Balance issues

[Alohagirl]

Aloha - I am so grateful that you have this support group online! I just joined yesterday & was diagnosed with MC, LC this week. I have had 6 mos of change in GI issues and mostly seems to be slow digestion. I have been able to not have loose BM from switching to a low fiber / residue diet in the past month. I am due to start Budesonide this week & see a naturopath tomorrow. I had planned to do the 2 week elimination diet but twice this week I had 2 brief balance issues which is new for me - one I chalked up to blood sugar issues 2 days after the endoscopy but last night was briefly after eating out (chicken & carrots). I don't know if spending an hour in our salt water pool (newly installed) could have contributed to last night's feeling like I was going to fall backward. It passed with sitting and drinking water. Any input whether this could become a permanent balance issue if I delay going on the meds and try dietary measures first? Thanks for any input! Alohagirl

[tex]

Hi,

Welcome to our Internet family. I'm not sure by your description whether your balance issues might be due to neurologicial issues caused by gluten sensitivity, low blood pressure caused by dehydration or an electrolyte imbalance (such as a magnesium or potassium deficiency), or possibly vertigo.

Many of us have neurological problems associated with the disease. But some of us also have problems with dehydration and electrolyte deficiencies. A vitamin B-12 deficiency can also cause balance issues. Do you also have gait irregularities? My neurological issues with balance, gait, poor knee and ankle reflexes, and poor sensory perception (sense of touch) in my feet and lower legs were so bad about 6 or 7 years ago that I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. But I don't have Parkinson's disease. I blame the problem on damage to my nervous system caused by years of untreated gluten sensitivity associated with MC.

At any rate, the medications prescribed to treat MC are not likely to help with any of those problems. Diet changes will definitely help, and if you have peripheral neuropathy, a prescription combination of the active forms of vitamins B-12, B-9, and B-6 (known as Metanx) may help to resolve the neurological issues. It certainly helped me.

Are your thyroid test results normal? Untreated thyroid issues can cause problems of that sort, and according to our own informal poll, we are approximately 7 times as likely to have thyroid problems as someone in the general population.

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.

Tex

[Alohagirl]

Thank you for your very informative reply. I have skimmed the ebook & also trying to absorb what I read on the Forum since the diagnosis 4 days ago. It has given me such hope and options for managing MC/LC. Alohagirl

[Lilja]

Hi Alohagirl,

I used to have huge balance problems; I couldn't feel the ground under my feet, I felt like falling all the time; and I walked as if I was drunk. This went on for two years; and after following Tex' advice to take B-vitamins, my gait is steady and I have got my balance back :-)

I wonder if the salt in the swimming pool also may have affected your blood pressure?

I think swimming in salty waters is good for us (as opposed to chlorine water).

http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topi ... the-earth/

Lilia

[DebE13]

Interesting.....this weekend I had major dizziness/balance issues. I was just going to wait and see if it resolved. I woke up Saturday morning to the bed spins that were not alcohol induced. I don't drink. I ended up going back to bed and sleeping for most the morning. It continued today and I almost fell down my basement stairs. Driving was difficult and made me nauseous. Now I'm just feeling wiped out. Hopefully it will be gone before I go back to work tomorrow which could be hazardous. I'm wondering if it's Vit B related as Tex has talked about or thyroid related.

I hope yours has improved!