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Labyrinthitis - "brain shifts"??

Posted , 76 users are following.

~Dragon~
~Dragon~

Okay this is week 5, my first ever experience of vestibular problems. It started in horrendous fashion - I was swimming om my back and suddenly thought I was having a stroke. The most frightening experience of my life, and quite frankly I'm still traumatised by it. Still haven't managed to summon up the courage to go swimming! After an hour or so of assistance at the poolside, my OH picked me up and I went off home to bed. It seemed to clear within a couple of hours so I went out shopping!

Next day I woke in a right state. It felt like I'd drunk 3 bottles of wine and had the hangover to go with it all at the same time! Doc gave me Stemetil and told me was either BPPV or lab. After a few days of awfulness, I finally realised I felt better if I moved around more - I suppose the start of the compensation process. I didn't feel I had hearing loss but did have the fullness feeling in both ears. I also felt more comfortable sleeping on my right side, and in fact had a further spinning episode just after I had laid down on my left side, so avoided doing so.

I then wondered if it was BPPV rather than lab and pestered my doc to do the Epley. They didn't do it, had to be referred to physio, six week wait, went private!! Wonderful vestibular physio performed the Dix-Halpike and confirmed I didn't have BPPV and didn't need the Epley. Why on earth my doc couldn't do that I don't know! She gave me lots of advice about the condition and showed me some exercises to aid compensation. Since then I'd felt a lot better, apart from having what I describe as brain or head shifts, and lots of pressure in my head especially when I'm tired.

Sadly, since a few days ago, I appear to now be getting worse again. Have actually had some dizzy spells laying down in bed - they had gone completely and I was feeling practically 100%. Is this what I am to expect now? Does anyone else have the strange head sensations that I described? Could I have Vestibular Neuritis rather than Labyrinthitis? When do I go back to my doc - I already feel that she dreads seeing me - have so much else going wrong at the moment! Could the stress I'm suffering because of my health problems be hampering my recovery? So many questions!! Would love to hear from anyone who's story is similar to mine biggrin. MTIA!

7 likes, 134 replies

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  • mark63561
    mark63561 ~Dragon~

    Posted

    Hi I was suffering from a cold just before Xmas it hung around for a few days then went.Around a week later I woke up deaf in my right ear which I thought was strange.I went to work and came home.Then the following morning I got up only to see my bedroom spinning.Crazy I still drove to work but managed to get to see a doctor a few hours into my day.Got out of my car a the docs I couldn't hardly walk I managed to get into the doctors office then suddenly vomiting all in the doctors sink.He gave me an injection in my buttock to stop the sickness and some mess to help.So bedrest was ordered.So Xmas came and went and I was feeling much better I even went back to work after only a week and a half off.Then last night BOOM i was deaf again followed by dizziness.So no work again, it's frustrating this coming and going business especially because I went ice skating with my kids over Xmas and I was feeling great.Any advice?

  • pili41981
    pili41981 ~Dragon~

    Posted

    Did you recover
    • mark63561
      mark63561 pili41981

      Posted

      I was diagnosed around the 15th December 2016 I had just over a week off work then felt fine.I worked for four days then symptoms returned last Thursday night so I am off work again now.I will have at least a few more weeks off to try and get back to full strength.
  • bex1315
    bex1315 ~Dragon~

    Posted

    I have been having regular episodes in my life. I'm 31 now. I remember one time it was really bad the room was actually spinning and I was constantly sick for over 3 days. Went to local same day service and got something to stop nausea and amoxicillian. I woke up two weeks ago with really bad dizziness, ear and head pressure at the side of my eyes, tiredness, earache,ear fullness, itchy ear,sweating a lot. Went to doctors and they said ear was red she mentioned labrinthitis. Tried tablets to help with dizziness when they were off feel the same. It's like a really bad hangover. Do you think it could be labrinthitis. How long shall I give it before I go back to doctors. I'm into my 3 Rd week of symptoms.

    • maggie34
      maggie34 bex1315

      Posted

      I think you should go back to the Drs, don't worry just go. If it is layrinthitis, it is a horrible feeling; I was on sea sickness type pills, 6 a day for weeks, and they did help. Good luck

    • greta59134
      greta59134 bex1315

      Posted

      You may have an inner ear infection , your dr should send you to the ENT clinic to rule it out or sort it if it is  , I was off work for three months with labrinthitus , only went back a month ago on light duties and what hours I can manage , I'm back up to my full 5 hours a day since last week, I still get head spins and a tendacy to walk to the left lol  and I'm terrified of catching a cold cause it can set it off again ,  once you have it you have it for life even if it doesn't play up again

    • carlene_2020
      carlene_2020 greta59134

      Posted

      I've had this for a year now and it's making me crazy knowing that I'll have this for the rest of my life is even worst

  • lisa43938
    lisa43938 ~Dragon~

    Posted

    Hi - did you ever get any relief, diagnosis, or resolution? I have similar symptoms over 5 years. Lisa
    • julie33755
      julie33755 lisa43938

      Posted

      Hi, Lisa smile

      Not sure if you sent this message to me or someone else, but it came to my inbox, so I'm responding. I'm sorry you've been suffering for so long. I actually had two unrelated issues. One: all doctors thought I had BPPV. I had my blood work done and it revealed an underactive thyroid, which has nothing to do with the vertigo. So I went to an endocrinologist to sort it all out. He said it was highly unlikely that at my age of 49 that I'd have BPPV. It was probably a vestibular virus that had me so dizzy, nauseous, and tired. But the blood work did reveal a thyroid issue, which could've contributed to the fatigue. Have you been to an endocrinologist?

    • DizzyJules
      DizzyJules lisa43938

      Posted

      No, 5 years on, sleep is the best cure and remaining positive. Oh well have left my professional job and now make stained glass objects and pictures from home. This is so I can rest when I want and it keeps me focused, especially as I am so busy. Biggest pain is that I can't get benefits or ill health retirement  coz nothing really diagnosed by the consultants, and I have seen a fe. Only the labyrinth physio has a diagnosis and the retirement People won't accept it. Still waiting for my vestibular rehab evaluation only been about 5 months now, lucky I started private physio at the beginning. How would I have managed financially if I hadn't found the stained glass course in January!

  • jodie54612
    jodie54612 ~Dragon~

    Posted

    Hello - yes. I have all these symptoms - are you still responding to messages ? I’d love some feedback x 
  • allison81707
    allison81707 ~Dragon~

    Posted

    Hi there Allison here I got diagnosed 2yr ago just took up swimming again now I've been having dizziness and horrible spinning just want to know if swimming makes it worse thanks.

  • anetta94863
    anetta94863 ~Dragon~

    Posted

    Well, actually underactive thyroid has everything to do with it as well as your age. You are in perimenopause and vertigo like this is typical for peri. Underactive thyroid gives you allergies. It is most probably caused by allergies clogging ear communication or herpes virus attacking inner ear. I would say it is allergies, because in my case this happens with the start of pollen season.
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