Does this sound like Vestibular Neuritis?
Posted , 31 users are following.
Hello, this is my first time posting. I have a serious health issue, but the doctors haven't been able to pinpoint what it is. Basically, I've had six weeks of dizziness and unsteadiness. It sounds like Vestibular Neuritis, but please let me know what you think.
On June 9th I got some kind of stomach flu or food poisoning. I had severe vomiting and diarrhea. Other than a canker sore under my toungue, I was starting to feel better. I was exercising again and working again.
While walking across a bridge in the park on June 14th, I suddenly got a fear of heights. I felt the same sensation the next day while sitting at a traffic light, that happens to be on top of an overpass. I felt panicky.
As the week went on, I was getting panicky in the car every time I had to stop at a light. I had to look down at the sterring wheel because the cars criss-crossing in front of me was making me disoriented.
Then I began to get dizzy spells throughout the day, plus I felt a permanent unsteadyness 24 hours a day. A lot of times I had to concentrate hard to walk. My eyes were not going where I wanted them to go. Work really brought on the systems. I started missing days. I also had to have people drive me around to places. One time I had heart palpatations when there were a lot of people around me. Eventually I asked for a leave of absense.
On the 26th, a dizzy spell got so bad I had to go to the hospital. It was mainly disorientation, not like the room was spinning. I was still able to walk around the hopital, but very slowly, and had to concentrate hard to do it. MRI showed no tumors or stroke. They said it was a middle ear issue, perscribe some medicine and sent me on my way.
So far I've seen one ENT, but other appts are coming for nearologist and another ENT. My hearing test was perfect. The ENG/caloric test came out normal, which surprised me. He suggested I might have Mal de Debarquement Syndrome.
I became became imprisoned in my home, and I started to feel physically weak as the days went on. After learning about vestibular exercises on the Internet, I decided to start doing them on my own. They seem to have helped with my balance and with my eye-darting issues. I now go for very long walks. I am starting to drive again too. However, everything feels totatlly different than it did before this all began.
There were a couple of nights where my brain was doing odd things. I got hot flashes (even though I'm a guy) and heart palpatations in the middle of the night one time.
My persistent systems right now are:
-suceptible to dizziness when on the computer, watching TV, doing quick head turns, being inside stores
-high-pitch ringing in my left ear
-fullness in my right ears that comes and goes, almost like there is fluid in them
-harder to concentrate
-unsteadiness as I move. Sometimes it's a "bobble"; othertimes it's like I'm leaning in one direction or another. Sometimes it's almost normal.
-sensitivity to sound, like the bath water running
-misidentification of sounds. I sometimes think the garbage truck is outside, only to figure out it's our air conditioner.
Let me know what you think. I would like to begin living a normal life again: return to work, use a computer and watch TV normally, be able to drive long distances without worry. I'm thinking it's VN, but I did not have an "acute" spinning phase, plus the caloric test was normal. The canker sore may be relevant because I've read that the herpes virus can attack the nerve.
5 likes, 302 replies
jeremyng Kevin5555
Posted
It could be a viral infection which affected your ear. I have heard that from my GP. But usually it will clear in a few weeks and should get better.
In my case, i experience the dizziness in stores especially when walking between shelves of items.
Is your tinnitus only noticeable in a quiet room? For me I hear high pitch hissing sounds when I am in a quiet room and when wearing in ear earphones and ear plugs.
Other than that they don't seem to bother me. How about your sleep pattern? Do you sleep early and have enough sleep?
Take care!
rocksolid Kevin5555
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rita52071 rocksolid
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rocksolid rita52071
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rita52071 rocksolid
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jeremyng Kevin5555
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Currently, I am trying TCM. TCM focuses more on improving the overall "energy" in the body via various methods such as eating certain foods, massage, accupuncture etc. For my case, the TCM physician mentioned that it could be that I didnt sleep properly. Due to work activities, I didnt manage to sleep early every night (i average 12 to 1 plus every night including weekends). Therefore, I am trying my best to sleep earlier in the hopes that it will improve my condition. Not sure about your sleep patterns, but maybe you can try sleeping earlier (accoridng to TCM best time to wind down is before 11pm and fall asleep).
For me, i will be going to see a chiropractor to check my neck/cervical vetebrae. Previously I did a simple scan and they show some tightness and possible misalignment. Therefore, you may consider going to see such a specialised. I not sure what is your day job, but for me i do a lot of computer work and maybe due to the muscle strains over time, some misalignment occurs which can cause some issues such as dizziness.
Just my 2 cents, hope you will get well soon, Merry X'mas and a Happy New Year!
Onetime416 jeremyng
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Onetime416 Kevin5555
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Hey man did you ever look into vertical heterophoria? Your story sounds very similar to mine. Your head tilt, dizziness, ear problems, stomach illness prior to symptoms, shoot man I wouldnt doubt that you and I have the same thing.
rocksolid Onetime416
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Onetime416 rocksolid
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paula59 Kevin5555
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charlotte57794 Kevin5555
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Hi Kevin,
How are you feeling these days?
Any better or worse. Could you give us an update of your progress please, i have VN and am trying my best to grt rid of it but it is very debilitating and makes me extremly fearful for the next episode ill get. Puts me in tears sometimes but im trying to stay positive.
How are you feeling, any progress?
marie25000 Kevin5555
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rocksolid marie25000
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daffany21102 marie25000
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Hello Marie so sorry your feeling like that I know the feelings all to well...what are your daily activities like and I can tell you what you are doing wrong if you like...I've been researching vertigo for the last two years because myself as well suffers from vertigo but I rarely have the attacks
marie25000 daffany21102
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