labyrinthitis vs meniere's vs BPPV diagnosis

Posted , 7 users are following.

My symptoms:

3rd March to  8 march- felt slight head strain, slight ear block at times (not too bothering)

Started 9 March - had tinnitus after waking up from a nap in bus. Feel dizziness. Felt floating when lying down (lasted ~1 hr)

10 March- Body feels ok. Had slight tinnitus. Had many bowls of Tom Yum containing MSG. (could be trigger for worse symptoms in next day due to high MSG and salt)

11 March- Tinnitus got worse, felt nauseous. 

12 March- Heavy tinnitus, heavy head (felt strain and dizzy when turning head), felt dizzy and nauseous.

13 March- Heavy tinnitus, heavy head (felt strain and dizzy when turning head), ear block, dizzy and nauseous.

14 March- Heavy tinnitus, heavy head (felt strain and dizzy when turning head), felt floating (last ~10mins) and vomitted when trying to do accupuncture (lying down), had headache at night.

15 March- Heavy tinnitus, heavy head (felt strain and dizzy when turning head), felt nauseous and floating (floating lasted ~1.5 hrs). Vomitted when taking a 1hr ride in the car and feeling dizzy. Headache at night, took panadol to sleep. I did few rounds of epley maneuver to help with the vertigo.

16-17 March- tinnitus continued, no giddiness and nauseous anymore. Continued the epley maneuver.

18 March- tinnitus continued, brief nauseous and ear block. Did few rounds of somersault maneuver.

19 March- tinnitus continued, brief dizziness and ear block. No nauseous. Did few rounds of somersault maneuver.

20 March- Tinnitus reduced greatly from 9/10 to 2/10. Slight buzzling sound when turning head. Overall felt much better. No more heavy head, dizziness or nauseous.

21 March- Tinnitus 2/10. No more heavy head, dizzness or nauseous. Visited ENT specialist, diagnosed Meniere Disease by listening to my symptoms. Did hearing test and hearing is perfect. No other test done.

My tinnitus was only in my left ear, the right ear was okay all the while. Just a brief history I had a ear infection last year but it cleared up (not sure if it's related). I'm 28 year old female. I am thinking if my ENT gave me a proper diagnosis. When I reached, he is in a rush for an operation. He just briefly listened to my symptoms and diagnosed me with Meniere Disease. I mentioned that the maneuver helped me got much better but he said the maneuver will not help with meniere's disease but only with BPPV. After that I did some research and I found out that hearing loss is needed to be diagnosed as Meniere's Disease. However, there are no hearing loss for me. He confirmed it is Meniere's because my episode of feeling floating (vertigo) lasted for an hour, in which BPPV patients only lasted for a short moment which position change.

Here are a few qns:

1) could it be labyrinthitis? What is the differential diagnosis of labyrinthitis vs MD? I'm worried because MD will cause hearing loss.

2) how long will the tinnitus last? 

3) Will MD have the same frequency of episode of symptoms as me? (1st week of regular nauseous, headaches, tinnitus and vertigo episode subsequently the following week all my symptoms were gone except for the tinnitus which reduced greatly)

I am doubting my ENT specialist diagnosis because he seem to be in a rush for an operation and he did not do much tests for me. After reading up, I deduce that maybe mine could be a cause of labyrinthitis? Can anyone who have experience of labyrinthitis or MD share their experience with me? I'm worried and confused. Thank you very much.

 

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Posted

    My MD was confirmed with a number of hearing tests over a few weeks.

    each time they differed and this, evidently, proved that is was MD.

    .

    • Posted

      Thanks for the info! I will get my hearing test done again in a month. I hope you feel better! smile
  • Posted

    I think only time will tell. MD happens more than one week I think. Most sufferers experience MD over a much longer time than 1 week, hence my original statement of time will tell. Hopefully it's not MD for you. I have no experience with L so can't comment on that. Good luck. 

    • Posted

      Thanks for your info! I am hoping I dont get any attacks anymore. Just tinnitus bothering me now, which I hope will go away with time. I hope you are well! smile
  • Posted

    When I was diagnosed, I had many more tests than just a hearing test and a list of symptoms.  It took a few appointments before they were sure it was MD.  Most ENTs in US have a brain MRI done to rule out other things.  Also, vertigo isn't a 'floating feeling', but rather when things go spinning around you or you feel like you are spinning when you are not.  Floating feeling does come with MD, but violent rotational vertigo is more typical in the beginning.  Maybe you should see another specialist and get a second opinion.  Good luck, and I hope for your sake that it is not MD!

     

    • Posted

      Hey thanks for your info! That's good of the ENTs doctors in US to have an MRI check while mine didnt. Oh i dont really feel objects spinning, i just feel dizzness and afloat, mayb i will seek a second opinion! I hope you are doing well. smile

  • Posted

    Hi Karen,

     I’m a member of a labyrinthitis support group on line as I was initially diagnosed with this and your symptoms coincide with what I read on that site. Time will tell although labyrinthitis can recur but it does eventually get better unlike Meniere’s. 

    • Posted

      Hi christine, thanks for the info.. do u have the link to the labyrinthitis support group? Many thanks!
    • Posted

      Hi Karen. It is Labyrinthitis Support Group and if you google it you will find it. It’s face book based. 
  • Posted

    It could be many things...What operation does he want to do?  I would go to a new ENT
    • Posted

      Thanks..He did not suggest any operation but gave me a month of Betaserc to take and come back one month later for consultation again.
  • Posted

    I'm battling the same stuff I'm in Memphis now having 3 ear perfusion i have lossed more of my hearing since the first perfusion I have one more in the morning this tinnitus is not letting up hope you get to feeling better

  • Posted

    I order medicines guidebook for meniere's disease an I read material online to help me realize what's going on because everyone is different

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