Off balance feeling for almost five months

Posted , 5 users are following.

(please skip down a few paragraphs if you would like to skip my past history and take a look at my current symptoms. any help or suggestions would be appreciated) 

For a couple of years now, I have been feeling off balance to the point of it hindering my usual activities. However since the beginning of this year, it has gotten to the point where I can't even get outside much at all. This all started back last summer when I went to the doctor's office for this issue and we found that my ear canals were blocked by wax. She flushed them out which provided immediate relief, and then I went back at it as I usually do. I noticed that my right ear didn't drain but I'll get to this later. 

Fast forward a few weeks and I begin to suffer from unsteadiness again but this time dialed up to about 11 and with the onset of a headache. I'm stuck inside for a few weeks and then I'm forced to commute to university, which produces a tremendous amount of anxiety for a short time but I eventually get used to it. This gets a bit better as time goes on until the end of October, when I went into surgery for my wisdom teeth. I'm on antibiotics and painkillers for a few weeks and then once again the off-balance feeling evaporates and I'm once again steady. 

Fast forward again to January and voila, the same feeling has come back. I waited five months to see an ENT specialist only to be told that there is no fluid in my ear (which is what I thought it was) and nothing suspicious he could find. He only checked my right ear. He refers me to a cardiologist and a neurologist, and tells me to wait for the balance test (7-9 months)

Since this began, I have been on two sets of antibiotics (amoxiciliin and apo-sulfrite, including the stuff the dental office prescribed me), a nasal spray (which I don't think I used correctly), Serc, a variety of motion sickness drugs and ginkgo biloba ever since this started last summer. None of them have worrked. My current symptoms are: 

-Crackling in the ears, particularly the right ear. 

-Crackling in my neck, like there's pressure there. 

-Off balance feeling, sometimes feeling like I'm speeding down a elevator. I find changes in pressures make my symptoms more pronounced. Changes in direction do not make me feel worse, I'm just generally off balance. 

I'm thinking this is chronic ETD but I'm not sure. 

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Posted

    Just to clarify, this got really bad last summer but there was a brief period of respite after October and before Janurary.. Apologies for the mistake. 
  • Posted

    funny you mention the ear wax thing as i had the same - i wasn't dizzy before they were syringed, but i was after, but the gp at the time denied that could have caused it and  have aways had my doubts.
  • Posted

    I had symptoms of dizziness, loss of balance, numbness in feet and hands. Finally realised that it was a Vitamin B12 deficiency. I'm now taking an iron syrup with Vitamin b12 and folic acid. Also taking a vitamin supplement containing methylcobalamin 1500mcg. Feeling much better in 1 day. Also I reduced the antacids I was taking as this hinders absorption of Vitamin B12. Take a liquid antacid like gelusil if you head feels heavy sometimes. Also, Vitamin B12 deficiency causes contipation. So if you are constipated take a laxative.
  • Posted

    I  also am experiencing this problem.  I went to Doctor, he said he noticed fluid behind or near eardrum ( can't remember which)  his Assistant flushed my right ear for wax... It actually was painful to endure because of the sensitivity in my innner ear.

     He prescribed me a nasal spray with steroids and ear drops containing antibiotics....They did absolutely nothing but empty my wallet since combined they were ( are ) so expensive.

    My symptoms seem worse when I am driving and then have to go around curves etc.

    Other than feeling a second or two of dizzy / off balance feeling,  For the most part my inner ears feel as if you're starting to go high in elevation just prior before they pop.  ( full feeling )

    Sounds and noise seems to amplify... 

     

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