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Suggest Treatment For Dizziness And Imbalance

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Posted on Wed, 21 Jan 2015
Question: For three weeks now, off and on when walking I feel off balance - almost like I'm being pulled to the right, but I walk straight. I've noticed it's worse in the supermarket or after I move my head around a lot - for instance the other day I was helping my son look for his shoes and I was moving my head around looking for them and when I stood up straight I felt a little off balance. I had an MRI of my brain six months ago but I'm afraid this is a brain tumor or cancer. I've seen my GP and at first she thought it might be a sinus infection so she gave me a sulfa drug. She also checked my ears with her instrument and said there's no infection. I went back after finishing the sulfa drug and she said she thinks it's anxiety, and started me on 10mg of Prozac. I've been on it for 6 days and I'm still dizzy - like I'm being pulled to the right when walking, randomly. Not all of the time. Sometimes when sitting I also feel it, but for the most part i'm fine when sitting, lying down, driving in the car, and it doesn't happen ALL the time when walking. It happens off and on. But I literally walk straight for the most part, it just feels like I'm being pulled. Is this a brain tumor/cancer? So scared.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
This is not the case of brain tumor.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, I had gone through your question and understand your concerns.

Symptoms you describe are more consistent with dizzynes and vertigo related to inner ear disfunction ( Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere disease).

Another possibility your concern may be a feature of anxiety you're experiencing.

Brain tumor usually manifests with a variety of symptoms and neurological findings related to localization, other than just dizzynes.

Another argument that excludes brain tumor is the MRI that is a very sensitive diagnostic tool regarding to tumors.

So in your case I don't think there is something to be related to brain tumor.

I suggest you to consult a ENT Doctor and discuss about further evaluation of any inner ear disfunction.

I think also you should give time to antianxiety treatment to evaluate its effectiveness.

Hope this helps. If you have further questions feel free to ask.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (2 hours later)
Ok. The past few days I've also been more forgetful. We have a lot going on in our lives right now - we just moved and we're all trying to get used to the house, plus the holidays, plus me stressing out that I have a brain tumor. But I've been forgetting things I normally wouldn't. I just started Prozac 7 days ago - could this be related? Still really scared of a brain tumor.

For instance, I forget sometimes where I put my can of soda, I forgot that my husband needs to cut my son's hair before I put him in the bath (after we discussed it a couple of hours before), I forgot that while we're out and about I need to drop something off to a friend. Could this be related to the Prozac I started 7 days ago? Or is it a sign I'm getting worse and my BT fears are valid? So scared.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
There is no reason to think about brain tumor.

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for asking again.

I trying to understand why do you think about having brain tumor, because I don't see any evidence to support it.

Forgetting about recently happened things, only few days of history, knowing that you feel tired and anxious, doesn't feel or sound like brain tumor.

Maybe Prozac affects your dizzynes and forgetfulness.

I think you should economize your energies and find some time to relax.

Hope this helped. Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho

Neurologist, Surgical

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 4493 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Dizziness And Imbalance

Brief Answer: This is not the case of brain tumor. Detailed Answer: Hi, I had gone through your question and understand your concerns. Symptoms you describe are more consistent with dizzynes and vertigo related to inner ear disfunction ( Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere disease). Another possibility your concern may be a feature of anxiety you're experiencing. Brain tumor usually manifests with a variety of symptoms and neurological findings related to localization, other than just dizzynes. Another argument that excludes brain tumor is the MRI that is a very sensitive diagnostic tool regarding to tumors. So in your case I don't think there is something to be related to brain tumor. I suggest you to consult a ENT Doctor and discuss about further evaluation of any inner ear disfunction. I think also you should give time to antianxiety treatment to evaluate its effectiveness. Hope this helps. If you have further questions feel free to ask.