I really dont even know what to think or do anymore, and that's why I've turned to the net.
I've been to a 'million' doctors and had tests done ...ENG, CAT Scan, hearing, pressure, tonnes of things...I've been to an ear specialist, my Doc (about 7 other GP's) my eye doctor, a reflexologist and I'm going to a nurologist and Natruropath within the next 3 weeks. I'm disgusted and dont know what to do. Everyone in my family thinks I'm 'nutty' and have a psychological disorder but my mom and grandmother. (they've thought Lupus, MS, heart disease etc... but I'm not sure)
The other night my heart was a 130 resting and I went to the ER with my mom, they did an EKG and said my heart was going WAY to fast but I was wasting their time nothing they could do.


My GP said an ear infection at first then she said inner ear..nobody seems to think there is anything wrong with my inner ear or any other part of my body.
I practiaclly trashed my 3rd year of university because of this and haven't been to my job since end of Jan or seen any of my friends...everyone has abandon me..and I feel like I need some insight if anybody might know what I have by these symptoms...

I might as well list them...

It all all started at Xmas time...having werid out of body detached sensations..like I know I'm me but I feel as if I'm not incontrol..I know I'm walking but I dont really feel as if I'M walking. it's the most difficult thing to explain. I know I'm talking but I dont know what I'm saying ahead of time and I make sense but I dont think it sounds like me talking (EXample would be when you talk into a microphone in a crowd) ...totally out of body...depersonalization.

Had a panic attack once or twice until mid Jan...then one night after x-country skiing I turned PALE PALE white and had the depersonalization and it never went away. I was about to go to Florida and and still felt ill ill ill so I went to the doc and she tested me for mono, thyroid etc... negative...
gave me zithromax got to the USA got double sick went to hospital and had two more ear infections took anibiotics ended up alergic to them.

I have a almost fluid feeling in my right ear yet all tests say I dont.
sarp pain every once in a while in same ear (no ringing) sometimes when I talk my ear pluggs and I hear a quick echo but it goes right away.
I dont have vertigo, but I have a motion sickness when I walk..not spinning just icky blah
sensitivity to salt
depersonalized ALL the time
pain in right eyebrow area when touched/pushed lightly.
when I cry my sinuses gets really full and it feels like mucus is going into ear and pugging it but only when I cry. body feels cold all the time, turn ghost white for no reason, and fingernails purple...scary purple. heart rate always too fast just getting up to go to the bathroom
faint, lightheaded when I stand up, walk or move too fast.
Flouressent lights make everything amplified and I feel like I just have to leave right then, I can't breathe and everything gets dark and I feel even more detached and light headed...I'm flat out SCARED!
get motion sick spcaed out feeling when I drive a ride on lawntractor or after I ice skate and take the skates off to walk home.
My throat is very sore on and off and white spots apear and disapear on my tonsils (the doc said they are clogged pours) cause they go away as fast as they come.
I jsut dont even know what to think or do...cause my symptoms are something unlike what most people can grasps I guess and it causes them to dismiss me, meanwhile being 21 my life is going to ...yeah anyway if someone could PLEASE give me some insight to what the happening to my slowly going body I'D APREACIATE IT SOOOOOO MUCH. Or even what tests I should get or which road to take now.
The symptom which is the most disturbing is the depersonalization and the senstivity to flouresent lights making this worse.

thanks guys

I'm not a Doctor, but I've suffered from panic attacks and OCD for almost 20 years.
Most of your symptoms sound very much like what a person having a full blown panic attack goes through.
You might want to check out some of the posts on the Panic Disorders board.

You have lots of symptoms, and it could be more than one thing is going on, but one thing I'm pretty sure is happening is anxiety and panic. I have also experience that out of body, depersonalization, and it is a classic anxiety/panic symptom. Also a floating feeling, imbalance and dizziness is very typical of anxiety. It's very wierd and very hard to describe. I had several episodes back in 1994 of the out of body experiences. I also had a few out and out panic attacks, usually in the middle of the night, and it all developed into a classic case of depression. I also had problems with lights, particularly florescents. It's amazing what anxiety will do. So if you're feeling dizzy from some other illness, anxiety will undoubtedly compound the problem.

A very kind gynecologist directed me to a psychiatrist, and as soon as I realized what was going on I started to feel a bit better. The psychiatrist put me on Zoloft. She explained that it would take several weeks for my body to adjust and that I would even feel worse before I felt better. She was right. Even though it lifted the depression almost immediately, it made me feel hyper, nervous, and uptight (took a little clonapin to get me through it). But I stuck it out, and got up to 100 mg (backing down to 75 when I felt too manic and happy). She wouldn't let me quit. That's important. Finally, after 4 weeks, I woke up one morning and felt really great, possibly for the first time in my life. I have been on Zoloft for almost 10 years (up and down depending on relapses) and go to a great psychiatrist who treats be for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. This runs in my family, along with panic disorder and depression. I was a "star responder" to Zoloft. My twin sister takes Prozac. Sometimes you need to try a few drugs before you find the best for you. If you try this, please give it a good chance to work - don't give up on it too soon.

Good Luck, and I know you will feel better. Anxiety plays a role in most illness, and it certainly hasn't helped my bout with lab or whatever it was.

My advice to you would be to see what the nurologist has to say and maybe even another ENT doctor for a second opinion. You may have a inner ear problem that is being missed diagnosed and as fustrating as it is for you I would suggest investigating that some more. It is my opinion that doctors sometimes are quick to diagnose you with a panic disorder and put you on medication with out considering the physical factors which may be the cause.

I currently have some of the same symptoms that you do and since being diagnosed with an inner ear disorder the panic attack symptoms and ear fullnes have been the most devestating. I am as you are, very fustrated however I am determined to completely rid these feelings of panic and anxiety that my ear condition has caused once and for all.

Good luck at your appointment

doyle

Hi there Canadian Kid,

My guess is that there is something going on physically which has caused massive anxiety. Some of your symptoms sound like anxiety BUT not all of them. Read my posts on this board about tempero mandibular joint disorder - this could explain why your ears feel full even if they haven't got fluid in them, it would also explain the temple pain - I have experienced major anxiety with this disorder. Like you, I was a 'mystery' until my dentist pointed out I could have this, some people experience all of their symtoms as dizzines/ear pain/temple pain/ear fullness etc, NOT jaw pain. I was very, very disconnected when I first got this, and problems with flourescent light are both a symptom of depersonalisation and tmjd. I don't know that you have this, but it's definitely worth looking in to.

Absolutely DO read 'Hope and help for your Nerves' by Claire Weekes (Might be called something different in Canada.) Just do a search under her name. Loads of people on the panic/anxiety boards talk about this book as life changing - she teaches a brilliant way of learning to control anxiety symptoms which, I know, can be totally terrifying. Also
consider trying an anti anxiety medication. I know this is frustrating as some of your physical symptoms may not be caused by anxiety and you need to get to the root of what's causing them BUT you also need relief from the anxiety you are suffering. Once you get that under control it will give you a clearer picture of what else is going on.

Most importantly - you WILL not always feel like this, you will get better - the cognitive symptoms are awful and when you feel them you think they will never go BUT they can and will, the book I recommended would help a great deal with this.

I like all these answers and have little to add. I really have to wonder what is up with all those docs since you are in such obvious distress. Who wouldn't be anxious with all those strange symptoms- after all. Since the docs can't find anything life threatening, its important to realize your number one priority is to deal first with the anxiety, so you can then sort out what else is happening. Anxiety can really make it impossible to function. My advice: don't be afraid to take some drugs if they help even for just the short term- just to get a little clarity. And don't bother with people who dismiss your symptoms- they aren't helping.

thanks guys I always knew I had anxiety and panic I just wonder...does that happen 24/7 never let up? I thought those things went away and that I always controlled them before.
I'm also kinda scared cause I'm only 21 and I mean I dont wanna start taking some drug...for life (do you have to once you start?)I'm afriad of messing with my brain chemicals and such...I dont know I'm apprehensive about it all. who wants to take a drug now at such a young age to find out at 40 they've totally messed their body over?

oh and PART of the problem I found out todday at the naturopath is my breathing is too shallow for some rason I'm only using part of my lungs...but they are fully capible and my diaphram was disloged and connected to my spine (she moved it through quick movements) and I instantly got the colour back to my face!
my stomache is rock hard and not moving like it should be...

all this stil didn't expalin the ear fullness/fluid feeling and the depersonalization..but the light headedness yes..(oh and I'm 'quiting' my doctor cause this is the 1st one who told me I had low blood pressure...no one else ever told me that before...and I TOLD THEM I FELT BLACK AND FAINT WHEN I STOOD UP QUICK...this goes to show you know your body WAY better than the doc...I'm telling ya the natural ways are the ways to find out what's wrong with ya!..well partly

ahh well I'm sure someday I'll feel ok.

hi. firstly, relax I have had most of these symptoms too, especially depersonalization....I know its horrible and I know its hard to explain, but just know that I am going through that also, and I am only 17 years old, lately Ive stayed home because I cant even walk, I am thinking of going to see if I can get some kind of surgery on my ear to remove all this.....most of what you are experiencing are panic attacks, like you think your going to lose it in one second...I know how it feels, I get it in school all the time, my classmates think im exagerating, and i hate to watch them all run and be normal while im sitting there going crazy, dont worry, i belive time fixes everything, and one day youll be fine...keep up the hope

hi Canadian kid.
i know exactly how you've been feeling, i've been feeling the same for about 3 months now. i'm convinced that it's my inner ear like eustachian tube dysfunction or something. most of the people in this forum have a fogged head, kinda like reality is just out of reach.
i don't think you have an anxiety disorder. i've had anxiety issues since i was a kid and the spaced out feeling always subsides after afew minutes, it's never been a 24/7 thing. most people here have noticed that the more they worry about thier condition the worse off they are AND the foggy feeling gets worse. Hbep recommended a really good book to me it's called "Hope and Help for Your Nerves" by Dr. Claire Weekes. i just finished reading it and my stress level is down about 10% and some of my fog whet away too. you might want to try that out.
i know haw frustrating it is to be young and watching all of your friends party while your stuck living on the couch! i'm 19, just old enough to drink and party and instead i this! just hang in there. we're all here for you if you need to vent http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
Anastasia

yeah I know that the more you worry and fret the worse it getsm, but for the love of god I have no idea how to not do that...how do I not worry? and freak out about how I feel?
THe whole anxiety thing, I understand how it could be a possibility, but I too didn't understand how 24/7 could=anxiety. that doesn't really make sense to me.
I'm just soooo messed up, and dont know what to think. to not mention everyone around me has gone nutty over me and my friends think I'm just making it up...

Hi there Canadian Kid,

I've just answered your other post, but I wanted to re iterate, DO read the Claire Weekes book, the physical symptoms you are having will be terrifying you, this book really will help you to cope with the anxiety they cause, and will, therefore, lessen the sensations that are caused by the anxiety. I know reading a book seems lame. I didn't believe it would help, I read it in desperation, but it REALLY did help, and reading a book has NO side effects.

Dear Canadian kid, it sounds to me like you have Anxiety and an inner ear problem. That is just my opinion but your symtoms are really close to most who are on this board. I am 33 and have had Anxiety since October 2002, after a date rape, and Labrynthitis since January this year.
My symptoms were as follows:

First I felt tired and out of body feeling.
Then it turned into a cold that didn't go away for 3 weeks-lots of flemn and congestion.
Fullness in ears.
Ringing in ears.
Of balance.
Nausea and feelings of vomiting-but never did(thank god). That happened every morning until I ate.
Visual problems-I don't drive- One responce to my topic said that the things I saw in my eyes were called "floater"-when I look into a bright area in my house or a window a stare for a minute I see these things moving in my eyes.
When I am really tired they are worse. My doc says they are because I am weak.
The last symptom I had was neck pain and feelings of stress in my neck-pulls one way or the other.

I hope that you find a connection to the people on this board. We all have been going through these symptoms and all have had a hard time expressing it to loved ones.

About my doctors advice- He did say not to have too much salt or sugar. No coffee or chocolate.-caffine in general. Drink alot of water-which I drink 3-4 bottles a day or more, and eat alot of vegetables and low sugar fruit. I have done all of these things because I am VERY DETERMINED to get through this and will do anything that I feel is reasonable to get through it. I am hopeing to get through this just like all of you. I am doing better. Take care Canadian Kid, and stick with us. You can relate to the rookies and get support from the seniors. d http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif