Hi. I have been tottering off the sidewalk for over a year, I think. I'll be walking along and my upper body bends to the side, and my legs catch up to keep me from falling. I find myself about three feet into the grass off the pathway, and I often almost run into trees! I have been taking Seroquel (25-50mg) for that long... could it be causing it?

A few days ago, my hands started closing themselves and feeling weakened. I started Provigil a month ago and went up to 200 mg just before this started... could that be causing it? I went off of it 2.5 days ago and my hands feel less shaky but they are still acting funny and closing themselves.

I had a brain MRI on Friday but won't get results until a week from Tuesday. I don't know what my question is exactly, just that I'm worried and don't know what the deal is. Does anyone have any thoughts about what the deal might be?

I was assaulted 15 months ago and was thrown into a wall, which I hit with my back and then I slid down the wall to land hard on my tailbone. Would that hurt my cerebellum if I hit the wall a certain way? I mean, the symptoms would have happened then, right? Not now?

Thoughts? Comments? Wagers? Random guesses to keep me entertained until I get the MRI results? Thanks!

Here's the poll, since I can't figure out how to add one:

1) It's entirely her medications.
2) There IS something wrong with her brain.
3) Neither 1 or 2: she has an ear-related balance issue such as Meniere's.

Hey, chime in. We'll see who's right.

[Welcome to neuro talk. You will find some friends here and maybe some information while you wait for your MRI results. So sorry your were hurt in such a mannor. Gosh, concusion, anything could have happened with that. Try not to second guess what is going on. Many who experience some form of brain injury, do feel and get off balance. Be good to yourself, and take it easy. Don't over extend what you do physically until you have the full evaluation. Until that time, I am here to listen. I hope you have seen a neurologist. That would be the type of physician I would seek first. Please seek a second and even a third opinion. Not all Neuros, treat TBI or these kind of symptoms in the same mannor. I hope your doctor listens to you, and has some compassion. It will help your doctor, if you keep a journal of all the symptoms you are experiencing. Write them down daily. Also bring a friend or spouse with you to your appointment. The doctors tend to pay attention a little better with some one else in the room with you to back up what you say. I do wish you a speedy recovery. Again, welcome to this site, you found a great place to see you through this trauma. I care. ginnie

Thanks, Ginnie, you seem really nice. I appreciate that! A standard medical doc ordered the MRI, but I'm going to have my psychiatrist look over the scans too, to see what he thinks. I trust my psych a lot, and if he thinks I should get a specialist like you said, he'll probably be able to recommend one.

Yeah, um, it was my sister. If it turns out that my sister damaged my brain, for crying out loud, I don't even want to imagine how that would impact my family. Oh, they know what happened, and my dad kicked her out after she did it, because I became terrified of her, but we get along well now that she has her own place, and... I mean, God.

Thanks for the support, Ginnie!!!

Gerudo,

Some of the symptoms you describe are similiar to my brother who has been diagnosed with Parkinsonism. This seemed to start mostly with his balance. One question???? Do you swing you arms when you walk? People with this disease swing their arms very little and usually walk with arms straight down. He has had this for over seven years. When going out, he prefers to use a walker because he is afraid he might fall. The walker helps him to feel more secure.

Just a thought.....

I agree with Ginnie, bringing a friend or spouse with you to your appointment does seem to make a difference with doctors paying better attention.

Please let us know the results of your MRI.


Gerry

Hi Gerry! I can't really tell what my arms are doing... I think they swing. That's good, right?

OK, you all have convinced me, someone's going with me to the doc's. It's not 'til June 4th, though. Maybe I can call after the holiday and see about getting in sooner? I mean, not knowing feels really really weird.

Thanks!! I hope your brother is feeling well.

So I quit taking Provigil as of last Friday morning (last dose then), and now all I want to do is sleep. And sleep. And sleep. Like before I started taking it a little over a month ago. On the other hand, my hands aren't really closing themselves or feeling weak at all.

Provigil does affect the CNS, but it would be rare for it to do this. My theory is that maybe I already had ataxia and the Provigil was aggravating it. (MRI results in next Tuesday.) It's depressing though, because boy did I love that drug. But why would I need 12 hours of sleep a night anyway, and even then still feel fatigued? Maybe there is something wrong with my brain. I mean, I know I'm not depressed (no offense to depressed people), because I always have stuff I want to do, ya know?

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Wish I could be of help. Why were prescribed the Provigil??
You might try calling the doctors office. They probably already have the results. If you talk nice; (like let it be known the stress the waiting is causing) the doctor's nurse might give you the results of your MRI before Tuesday. Worth a try.

Gerry

That's a darn fine idea. I begged for Provigil because I need 12 hours of sleep a night without it. Many times over the years I went to the gen doc who drew blood, told me everything (the fatigue) was in my head, and sent me home. So when my Internet research turned up Provigil, I went to my psych and asked for some. Finally I was living a normal life, for a whole month!... Oh well.

Yeah, maybe I'll call tomorrow. I'm just a little afraid to.

Hey, I have good news! My brain is fine. The doc says the only thing on the scan was the presence of a past sinus infection. (I did have a really bad one in the mid '90's. It lasted for two or three weeks and made my face hurt.) He prescribed me a drug called Antivert for falling off the sidewalk, I guess working the theory my dad had that there's an inner ear issue. (I was born with bad hearing for unknown reasons, so it makes sense.)

As for my hands closing, either Provigil was the culprit or it was psychosomatic. (Go figure.) I'll figure it out, either way.

Thanks for all the support! You all are nice!!!

Hi ~ You know, I also tilt to one side like that, and I've never been injured.

You know what my doc said was the problem? Osteoporosis!!! He said because my spine is in such bad shape, that I have to lean to one side to keep from falling over on the other side. Get my drift? Trouble is, I lean too far! LOL

Sometimes I look like I'm drunk -- and if any of my friends saw me, they'd start talking because I'm a recovering alcoholic!!! I haven't had a drink in 20 years! LOL Boy would the rumors fly then. LOL Guess ya gotta laugh (at least I do) The things we have to go thru.

God bless and I hope whatever is going on with you is NOT SERIOUS! Take care my friend, and keep us posted. Hugs, Lee