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Have I been misdiagnosed with BPPV?

Posted , 4 users are following.

Dee7777
Dee7777

Hello,

Just over 2 weeks ago I started having sever vertigo to the point I could barely get up and down the stairs. Although it has improved somewhat I am still having a constant dizziness, as if am moving/swaying/rocking even when I am still. My balance has improved slightly but I'm still a bit unsteady. I haven't had any ear ache, any hearing loss or any more ringing in my ears (I've had a slight ringing since I was about 12, I'm 23 now). I'm having trouble focusing sometimes also, all of these symptoms are worse in the evening, yet still present throughout the day.

I went to the doctors today, he said my both eardrums are inflamed and the right ear drum is especially bulging.

He advised I have a viral infection in both ears (Labyrinthitis?) He advised I buy an antihistamine nasal spray. He also said he thinks I have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Are the two linked?

He has advised that I do the Brandt Daroff exercises twice a day. I have seen that is meant to make you feel dizzy? However I haven't had the sudden vertigo everyone else says they have whilst performing the exercise. Just an uncomfortable feeling in my neck and the same dizziness I am still suffering from.

Do you think this could be misdiagnosed? Also, can inner ear infections cause BPPV?

Any advise is greatly appreciated as I'm unsure of what to do next.

Thank you.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • gillian76726
    gillian76726 Dee7777

    Posted

    Is the dr just a gp?  If so he wont know enough to diagnose. They only have a brief knowledge. My gp gave me the Brandt exercises too. They did nothing! You probably have got a virus in your vestibular system and antihistamines will do nothing! You need anti viral mediction i'd say, to  start with and get him to refer you to a Neuro Otologist. Dont freak at the title it just means someone who knows how the .vestibular system works along with the brain. These specialists train lot longer than a GP,more even an ENT. If possible do some research on line, look up Neuro Otologists for your local,area at hospitals,so you can 'guide' your GP to the right direction for you.  Also check,out the website and FB page of Vestibular.disorders .association (Veda). U,S. Based, excellent sourcemof info on this condition

    • Dee7777
      Dee7777 gillian76726

      Posted

      Thank you for the reply Gillian. Yes he is just my GP, I found it odd as I was only with him for five minutes, he looked in my ears once and diagnosed. I thought I would be with him for a bit longer and more things checked.

      I will try to get another appointment tomorrow, maybe I didn't explain myself clearly enough to him. I have anxiety also so sometimes I get a bit confused and panic and may not give all of the information.

      I will certainly check the Facebook group out.

      Hope you're well xx

    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 Dee7777

      Posted

      Yes i went thru all that with my gp. Wasn't until i researched and learned about this conditon and all the variations,symptoms etc that cannot be diagnosed in 5 mins.  My first appointment with a Neuro,Otologist at A hospital,in London (the National Neurology and NeuroSurgery) took 1 1/2 hours. First 1/2 ) hourApprox was just talking with consultant about. MY symptoms and a few tests standing up. But then the rest of the time was spent with different people having all sorts of testing on eyes, hearing, balance machines etc etc.  So have a look on google,for your area (You in US?) for hospitals that have these kind of departments. (Mine here was exclusively. Neuro etc), then Narrow,it down to consultants in.Neuro,Otology.  It,is the only way tbh to get a definitive diagnosis, anything else is guesswork.

  • eleftherio33095
    eleftherio33095 Dee7777

    Posted

    It does not sound like you have BPPV.  Your symptoms are not triggered by head movement according to your description.

    Your doctors saw eardrum changes, which could cause at least a significant amount of your symptoms.  It is a good idea to cure these eardrum changes first.

    Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

    Clinical Neurophysiologist

    Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

    • Dee7777
      Dee7777 eleftherio33095

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. I'm going to go back to the doctors and see if I can get a referral for an ENT specialist or Neurologist. However in the UK the referral process can take months. It's only been 2 and a half weeks and I feel like this is ruining my life. I can't go to work and I'm now so nervous to do anything incase the severe dizziness comes back. Which probably isn't helping me feel any better.

    • eleftherio33095
      eleftherio33095 Dee7777

      Posted

      Is the right bulging outwards or inwards, did they say?  Was the possibility of fluid in the middle ear (otitis media) mentioned?  The uncomfortable feeling in the neck that you stated may be related to something happening in the middle ear (which connects to the back of the throat).

      Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

      Clinical Neurophysiologist

      Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

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