Labyrinthitis help

Thank you, I'm not sure if it's anxiety related because it can happen when I'm just sitting home and I've nothing to be anxious about, it has only been a problem since the onset of the labyrinthitis, I can't go back to the doctor until next Wednesday as that is my next appointment, my doctors surgery are not very interested.

Even when I told him a couple of days back that I had chest pains and numbness in my arms he didn't do anything, just told me that it would take its course

All things being equal, this is not the answer you should be getting.  Patients should be taken more seriously.  I am very sad to note similar situations being revealed on this website.

Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

Clinical Neurophysiologist

Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

Yeah my GP is not very good and I'm feeling very alone with this diagnosis that I'm not even sure I agree with !

I'm on stemetil and heard that they could be causing the palpitations, would you agree with this ?

All things being equal again, your GP should let you know if stemetil has this side-effect, so that you may know what to expect.

You seem to have some doubts with regards to your diagnosis.  Can you describe your main symptoms for me?

Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

Clinical Neurophysiologist

Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

I felt nauseous but was never sick, very sore head, pain in eyes and fullness in ears.

The only way I can describe the "dizziness" was I felt seasick, like I was on a boat, I didn't feel like the "room was spinning"

I also felt very very tired.

This came on suddenly last Monday night and came on and off for about a week until starting to fade in the last couple of days.

Only thing I have now is the very occasional spell of feeling unbalanced and the palpitations that come and go.

I have no faith in the diagnosis as the doctor thought it was low blood pressure and said there was nothing he could do then as an after thought asked if my ears were causing me pain, I said not pain but did feel blocked so he gave me the Prochlorperazine, I started these last Wednesday but on Sunday felt very ill and went to the emergency doctor who after looking in my ears and making me follow his finger, he listened to my symptoms and told me it was labyrinthitis and gave me stemetil.

I started to feel better but then on Monday came over very dizzy and have numbness in my arm, went back to the doctor on Monday who said it was unrelated and not to worry, just to take a few days and I'd feel better. Granted, I did but I just want to shake the few symptoms and get back to normal

Thank you for your help

Was there hearing loss?

Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

Clinical Neurophysiologist

Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

No

As there was no hearing loss, I am not confident in the diagnosis of labyrinthis.  The labyrinth contains both hearing and balance, and to have labyrinthitis means both.

You do not describe a spinning room.  No vertigo.  Therefore it does not sound like a vestibular neuritis either.

Ear fullness, nausea but no tinnitus.  Does not fullfill the criteria for Meniere's disease yet.

From the emergency room and eye following, I may assume that the doctor there saw something to say that you have labyrinthis (he may have noticed some nystagmus).

And you mention numbness in the arm, which I take seriously.

May I be objective, and I am sorry that this is coming over the website like this.  My recommendation at this time is to seek consultation from either a neurotologist or a neurologist.  I am now concerned about the arm numbness, and the fact that you do not fulfill criteria for a specific peripheral ear disorder.

Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

Clinical Neurophysiologist

Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

The numbness is my arm came and went and has not bothered me since but I will ask the doctor about it again on Wednesday.

Do you have any idea what it may have been ?

I'm assuming that that I can come off these tablets then ?

I appreciate your help very much

Emma that's Mdds your describing Mal de Debarqument syndrome ,I've had that for 5 yrs . The on a boat or trampoline ,or walking on sponge Not many drs have heard of MdDS . It's with you every day MdDS ,only time you don't feel it is when driving . You need it checked out for sure . ,neurologist . 

Not sure if its that, that specific symptom is wearing off now, I wouldn't say it's even that bad that I could all it seasickness anymore.

MdDS Emma you would be like it all the time . No let up . Dd you have any sinus infection ? That goes into the ears . Get a referral to ENT . Your arm Prob can be just purely down to anxiety ,and a med ,are you on any other med outside of Stemiltil etc ,if so can be an interaction . Go ask your local pharmacist to check med out ,they know more in relation to that . 

No I didn't have any sinus infections, just a bit low blood pressure. Doc said there's no need for ENT as he doesn't know what they could do.

I'll talk to the pharmacist tomoro, thank you

The tablets (stemetil), only control the symptoms and are not a cure.  You can stop and see if you are worse.  If you feel worse then you can take them again until you see your physician.

I want to rule out a problem in the brain rather than the ear.

Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

Clinical Neurophysiologist

Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology.

Yeah that's really worried me now.

I'll talk to my doctor

Thank you

Hi Emma,

I'm no doctor but have been suffering from a vestibular disorder for the last 6 months. I've been having chest pains (tightness) and numbness in my arm as well. I'm trying not to rule out anxiety, I don't feel particularly stressed but far from relaxed either. The brain is pretty powerful after all, maybe seek a bit of comfort in that while you wait for your appojntment.

Holly