Balance Disorders.

[dawny0311]

Morning all. I was wondering whether anyone out there suffers with a 'long term' balance disorder? Just over a year ago I woke up with horrendous dizziness, nystamus (rolling eyes) and felt very nauseous. This wore off after 4-5 weeks but throughout the year I have not been right in myself. I move a lot slower than before, have little energy and if I caught a cold/virus - back came the balance problems. Last month the balance problems got so bad I had to stay in bed for the first day as I fell several times and kept being sick. . By the end of the day I had horrendous chest pain and ended up in hospital overnight on heart monitor. (No probs with heart thankfully). Since then (now in 5th week) I still feel awful and fall over A LOT. I have only had 3, what I call, 'good days' that have enabled me to function a little better. ENT said I have slight hearing loss and have referred me for MRI, neurological and balance tests etc. Appointments are almost 2 months off so just wondering if anyuone out there is suffering the same and have any advice? Taking Betahistine for dizziness and Stemetil for sickness. This is now not so much dizziness, (although I do get that) it' primarily balance and walking that's the problem. Trying to take care of myself (live alone) and my dog is such a struggle every day. I haven't been able to work with this at a all.

[Mohne]

"ENT said I have slight hearing loss and have referred me for MRI, neurological and balance tests etc."

It doesn't sound "life threatening" but no diagnosis can be entertained until the above investigations are performed.

"Taking Betahistine for dizziness and Stemetil for sickness. "

That regime should see you through until your investigations come to hand.

[jennyjoan]

I can't understand why you are on both Betahistamine and Stemetil as when I get the Beta prescription it says on the box Beta (same as Stemetil) - maybe it is too much.

But Mohne does know best - right Sqad LOL

PS - I suffer from vertigo but neither help. Deafness can be a symptom as I am pretty profoundly deaf but have been diagnosed with Menieres Disease. Good luck Dawny

[hc4361]

Betahistine is not the same as Stemetil and the two drugs are commonly prescribed together for a range of conditions including Meniere's and Parkinson's.

[Eve]

I'm on both Betahistine and Stemetil for Meniere's iennyjoan.

Hope you get an answer soon dawny, balance issues aren't nice.

I found some grounding techniques I learnt at meditation quite useful to try and get through less serious episodes of being off balance, not so useful for more severe ones though.

Little things, like focussing on the end of your nose, breathing exercises, putting your feet flat on the ground when sitting, not moving your head around too much or too quickly etc... More trying to calm the environment around you to make it less distressing.

I have walking sticks and a walker as I have mobility issues but they do help with balance too could be an idea, or other suitable mobility aids like a frame or roller walker with a chair to help.

[dawny0311]

Thank yoiu all for your replies. I had a physio appt' today, for an unrelated issue, and was given a tip to help me with my balance problem. I wish I had known about this a few weeks ago because it has really helped me today. The key is to first move my eyes to the direction I want go in, look at an object and 'keeping my eyes on that object' slowly turn my head towards it and then walk towards it. I have been much more stable today using this technique and not fallen once. I will keep doing this and 'hope' to return to work next week. Thought I would share this tip as it really seems to work.

[Peter Pedant]

O I found I did that naturally as I wobbled around Dawn
double vision when I looked down so I learnt not to look down when I crossed roads - hmm.

the difficulty is that you lose a lot of peripheral vision
and you have to memorise the objects at sort of 6 to 9 feet and then let them pass you. You walk around a bit like a cyberman but what the hell.

doesnt work badly and allows you to get around

having a labrador helps

[jennyjoan]

I have over the past few years tried to do process of elimination.

I am now convinced that my balance problems have been caused at having to wear glasses all the time.

I only started wearing glasses for reading about 7 years ago and now for distance - so I have to chop and change which I think doesn't help.

[dawny0311]

I found it hard to focus because of the nystagmus but thanks to physio lady she helped me to focus my eyes. I have a 'reactive' Maltese Peter Pedant not very helpfulto me in that regard - lol - gives lovely cuddles though.

[theshedman]

Hi, I have had a balance problem for over 5 years now. I was fine when I got up in the morning but by the afternoon I couldn't stand. As it started on New Years Day and I had had a few drinks the night before I thought at first that it may have been some bad hangover. OH managed to get me to Doctor almost week later and at first him and hospital thought I may have had a stroke. Then they thought it may be a bad case of Labrinthitis. I have seen many doctors and balance specialists and after 3 years of it not going they have said it will probably be permanent. I have had to give up driving because the road seems to jump and use a stick as I keep falling. Due to the way I walk many people just look and probably think I am drunk. If I get ill or catch a cold then it seems to get even worse. I was told that in most cases it will go away after a short time but on occasion it can last a long time or not go at all. Hope it goes away for you as it is not a very pleasant thing to get.

[oliviagrace]

I find something as simple as wearing Seabands help as well, I also take Betahistine as well for dizzyness worth a try?

[Bathsheba]

Theshedman, you have described exactly the same problem I have! Brain scans have shown nothing (apart from there being a brain there) and Neurologist admits he's baffled :) I definitely look drunk when I walk, but having a stick helps,...I get fewer stares, and my coffee carried to table for me in Costa et al ;)

Good luck dawny

Baths
x x x

[CrapAtCryptics]

Sounds a bit like Labyrinthitis which can be bought on by a virus. its controllable.

[Mohne]

Read again...carefully the first post.
Exercises may not be the answer and may even make your condition worse.
A disorder called Benign paroxysmal positional Nystagmus (BPPN) is indeed helped by exercises and one particularly..Epley Procedure is particularly advantageous. However my guess is, that you haven't got BPPN and that you may have Menieres disease which if confirmed would be worsened by exercise.

Wait for a diagnosis before embarking on exercises.

[jennyjoan]

A mad/zany friend in America said - when I take it - "oh Get your doctor to turn you upside down" - Yeah right - he'd have a hard job to do that.

When I take it I appear drunk - this stops me from going out as the neighbours could talk LOL

[jennyjoan]

I found Betahistines do not work. I tried them when I take the "episodes" and I have tried taking them every day - no good to me.