should i see a neurologist?

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i put this in autism discussion, but i dont really know if it's related to autism or not since autism is neurological...

lately, like in the past week or so, i've been having some balence issues and stumbling and tripping over ym feet. today was really bad though. i fell a few times today and zones out several times like i used to when i had what we think we absence seizures as a kid. i have several medical problems and this is kind of worrying me. is a neurologist who i want to see for this?

I did a google for
"balance disorders"

And came up with this info
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance ... orders.asp

In there it suggests you see an "otolaryngologist"
a physician/surgeon who specializes in diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck, with expertise in balance disorders.

I can't even pronounce that.

The way these things are done in Australia is you go to a GP and describe your symptoms, have you had an ear infection or bad head cold recently? Do you have low blood pressure? and the GP will recommend you a specialist. If that specialist feels it isn't their area of expertise, they should recommend another. The GP may organise some of the tests required that would help decide which kind of specialist you need.

I don't know how it is organised in other countries.

He is correct. The part of the body registers balance is the inner ear. It could be anything from something as simple to an inner ear infection to a structural abnormality in your ear. I suggest that you see you normal physician and see what he has to say.

Gee ... An "otolaryngologist?" Well, a laryngologist is a throat doctor. Oto- is the prefix for ear. So, an otolaryngologist must be a doctor for the throat and ear.

That kind of a doctor is not even in the phone book. I looked. There's optometrists and all, but no otolaryngologists. I suspect then that this is just some kind of technical term. Any body portion has a prefix, e.g. mind = psych-, and adding 'ist,' 'ologist', or 'iatrist,' at the end of such a prefix is grammatically correct. There are thus hundreds of doctors, but only a very select few that have legitimate and recognized practices. I don't believe otolaryngologist is one of them.

- Ray M -

thanks
i'll have to look up that type of doctor
i do have very low blood presure... i have orthostatic hypotention.
my norm is about 90/60

Ok low blood pressure can bring on dizzy spells.

Ie if you stand up too quickly.

Main thing is to stand up or get up.... s l o w l y

Sometimes when my blood pressure is low, and I stand up too quick, I have to sit straight back down again or I fall over.

I guess an alternative to the specialist specialist

Is an Ear Nose and Throat guy with a specialty in balance / inner ear problems.

But if it is not the ear, it could be a bunch of other things. For you I'm guessing, blood circulation problems might be it. In which case I think a neurologist (nerve doctor) is still not quite the right one.

But it is easier to go to a regular GP and get them to figure it out, which specialist.

That standing up too quickly can happen to almost anyone though. I have a BP of arould 120/80 and if i stand up too quickly the pressure drop makes me dizzy and unable to see for about 5 seconds.

it can happen to anyone but mine is all heart related so it's a little different. as my blood presure drops when i stand, my heart speeds up and goes into tachycardia. the heart problem i have is called dysautonomia and also produces neuroloical symptoms, as well as gatrointestinal, autoimmune, and some other things i'm forgetting. i would very much like to wait untill august when i have my 6 month check with the cardiologist, so i'll probably end up just going to my regular doc, or just wait it out.
i've been drinking tons of "traderade" (trader joe's gatorade) beacuse if it is heart related that is what will end up helping.

I had a friend that did that yesterday, and it was strange because he zoned out in a short-time period.

Otolaryngologist is an ENT (Ears, Nose and Throat) specialist.