A total nightmare! (labyrinthitis) Would love some feedback.

Ugh there is no edit!! I should have read it before I posted, sorry for the grammatical mistakes

Have you had an audiogram and/or caloric tests (hot and/or cold air/water into the ears with eye movement monitoring)?  Have you been asked to stand with your feet together with your eyes closed?

Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

Clinical Neurophysiologist

Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

Hi Fuzzyfoot - I enjoyed reading your post. 

My doctors are still trying to determine if I have Meniere's Disease or possibly Labyrinthitis. They are so close in symptoms. 

I have had ongoing problems with my ears since I was a child. Despite all my problems in the past, nothing as annoyting and disruptive as the past 6 weeks or so.

The newest problem started while waking up out of a sounds sleep with the room spinning. It was so bad, I couldn't step one foot out of bed, in fear of falling flat on my face. I vomited numerous times and refused to go the hospital. After 45 minutes or so, I found a position to fall back to sleep, half sitting up and curled up. I woke up three hours later feeling like I was hungover. I was able to get out of bed and didn't experience the room spinning or the dizziness any longer. From this point on, my tinnitus found a whole new spiked level of annoyance. Headaches were more often and lasted longer and vertigo comes and goes often. I have intermittent hearing loss in my left ear. Most of the time, loud sounds bother the ear with distorted, loud sound, amost magnified that makes me want to jump out of my skin at times. For instance, my dogs barking or a door slamming. I went to a specialist (Neurotologist) and went through 2 hours of testing. Once they concluded I didnt have BPPV, they really didn't bring much more to the table other than an absobitant bill that would choke a horse. Thank God for my insuance. 

I have done some reading up on Labrinthitis and it appears "time" like you said is the most important feature or cure. It sounds like you can get rid of this, once it runs it's course. 

Like you, I've gotten to the point of even discussing my symptoms with a doctor. I've heard so many people that have heard, there's nothing we can do for you for that tinnitius, you'll just have to leave with it. Unless you've suffered with the annoying, disruptive sound of a thousand crickets in your ear, complimented by a whistling tea kettle, you can't sympathize with a patient, I guess. I'm seeing a specialist tomorrow with the hope of something that can help me sleep more than an hour or two at night without being woken up with the tea kettle and crickets. 

You are so right when you say you've dealt with other things, none this annoying. I agree. Anything pertaining to the middle ear is absolutely the most miserable deal going. I've had many challenges in my life but this one has tried to suck the living life out of me. I guess it's too much to ask for to have quiet ears, no vertigo, no headaches or distorted, loud hearing.

Please let us know how you progress along. I have a good feeling yours will exit stage left, very soon. You seem to have a great attiude and resolve. I guess we need stamina and perserverance to deal with these ear problems. 

Take care -