Anxiety, Labyrinthitis, or Sinuses?

Posted , 4 users are following.

Long story short, I've been dealing with Labyrinthitis for about 6 months now, mostly the after effects now I think. It left me with 30 percent hearing loss at certain frequencies, and I've been pretty dizzy as well. I also suffer from anxiety (I've had it before but it's gotten souch worse with this terrible inner ear issue) I've had anxiety guess my whole life but it wasn't a problem until a few years ago, had it for a few months then it went away. Now it's back and it came back with a vegence when I was moving cross country and the dizziness kicked in. I am currently waiting for my insurance to authorize my Physical Therapy for my rebound labyrinthitis. I'll be dizzy during the day some days, I'll have a couple good days, then I'll be in complete panic and terror others which make me feel like im going completely insane (making me think I'm having some kind of horrible mental illness or that I'm going to just snap). Lately, or actually for the most part of this crap I've had head pressure.. mostly at night when the sun goes down. On top of the dizziness of course. Last night was one of the nights where it was bad, I got pretty dizzy and had pretty bad head pressure (not a headache) it's like there's trapped air in my head or there isn't enough room. I tried to sleep and tossed and turned and felt kind of like a numb face and weakness. It was terrible. I get nights like that once in a while. I'm wondering if it's anxiety, maybe sinuses, or maybe even both? I'll get a stuffy nose, almost every morning when I wake up. It's nerve wrecking. I just want answers. I've been to doctors, and ent, a dizziness specialist, and a nurologist. All pointed towards the inner ear which turned to be labyrinthitis. I have a MRI scheduled for Wednesday and I am terrified to do it. I'm hoping that this is just sinuses and not something serious. Has anyone dealt with anything like this? I appreciate any feed back, tips, or just plain conversation. Thanks!

- Josh

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Posted

    Hey there just wanted to send some re assuring thoughts. I've also been dealing with the Sinus/Anxiety issue for 4 months. It started as a nasty sinus infection. I've tried everything. I've always had some anxiety however this head pressure thing is really strange. I feel like I'm on another planet. I've read that all the symptoms of Sinus mimic anxiety therefore triggering it. I'm 3 days post op from surgery. I had my deviated septum, ear tubes, adenoids and sinus reduction done. As soon as I woke up from surgery I felt a big difference with the " out of Reality feeling". I haven't had much anxiety since however I'm also on pain killers. Lol. I can keep you updated or try to answer any questions you may have. I know the 4 months of feeling sick and dis attached was pure hell for me. I thought I was having a nervous break down or something. It felt like the world was going on around me, brain fog, memory issues, dizziness, etc. It really had me depressed and was much worse than just an average sinus infection. Hope this helps.
  • Posted

    Hi Lockerby

    How are you?

    I suffer with the same for four years

    I was put on Paxil for anxiety and panic but I feel congested and if the air is dry it makes it worse. Sinus and deviated septum

    Please let me know how you doing

    Kind regards

  • Posted

    Hi Lockerby

    How are you?

    Please can you give me an update as I have been suffering 4yrs now and was put on Paxil (anti anxiety meds) to help anxiety and panic. But I think it's sinus and deviated septum

    How are you doing?

  • Posted

    hi Lockerby, I had very similar issues and it was an auto immune condition. Often people with auto immune issues suffer from anxiety (no wonder with all the issues we have going on!). IT took me years to get a diagnosis for this which I finally got into my 40's after being referred to an immunologist. Scans etc were always clear for me and blood work showed very little. This is why it is so difficult to get diagnosed. 

    But if you are like me and suffering auto immune disease a neurologist is not the right specialist for you. Neither is ent headache specialists or anything like that. You should try to see an immunologist. x

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