Labyrinthitis/ Vestibular Neuritis...Please Help

Hi guys,

First time poster, I hope I can find people that can relate to my condition or help with it. This may be a bit of a long post, I would appreciate it if you would spare some time to read it all.

Condition: Most likely labyrinthits (In my 7th week now)

Background info:

2 months ago at uni when I was in the gym, I was exerting myself doing weights and felt something pop in my left ear. I felt really faint and headed back...over the next few days I had severe vertigo/dizziness/nausea. I also experienced my first anxiety/panic attack when i felt these symptoms, which to be honest felt worse than the actual symptoms. I went to the uni GP and she said I had labyrinthitis (though she did no tests). I also recall not having any flu like symptoms so I'm not sure how it could be viral labyrinthitis. Thankfully all symptoms vanished within 1 week.

Life was back to normal. However 3 weeks later, I was back home for the summer and had been back in the gym for a week or 2 when I felt really lightheaded and faint again. Sometimes I feel like this in the gym when I exert myself so didn't think much of it. I came home however and experienced another anxiety attack. The dizziness/vertigo etc was MUCH LESS severe than the initial attack 3 weeks ago at uni, however it has persisted for coming up to 7 WEEKS now.

Currently:

Over the past 7 weeks, I have had good days and bad days...good hours and bad hours. I went to the local GP who once again said the symptoms matched labyrinthitis without doing any tests. He prescribed some stemetil (which I took only twice as it didn't help and also because I have read everywhere online that it only slows down the recovery from labyrinthitis).

I tried just walking around, passing the ball about with a friend to 'retrain' my brain. However, the symptoms were still in the background and didn't really seem to disappear. But I did feel much better then than I do now.

For the past week, everything seems to have gotten worse. I have spent more time in bed than normal as my friends are on holiday at the moment and I'm not sure if this is the cause? As I'm no longer carrying on with things as normal.

Other info:

Since day 1, I have also had a popping sensation in my left ear every time I swallow.

Head feels heavy. Neck aches. Feel a pressure within my head/ear.

Though I have had anxiety attacks a few times, lately it feels like I'm on the verge of one all the time.

I also have other normal symptoms such as feeling nauseous, tiredness etc.

Very recently, it feels like my vision is a part of the problem too. My eyes feel very heavy and like I cant focus on things. Also, the last few days, I see little flashes of lights which aren't actually there (this has only happened about 3 times in as many days)

Note: I have finally managed to get a specialist ENT appointment, which isnt for another 5 weeks unfortunately, but better than nothing. I'm sure at that point, they will confirm it to be labyrinthitis or something similar as the symptoms all match.

Questions:

Is there anyone else in a similar situation as me? How are you dealing with it?

I have done some generic VRT exercises, but it doesn't seem to help too much. Thoughts about VRT?

What triggers your symptoms? For me it's been hot weather, shower, loud noises, bright lights, dim lights and more (nothing specific).

My anxiety seems to be triggered by anything that I think is abnormal, e.g. sudden tingling somewhere on my body, sudden temporary noise in my ears, sudden temporary dizziness etc etc. All of which is probably normal, but they seem to trigger anxiety when I feel like this. Does this also happen to anyone else?

Are there any tips to control the anxiety? I swear its a lot worse than actual dizziness.

Are there any tips to control the dizziness? Such as VRT or others. Is it better to stay active and feel worse for a short while or should I just stay in bed?

Any other useful information?

WILL THIS EVER END?? I have read some success stories, but will it really take months to years??

Is it also true that even if it goes away, it can come back any time in the future? This is what scares me the most as it seems there is no permanent cure.

I am getting seriously depressed about this as the past 7 weeks have been pure hell, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!

Thanks for listening to my rant/story. I am looking forward to hearing back from anyone at all!

Thank you

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