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

Very Tired of Horizontal Motion - 5 months Now

Posted , 5 users are following.

diane86032
diane86032

I thought I join this site for some moral support and perhaps to help others.

I am pretty sure I have the on-going effects of viral Neuritis. I also had this about 15 years ago, so this time I haven't been frightened by it thinking I was having a stroke. Both times this started shortly after flu / bronchitus. 

I also suffer chronically from sinusitis / hayfever, and migraines for the last few years. I am going for positional testing tommorow (after seeing 4 GPs, an ENT specialist and trying various medications for nausia). I have tried to avoid tablets as much as possible and have kept moving about in the hope this will aid recovery.

Today I AM VERY FED UP WITH THE SENSE OF MOTION. After 5 months of it, continuously, I would at least like a break for a couple of days (dream on!). The best way I can describe this is that the environment is rotating horizontally anticlockwise, and I am rotating slightly clockwise but at a different speed. I am over the inital worst bit where you can just about manage to creep about, if you are lucky, anging onto the world like a bad tightrope walker. (The first time I had to hold onto the floor for 5 days). A lot of the time I have felt queasy, at best. There has been a  gradual improvement but I went downhill again this week.

In common with others I feel worse: watching TV, especially in the dark, with moving camera shots (high drama TV etc); scrolling down on the computer (here my eyes go into nystigmus); busy environments, especially shops like the supermarket. With my eyes closed I cannot stand still upright, and cannot walk forward at all (falling to the left).

In my experience I did not feel I ever fully recovered fromit  the first time: I was left with some sense of disorientation in shops; with some TV programmes, also a fear of heights. At least this time I have not een anxious as I recognised what was happening to me. Also I find nausia and anxiety are incompatable with each other (e.g. if you feel really sick you don't have the energy to worry). Please reply if you can understand what I am experiencing and share your own experience.   

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Mags.1962
    Mags.1962 diane86032

    Posted

    Hi, I suffer from labrynthitis, I can go for months without an attack, and then I am floored for weeks. I cannot look up, watch 3d movies or go swimming as I find they all cause an attack.  I worry constantly as my last bout started in work.  I have a terrible attack of dizziness, visual disturbances and vomiting.  I have to lie in the same position as even a small head movement causes vomiting.  I have been known to lie in the small piece on the stair landing as I feel secure.  I can only describe the feeling as like I am going to fall off the edge of a cliff.  I also have to remember if I get up for the toilet in the middle of the night, not to get up too quickly.  I have had two MRIs and tried various medications, to no avail.  sorry if this doesn't sound positive, I try to forget about it when it isn't active, my last bout had me more or less housebound for six weeks, but I do know I am lucky in that I get a bit of respite between bouts. I try to avoid coffee and alcohol.  I really hope you feel better.  I joined the forum like yourself for support, as I felt that no one really understood how awful the condition makes me feel.
    • diane86032
      diane86032 Mags.1962

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply. I really do understand the falling of a cliff feeling. The first time, 15 years ago, I was actually diagnosed with labyrithitus, (it seems the current medical positon is that if there is no hearing lost it is now called vestibular neuritis). That time I had to sit on the floor often and keep my head totally still because of the feeling of falling - such that I thought I would fall off a chair or a bed. This time the sensation is more twirling around (or ridding on a magic carpet) than falling but it has the same result of feeling sick. I am also avoiding alcohol and coffee. I do not think the medical profession recognises the lasting effects - it is like been traumatised by it. I wouldn't dream of attempting to watch a 3D movie, doing any sort of dancing that involves turning around, going on a fun fair ride or driving at high speeds. I tried to forget about it the first time - but I continued to have mostly annual bouts of dizzyness and perhaps a phobia of any activity that might cause that feeling. I have often had to turn away from the TV due to camera motion. It does sound in your case that it does remit for a while - so I just hope this will at least happen in my case. Thank you again, it is reassuring to know others have similar sensations and also I am not going mad. 
    • vanessa69
      vanessa69 diane86032

      Posted

      I been haven dizzy spells on and off for 2months now.was told it was vertigo and have done the exercises for it! Sometimes they work and sometimes not.and it my left ear wen I do the exercises cause that the only side that spinns.I have been to gp er and had blood work and ekg everything was fine! Have not been to ent mght have to go soon cause cause this is a pain in the butt! And suggestions anyone?
  • Sfeeb001
    Sfeeb001 diane86032

    Posted

    It sounds like you have a problem with your left ear. Have you seen a ENT doctor yet?
  • christine42810
    christine42810 diane86032

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with  vestibukar neuritis last August, affecting my right vestibular nerve. After much agitating on my part to get a proper diagnosis rather than being fobbed off by an ENT specialist saying that it would get better "next week", "next fortnight", "next month"!!  I have been working with a neuro-ontologist and a specialist neuro physio and have experienced a lot of improvement through specific eye and head exercises and walking a lot, BUT, having said that, there are good days and bad days, and there are certain things that exacerbate it - ie alcohol, stress, getting excessively tired, riding as a passenger in a car, though not a the driver (interesting, but it might be head position as a driver is more fixed ahead with occasional glances in mirrors on side and above, whereas as a passenger, I am more inclined to be looking to the side. Also swimming freestyle - the neuro ontologist says I must persist with this so I am, slowly but surely adding a couple more strokes each time I swim.  Breaststroke is fine, because my head goes down and up in the water and, like driving is not turning to the side a lot.  Walking is the best I find.  I make sure I look side to side (slowly) as I walk and focus on something for a few seconds.  This was a tip from the physiotherapist I was working with, and it really helps. Don't look down, we VN sufferers tend to do this because we are worried about being unbalanced, it in fact it makes it worse.

    Interestingly I experienced a very rocky ferry trip a couple of days ago - my daughter, who is quite well, got very dizzy and unbalanced and I was fine - loved every minute of it!!  Who would ever know what is going on. I honestly think that the doctors don't know enough about this condition and a lot of it is guesswork on their part, although, having said that the hospital I was attending for the physiotherapy has a whole floor devoted to balance problems and many of the staff are undertaking research into vestibular neuritis and other balance disorders.

    So, I continue to live with it, hope for improvement and tell myself that at least it is not life threatening, merely at times, life limiting,

    I hope everyone who suffers from this finds some consolation in my words, and also I do hope you all continue to improve,

    Christine

Back to top

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.