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I'm slowly Recovering from Vestibular Neuritis

Posted , 12 users are following.

edward76742
edward76742

Hi! I've been suffering from vestibular neuritis for around 6 months now. Started after real bad sinus infection last mid September. Symptoms were chronic lightheadeness/dizziness/brain fog/ headaches/unbalanced.. The first 4 months were terrible but these last 2 months I have been forcing myself to go to the gym 5 days a week and have been consistent. Consistency is key and still going when symptoms hit. I have told myself I will not allow it to affect my life in any way.. When symptoms hit, I tell myself that my brain is compensating and will push through it and not allow it to stop me. Basically forcing compensation and letting my body know that it has to figure itself out because I won't stop.. Also, which I feel has made a huge difference is I have a smoothie bar in gym where I get a double shot of wheatgrass every time I come in. Tastes terrible but definitely not as bad as a shot of booz.. If I can have a shot of whisky, I can have a shot of wheatgrass.. Once again, consistency! I also take ginger root, ginkgo biloba, multi, fish oil daily.. I take a vegetable and fruit powder drink every night before I go to bed to make sure I get all vitamins for the day.. Although I still have good and bad days, there is definitely way more good days than before. Actually the first 4 months I never had a good day and that is why I'm writing this today because the changes I mentioned above I believe had been huge in the recovery process .. Hope I can be some kind of help to you and think everyday that passes is one day closer to recovery. Stay positive I know it's hard.. Be a fighter and when it hits you do not let it win!!

2 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • christine42810
    christine42810 edward76742

    Posted

    I've had VN for over 18 months now, It is a slow recovery. VRT never worked for me, and there were days when I thought things couldn't get any worse and it would never resolve. But I pushed through and agree that exercise is the way to go. I do daily gym work, including balance exercises, swimming and aqua aerobics. Walking too is very effective especially if you turn your head slowly from side to side as you walk, focusing on something as you turn. I've never taken any supplements but if people find that is helpful, I say go for it. Just they're not my thing. I have cut back on coffee and alcohol though I was never a big consumer of either.

    My specialist Neurotologist told me that everyone recovers differently and there is no set time period for this. Very frustrating to hear that when all you want is to get better immediately!  But unfortunately VN isn't like that. 

    Best of luck to everyone suffering from it. 

    Christine 

  • RikC
    RikC edward76742

    Posted

    Well done Edward, that's the spirit.

    I had suspected vestibular neuritis for about 10 weeks which has - touchwood - now cleared up as I've not had any symptoms for well over 2 weeks now. I had exactly the same symptoms as you: dizziness, lightheadness, unbalanced, brain fog, inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, and - probably worst of all - anxiety!! 

    And, also like you, I forced myself to get on with my life which is a lot easier said than done. 

    I have to keep reminding myself each day now that I am over it and that I now have a semblance of normality once more. It's a great feeling and all I will say to anyone else who is suffering from this awful, cruel illness is to keep telling yourself that one day it will be gone!! 

    • julia50983
      julia50983 RikC

      Posted

      hi,

      reading this has given me hope. i am on week 5 and its awful. did yours just go away slowly?

      the fog brain, lightheaded off my head feeling and not being able to concentrate.

      any tips?

      did you do any PT?

    • RikC
      RikC julia50983

      Posted

      Hi Julia,

      Hard to believe Inposted this 5 years ago. I rexkon I had dizziness issues dor another 2 years. I had two MRI scans (all normal) and I was seeing a physio who did the BPPV test (I dont have BPPV).

      Ive now not had dizziness for several years and so you know what cured it? I had therapy for generalised anxiety disorder which helped me to spot and deal with anxiety before it got too bad. And my dizziness went away. I know it is anxiety-induced dizziness because when I get stressed or worried about something the exact same symptoms of dizziness, headache, fog brain all come back.

      You may want to look into anxiety as a cause.

      The very best of luck.

  • gillian76726
    gillian76726 edward76742

    Posted

    Yes i agree, you have to keep,going no matter what. I Tried the gym for 6 months and it,didnt help in fact i was worse and very exhausted for days after each session. I Have always, since this started 6 years ago, managed for the  most part,to,walk my dog every day and do my grocery shopping (All,on public transport with heavy trolley and bags!), but i pay a price for it later in the day and the next day too.

    I find repetitive, jerky  movement like in the gym for eg, or certain household,chores, or garden type chores, the worse as they set things off, but not,so much at the time, but later (Ie when i've stopped) and of course the exhuastion that follows the next day.  I Guess that what works for one, doesnt for another eh? 

    • christine42810
      christine42810 gillian76726

      Posted

      Gilian, I guess you have to build up to it slowly. Although I was a regular gym goer before this happened I found I couldn't do what I used to do or with the same frequency,  so I dropped back and just went when I could or wasn't exhausted, and little by little worked up to a more regular routine. I never do anything more than I know I can deal with. The best find was aqua aerobic classes. Although I'd been a swimmer I had difficulty with swimming after the VN as I spun out when I turned my head to take a breath.  So I took up the aqua aerobic classes, very addictive and helpfu balance wise as well. I can now swim again. I do get a little bit dizzy when I turn my head, but I've learnt to deal with it.  Also sitting on a fit ball doing alternate leg lifts, without a eight to start with and then add a weight. You don't have to do too many and not too tiring and great for the balance. Another one is to stand near a wall and balance on one leg, then once you can do this, close your eyes. Being in the pool to start with is good as the water supports you, then move on out onto land.  Just a few suggestions. Keep well.  Christine
  • Terry6872737
    Terry6872737 edward76742

    Posted

    I think that you are spot on.  This is what those that cannot see an end to their journey need from those of us that do now see an end in sight.  Please keep posting that there are recovery stories so that we benefit others that are struggling trying to still find answers.  It is different for everyone and just because one takes 2 or 3 months to recover doesn't mean that those that are months or years past that cannot. 

    I have said many times that it is important to develop a plan, a strategy, and stick with it.  Try the things that others have found successful and stay the course.  Time is the most important factor.  The body will find a way to try to heal itself.  Supplements and vitamins just help it to do the things that it needs to do.  I have been recovering for 2 years today.  Am I fully recovered, no, but, I am well beyond where I was when it started.  Recovery from this dreaded illness is measured in weeks and months, not days.  I think that the thing that impacts us most is that we feel, or believe, that it will go away as quickly as it started.  We all know too well that that is not how this stuff works. 

    Best wishes for a full recovery for all of us and that maybe one day the medical community will understand what we are dealing with and something will be developed to better test and treat the condition.  

  • Gilly_flower
    Gilly_flower edward76742

    Posted

    Well done Edward , I to am trying to push forward with exsersises , last week I felt I was improving but couple days this week have been terrible , so felt dishearten ,it started with bppv which has settled but now got vestibular problems ,sometime I get a strange feeling in my head like something moving , and my head doesn't feel clear sort of heavy , also lighting in shops make me feel unsteady , and even when I'm not moving I feel like I am , so hoping exsersises will help , 
  • pinky25194
    pinky25194 edward76742

    Posted

    Hi Edward

    I loved your post. I've been diagnosed with VN with chronic subjective dizziness and basically I have to have the same attitude as you. I was seen at a hospital in withington and given info saying "return to the lifestyle you had prior to developing dizziness, even if you are still experiencing symptoms and don't wait for all your symptoms to disappear before you can get on with your life. Get on with your life now, even while you are still experiencing symptoms". Even though that's so hard I keep on pushing through.

    Good luck and best wishes to all of us in recovery x

  • Mary_McAvoy
    Mary_McAvoy edward76742

    Posted

    Edward, you hit the nail right on the head. Recovery is a slow process. I am one of the success stories and it wasn't fast or easy. But now when I have a set back, I accept it for what it is,  a temporary set back, and I move on and push through.  There is hope. 
  • tina15806
    tina15806 edward76742

    Posted

    Hi Edward.

    I first had vn over 10 years ago, following flu, in January I got flu again and 2 weeks later the vn started but very mild, only lasted a few days, then last week came back again full force, It started on the Thursday and over the weekend then on the Monday I was confined to bed for 3 days. It looks like the virus had lain dormant and came back again, I asked my GP for antibiotics to make sure there was no secondry infection, The vn was at the acute stage for 8 days and then disappeared completely over the last 3, I now have developed a cough and sore throat so it looks like the antibiotics have helped my immune system even if they were no good for a virus as it seems to have moved out of my ear area, I believe I have had the virus lying dormant for many years as ocassionally I have had brief episodes of mild dizziness over the years which I have put down to stress. Even though antibiotics are no cure for a virus, in cases such as this when the virus can lie dormant, I think they can help the immune system ensuring the body fights off the virus completely, even though I have the cough and sore throat I feel better in myself than I have in years, I also had symptoms such as muscle aches in shoulders and neck, vision issues and sensitivity to light and the blocked ear thing, even though my hearing was not affected

     

    • edward76742
      edward76742 tina15806

      Posted

      Hey Tina.. I can't imagine dealing with it that long.. I'm so sorry. You should try shots of wheatgrass daily. You can get it at juice bars or at gyms that have it. I've been taking it consistently for a couple weeks now and I've felt the best these last 2 weeks out of the last 6 months. There's a lot of benefits if you look it up but it builds your immune system. I really believe it helping fighting off whatever it is. It doesn't taste very good but it is worth it. Give it a try and be consistent. I take a double shot about 5 days a week of it. I guess a double shot is like eating 5 pounds of produce. Helps inflammation and other things
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