Woke up, got out of bed and couldn't walk in a straight line. Any idea as to why?

Any sinus or ear infections lately? I had a sinus infection a while ago and I bounced off all the walls leading to my office. I could not walk straight. Do you have a blood pressure monitoring device? That’s a possibility.

It sounds like your leg(s) were asleep.

@Adirondackwannabe is suggesting what I was thinking- if your inner ear got out of whack while lying down. It’s allergy season starting around here, are you reacting to pollen with stuffed sinuses?

I don’t have a problem with allergies.

@Mama_Cakes I said that when I was your age. A few years later I had some major issues. They get worse as you get older.

It could be a number of things – or a combination – messing with your equilibrium. Dehydration, hormonal fluctuations, barometric pressure, sinus/allergies (can be mild without sneezing or runny nose), caffeine withdrawal, oversleeping, medications, etc.

You say you didn’t feel dizzy. Serious inner-ear conditions typically cause a spinning sensation, while orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure) typically feels like a lightheadedness. It could even be that you went from a deep-sleep state to awake a bit too quickly, and the part if your brain that coordinates motor skills wasn’t fully alert yet.

Move around a bit more slowly for a while. If you have caffeine every day, have some but not more than usual and make sure to get plenty of fluids during the day today. Try to go for a walk this evening, but don’t do strenuous exercise if you don’t feel completely normal. If it happens again tomorrow, start keeping a log of your symptoms and nutritional intake and fluids. I suspect it was just an isolated anomaly, or maybe the early stages of an upper-respiratory issue. Feel better!

Thank-you. I still feel a bit off.

When I close my eyes, I feel a bit dizzy. I am going to take it easy for a little while.

@Mama_Cakes: Definitely take it easy and get lots of fluids, then. Feeling worse with eyes closed is suggestive of an inner-ear factor – but that could be caused by many of the things I listed above. Any headache, tinnitus or muffled hearing sensations?

“Any headache, tinnitus or muffled hearing sensations?”

None of that.

The only thing that feels odd is pins and needles in my right hand and an achey right shoulder. Perhaps, a pinched nerve.

Happened again when I laid down for a minute then got up. I may call my doctor and see if I can get in to see him.

@Mama_Cakes – I’m guessing that you slept on that right side. You might have slept very deeply last night and messed up your circulation or something. Put some heat and massage that shoulder and neck. If you feel stable enough on your feet, try doing a forward bend like in yoga, where you bend from the hips and bring your nose to your knees (which should be kept soft, not locked) and let your upper body just relax and hang there for a few breaths (as long as you feel stable and comfortable). You can let your arms hang or you can grab the opposite elbows with your hands and relax into it this way. When you return to upright, do so very slowly and keep your eyes open as you realign your spine one vertebra at a time.

Thank-you so much, @hearkat! I appreciate the help.

@Mama_Cakes: You posted while I wrote that other comment…
If disequilibrium is your main symptom, and you’re not having acute dizzy spells or any other signs of illness, it may be too soon to see a doctor, because such symptoms are vague. How long since you first woke up? Have you had anything to eat or drink yet?

I woke up at 7:30 and it is now 9:45. I had coffee after I got up, a protein shake and an iron pill.

Make sure to drink some water and maybe eat a banana to get some potassium, and see if that helps. Again, it could just be that your sleep cycle was thrown off by something or that you’re coming down with a head cold or sinus issue.

When you do lie down do you feel OK, and it only goes dizzy when getting up? Or do you get dizzy while turning over in bed, too? Have you made major changes in your diet recently?

Whenever you do make positional changes, keep your eyes open and move slowly and deliberately rather than on automatic-pilot.

I think some sort of odd brain, neurological, how you slept, the stage of sleep you woke up in thing.

Just a guess.

See if it persists. Might be just an odd night.

Did you take any new drugs last night? Drink? Smoke?

Have you had your B12 level tested recently?

I am going to lay down now and see.

Just tried it, I feel fine when I lay down. Not dizzy. As soon as I raise my body up, my balance is off and I sway.

That does not sound like positional vertigo. But, still might be some inner ear thing as @hearkat suggests.

If it is positional you can try to trigger it by sitting up looking to one side with your head inbetween straight ahead and sideways, so about 45 degrees, and then lie backwards fast with your head of the edge off your bed so you head is slightly below your body, slightly upside down. Maintain the 45 degrees the whole way back. Keep your eyes open the entire time and stare up towards the corner where the wall meets the ceiling. Or, have someone help you do it and stare at their face, have them look at you as they help you backwards. If the room spins keep your eyes open until it stops spinning, about 20 seconds, the turn your head while still lying down to the other side very slowly, take a minute to do it. Wait 20 seconds, then roll your body over and face the ground on that other side. Wait at least 20 seconds then sit up. If it is positional that will help cure it. You can try it on each side, because sometimes it is just one side.

It’s the Epley maneuver if you want to look it up on youtube.

Just had some caffeine before bed and when I got up. I am drinking water now. I will stay in bed and take it easy this morning. Then I will see how I feel.

Did you wake up earlier than normal? Maybe you woke up at a time your body isn’t used to.

Could be labrynthitis but that is usually associated with much dizzyness, room spinning and nausea from my experience but just waking up with it is how it starts.
Here is a website where someone discusses their experience with it and here is the WebMD information

If you were my daughter, I’d take you to the Doc’s now and not bother with what the collective may guess, think or suggest, well-meaning as we all are.

Feeling better. I am lounging in bed reading this on my Kindle.

@Mama_Cakes you can probably rule out my suggestion. There is no way you could read with labrynthitis. All you want is a dark room and a sofa and the ability to lie there with your eyes closed.

You could have had a minor CVI. I would make an appointment and see my doctor if it persists.

I agree with your thinking of calling your doctor. They will tell you if you need to come in. Don’t mess around with the dizziness. It could be nothing, but it could be serious.
A phone call takes a minute, messing around with different possible solutions takes more time than that.

@WestRiverrat Is that like a TIA?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortical_visual_impairment

@gailcalled Thanks.

@WestRiverrat Why? She is talking about not having good control of her legs and things kind of whacky? Why do you think it is her vision?

@JLeslie I was referring to a Cerebral Vascular Incident, or a mini stroke.

You can’t even walk straight. Get it? Haha.

@WestRiverrat Oh, then I was right originally, like a TIA. It seems like that would affect one side of the body, but I know very little about the different areas of the brain and how that might play out in the body. My first answer kind of jives with your idea though, neurological in some way or the other. That is my gut feeling, more than an inner ear problem. Not that I think it is something very scary necessarily. TIA or CVI should be taken seriously though. Many times that sort of thing can be one of several. I hope it isn’t that.

I’m with @gailcalled. This is weird enough to warrant attention. Don’t fool around. Call your doctor.

@tinyfaery, will be here all week. ;-)

Everyone, I took it easy today and I feel much better. I will keep an eye on things the next few days. If I feel funky again, I will get a hold of my physician.

I appreciate everyone’s help.

You’ve been doing a lot more exercise recently. Not sure if you’ve also changed your diet. It could be many things. Go to the doctor then you can get an informed opinion. Feel better soon.

Sent to me by Gailcalled. Sorry, no way to tell without a good history and physical exam. You need to see a doctor.

How are you feeling this morning, @Mama_Cakes?

@hearkat I woke up with a headache, but other than that, I feel fine.

I really think you should go to the doctor if the headache is bad. I don’t say that often. I avoid doctors. But, having what seems to be neurological symptoms and also having a headache seems like a pair of symptoms worth checking. I guess you could wait and see if the headache goes away, but if it persists, and you cannot relieve it with the usual tylenol, then I would go the doctor. One problem is God forbid you have some sort of bleed aspirin would be bad to take, but if you had some sort of block then aspirin would be recommended. So, getting the right diagnosis if there is some sort of stroke is important.

I’m not trying to scare you, you know how bad the symptoms were and how bad the headache is and if you feel something os very wrong.

Are you alone? If you don’t goto the doctor I recommend not being alone today.