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Wooziness and MGUS

Posted by harley23 @harley23, Apr 4, 2023

Have any of you MGUS patients experienced wooziness? It isn't vertigo or a spinning feeling. It feels like I'm drunk, and I stagger when I walk. It doesn't occur every day, but it can be debilitating to the point that I won't drive. My ENT has ruled out vertigo from an ear issue, so my hematologist NP has referred me for a neurological workup. She doesn't think it's from MGUS. I also noticed it's worse if I take Turmeric or ibuprofen. I've stopped turmeric but take ibuprofen still for pain.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Sep 6, 2023
In reply to @harley23 "Hi Debby. I too have had this feeling of drunkenness when I sit or stand. It..." + (show)
@harley23

Hi Debby. I too have had this feeling of drunkenness when I sit or stand. It started about 16 months ago and has progressively worsened. It goes away when I lie down. It is not vertigo. I finally saw my ENT and it looks like my symptoms are from a condition related to aging (I am 76) called Presbystasis. It is common and incurable but treatable. Treatment consists of balance training mostly so I am waiting for a physical therapy referral. I highly recommend you see an ear-nose-throat (ENT) doctor. After 16 months of seeing a plethora of specialists, I finally have an answer. I keep a positive attitude and look on the bright side. The blessing has been that in my search for an answer, a small aneurysm was discovered in my brain that I have had treated with a type of "stent" that will cut off the aneurysm blood supply and make it go away! Praise God! Keep us posted if you like on your journey. I hope this helps.

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@harley23 And, once again, your story reminds us that things can be found when we aren't expecting them to be! The same way that MGUS is often found as our medical team looks for answers to another health issue.

Happy to hear you had a stent placed and a cure for that aneurysm.
Ginger

REPLY
debby090 | @debby090 | Sep 6, 2023
In reply to @pmm "MGUS patients frequently complain about neuropathy, myself included. Evidently it confuses us about the relationship of..." + (show)
@pmm

MGUS patients frequently complain about neuropathy, myself included. Evidently it confuses us about the relationship of the feet to the floor which can result in falls.
I went to orthopedic and podiatry docs who were not helpful. Nagged my PCP to appoint me with a neurologist, who seem to be in great demand. My PCP and specialty docs are all at a large medical center. Convenient, but popular and I wait for appointments. Waiting is not my forte.
The suggestion to see an ENT specialist is good. I am otherwise symptomatic of neuropathy, so imbalance related to inner ear issues was one of my rule outs.
Good for you for getting to the source of your symptoms. Also might consider a neurology consult due to “tingling.”
Patty

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I too have neuropathy of the feet. My podiatrist just keeps giving me shots in my feet that don’t resolve anything. So I will definitely look for a neurologist! Thank you!

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Mentor
Patty, Volunteer Mentor | @pmm | Sep 6, 2023
In reply to @debby090 "I too have neuropathy of the feet. My podiatrist just keeps giving me shots in my..." + (show)
@debby090

I too have neuropathy of the feet. My podiatrist just keeps giving me shots in my feet that don’t resolve anything. So I will definitely look for a neurologist! Thank you!

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Shots huh? Yikes! I would definitely ask a few questions. 😳
Patty

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