vestibular neuritis

Hi Nicola

I have had very similar symptoms but I could no longer live like that. After my second visit to the GP and second round of cortisone and antibiotics, I calles an ENT myself and went to see him. 

I ended up having a brain MRI and was referred to a Neurologist. I have been diagnosed with another c

Hi Nicola  Yes it hit me like a ton of bricks too.  My diagnosis was BPPV.  Hopefully yours will resolve sooner if it is an 'itis' (inflammation) but it took me many months to regain my balance and i too was crawling around on the floor sometimes.

With time and experience i have started making improvement but there wasn't any medication or medical intervention that made any difference.  For me it was a matter of time and understanding. I agree with your doc, having seen all the ENT department and paid to see a consultant privately, it is an unknown but there is hope.  Hope you recover soon. Make sure you have some investigations done like an MRI just to rule out anything else.  Get well soon. 

HiNicola Good to hear the initial condition is resolved, just a case of our balance centres catching up and re-learning that we don't need to keep over correcting our balance, think its called 'compensation'.

I like to equate it to a computer and something on my hard drive's gone wonky and i need to shut down and reboot with a new way of finding my balance.  I try to look at a distant object when i' m walking as this has helped with my balance rather than focusing on the road directly in front of me.  I try not to look upwards too often or lift overhead cupboard doors.  I also think when my necks stiff it affects my balance too combined with other factors such as tiredness.

I found i could wake up in the morning feeling reasonably OK but within a couple of hours it would all be back.  Really have had to learn to pace myself with little bursts followed by rest.  Keeping hydrated also helps, so plenty of water and cut back on caffeine.

Stay positive

hi nicola

you're right about hitting like a ton of bricks. I'm from the U.S. and my insurance doesn't need a referral. so I was able to see an ENT my 2nd week of symptoms. my first week I was in the hospital for a few days and had every test imaginable done. I had an MRI, blood work and those came back normal. the neurologist thought it might be BPPV so he had another Dr.do the eppley manuever on me. it didn't work. the following week I seen the ENT and he did some tests including a test where they shoot warm then cold air into each ear. he said my right ear was left 67% uncompensated. I was already set up to meet with therapy the next day and when he did different balance tests he also determined that it was my right ear that was lacking. the therapy helped quite a bit. it helped with regaining my balance and  when you find your new center of balance then the dizziness should start to diminish. however that hasn't been entirely true for me. my balance is pretty good but I still get dizzy occasionally. it's been 4 1/2 months now and some days I don't even notice it and some days I'm like why? how? I wasn't dizzy yesterday. I have learned that you need to stay well hydrated, get enough sleep, try not to stress out and don't let anxiety creep in. even though it's difficult try to keep active and get out and about. every Dr. I've seen all told me that any anti-nausuea , dizzy medicine will only slow down the recovery and to try to venture out to the grocery store and busy places that will require you to look around.  how long does it last? I don't think anyone including Doctors know the answer. hope you recover soon.

Hi Nicola

I totally understand what you are going through. I was diagnosed with VN about 5 years ago. This tends to come about from a virus or infection which comes along and then buggers off leaving unrepairable damage to your inner ear gubbins. Its a bit like losing an arm or a leg, we don’t grow new ones, so we have to learn to compensate with the rest of us.

All the best

I am sorry to hear that. I hate to tell you it will be a year next month for me. I have the same feelings as you do. I have been walking again not by myself but I am up to 3 miles a day.  I seem to have more bad days than good lately but it will get better I hope. I am not sure if I have just learned to work within the haze or if it is getting better. I will tell you that the nausea is gone and I rarely get it now. I don't know anyone who has this vestibular neuritis but do have a friend with vertigo. I try to be thankful for the good things although some days are harder than others. I am 62 have been able to draw my SS but I was in a very good managment position. We as well have felt the crunch thank goodness my husband works part time. The university of Toronto in Canada has done some extensive research. They seem to think there may be a connection between vestibular issues and stress. They are of course doing more  research. I wish you luck it will get better!