Labyrinthitis - "brain shifts"??
Posted , 76 users are following.
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 
. MTIA!
7 likes, 134 replies
jim56974 ~Dragon~
Posted
I have had the same symptoms as you described for 3 years non stop and it continues to worsen. Going to a neurologist tomorrow, 8/20/2019. Was told 3 years ago it was a result of anxiety and would go away but has not. One doctor said I should have electroshock treatment, which I have not done. I was prescribed 200mgs of Zoloft and and 1.25 mgs Alprazolam by a psych, so far, after 5 months of taking these meds it is getting worse daily. I am afraid this is going to be my life from here on out. I got lucky and found this page the day before my neurologist apt, I will ask him if I have Labyrinthitis.
Thanks for posting, any advise would be appreciated, I'm just about to lose it, this is no way to live!
maggie34 ~Dragon~
Posted
Hi Dragon
My initial symptoms lasted about 3 years; I had bacterial labrynthitis, which is not as common as the viral one, The dizzy spells in bed seem to me to be common. I had to wedge myself straight in bed as if I turned over I would wake up very dizzy so you are not alone there! For me it is now 6 years on and I feel pretty good although I still do balance exercises about 3 times a week and in a few situations i can feel that familiar almost falling feeling. One of my friends asked me to go with her to circle dancing (ha ha) I ended up feeling quite tearful so some things are still out of bounds!! Generally feel good though...I found this thread helpful at the time ...hope you begin to feel better