just loud noises, but now it's all sounds, including conversation.  

5) I feel fogginess in my head and I get light-headed.  It has happened a couple times recently when I stand up quickly.

The dizziness has been around and just getting worse, but all of this ear stuff just started in the past 3 weeks and I don't know what to do.  My neuro said that it could be the MS or possibly and inner-ear issue like Meniere's and that if it is the MS, all we can do is see if it gets any better as time passes on Copaxone (which I started a few days ago and it's been going well so far, thankfully).

I feel so fragile right now, as if I'd fall over if someone pushed me too hard. I flew home for the holidays, and I don't feel well enough to be myself much. And my fatigue and anxiety level are at an all-time high.  After just being diagnosed, I feel like things are getting much worse before getting any better.

Please let me know if you have ay advice and thanks for reading.

Natalie

[Natalie323]

Thank you.  That's what I am wondering--is this an exacerbation?  The only one I really know I've had was my mouth and the tip of my tongue went numb/tingled for about 2 weeks in September.

In the last week, since the dizziness got much worse, my left hand feels weaker and my mouth is starting to tingle a bit.

So far I can walk ok, but I am 25 and feel 85 right now; I'm really fragile, my lower back is hurting now, the smallest noise makes me jump and the ground is moving.

Is there anything I can do about this?

[maxthecat9196]

I think your doctor should be taking this more seriously.  You just can't live like this everyday.  I deal with this from time to time, but my worst bout was in 2001- so bad I couldn't stand up.   Mine was likely due to an exacerbation, because it came with strong lower body tremors, and gradually went away (several weeks).  I always just use meclizine or something similar that otc.  But there are other meds:  diazepam ,and prochlorperazine were listed in a search for Meniere's disease.  

It also sounds like you should possibly buy or rent a walker to help you. Craigslist is a pretty good resource.  Walking around that way sounds dangerous to me.

I hope you get some relief soon.  Ginger is good for nausea, if you need that.
Tammy