Anyone else feel this?
 

I have had the vertigo and physical therapy for it, but it DOES NOT go away, just less on some days. BUT, even though I've had the 'normal' type vertigo...where I lay down and my world literally starts spinning, I also have this very strange sensation when I am walking. I call it "floating brain" because that's the only way i know how to discribe it. It literally feels as though my brain is floating back and forth (NOT spinning dizziness) just really strange. I see the look on some people's faces (doctor's included) when I describe this feeling, as if they are thinking ?what? does that mean? I just don't know how else to describe it. They say there are two types of vertigo...the type where everything literally spins and the other type where you feel 'faint' (I've never felt as though I was going to faint...not sure what that would feel like), but nonetheless this strange feeling does not hit me unless I am walking more than, I would say about 10 feet. If I'm in the house or office, I don't feel it.....as soon as I get outside I do.....anyone else out there have this or am I losing it?:confused:

Yes!! In fact I'm having it now. I feel like I'm not really "grounded" if that makes any sense. And yes, it's much worse outside. I truly believe only another MSer can understand what we're talking about. Wish I could find a good Neuro that actually has MS (not that I'd wish it on anyone) so they'd know what I'm describing.

Oh, and welcome to NeuroTalk! :) Sorry you're having problems with vertigo but you'll find lots of support here.

Yes! me too! :eek:

THANK YOU....I'm not crazy! :wink: It's the strangest feeling....almost as if I lifted my legs I could fly, LOL!! Gotto get a laugh somehow!

No you are not crazy. This is the same exact "floating" feeling I complained about for YEARS! A low dose Ativan helped me a lot. (.05 mg). My Neuro suggested it and said she had a lot of her M.S.ers complain about this feeling and the low dose Ativan helped.
At first I thought she was blowing me off as some type of anxiety (which it will cause you to feel as well as phobia as you may become afraid of it). However; the ativan for a couple of days seems to break the cycle of the feeling. Hope your doc will agree and let you try it. I don't take it everyday....just when I feel I am having a hard time. When I get the floating feeling....I can't drive. The ativan has given me back my driving.

I know the feeling is not debilitating, but disturbing and makes you feel like you are crazy. Bless you for posting your concern because many of us feel "nuts" and its comforting to share common experiences.

Welcome Sherric, nice to meet you.:)

I used to have that floaty feeling a lot and had vertigo too, in my earlier RRMS days.

I'm not suprised that you received a bunch of "me toos" here. It's not an unusual symptom. If your Neuro looks at you like you're crazy, you need a new MS Neuro.:)

Glad you decided to join us.:hug:

Thanks Ladies for the responses. I FEEL VALIDATED! Problem is....I haven't gotten an MS diagnosis yet. It's been years. I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia (8 years ago), chronic fatigue, degenerative disk disease, carpal tunnel, a pituitary tumor and on and on and on!!! I truly believe it's MS. This whole floaty feeling began about 2 months ago. I tried to explain it to my GP...he didn't understand, put me on meclazine...which does help some with the actual vertigo when I lye down, but I still have the "floaty feeling". My pulse rate was at 50 when experiencing these, so he decided to send me back to the cardiologist (I say back because I went before for a low pulse rate, went through all the test and even had a heart cath....all was normal) the cardiologist at that time said I just have a normal low pulse. SO.....when I went last week to the doctor and again this week they decided I should see the neurologist once again and the cardiologist. I fully believe the cardiologist is waste of time, BUT am worried because the neurologist I am seeing is one I seen before who totally dismissed the MS diagnosis because there were no lesions on my MRI. I now see where 5% of people with MS show no lesions on MRI's and wonder if she will listen to me. It's frustrating and as I said it has been YEARS. Granted, no one wants a diagnosis of MS, BUT I must say I'd be glad to hear it simply because it not only validates what I've gone through but I'd finally be able to educate myself properly and fight the damn thing.

Thanks again for the responses, it truly lifts my spirits!:winky:

I think they call it disassociation. I have also had it. Totally normal for MS.

The way I described the floaty feeling to someone who's a non-MSer is to ask them if they've ever taken Sudafed or Actifed (before the government took the good stuff out of those cold/allergy medications because of meth-heads) If you've ever taken Sudafed and after that stuff kicks in, it makes your head feel...floaty. Like you just disconnected your head from your neck and it's floating above your shoulders.

That's exactly what that floaty "vertigo" feels like to me, altho it's a lot more disturbing than the feeling Sudafed gives me. But, it was the only way I could really describe it to a non-MSer and have them get some idea of what it felt like.

I haven't experienced anything like this for a long time, but I remember that 'disconnected' feeling well - especially in really hot weather. I recall that it felt like I had mentally 'turned inwards' and my brain was focused on getting me somewhere - I had no idea how I got from A to B - just as long as I did. I would pass people that I knew and have no awareness of them and I had tunnel vision and this strange self-protective haze around me.

I don't know if this is the same thing, but I do get what you are saying. I hope you can find some answers.

Regards

Lyn

Ummm...no, its not normal in MS and what is being decribed does not even remotely sound like dissociation. If you had experienced this I believe you would have a better understanding.

Here are 2 links that will give you an understanding of dissociation:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dis...CTION=symptoms

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2008/in-...ive-disorders/

Lynn, when you stated the heat association, I totally got what's being described here.
I get that feeling just before the heat affects me...my head feels light, not connected, then the floor or ground turns sideways and I stumble.

Ugh, I can't believe the neuro doesn't get it...find a new one, Sherric!!

I can get on the bus with all of you. I have been having 3 weeks of this terrible problem. It has gotten so bad that I am in bed most of the time.

Went to Neuro Tuesday she did some tests on the nervous system and
muscles. On Feb. 13 I go for my MRI'S. The way I have been feeling I won't be surprised if she tells me the ms has become active again and that there are new lesions. Wish me well.

Jappy

I have vertigo feelings as well. Sometimes it feels as though the floor just quaked. Other times, it feels as though my brain shifted. And yet, other times its everything around me is spinning. Vertigo is such a weird thing and very different than just feeling dizzy. I don't like it much at all.

Like Lynn and Debbie, heat makes it so much worse for me.

And, yes, what you are feeling is really and validated. Hang in there and let us know how you are doing.:hug: