Off balance- JUST WEIRD

[nickieb]

Hi forum & doctors

The last few days i have felt just generally weird. Rushing around my busy ward (im a staff nurse) makes me incredibly giddy & off balance. I feel as though i am swaying & on a boat a lot of the time when i am stood still. I am not sure i would say dizzy but more giddy/out of balance.

I checked my Bp & its fine- what could this be? I would appreciate some help as its not very nice.

Many Thanks
Nic xxx

[tomsant]

You are right, being married has nothing to do with the problem. But in this part of the globe, it is rude to ask about pregnancy before knowing if she is married or not. Hence the sequence words...

Hypothyroid state can be associated with vertigo; but we have to rule out other causes.

"Labyrithitis" should mean an infection/affection of the labyrinth, in which situation the 'vertigo' is associated with hearing impairment. Probably the term was used loosely.

Sinusitis can cause 'vertigo' through eustachian tube block, causing a secretory otitis or change in middle ear pressure; transmitting the same to the inner ear through the oval or round window.

In your case it appears to be the latter. The eustachian tubes open while swallowing; when you try to pop the ear you force air into the middle ear, but it is not recommended when you are having a 'cold', as it may force infected secretions into the middle ear. Has the TM perforation healed?

The eustachian tube gets blocked in cases of allergic rhinitis also.

Hope this helps.

Best rgds,

Thomas Antony

[nickieb]

I am not diabetic no. Im 26 and not pregnant- im not sure what being marrie has anything to do with it. An i am also on no medication...
My thyroid was bordeline underactive back in feb but apart from that i am healthy.
I had this back in  may & they queried labrynthitis or sinusitis but it went & has only come back again after a bad bought of cold. I did have a fever last week yes but that has gone along with the symptoms now really. despite still having allot of cattarh.. I dont have difficulty in walking but rushing around and bending made me feel lightheaded & i got pressure build up in my head...as i said once rested i get a feeling of swaying but then it goes. I have been having to pop & relieve pressure in my eyes & they are always poping when i eat or over stretch my jaw.. i also get lots of tinitus too
I get occasional blurry vision yes.. i saw an ent back in may and he said i had eustacian tube dysfunction secondary to ear perforation from back 8 years ago after a flight.

My symptoms have somewhat subsided but i still get this off balance feeling occasionaly...i just wanted to clarify it was an inner ear problem or sinusitis really?

[tomsant]

Being a nurse, I guess you would have found help by now. In case not, just take these clues?
Are you a diabetic? You didn't mention your age, whether married, pregnant, or on some medication etc. How is your sleep and work schedule like? Any thyroid swelling? Have you done a CBC? Anything there?
Is this the first time you are having such a problem in your life?
How did this start? What caused it? What do you think is the cause? Any fever or other illness which started along with?
Do you find any difficulty in walking, especially at night? Is the 'giddiness' always there or coming on and off? What brings it on, how long each spell last, and what relieves it?
Is it associated with loss of consciousness, or double vision or headache?
Noticed any 'fullness'/ pressure in either ear, diminished hearing or ringing in ear along with?
Probably the GP would have referred you to ENT specialist already.

Get well soon.

Best rgds,

Thomas Antony

[Nancy T]

The motion sensitivity could be caused by many things--inner ear, migraine, stress.

Have you been on a trip lately? Look up mal de debarquement and see if that sounds like you. It's usually after a cruise but other forms of motion can be involved too.

See your PCP... if it doesn't go away, see an otologist... if it still doesn't go away, see a neurologist, preferably one of the very rare ones who specializes in dizziness (called an otoneurologist).

[sirjoseph]

inner ear infection, middle ear/eustachian tube problem, sinus infection, or allergies are the most likely culprits. other causes could be cholesteatoma, vertical heterophoria syndrome, tmj(jaw problem), neck problem, perilymph fistula, or a pinched vestibular nerve. other more serious, but far less likely causes are unstable blood pressure, brain tumor, nutrient deficiency, or an auto-immune disease. do you work with doctors? ask them or make an appointment with one.