1. Community
  2. Ears, nose, throat and mouth
  3. Vertigo and Dizziness

Labyrinthitis/ Vestibular Neuritis.. I hope someone can help :(

Posted , 15 users are following.

megb4387
megb4387

Hi everyone. I am new to the forums and this is my first post on here. I am a 26 year old female suffering with Labyrinthitis/Vestibular Neuritis and I am seeking some answers. First off I would like to give you the jist of my symptoms and what led up to this.

In the end of February I had a really bad cold/light flu. I slept for three days with a fever, runny nose, etc. After that I went to my Urgent Care center and they dismissed it as a virus and said it will work its way out. The doc checked my ears and said that there was fluid in my left one. I left, and was fine for a bit. Shortly after that, I began experiencing "woozy" spells. I would feel as if I was off balance or as if my brain wasn't properly working. I went back to Urgent Care thinking I had a brain tumor (I have really bad unmedicated anxiety) and was freaking out. The doc there checked me out- and gave me the shorthand neurological exam (checking my reflexes, how I walk, looking my eyes, etc.) She again said I was fine and assured me my brain was working fine. And again I left. I thought that this was a bad case of anxiety lasting for weeks and felt some relief after she said I was ok. Please note: during the last 6 months I have been under a heck of a lot of stress- A LOT!

A few days later and I was still feeling out of it. I moved home with my parents (I had been living with my boyfriend for a year now) and sat on the couch and cried. My mom immediately booked me another Doc appt with my regular GP (not the Urgent Care center). My Doc saw me and insisted I was again neurologically fine and told me I have Labyrinthitis. I was hoping this would pass and it didn't. I went back a week later demanding antibiotics and took them for a week and nothing. I also saw an ENT specialist during this time who barely even looked at me and said, "I think you're fine but I can schedule an MRI to be safe." I have not had the MRI yet and probably won't, I have had a hearing test which came back completely fine, and full blood work which came back fine.

The symptoms I have are- feeling out of it, like I am constantly moving even though I am not. Even sitting on the couch I feel like I am moving. If I move too fast I feel weird. I don't feel like the room spins, just that I am weird and off balance. I feel like my eyes don't catch up to my brain fast enough. I get lightheaded and weird. It really stinks. These symptoms are worse if I am out in public or somewhere really crowded. I did take off a week from work but then went back. I am not one to sit around but this is making it hard to live day by day and is even affecting my relationship. The only time I feel normal is driving, if that makes any sense.

Can anyone tell me how long this lasts? Again, been going through this since end of Feb, so roughly a month. I have been googling VT physical therapy exercises and have been doing them myself twice a day. I don't really have anyone to talk to about this. Nobody really understands how rough and scary this is. Will it ever go away?

0 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

Next
  • megb4387
    megb4387

    Posted

    I also forgot to mention that my ENT did a hearing test and then took only about two minutes to look in my ears, up my nose, and down my throat. He did not use a scope or take his time at all. He never even mentioned Labrynthitis to me. Is it possible to still have this without him even looking far into my ear? He just kind of did the quick peek to see if my ear drums were inflamed which they're not.
  • chris1971
    chris1971

    Posted

    hi meg your symptoms are the same as mine was and I was diagnosed with labyrinthitis I was really bad at the start however mine only lasted about a couple of weeks at most then it got better day by day now im 99% there it can take alot longer to right its self sometimes years dont worry this is rare nearly all the time labyrinthitis is caused by a viral infection not bacterial so antibiotics will not work keep with it and im sure youll be on the mend very soon ask your gp about anti viral drugs good luck just remember tomorrow will never be as bad as today thats what I kept telling myself it helped me
    • Guest
      Guest chris1971

      Posted

      HI  chris. I know this was ages ago. But did u also experience any tinnitus?? And did it go away ??
  • tania15
    tania15

    Posted

    Hi I have same symptoms from October last year , with ups and downs. I been given Stemetil which is helping with dizzy spells also calm you down a bit which very important . I also thought that had it after stress but

    seems nobody know real cause of labyrinthitis . Did ENT refer you to see neurologist ?

    Try to read forums about vertigo on this site you will find a lot of suggestions .

  • magnets123
    magnets123

    Posted

    Meg,

    I never even got a cold or flu when mine started. I have the exact dizzy spells to where ur sitting down and ur eyes cannot catch up. My vertigo is gone yet I still have the spells. I will have good days and then it will come back and smack me for a couple miserable ones in a row. I had blood work done, MRI, vision blah blah blah done yet everything comes back normal. Going to see a neurologist at the end of this month. I have had labyrinthitus or so the doctor thought for about almost 9 weeks now. My ENT is thinking that I could be suffering from some kind of migraines. I do not normally have headaches but she said there are motion migraines and otgers that may be causing this. I find that exercise, less caffeine and nicotine seems to help. My symptoms are bad in the morning usually up til about 200 in the afternoon. Some days however it will last until later in the night. I have had to adjust my head into a certain angle to sleep at night. All kinds of fun stuff going on with this illness. I am not sending this to scare u but rather to prepare u. At least it's not fatal

  • tra143
    tra143 megb4387

    Posted

    hellosmile. I am new here and your symptoms are a lot like mine..... I went for a run one am and have been dizzy ever since.....November 18, 2013!!! I have had an MRI--thought brain tumor- and that was all clear.Had a hearing test-all clear-, had a thyroid test, hormone test--all clear.  All kinds of blood work....I only feel normal when I am driving...????? I also feel like I am moving when I am not---taken several medications--.Been to every kind of doctor--different diagnoses-vestibular neuritis and MAV.... I have never had a migraine in my life or any kind of motion sickness.  The dizziness is 24/7... It does feel worse right before my period......Very frightening! I feel like when they figure it out it will be too late.....I have a 5 y/
    • jeff76766
      jeff76766 tra143

      Posted

      This is such a late reply, but it sounds like you’ve described my life for the past year! I ran on the treadmill for the first time to start being healthier, then felt so dizzy and out of it that day. It went away for a few days, then all of a sudden had panic attacks and this terrible out of it feeling. Then the dizziness and vertigo too. It feels like I’m moving all the time, trying to watch tv, trying to eat, going to bed, all struggles most days. I had a brain MRI and blood tests too, all fine. My doc thought it was anxiety so I was put on med, but I decided to come off and have been for 6 weeks now because it didn’t help with the out of it and motion feelings! Seeing an ENT in a week, praying a solution is found. 
  • richard08869
    richard08869 megb4387

    Posted

    Hi, My name's Richard, Stratford, CT. USA. If you still have questions.
  • richard08869
    richard08869 megb4387

    Posted

    Hi Meg,

    Richard again. I just got through reading the other comments in this forum and am glad most or some of these folks are on their mend. I hope you are also. My situation is different; (vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis, hearing and balance). I also had a bad cold and was starting to feel better and one morning I got up to get the morning paper and almost fell into the fireplace; that's the beginning of my story; that was September 26, 2005! (some dates you don't forget). I, my dear, still have it. I have learned from it many things, my faith in God has increased because He allows these sort of things to occur in our lives sometimes to get our attention; to send us on another path. Any way, I hope you've improved.

    Richard

  • rach01239
    rach01239 megb4387

    Posted

    Hi all! 

    I also have these exacts symptoms and have been diagnosed with labs.  

    It all started about 4 weeks ago. I thought I might have caught a slight cold from my roommate, although I didn't really feel that sick. The next day though I was pretty dizzy all day but I rested and brushed it off. The next day I was feeling a lot better but over the course of that week I started noticing that I would get these dizzy spells with ringing in my ear that would last for a few minutes and dissapate. They were'nt bothering me that much. But then, on April 3rd I thought I was having another spell but this time after a few minutes it did not go away. It is coming up on 3 weeks for me now with the constant 24/7 dizziness. The dizziness isn't a rotational vertigo, but more like I am swaying and i'm on a boat. Serc didn't seem to do much for me so I've stopped taking it. I have good days where I feel like i'm getting better, normal and am  happy again and then I'll have bad days that make me feel like i'm taking 5 steps back. I actually travelled yesterday, took 3 1hr flights home and was tired and stressed for most of the day. I don't know if it has to do with the travelling but I'm feeling particularly bad today. Additionally, I've read that menstraution makes symptoms worse and I am supposed to start mine like tomorrow. I am only coming up on week 3 as far as the 24/7 dizziness, and I want to try and stay positive that I am going to get better.  

    This is so scary and I want to have my 'normal' life back...  

     

    • lauren1313
      lauren1313 rach01239

      Posted

      Do you still have these symptoms now that 24 days has passed rach??
    • rach01239
      rach01239 lauren1313

      Posted

      Unfortunately I still have symptoms...They are definitely not as bad as they were a few weeks ago but I still notice them... especially when I'm trying to notice them. Keeping busy seems to help but i'm sure time has played a large role in feeling better, if only a little at least. Additionally, I was prescribed a course of steroids - prednisone- that seemed to help too. Hoping my recovery will continue 
    • lauren1313
      lauren1313 rach01239

      Posted

      I'm glad to hear so rach. Is your dizziness 24/7? Thankfully mine has never been 24/7, but feeling "off" has been. I have had Vestibular Neuritis for 3.5 weeks now. It seems to not be as severe as some I'm reading about online- the room doesn't spin, I just feel dizzy and off and then nauseous. I also have good and bad days and I thought I was more on the mend but yesterday I was dizzy and nauseous for 5 hours straight in bed. The ENT specialist I went to said it takes approx 6-8 weeks to stop feeling "off" or suhc symptoms. And 12 months to fully recover, being that I'm young (24 years old). I'm going to VTR next Wednesday, hopefully that will help. 
    • rach01239
      rach01239 lauren1313

      Posted

      In the beginning it was definetly a 24/7 dizziness... I would say that now its not quite so, yet I still notice it a lot... In the first few weeks I had a really hard time sleeping becuase I felt as though I was falling off of the bed and rocking a lot.. I've been having a much easier time sleeping recently and I've basically resumed to my daily normal activities. The room never span for me either. Just mostly feelings of off-balance. I too also have bad days and good days, like most people with this condition also mention... just recently I have been having more good days than bad ones. I am just getting into my 6th week with this condition so I'm really hoping that in the next couple weeks I continue to see improvement. I am also young (21 years old) and hope that my youth will speed up recovery, haha. I would like to try VRT, I've heard its very helpful... just have to find someone in my area!
    • lauren1313
      lauren1313 rach01239

      Posted

      That's really hopeful! You poor thing having 24/7 dizziness. In the first 2-3 weeks it came in waves quite often throughout the day. Over the past week its been hitting only once or twice a day, but it seems to last for longer. I think I will yuotube some VTR until my appointment nest week. I have to photograph a 10 hour wedding in a week, so hoping for some more progress. It really is such a crappy thing to have happen. My biggest concern is having it long term, but I'm optimistic I won't. Hoping you have a speedy recovery. What are you current symptoms and how long do they last for? 
    • rach01239
      rach01239 lauren1313

      Posted

      Literally everyone I've talked to about this says it will get better... but that it just takes some people longer than others. I try to remember this when im feeling down or having a rough day. I cant wait to feel 100% again... I agree with you, its the worst. Wouldn't wish it on anyone. Currently my symptoms are mostly just feelings of unbalance. Sometimes I will have pressure or popping in my ears for a few hours. I notice the unbalance less when I occupy myself. Hoping you have a quick recovery as well!
    • tracy11005
      tracy11005 lauren1313

      Posted

      Hi Lauren, did the Vtr help and are you better now? It's an awful thing to deal with hope it resolved for you, I'm 12 weeks into it, but no one can seem to help. I've got a second opinion next week with ENT specialist,

      Thanks

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.