Sleeping on a boat? Nope just MS ...

[KatieAgain]

Oh no, your not crazy. It is truly an MS symptom and a fairly common one. Approximately 20% of MSers, their presenting symptom was what I call the "dizzies". I tell people I went to the doctor with dizziness and walked out with MS.

However, one has to get a correct diagnosis with this. There are 2 different kinds and they have different symptoms. Usually an ENT will rule out the ear-type related dizziness (which is more common), and the neuro can diagnose you for central dizziness or vertigo with a physical exam.

The good thing is, for most people, this is not a permanent symptom. It comes and goes. For those of us unlucky ones, and there are a couple of us, it can be easily managed.

If you have that seasickness thing going, seriously talk to your neuro. The problem can be taken care of.

[Brittan]

Oh no, your not crazy. It is truly an MS symptom and a fairly common one. Approximately 20% of MSers, their presenting symptom was what I call the "dizzies". I tell people I went to the doctor with dizziness and walked out with MS.

However, one has to get a correct diagnosis with this. There are 2 different kinds and they have different symptoms. Usually an ENT will rule out the ear-type related dizziness (which is more common), and the neuro can diagnose you for central dizziness or vertigo with a physical exam.

The good thing is, for most people, this is not a permanent symptom. It comes and goes. For those of us unlucky ones, and there are a couple of us, it can be easily managed.

If you have that seasickness thing going, seriously talk to your neuro. The problem can be taken care of.

I was just curious KatieAgain is this type of vertigo related to the neuro exam for a positive romberg sign and the heal to toe test? When were you diagnosed w/ ms?

I am unfortunately going to have to go in for some more valium ... I only have 2 left. I really need to write down all my symptoms and note the med that helps each because w/ the memory fog I forget sometimes...lol.

The valium has helped, I am so grateful for that.

[Brittan]

Wow I thought I was just crazy! I get sea sick in bed too! I also have choked and made a scene in public by coughing uncontrollably! Walking into walls: well I made that my hobby! First day on this sight and I feel better already! Just diagnosed in May and have been on Copaxone for one month! I am grateful for all of your insight!

So glad you feel better. I was diagnosed in May as well. How long have you've been having symptoms prior to being diagnosed? Just curious.

Definitely book mark this site ... I have found it extremely helpful and a life saver at times especially during flare ups. From what I noticed docs may not always know all our symptoms or what we experience in a day because they do not walk in our shoes but within this forum they do and it is reassuring to me that they offer such great support. I don't feel so alone anymore.

Walking into walls is the fun part...lol. I had to take down all my photos in the hallway because I would've taken them all out if I didn't...lol.

Just keep laughing and take it day by day that is what I've done.

[KatieAgain]

I was just curious KatieAgain is this type of vertigo related to the neuro exam for a positive romberg sign and the heal to toe test? When were you diagnosed w/ ms?

I am unfortunately going to have to go in for some more valium ... I only have 2 left. I really need to write down all my symptoms and note the med that helps each because w/ the memory fog I forget sometimes...lol.

The valium has helped, I am so grateful for that.

I was diagnosed in 2000.

Anyone with dizziness or vertigo will most likely fail a Romberg, which is usually given by a PCP. And that means it is off to the ENT. Which is exactly what happened to me.

And I could not imagine any doc giving a heal to toe test with a patient complaining of Vertigo. But, I am not a doc.

When your neuro gives you these tests, they are primarily looking at your balance.

What sort of solidifies the Central Vertigo diagnosis is the nystagmus of the eye. When a person is experiencing true central vertigo, the nystagmus, which is rapid eye movement starts moving up and down vs. side to side. One would think this is pretty easy to define, but apparently not and some people's eyes move all over the place.

Additionally a "well placed" lesion that can be identified by a very good MS specialist can confirm central vs. peripheral vertigo.

I am told a benzo, which Valium is will not do anything for peripheral type vertigo...but I am not a doc.

No matter what, if you are having Vertigo, you need your doc to make the diagnosis. MS is a very individual disease and this board can only relate very individual experiences. Additionally, if you notice although MS suck horribly, most of the posts are negative/problems..that is why this is a support board.

A lot of us have experience, but your journey is going to be different than mine. You are younger than me...your journey will hopefully be much better.

Make your neuro your best friend and and use MSWorld as a place to share and commiserate.

BTW...back in 2000, it was not well known that Benzos helped Central Vertigo...it took the military 9 months with a telephone consult to Columbia University neuro department to figure it out. I spent 9 months dizzy as all get out taking every drug in the formulary trying to stop it. I think MSWorld is good for that too...but you doc is first!

[MMMMS]

I used to spin like a pencil on a desk (spin, not roll). It was fun. I loved it!

[miwealia]

Sounds familiar

My presenting symptom was also messed up balance. I don't think that's quite what the doctor called it, but that's what I call it. Yep, it's still with me. It's the only symptom that I've had from the very beginning until now, non-stop.

At the beginning it was really bad; I couldn't even get out of bed without falling over. The ironic thing is that I was told it was a symptom of untreated diabetes, mainly because I had double vision at the same time, and I was told the nerves that go to my eyes and my inner ear are some of the common ones that diabetes attacks.

My eyesight eventually returned to normal, but my balance never recovered. It's better than it used to be, but the feeling of something not quite being in balance inside my head is always there. (Oh boy, I can just imagine what my friends would say if they read this post! ) I can walk a straight line now, if I don't look too quickly up or to the side, but don't ask me to do the heel-to-toe thing! Fail!

[joyagirl1013]

Thankfully never happens when I lay down (why do I say things outloud!) but can't tell you how many times I stand up and feel as if I'm on the boat deck under stormy seas...yup, the floor beneath me, I swear, is moving on the waves.

[SunnyCher]

A eureka moment!

I'm so glad someone said something about choking! I was a job interview a few months back and I started choking and coughing. I couldn't stop, even though I drank water. I have been coughing and choking off and on, usually when I'm on the phone, and I have phone interviews. My husband thought it was nerves--which it could be. But I'm not nervous in church and it happens there, too. So maybe it's the MS...

On the dizziness note, my worst symptoms were vertigo in bed. I felt like I was on a roller coaster and I was so terrified I screamed (I hate heights). But Dramamine helped me tremendously. ALSO, I am more likely to get vertigo if I am dehydrated.