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Vestibular Neuronitis: Returning to work & driving

Posted , 14 users are following.

Helianthus
Helianthus

I had a sudden onset of vertigo and vomitting whilst on holiday in Poland. Completly hit me from nowhere. I was admitted to a Polish hospital where I stayed for 8 days. I had various tests whilst at the hospital, such as MRI, CAT scan, hearing tests and caloric test. Since returning to UK,  after much pleading I was referred to ENT department. I have had further hearing tests and a caloric test. The consultant has said he thinks I have VN, but can't explain how its happened (virus, infection or something else) but I have lost all balance in my left ear. I am in the process of recalibrating my brain with eyes and muscles. It has really been a roller coaster ride of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, fatigue. I have been ill for 3 months now and am making progress but very slowly, it often plateaus for a period of time. I am moving as much as possible and doing balance training exercises. I am not taking any medication.

I have recently returned to work, doing half days and I am finding it really hard. After working a few hours, I need to sit for a while before I can drive as my brain feels like a shaken snow globe. Driving can feel sureal, it takes maximum concentration and also shakes up my snow globe brain. Driving for around 30-40 mins appears to be my limit. 

I wonder how others find their return to work, were any changes made in your workplace? 

I would also like to know how VN sufferers find driving.

 

0 likes, 32 replies

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  • marie04645
    marie04645 Helianthus

    Posted

    I feel so bad for you.  I had been dizzy for 9 months without the throwing up.  Been dizzy free for 4 days!!  I have been seen & tested by a few doctors.  Was told it takes a long time for a nerve to heal.  The word long was emphazised.  The fact that you have to work & drive with this affliction is the worst.

    There are people on this site that are helpful as I don't drive if I don't feel up to it.

    Wish you a recovery soon!

    • Helianthus
      Helianthus marie04645

      Posted

      Thank you Marie for your response. I work in a school so only have another week of work before the summer holidays. I can just about hold it together till then. I'm hoping i'll be able to skip back into work come September although I'm not sure how realistic that is as many sufferers on this forum appear to suffer for months and months. The thought of being dizzy for another possible 6 months+ is depressing! I must work harder at my balance retraining exercises!
  • SarahCuda
    SarahCuda Helianthus

    Posted

    I was taken to the ER on 6/27 for a massive vertigo attach.  Room spinning, throwing up, couldn't see or walk.  Was very scary..... Doctors did all of the tests (CT scans etc) and gave me meclizine....  It's not been over two weeks, and I'm just now starting to feel the most like my old self!

    Driving was the hardest thing, the first time trying it.  I only work 2 miles away from home, so I gave it whirl and only limited myself to that short drive.  Anywhere else I had my mom drive me (Thank goodness they live in the same town!)   Now I'm feeling more comfortable driving and have started going back to my gyn doing very modified workouts and those actually make me feel better.   It will take a looooong time to fully heal.  My PT is thinking i still having another couple of weeks before I'm 100% again.

    I'm going to send you video in a PM, that I've sent to others on this board it's helped them.  This video hasn't also helped me!

    • Helianthus
      Helianthus SarahCuda

      Posted

      Thank you Sarah for your response, I shall look at the video. When I first tried to drive about a month ago, after about 3 miles it felt like my brain was going to shut down so I quickly had to pull over and let my passenger drive. I'm wondering if that is due to mental overload? or contributing factors like subtle head and eye movement, concentration, fatigue, eyes seeing movement but no message given to brain from muscles so brain isn't sure what is happening?
    • deb39563
      deb39563 SarahCuda

      Posted

      Hi please send me the video too I would love to see it everything. Helps thanks a lot going on five years for me way better but I never quit doing my balance excercises it's keeps it better for more but different things to do are great too best of luck to everyone talk soon
    • SarahCuda
      SarahCuda Helianthus

      Posted

      I had really bad nystagmus with my vertigo and that really gives you brain fatigue and I'm guessing you're having the same issue (eyes do rapid "wavering" movements"....  If you haven't seen a PT yet, I highly recommend you go see one.  They can do the epley maneuver on you and that makes a world of difference.   After my first PT visit I felt great.

      You brain is going through a lot right now, so it needs time to heal and repair itself.   The nerves are trying to get back to where they used to be.

    • jen85
      jen85 SarahCuda

      Posted

      Sarah would it be possible for you to send me the video aswell? I've been off balance/"shaken snow globe" feeling for 2 months now. Currently waiting on an ENT appointment.
    • Helianthus
      Helianthus deb39563

      Posted

      5 years?! Please don't say 5 years! 3 months is way too long for me already! How normal do you feel on a day to day basis? Is there much you can't do? I feel quite disabled when doing certain acitivities, did you feel this or still feel it?
    • Helianthus
      Helianthus SarahCuda

      Posted

      Yep, been there and got the nystagmus t'shirt. How did it affect your vision? My vision felt distorted at times.

      As you say, the brain is going through a lot right now. Does that mean you shouldn't push hard with exercise/balance retraining? 

    • SarahCuda
      SarahCuda Helianthus

      Posted

      My vision wasn't blurry but I had time focusing on anything.  The best example I can give is; is when you wake up in the middle of the night and you're trying to read the time on a digital clock, and the numbers waver back & forth.......

      I had that with everything for the first 2-3 days, but then it gradually started to get better.  I think it took a full week for me to see almost normal. 

      My PT doctor gave me visual exercises yesterday and she tol me a couple of weeks ago that moviing around does help.  It helps retrain those nerves.

    • Helianthus
      Helianthus jen85

      Posted

      It's so nice to speak to people that share the same symptoms. Prior to the 'snow globe' it felt like I had become aware of the fluid surrounding my brain and that my brain was floating in the middle of it trying to keep up right. I could sense the fluid swishing/circling about as I moved. Very strange! Has you or anyone else experienced that? That felt worse than the snow globe. I wonder what is next? Hopefully normailty.
    • jen85
      jen85 Helianthus

      Posted

      I've used that same description when trying to explain it to people. When I go into large open spaces/busy areas it's like there's too much for my brain to process and it starts "swimming" or "swishing" around in my head-I get overwhelmed and panicky because I feel like I'm going to pass out.
    • marie04645
      marie04645 SarahCuda

      Posted

      Have you seen Terrys post on here.  He (maybe she?) strongly suggests you see a specialist called an Otologist.  I had never heard of one (& I worked around eye doctors for alot of yrs).  You have to type in your city &/or state to see where one is located.  For me it would be Philly or Hershey PA.  I myself have not see one - yet.  I had 4 days of "normal" but today bent over to wash my hair & bingo my "space head" had returned.  So ticked off.  Had a plan to go out tonight with hubby but that was not to be.  It effects every one around us doesn't it?

      I am a senior person & tomorrow to watch a 10yr old.  She may be babysitting me.  Good luck all.

    • deb39563
      deb39563 Helianthus

      Posted

      I amm sorry to scare I had a whole lot of bad days no doctors would believe me I just tried to carry on the best I could until I had full on vertigo my head felt like it weighed a thousand pounds spinning vomiting it was scary stuff went to hospital they told me I had vertigo I seen a physico therapist and started balance excercises plus she did epsey manuer and got the crystals back in place that was gross though full on vertigo again spent a week in bed again but again I started my excercises to retrain my brain for being normal again and doing that every day some days better then others but more good days then bad patient is a must I will get better I promise oh also now have tinnitus too bummer just try other ways like massages diet change things like that etc..

      good luck be strong

    • SarahCuda
      SarahCuda marie04645

      Posted

      My eyes are getting a lot better!  so I think i'm on the home run stretch to getting better.   Thank goodness!
    • gabeeb26952
      gabeeb26952 SarahCuda

      Posted

      Hi Sarah.Are you well know? MY eyes and ears (tinitus)seem to my problem area to date. THE balance excercises I do daily really got me to this point. Physiotherapy is working. All the best.
    • janjo100
      janjo100 SarahCuda

      Posted

      If it would be possible to send the video link I would be grateful. I have just started recovering from an awful atack  of the vestibular neuritis recently. It came out of the blue and I was just told it would go away in its own time!  Jan
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