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. 

 

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  • Posted

    Vertigo is not a fear of heights Kevin vertigo is going dizzy when you move your head I have it and it's terrible !
    • Posted

      I have VN and got a fear of heights because vestibular issues can create visual misconceptions which then can create anxiety which than can induce fear.
  • Posted

    My vertigo started as labrythitus an inner ear infection no pain nothing everything turned upside down it has left me with vertigo I have had this since January 6th and still have it tho not as bad but it's there all the time it's very annoying actually but I cope with it but don't move my head quickly or I might fall lol ! It can last for years apparently!!! 
    • Posted

      Hi Paul

      yes mine stated as a inner ear infection now constant unsteadiness and brain fog nausea. 2 years now. 

  • Posted

    Hi Kevin  in your list of things that you experience i can relate to all of them.  I have been given 2 diagnosis and told not to confuse them as they are separate issues, on is BPPV which involves turning over in bed and moving my head in certain ways that causes intense dizzinees, the other is silent migraines that cause visual disturbances and balance problems.  Maybe you need to see a neuro otologist as i did who told me not to get the 2 conditions mixed up and has started me on a neuropathic medication to reduce the silent migraine.  Unfortunatley only an expert in inner ear disorders can specifically help as everyone may have a different condition as yours seems to have been triggered by walking over the bridge.
  • Posted

    Thanks for all the replies so far.  A few points to make.  I don't really feel that fear of heights anymore; I think it was just something my mind did when it got the false sense I was swaying while on a bridge.  I do plan on eventually seeing an otologist; when I tried to book an appt they said I had get a referal through their ENT first.  I also have a nearologist appt coming up.  It seems weird that many of you had normal caloric tests.  I thought the whole point of VN was because one of the nerves has a deficit.
    • Posted

      That's what I thought which is why I asked for an mri as ms and a host of other things can cause our problems. The ent I saw just based his diagnosis on the fact I had had flu the week before, perhaps he is right but he couldn't explain why I had normal results after three hours of testing . I'm not convinced.
  • Posted

    Obviously, I'm not a doctor. But I have been through something similar. I'm 98% better now. It's been months. It so happens I did have the spinning once or twice at the beginning. But mostly it was dizziness, vertigo, unbalance.  I did do the Epley Maneuver exercise from the internet, everyday for 5 or so weeks. It helped enormously. But one thing my Physical Therapist told me was that you have to know which ear is the culprit and do the exercise for that.

    I went to an otalaryngologist (head and neck doctor)--no one on this site seems to have done that. He tested me up and down and my hearing. He concluded I have BPPV. It's probably the same as Vestibular Neuritis or in that category. It's Benign Positional Paroxysm (or something) Vertigo.

    It has to do with the ears and the eyes. The ears have 3 canals with liquid. If a particle breaks off from the nearby bridge (this is between the canals and the cochlear) and drifts into one of the canals, it completely throws off your balance. Also, when I was tested, my eyes showed that my vision curved to one side. No wonder I was dizzy!

    The doctor recommended Vestibular Therapy, which involves diagonostic tests and prescribed exercises. I went about 5 times; very dizzying while doing it, but the therapist said that's natural. Then she sent me home to get rid of the rest of the problem--giving me exercises to do for 3 months, starting often and lowering to less often.

    I have been doing them and--I'm afraid to jinx it--I am 99% better. I say that because during my home time I had a relapse for about 3 days. I called the therapist who simplified a few of my exercises. I did. And now I forget I have it.  I say "have" because apparently I have the relapse kind. Had it twice before in crisis times of my life (and now I've had 2 other crises when this episode came on). One thing more:  if I get out of bed too fast or turn my body quickly to one side, I get remnants of dizziness. So when approaching those two moves I always take it slow. Also: many on this site say they've had panic attacks and depression; I didn't. But I['m wondering if it could be from the awfulness of the syndrome. I really hope you get proper therapy and can find an otalaryngologist.  Best.

    • Posted

      Hi Marion. No VN is completely different to BPPV...epley has no impact on VN as it's not the crystals out of place but rather damage to the nerve or balance system itself. The brain needs retraining to compensate for the problem.
    • Posted

      otalaryngologist (head and neck doctor)--

      Just wanted to point out that this specialist is an ENT.

  • Posted

    Just a few more things to add.  I cannot "pop" my right ear.  Not sure how long it's been that way and whether or not it has anything to do with what's going on.

    Today I drove to a hardware store in an attempt to get myself used to being inside a store again.  As soon as I stepped in, I was almost paralized by the light section which is near the dore.  My eyes immediatley darted to the floor and I could not get myself to raise them until I walked another way.  I stayed inthe store for a few minutes looking at stuff in the aisle.  It kind've got better, but I didn't want to push myself too hard.  After getting home it took some time to shake off the light dizziness. 

    For all you VN sufferers, are you able to shop as normal?

    • Posted

      Kevin ,get into wearing sun glasses inside shops ,one lady I know where's them most of the time outside and in any shop .

        If your in glasses get the reactor light prescription ,that should help .

    • Posted

      Wow, cool tip.  I took my sunglasses off before going in.  Didn't even think about it.
    • Posted

      That type stuff will get better.  It was 12 months or so before I could feel comfortable in most stores.  I still have issues but it still seems to be getting better.  The issue is that the eyes are trying to focus on too many things and the balance system is telling your body that it is not balanced.  Look up Vestibular Occular Reflex and it will help you to understand what the issue is.
    • Posted

      also turn down the brightness of your computer screen i find helps.
    • Posted

      I have a hard time shopping in certain stores because of all the visual stimuli. VN attacks the vestibular nerve and causes damage which the brain needs to compensate for. This takes lots of time to do. I am definitely getting better and I'm 9 months with this. My VRT told me to keep exposing myself to places that trigger my symptoms but to gradually increase my exposure time in small amounts. If your in a place for too long then your symptoms will increase.....this means you've exposed yourself for too long. Decrease your time the next few times. When your vestibular nerve is damaged it effects your vision and we become overly sensitive to all the visual stimuli. It will get better but take it slow. You have to remember that small exposure is more beneficial and will give.you less side effects. I was told by my VRT that I must remember that even though exposure is great that our brain continues to work after that which can be very tiring and create symptoms even hours after the expisire. So its very important to take it slow.
    • Posted

      Great idea to wear sunglasses....BUT then its not teaching your brain to compensate and you would have to keep doing this for a very long time. I would suggest you expose yourself to the stores for a small period of time without sunglasses then put on the sunglasses. Gradually increase your exposure time.
    • Posted

      When i went to my Dr. in Dec. she looked in my hears and asked me to try popping them..The right on wouldn't budge..She said the eustachean tube was frozen, and to use a neti pot with saline and soda . It was a great help, and my ear was freed immediately. Hope this helps.

       

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