Who here feels this symptom? - Inner Ear Disorders Message Board

I Robertson · 08-16-2003, 04:55 AM

Hi guys!

Do any of you feel the sensation of off balance when walking and standing. I describe it as a kinda shifting sensation combined with the sensation that your balance just isn't right. Its worse when looking down at times and is not obvious to any one looking at you that you are unsteady. If you have this please let me know - what you feel like, is it 24/7 or intermitent and how do you cope?

Fighter · 08-16-2003, 03:10 PM

I robertson,
24/7 for me pal. always to some degree or another. It almost feels like my eyes are playing tricks on me or something. Do you notice your eyes having problems keeping an object still when focused on it.(like something across the room or the full moon or whatever) That's another thing for me. Or when im in a grocery store sometimes walkin down the aisle it seems like stuff on the shelf is moving in my periphal vision. I also developed floaters in my eyes which add to my stress. had'em checked by eye doc. all normal. Do you feel worse in mornings? or evenings? do you have anyother symptoms like fatigue or sleeping problems?
Well I'll talk with ya later. Hang in there! --Eric--

I Robertson · 08-16-2003, 05:11 PM

Hi Eric - yes I have the floaters in my eyes too. I feel the symptoms I mentioned like you to some degree or other 24/7. Its always best in the morning and worse at night. I am beginning to feel a bit hopeless. What is your diagnosis. It really scares the heck out of me.I do alot of positive self talk to cope but then frankly ot really does not seem to improve the symtoms at all. Tonight I cleaned the kitchen out - this is difficult - I am just so aware of my balance - it drives me nuts. Then all of a sudden the counter seems to shift about and I feel very unstaedy - my body feels very unsteady and I get very hot - this feeling will persist until I lay down - it also makes me feel freaked and anxious - I am never sure if this is a near faint or vertigo type symptom. Sometimes I drive myself nuts trying to ascertain if I am imagining this whole thing - even though I ma sure I am not. Although ma deffinately sensatised to the balance thing. What do the doctors reckon is wrong with you? how do you cope? does it freak you out? thanks

I Robertson · 08-16-2003, 05:25 PM

Hi eric - I did not answer all your questions - yes I get the feeling that my eyes are like focusing at different speeds - hard to describe - or if I turn my head sometimes what I am looking at appears to wobble. I deff. think that my fear of it all makes it worse but I do think something is wrong with me to cause this in the first place. After all with the best will in the world even when I am happy and not stressed that damn feeling is still there. Do you feel ok when you are sitting down or laying down? Do you manage to get on with every day activities - this freaks me out and I have started to avoid going out alone and being alone in the house. Also I often put off seeing my friends because of this. I tell you the othet thing that even looking at something moving can make me feel very uncomfortable and dizzy. What are all your symptoms? catch you later.

Fighter · 08-16-2003, 06:19 PM

I robertson,
Well bro it sounds like you and I are on the same boat ride. I know exactly what you feel. I avoid going out with friends and doing anything I used to like doing. I use to golf like it was going out of style and now if I muster up the courage to even try, I'm so freaked the whole time that by the time I get done with 9 holes I'm ready to get in my car and jam out of there asap and I'm exhausted from all the constant worry and feeling like I'm gonna have a terrible dizzy attack in the midst of all the off balance feelings. I know what you mean about cleaning or doing anything is difficult because of the constant devil on your shoulder not letting you have a minutes peace. Sometimes after I do something around the house I feel worse.

I had to quit my job because of being constantly freaked out to the point I feel like I can hardly function. It honestly feels like a thief came and stole all my abilities and talents etc....Sometimes I get so frustrated that I want to just throw things and break things and yell and scream and cry. I'm only 27 and just feel hopeless myself.

I've had all necessary tests done. The neurologist did some tests with a tuning fork and hand eye coordination stuff and dizzy and balance tests and determined it wasn't anything central. She could tell I was stressed and tried to prescribe me some anti anxiety and/ anti depressants.

I had a trip to the ER one night because I was so freaked and that's when I got a CT scan and that was normal. The ENT couldnt find anything. My ENG tests were completely normal. My blood panel was normal. I don't know what else to say. Sometimes I fear I have chronic fatigue because I get so depressed and down about it I don't feel like doing anything and I'm tired a lot. It's always worse for me when I'm tired at night.

So every doc I went to wanted to prescribe me anti anxiety meds or anti depress meds, but I haven't taken any meds for fear of the side effects,(which alot of'em happen to be dizziness).

So I pretty much have obsessed about finding natural things to help, I've been to a couple therapists, but it just doesn't seem like they really understand. I am a bit better now then when it all started 6 months ago, but it's still here. My only diagnosis is anxiety with depression.

Last night I got freaked because I went to meet my little sis for dinner and when I got there and got out of the car I started to freak and had to force myself to go in. I was uncomfortable the whole time and couldn't wait to leave. After I left I was so drained and tired from that experience that I felt so tired I couldnt keep my eyes open and my mind was racing so much I couldn't sleep, so I started getting shaky and freaking out. Needless to say I didn't sleep well last night at all but I generally haven't slept well since it all began.

Now was there or is there anything going on in your life that is causing you stress that you're not dealing with? When you say that you'd see the counter shift and then you'd get feeling hot, that feeling hot thing is a definate anxiety related thing. I do know that I need to get off the worry and what if treadmill because that keeps the sensitization and everything going. The more you fear the more it feeds it. Logically even if it is an inner ear thing, it will not go away like it should as long as the constant negative fears and thoughts are constantly keeping us on guard..For example, there has been a few times where I had 2-3 days in a row that I was feeling pretty good.(not 100% by any means)but better than usual. So one half my brain is thinking alright Im getting better finally, while the other half constantly on the look out for feeling worse again and negative thoughts and fears about it and sure enough I do it to a point where I'm right back where I was.

Do you have inner peace about yourself? and life? Do you try and eat healthy? do you have any probs with your appetite?

Anyway man I'm here to answer any questions and to be of some support. I know there's more I can say but for now that's all that came out. talk to ya more soon.---Eric--