Recovering from Labrynthitis
Posted , 18 users are following.
Hello All,
I am hoping to hear from people who are recovering from labrynthitis. I had my first episode of veritgo a month ago and am struggling to feel balanced again. The difficult part of it for me is knowing when to push and exercise my brain and when to rest. I have been going to work, but am finding that by about 2:00 p.m., I am spinning and very uncomfortable. If I work the whole day, my evening is totally awful - very very dizzy. Any suggestions?
Best,
Linda
0 likes, 71 replies
rachelhock linda72262
Posted
I messaged a little while ago as this labrynthitis is really affecting my legs when I'm working.
Is it best to just carry on and try be normal or is it better to text up alot?
Thanks
X
rachelhock linda72262
Posted
I messaged a little while ago as this labrynthitis is really affecting my legs when I'm working.
Is it best to just carry on and try be normal or is it better to text up alot?
Thanks
X
rachelhock
Posted
linda72262 rachelhock
Posted
there's very fine line between knowing when to push things a bit and when to rest. Are you at work full time right now? I'm one of those people that wants to feel better NOW. I'm learning that getting over labrynthitis requires a lot of patience and positive thinking. I'm trying to rest more often. I'm doing more exercises and movements, but I try and rest before I get too dizzy. As a matter of fact, I'm on the couch in front of the t.v. right now. I think I overdid it today so I'm done
for the night. Anyway, hope you are doing all right.
Best,
Linda
rachelhock linda72262
Posted
Yes I'm full time hairdresser and it's awful.
I'm wearing a knee support and deep heat as my legs hurt from trying to balance so much.
I'm exactly the same and want to be better now !
my tablets don't seem to be helping at all either
debbie82116 linda72262
Posted
Read you're from Canada...me too! Where abouts?
Debbie
linda72262 debbie82116
Posted
I'm in Calgary. Where are you?
Linda
debbie82116 linda72262
Posted
I'm in Ontario. I have pretty much recovered from labyrinthitis. It's a nasty illness!!
Debbie
RikC linda72262
Posted
My dizziness problems started just over a month ago. The first time I noticed anything out of the ordinary was when I was using my computer. I've got two computer screens and I was looking between them when I suddenly felt that my eyes weren't keeping up with my head. A very odd feeling! I didn't feel lightheaded and I just put it down to my eyes being tired.
Then about a fortnight later (early Jan) I started noticing that I was very occasionally a bit unsteady when walking like being on the deck of a boat (that was gently rocking,nothing major). Again, nothing too dramatic and I actually thought it might be a mild side effect of some medication that I was on. I shrugged it off but I did make a note to keep an eye out for it.
In the second week of Jan I had to leave work early as I just could not concentrate on what I was doing, I felt totally unable to think straight and I felt a bit gormless (eyes staring straight ahead, mouth gaping open... it wasn't but it felt like that), and I felt like I was on that boat deck again! Took myself home, spoke to my GP, came off my meds, and went to see her the next day. She did a load of tests in her surgery (blood pressure, hand-eye coordination, balance, looked in my ears). Everything was normal except my left ear drum looking a bit dull which was suggestive of fluid buildup in the middle ear.
Coincidentally, I'd been to the dentists the first week of Jan as I had badly inflamed gums in my upper jaw. She said it was a herpes virus that had flared up. Now, herpes type viruses are known to trigger labyrinthitis I believe so I mentioned this to my doctor. She said that I was very likely to have it then. However, I've got no loss of hearing that I am aware of and so it looks like inflammation of the vestibular system.
I was getting it pretty bad by now. Constant feeling of dizziness - never got the room spinning aspects just feeling a bit tipsy like having had a couple of glasses of wine, mental fatigue (never physical, I've never felt physically tired, just mentally), much better when driving a car, no problems when lying down. I've definitely had a low-order anxiety thing ticking away in the background with the occasional flare up into an anxiety attack.
We agreed to give it a week and, as of last week of Jan, things had improved quite a bit. The 24/7 swaying feeling had gone but not completely. I could now get back to work for a half day but by lunchtime I was feeling pretty tired (again, only mentally) so I'd leave early.
When my dizziness symptoms flair up now its definitely more noticeable in dark or poorly lit conditions and when walking for more than 10-15mins either indoors or outdoors. With walking it gets to the point where I feel I have to concentrate quite a lot on just walking!!! If that makes sense.
I haven't noticed any particularly aversion to big open spaces. I've recently flown out to the US on a work-thing for a couple of weeks. I literally arrived yesterday and I've had a bit of a flare up of symptoms. I'm putting that down to drinking too much caffeine (I don't normally drink much) which apparently can worsen symptoms along with general tiredness.
Probably the worst experience I've had so far was on the plane flying out here. It was a 11hr flight and although I didn't feel particularly dizzy at all I definitely had an anxiety attack. I guess being in a plane which is constantly moving, even by only small degrees, was serving to feed my underlying anxiety caused by my inner ear problem.
Anyway, I am not out of the woods yet and if things haven't improved when I get back to the UK in a fortnight, I'll be seeing my GP again to get referred to see an ENT.
In the meantime I'm trying to stay as active as possible but recognising that when my brain tells me it needs a rest that I do just that (I find somewhere to sit or lie down for 15-20mins and listen to Mindfulness audible book - it really works well for me as it addresses the anxiety AND gives my mind a rest).
PS: Driving a car, sitting watching TV, running don't seem to affect my condition at all.
dave.r. RikC
Posted
Saw the nurse on Monday who gave me Procloperazine they have not really had much effect on the dizzyness though, although I do not feel sick. Have continued to work (engineering/computer screen) eyes feel tired blurry. Yesterday I felt great with
no symptoms but today dizzyness is back and other feelings like mental tiredness . I went for a off road run last night and felt
normal , now...not so sure. Slight ringing in right ear now but
no pain. On a flight to New York On Wednesday so Im concerned how this will effect me?
RikC dave.r.
Posted
The 11hr flight from London to SanFran didnt affect my dizziness at all (in fact I had none at all). My doctor said that it tends to be infections of the middle ear that can cause discomfort during flight. I did make sure to equalize my ears by gently blowing my nose and sucking on a sweet during take off for the first 20mins. You should be fine
I tried medication for 2 days but stopped mainly because they werent really helping and i read that it slows down compensation.
dave.r. RikC
Posted
I can take all the symptons on the chin its the uncertainty of
When this thing will go that bothers me. I do a lot of bike racing and fell running so balance for me is everything. The worst thing
is not to be able to get out and train. Had to cancel a race today!
Think I'll stop taking the meds because they are having no effect.
How are you feeling now?
RikC dave.r.
Posted
Right now Im okay. Feeling spaced out but no constant dizziness. Its just the odd moment where i feel unbalanced and i have to check myself. Anxiety is constant (clenched jaw, shoulders up around my esrs) and I swear that the anxiety makes this condition far worse than it is. So I just keep telling myself its just my inner rar causing the anxiety..
How are you getting on now?
dave.r. RikC
Posted
Been to the doctors this morning and went through all of the tests again and she advised that flying is OK and to stop taking the
meds.
Symptoms are the same no worse no better slightly unbalanced
when turning and coming to a halt but no nausea or ear pan, just a mild ringing in the ear and the feeling it's not quite right in
there.
going for a run this afternoon to see how it goes went to Yoga
yesterday and that was fine(im crap anyway). Gonna leave the bike alone just to on the safe side but you know what its like when
you want to get out!
Keep in touch and let me know how youre getting along.
dave.r.
Posted
Samsung tablet that is not very user friendly when a mistake is made!
RikC dave.r.
Posted
So I had a really good nights sleep (10hrs) which has finally got me over my jet lag. But, after going for a run, I have been as dizzy (on the deck of a boat type unsteadiness) as I've ever been since this condition started. Not great given that this morning is the day that I start to do the work I have come here to do. Oh well. Not a lot I can do really. I'm sure it will settle down during the day.
dee50000 dave.r.
Posted