I've had some severe attacks of vertigo, but Meclizine always cures it. I don't have any balance unless I'm staring straight ahead. You should see me trying to get to the mailbox at night without a flashlight. I end up practically walking in circles.
There's clearly something wrong with my inner ear, but I don't know when or how it happened. It must have happened gradually. It's funny because I was a gymnast for years when I was young and I had no trouble with the balance beam and trapeze. Now I can't even walk downstairs without holding on to the bannister. I can ride escalators all day as long as they're going up. I can't come back down unless a lot of people are standing in front of me to block the view or I find an elevator instead.