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Labs??

Posted , 4 users are following.

melody08508
melody08508

Hey!! Almost 4 weeks ago I woke up at 1am and had vertigo. I panicked which made me feel 10000x worse. I ended up calming myself down and went to sleep four hours later only to awaken with that spinning sensation again. Long story short I went to hospital where they ran a bunch of tests (all that came back fine) and was sent on my way. I ended back up in hospital three more times but they kept focusing on my heart (I realise now I was having panic attacks) instead of anything else so I had no real diagnosis. I did my own research and find I tick a lot of the symptoms for Labs but I don't have hearing loss (at least it's not noticeable if I do). I went to my doctor who ordered me to get my ears syringed as they were very waxy, which i did, and noticed when they did the Left side I got very dizzy. I also had ear pain in the left side for a few days (could be from the wax). I'm a mum to three small children and found I was getting very depressed as I felt like I wasn't able to be a mum to them. I couldn't drive. I managed to go back to week last week (I'm a house cleaner) and found I coped ok. I don't get dizzy if I bend over and stand back up, I'm at this stage where I feel more light headed and unsteady. I am driving again but find it can make me anxious and last week I tried driving to my mothers who lives 15 mins away and had a full blown panic attack for no obvious reason. I stopped taking the anti nausea and dizziness tablets I was prescribed and only use them if I absolutely have to. Some days are really good and then others not so good but definitely not as bad as that very first day I had symptoms. I still feel anxious a lot of the time but I do my best to just get on with things as I feel better when I'm moving around. My doctor wants me to go back in a week if I'm still no better but my question is, does it sound like I'm on the up? Is there any way of knowing? I am definitely a lot better than I was 3 weeks ago (bed ridden, couldn't drive at all, dizzy 24/7, nauseous etc) and now it's more anxiety (I can't sleep with my door shut anymore and I hate being alone) but I am at work and I am driving close to home. I do get tired and almost feel fatigued and quite foggy but is this typical behaviour that will pass on its own?

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • eleftherio33095
    eleftherio33095 melody08508

    Posted

    Can you describe the tests that you did the first time you went to the hospital.  Did they check your eye movements?  Did they move your head?  Did they cover your eyes one by one?

    Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

    Clinical Neurophysiologist

    Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

    • melody08508
      melody08508 eleftherio33095

      Posted

      Thanks for ur response. They didn't test anything in the hospital just my heart. I was on a heart monitor for 24 hrs and it showed nothing. My doctor got me to sit up on the bed and then fall back as fast as I could first looking to the left and then I did it again looking towards the right. I didn't feel too bad just abit off balance. She checked my eyes and didn't make comment on them so I'm assuming they Wernt shaking. I then had to close one eye and follow her finger. Again I passed that. The hospital said its just a virus affecting causing dizziness. But my doctor said "it could be labs" but she didn't want to take it any further unless I'm no better by next week. Then she will organise a MRI and other tests. So I'm not even 100% sure if it is Labs but I do have a lot of the symptoms. I am not dizzy anymore but I do feel unsteady. I did have a cold and GI issues when this first started. I'm 28 years old.
  • eleftherio33095
    eleftherio33095 melody08508

    Posted

    Thank you for the clarification.  You will definitely need to return to your doctor as adviced (you mentioned in a week).  He will then look at your eyes again at that time.  He may also do a caloric test (warm/cold air/water in each ear).  Your reaction with the left ear and ear cleaning previously may indeed indicate virus infection (vestibular neuritis).  But a follow-up examination with your doctor should soon confirm this.

    Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

    Clinical Neurophysiologist

    Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

    • melody08508
      melody08508 eleftherio33095

      Posted

      Thank you for your help. I have booked in to see my doctor on Wednesday. I seem to also now be getting raining in my ears that I didn't have before, but the dizziness hasn't returned and I worked yesterday and that went ok. I still feel very tired and I can't eat a lot so I have lost about 5kgs in 3 weeks. I hope whatever this is, leaves me asap!
  • gillian76726
    gillian76726 melody08508

    Posted

    When you sayb'Doctor' do you mean a GP or a specialist? If a specialist what kind?
    • eleftherio33095
      eleftherio33095 gillian76726

      Posted

      I recommend an ENT or neurotologist in this case.

      Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

      Clinical Neurophysiologist

      Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

    • melody08508
      melody08508 eleftherio33095

      Posted

      If I'm still off next Tuesday my GP will refer me on. She's hopeful I will be better but I'm not too sure haha.
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 melody08508

      Posted

      Ah well a gp isnt trained n vestibular probs as imhave learned over the years.  You need to be referred to a Neuro Otologist.  dont let her refer you to an ENT as they arent trained in it either,they do what t  says on the tin, Ears nose and throat!  i wasted over a year with an ENT who,had no,idea!!  The N O's will,do a load of tests ENTs dont,,so be firm on it with the gp ,pk.
    • melody08508
      melody08508 gillian76726

      Posted

      Ok cool thank you for the tip I will push for that rather than an ENT. If I am OK by next week would u still recommend being checked out or just leave it?
    • gillian76726
      gillian76726 melody08508

      Posted

      Definitely  get the referral and checked out.  this 'thing' may come and go so you may feel,okay for a day or so here and there.
  • Terry6872737
    Terry6872737 melody08508

    Posted

    Sounds like Vestibular Neuritis.  The only difference in LABS and Vestibular Neuritis (VN) is that with LABS you have hearing loss.  VN has the same exact symptoms without hearing loss.  Sounds like you are on the mend if you can get the anxiety piece under control.  This condition creates anxiety because of the feelings that it creates in your head.  The noraml course for VN is 6 to 8 weeks.  Sounds like you are on course for that recovery period based on the progress that you state.  Your GP may refer you to a specialist but, if you have made that much progress in that short of a period of time you are on course.

    VN usually begins after a viral infection for some of us.

    • melody08508
      melody08508 Terry6872737

      Posted

      So does Labs always accompany hearing loss? As I don't think I have had that. Even after the ear cleaning I can't say I heard things any differently. Since last night I have had ear ringing on and off, not super loud but I can notice it. Is that all typical of VN aswell? My Aunty suffers from tinnitus constantly and I'm so worried it won't leave! Your reply has given me a sense of peace! I too feel I am on cource to feeling better but I still have moments where I worry this will never leave. I try to remind myself that just three weeks ago I was dizzy 24/7, couldn't drive, couldn't stomach any food, felt nauseous, etc etc and I have come a long way from there! I'm driving again short distances and I am working, no more dizziness, slight nausea, but today I have felt a bit fuzzy in the head and unsteady. The ringing in the ears is so annoying :-(
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