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

    Hello everyone,

    I'm experiencing very similar symptoms as you. Mid July suddenly experienced dizziness throughout the night. Soon developed fullness and pain in ears and needed to keep unblocking eustachian tubes (which I was told was the possible cause...kind of fed up with docs at this point as it is all a guessing game it seems). Past month it is more difficult to walk, at night, it feels like someone is pushing me to left side and I am fighting to walk straight which has aggravated cervical disc degeneration...like I really needed that too now. Anyways, I thought I was getting better until I went for balance testing. OMG, not sure but the audiologist had to spray water not once, but twice in both ears, cold then warm which brought on the vertigo. Up until this point, I only had a feeling of unbalance and dizziness. I have never been the same since that appt. Last night, went for a walk and could barely make it back. Vertigo and nausea at its best, all through the night.

    Yes, stores (particularly grocery stores, malls) definitely set me off. 

    Has anyone else had this experience after a balance test? Balance test was performed a week ago. Results next Monday. Apparently, hearing is good, my right side is weaker due to what is occuring on left side. That is the only info I could squeeze out of the audiologist. I have to wait for my ENT dr to shed further light on this.

    Other than pressing "confirm travel booking" on air carrier website, (had to cancel, lose $ on long awaited vacation...Rrrr), not sure what brought this on.  

    • Posted

      Hi Marie. ..Hopefully you'll improve soon...The first time i had this, my Dr. said to do saline sinus rinses using a neti pot or a bulb..It helped immensely to move the eustachean tubes..for 6 months i was fine..then had 2 days on the floor, gradually improving..still, if i look down or bend while working.like laying vinyl on the floor...the vertigo takes hold again...likewise, sometimes wearing reading glasses..like you, i have cervical vertebrae problems..i read a number of posts from others who also have neck and vertigo issues, assume there's a connection...The half somersault exercise from Dr. Carol Foster also helped, ..you can google that. i hope you improve quickly,--- Vit. D is highly recommended for people who suffer dizziness..keep us posted.

       

    • Posted

      Hi Marie,

      I had my ENG test 3weeks ago. I was extremely dizzy that morning, but the test did induce vertigo. I had light vertigo/ severe dizziness for 4-5 days after the test. My ENT was on vacation, so when he finally called about the test, I was told that everything was in normal range and that he wouldn't be able to do anything more for me. 

    • Posted

      Great suggestions, thank you. I shall keep everyone posted.
    • Posted

      Lol, my ENT dr is on vacation too. That must be very frustrating for you and that is my fear as well that I walk away from that appt no better off, no solid answers. I am getting more depressed researching numerous reasons for these symptoms and what exactly set it off. As you know, very debillitating illness, difficult to socialize, be physically active, unsafe to drive, and unable to work! I had been waiting for over 6 months for a particular job interview and wouldn't you know it, they call when this happens. Couldn't go sad
    • Posted

      Oh wow, I know exactly how you feel! My life has stopped in every way imaginable, ..its not fun in any sense. I had a feeling that going through that ENG test wouldn't get me anywhere, and thaats exactly what happened. Like everyone else is saying, I guess we are really on our own when it comes to getting answers and finding solutions for this, and everything else apparently. Well hang in there. I feel like I'm in a very similar situation as you are, and I don't know about you but I have no one that genuinely 'supports ' me through any of this. I hope you do. I wouldn't wish this on anyone but it's happening to all of us for a reason I believe smile
    • Posted

      Well looks like there's support here. Prob is, we appear fine from the outside (no limps, cuts, etc) but are in turmoil from the insides. 

      I forgot to mention that preceding my initial dizzy episode, I had been suffering 2 weeks of constant headaches. I kept blaming it on the weather. Which has me guessing is this migraine induced vertigo, cervical vertigo or any of the other 101 explanations...thus the frustration.

      Anyone else experiencing headaches, ear fullness and dizzyness (primary symptoms). I also tried acupuncture (3 sessions so far). Helps with the nausea. Apparently my energy levels (Chi) were extremely low (no surprises there). Also receiving Chiropractic tx for neck as another thought was trapped nerve. That does help ease neck pain.

    • Posted

      Yes, my primary symptoms are the dizziness, ear fullness /ear sounds(crunching-like), and headaches. I also have been seeing a Chiro lately because of past back/hip injury, I can't seem to tell if the visits have lessoned anything. It's hard to differentiate sometimes with all of these major symptoms we are having. If we're not focusing on one than its another. I too have tried the sinus rinsing, low sodium, and vitamin B. My 'trials' came to no particular conclusion though. I'd like to know how everyone else goes about daily living amongst others around you? Do you even bother to mention how you are feeling anymore at times? I've given up on that as it became very old very soon. 
    • Posted

      I never get headachesm, and that's what started it all for me.  Not splitting, just sharp twinges that lasted for a minute.  Then BAM - I had my three to four day crushing episode.  And since then, it's been 5 days bad, 5 days good, for 60 days and counting.  

      Head feels "full", neck sore at base, swelling comes and goes around my left lymph node, not really that much "ringing", but the dizziness makes up for it.  Again, not fall over dizziness like for some here, but when I look down and then look up again, it's best not to be driving for those 2-3 seconds.  

      Have had MRI, CAT, blood tests, etc etc. 

      R. 

    • Posted

      Hi, the way you describe it coming on is like mine. I can be sitting and then it's almost like someone turning a high pressure hose on in my head, I know what you mean by a long twinge. Then BAM. No headache here either but the lymph node yes...my GP even acknowledged that....ran tests which were ok, it then goes down but I do get an ache in that part of my neck on occasion. 6 months a counting I hate to say....
    • Posted

      I meant to ask, did you have a neck mri too, to eliminate disc problems?
    • Posted

      Daily living is very difficult. I tried driving my son to a friend's house this morning, and traffic moving around me made me extremely nauseous. I am stuck inside. I don't even know how I am going to make it to the ENT appt next Monday. i have another job interview set up on Sept 9 which I am panicking that I won't be able to get to. This is one heck of a mess I am in. I wouldn't even know where to begin to discuss how this is impacting me and my life. I am typically active, so sitting idle is driving me crazy. No there is no point discussing with family.
    • Posted

      I can imagine how frustrating this is for you!! I don't know how it would affect you, but for me, walking is a great aid for the dizziness...I try to stay off hard surfaces, and take dirt trails/roads..Varies with the day-On a bad day, only 1 to 2 miles, on a good one 5 to 6..but i've been hiking for years...As i mentioned to Jon, having sunglasses off helps keep the dizziness at bay, too...take care. You will get better!!
    • Posted

      Thanks. Back at attempting to walk again. 10 min is all I can do at this point. Soft surface might help, I think I will try that. Isn't that funny, but sunglasses on seems to help me. 
    • Posted

      Marie ,this came up on another site Im on ,saying sunglasses helps them when in shops ,as shop lighting affects them so badly ,I've already got tinted glasses ,so I don't have that problem myself .Got to do what you've got to do. Often wondered why people wear sunglasses winter time ,now I know .
    • Posted

      10 min is a good start!   well, i wondered if it wasn't the pressure of the glasses to the ear that caused the problem for me..but i'm definitely better without them. 5 mi yest. eve...I can really tell the difference between getting jarred/dizzy  on asphalt, and having the cusion of softer ground. God bless.

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