off balanced feeling

[cheri_lee]

For about 7 months now i have been feeling off balanced. i have had MRI, CT scan, ENG. everything turns out normal. i don't know what to do from here. for the last week i have had a constant feeling of being on a boat. Symptoms occur when i'm am standing or walking, never when I'm resting. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm am very worried that I have MS or some other type of incurable disease.

[ggreg]

Dear Soldy,
Husband went to VA Hospital for all sorts of tests years ago, once for cancer and once for vertigo.  They tested him for chems, toxins, heavy metals, and everything you can imagine.  We both eat the same things, and I do not have vertigo, so not sure the two food-related items you mentioned would do this.  Nevertheless, I'll mention your recommendation to him.  GG

Hi Cheri,
Thanks for the feedback.  I have to assume you've been to a neurologist, and if not, you should go to one.  Might I suggest to you a few other things you can do on your own, and I'll leave you alone!  

First, take a name brand complete vitamin/mineral supplement just in case you have a deficiency, I only take mine once a week, but at first you could take them every day.  Second, get some plain saline ear drops from the pharmacy, put them in every day for a while, and every week swab out your ears with a Q-tip with alcohol on one end, drying it out with the other.  Third, for a while, periodically check your pulse a few times a day, push your fingers between your wrist bone and tendons, and normal is around 75, so if you notice it is often 100 or 50, go see your family doc again.
  
One thing that will help with that vertigo-like symptom you have, is to take very deep breaths, breathe in really deep, blow it out, breathe normal a few times, and then repeat ten times.  Sometimes when people experience vertigo, it can cause some anxiety, and deep breathing will bring the heartrate down, and thus anxiety.  Also, chew gum a few times a day for maybe three days, see if it helps your symptoms.  And lastly, drink enough water, get enough to eat, exercise regularly, get enough rest, and be sure your eyes are not overworked... stare into the distance a few times a day for a few minutes whilst at your job or on the computer.  GG

[cheri_lee]

I'm sorry I didn't mention before, but i have seen a cardiologist and he says all is well with that. I have had every blood test imaginable. The ENT is the one who gave me the ENG and he said there are no problems at all with my inner ear and def believes that i do not have vertigo. But thank you guys soo much for the suggestions.

[soldy]

Hi.Your husband should be checked for the presence of acrylamide or glycidamide hemoglobine adduct in his blood.Test is performed at outpatient Myo clinic.

[ggreg]

Well, this sounds like vertigo to me.  It's very tough to live with, my husband has it.  Vertigo happens for various reasons, usually an inner ear problem or a blood pressure problem.

When something happens to the inner ear, which is where the balance mechanism is, there is treatment and/or medicine for it.  Also, vertigo can happen when the balance mechanism that originates in the brain has a problem, BUT you had two scans that did not show any abnormality in there, so that part is okay.  I think if you visited an ear nose throat ENT doctor, that specialist can investigate what I think might be vertigo.  Or you can visit a neurologist who would probably refer you to an ENT if he thought you indeed had vertigo from an inner ear disturbance, but a neuro would also know other generic nerve sources that I'm not familiar with as to why you have that rocking unsteady sensation.  And I recall vaguely that if you feel it when you're up but not when you're down, it means something related to blood pressure and circulatory type problems.  So, if you find no relief from an ENT or a neuro, you could ask your regular doc to consider whether visiting a cardiologist is in order, but your regular doc should be able to ascertain what the source of your symptoms are from blood pressure readings, pulse, perhaps bloodwork that shows anemia, as to whether it's a low blood pressure situation going on with you.  I hope these ideas help steer you in the right direction.