Tips on how to recover from VN/Labyrinthitis: What can I do?

Hi Maria,

Both ears seem to be affected by the 'hot ear'...Also like a feeling of fullness, which makes me nervous that the infection is still there.

My dilemma is that I've read it's good to try and push yourself to recover, but I don't want to push myself too hard. Sometimes it feels as if the sensation is more when I try harder things, but that could be paranoia (of which I have loads). It's hard to know what to do, surely the sensation in my ears would feel normal eventually??

I've read online that some people get steroids for inflammation? maybe I should try and follow this up with specialist.

I think fullness is pretty typical. Following up with a specialist might be a good idea? good luck!

Hi Anna,

It's good to hear that you're doing so well after what must have been incredibly hard.

As for the hot ear, it's a weird sensation that has come and gone. I'm less scared of it now, but you're right that doctors just seem to look at me and either dismiss it or are confused. There's so many different ways to describe how my head feels, but none of them seem right!!

Did you find any trouble with brain fatigue/fog at all? I find that if I've done too much in a day my mind gets dragged into muzziness and the anxious thoughts creepy in with the dizziness...Does this just disappear over time slowly?

I'm trying to help myself but go round in circles sometimes. I don't even know when I'll be able to work (comforting there's so much sport on telly at moment)

Is there anything you did to aid your recovery that helped??

Honestly Richard everything you're describing is exactly what I went through! And yes I got A LOT of brain fog which in itself is extremely annoying. I did tons of research at the time because I was panicking as I thought I was going to be like that forever, and unfortunately it does take time but it does get better. I used to tell myself that the brain and the human body are amazing and can recover from almost anything. From what I read/remember I found that light exercise helped, or being outside as I found that it distracted me, and also exercise is supposed to help recovery. It feels awful but they say exercising/moving your head as much as you normally would helps speed up recovery because it helps your brain 'reset' as it were.

I also read into the nutrition side of it and what vitamins were supposed to help, basically I took as much anti inflammatory vitamins/minerals as I could. The likes of garlic, tumeric, zinc and magnesium I swear made it better.

But I guess the main thing is to not let it get to you, which I did all the time. There were times where I would just cry for hours because I didn't think I could go on living like this, and I also felt sorry for my family and friends around me as I was definately not much fun to be around haha. But I always tell anyone who goes through anything similar if I can get through it anyone can!

And even though it's years later I still get the weird 'hot ear' from time to time, I used to think oh no it's coming back! But I get it every now and again and it doesn't seem to do anything. I get dizzy very occassionally and it does make you panic but I've also been told I get occassional vestibular migraines, which I'm not sure if is a result of the lab or not, but it's never been as bad as it was. Sorry for the long rant but hopefully that makes you feel a bit better! Just keep going 😃

Your 'rant' made my day. Especially as it started badly as had bad evening.

It's really great to hear that you made it through even though it was clearly very tough.

I've found it really hard to get the balance between exercising and just chilling, but am gradually finding my way I hope. It's incredibly hard having a few down days after thinking you're doing well. I've never really been a particularly emotional person, but I think I've become quite different now.

I laughed when you mentioned Tumeric, as I tried it in hot water and added a massive heaped teaspoon and it was awful!...I've learned to get the tablets or sprinkle some into food 😃 I'll look into the other vitamins too as everything helps.

I initially thought I'd be at back at work fairly soon, but I think the fog will take longer than I thought to improve to a workable point so will take as much time off as I can afford (eek). I'm going to try to some smaller learning tasks to test my brain bit by bit.

My new mantra from above: "the brain and the human body are amazing"

Thank you

Im sorry you had a bad day, from what i remember it was very much an up and down recovery, there were days where i thought it was finally getting better and then id have a bad day, but thats normal and you just gotta keep concentrating on the good days!

yeh tumeric is gross haha but as you said keep trying different vitamins and such i definately found they helped!

are you on any medication for it? the only reason i ask is because i was told to stop taking medication after a couple of weeks because its supposed to slow down recovery.

the brain fog is the thing that i found lingered for a while but for me i think that was a symptom of the severe anxiety i had! i had to go back to work after just two weeks i think, and i swear it nearly killed me haha. so yeh definately take as much recovery time as you possibly can!

I stopped taking the medication after a week, went back on briefly and then on for a day and a half on Cinnarizine, but that didn't agree with me at all...so have been off any mediaction for over a month now, so that's good.

The anxiety is such a confusing thing. It suddenly ramps up with slightest of dizzyness, or even without reason. I'm hoping this will improve with my body, but I suspect I'll have to deal with it on its own. I find my brain fog often happens after I've done something that needs thinking about. It went crazy after I tried to drive...I guess it's unsurprising as my brain must be working hard.

I think it'll be months before I go back to work, just gonna try and keep fit and healthy without overdoing it. I really want to get back to things.

hi richard! just wondering how you were getting on and if you felt any better!? 😃

Hi Anna,

I'm doing well.

Still doing all the rehab exercises, still taking all the vitamins and often repeating the mantra 😃

I'm told my eye/brain/balance function is now pretty much where it should be which I can feel is true as when I move, I can move freely...But I still have lots of brain fatigue and hot ear (which is the scarier one as it feels like a recurrence). The brain fatigue is definitely improving, just veeeery slowly. I've found it particularly bad after trying to drive or watching TV (I've tried 4 times to watch a spiderman film!) BUT, the biggest thing is that it's all improving. Each day is a little easier (actually - sometimes harder) and I feel a lot more like myself.

I started off doing some half days at work, then full, and am now doing 2 or 3 days per week which I'm finding tough but will get there. Annoyingly, I find the fatigue (which sort of feels light and air-heady) occurs more under artificial light, which is everywhere at work...but exposure to it will fix this eventually. I've got to keep on keeping on.

I've also managed a few social outings, though being around loads of noise/chat/music really stimulates my mind and it's very draining. I pretty much have to have two hours to chill before sleep, otherwise my brain wakes during the night feeling a little dizzy...I think it is still processing information from earlier in the day.

So all in all good. Not finished article yet, but I aim to be.

I hope things are well with you too. It's quite the journey!