Labrynthitis.. will I get better?

Ears, nose and throat
1

Hi all!  

New to forums here! I really need some words of encouragement/advice on this condition. 

So, I have been diagnosed with labrynthitits  

It all started about 4 weeks ago. I thought I might have caught a slight cold from my roommate, although I didn't really feel that sick. The next day though I was pretty dizzy all day but I rested and brushed it off. The next day I was feeling a lot better. Yet, over the course of that week I started noticing that I would get these dizzy spells with ringing in my ear that would last for a few minutes and dissapate. They were'nt bothering me that much as they would go away. But then, on April 3rd I thought I was having another spell but this time, after a few minutes, it did not go away. It is coming up on almost 3 weeks for me now with the constant 24/7 dizziness. The dizziness isn't a rotational vertigo, but more like I am swaying and i'm on a boat. Occasionally my ear will ring but it usually goes away within a few minutes. Serc didn't seem to do much for me so I've stopped taking it as i've read it can prolong recovery as it does not allow for compensation. I have good days where I feel like i'm getting better, normal and am happy again and then I'll have bad days that make me feel like i'm taking 5 steps back. I actually travelled yesterday - took 3 1hr flights home - I was tired and stressed for most of the day. I don't know if it has to do with the travelling but I'm feeling particularly bad today. Additionally, I've read that menstraution makes symptoms worse and I am supposed to start mine like tomorrow. I am only coming up on week 3 as far as the 24/7 dizziness, and I want to try and stay positive that I am going to get better but i'ts hard when I'm having bad days. 

Is recovery from this illness usually linear? Will I ever get better? I'm only 21 years old and Im missing out on going out with my friends and enjoying life like I used to... I hate to think that I am getting depressed because I am such a happy person but this is really taking a toll on my mental health. This is so scary and I want to have my 'normal' life back...   

Does anyone have any words of comfort or advice concerning this condition?   

Thanks

2

Since you are seeing intermittent good days I believe you will see things continue to improve. The normal course for this is 6 - 8 weeks. Interesting that it was diagnosed as Labrynthitis. Did you have hearing loss or just the tinnitus? What type doctor did you see for your diagnosis?

3

Thats good to hear!

No hearing loss, just the occasional ringing in my ear, which usually subsides within a few minutes.  

I saw several different GP's as I was going to my University's health clinic.

I just took bonine/meclizine as a family friend is a nurse and she recommened it, so I hope it helps!

  

 

4

What else do you think it could be if not Labs? 

5

Without hearing loss, even temporary, it would be vestibular neuritis. Same treatment for both only difference is Labs affects both nerves from the inner ear. Usually same recovery time as well.

6

Thanks! Whatever it might actually be, I will try and keep my head up that I will start feeling better in a few more weeks!  

 

7

It gets better, just takes time. Keep us updated as you progress.

8

Hi Ms. Rach(el?), Ben here,

Please take heart, you will most certainly get past this "temporary" setback in your life.  It does not seem to follow some predetermined time period or length, it takes as long as it takes, but you can influence that time by doing some things to help, namely;  Diet and Exercise aimed at that recovery.  You will have better days and then setbacks. But you have youth to assist you, something I only wish I had just because of the fast recovery rate of being younger. It has taken me a very long time to recover, but that I am, recovering, and you will too!

Please, please, please seek more medical help though because there must be more than a dozen things that can bring on the symptoms you describe and some of them can lead to more serious conditions if left unattended to.  I know that you are a person who cares about yourself by the concern that you have gone to just so far on this site, so don't sell yourself short, get more help to try determine more precisely what it is that you have.

It may seem like a shotgun approach, but the symptoms you describe, can be more serious than Vertigo. And the lasting effects are not known well, so one must seek the help of professionals and stay at it until one-by-one things are ruled out.  It is costly to do it this way, but since this type of affliction is not a glamorous one, it doesn't attract the attention of the big guns.  We just have to use what there is and keep at it until we get results.

If I may, there is a very interesting article at a web page for Dr. Carol Foster MD  at :  Vertigo Treatment | Newsroom | University of Colorado Denver.  If you search this title you will be enlightened about two kinds of Vertigo that the doctor herself experienced causing dizziness and from there you can go to other websites and soon you will find there so many different things that the symptoms you describe can be caused by, that you will see why I ask you to seek more medical attention.  From a simple vitamin deficiency or a virus to a spinal / brain problem.

 

Trust me, I have had plenty of specialist appointments, MRI, CAT SCAN w/CONTRAST, AUDITORY TESTS, BALANCE TESTS, BLOOD TESTS, FULL PHYSICAL, I even had a SLEEP STUDY TEST done on me to try to rule out so many other things that could be the cause of this culprit.  To me some were not that worthwhile, but in order to "rule-out" things in an orderly fashion, to know what it's not, then to only surmise what it might be, because there seems to be an endless list of possibilities.  I think that is why what doctors do is called "practice", and it's been this way since way back in the beginning of professional medicine.  

For me, after almost 16 months I am beginning to walk without stumbling much and drive, albeit slowly and cautiously.  My diagnosis is nerve damage from an inner ear infection of something unknown ( never defined ) most likely a virus, but could have been a bacteria.  I have what is called Vestibular Neuritis, very similar to Labrynthitis -- inflammation or swelling of the labyrinth or inner ear, causing the nerve to swell or become inflamed.  In my case it is decided that I have nerve damage that causes me to receive false or incorrect balance signals and it affects everything about me.  My mood and anxiety levels, feeling of well-being, balance, thought composition, alertness and eye coordination are all affected by this disorder.  Lookup Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex (VOR).  To work through it I find it fatiguing and after a full day of exercising and working around the symptoms I am exhausted.

So, please stay intouch with the medical professionals and get yourself some assurance that you have narrowed it down to a workable level, then do the exercises and work with your diet to optimize your chances for a speedy and full recovery.  Better days are coming.  

Ben

 

9

Hi Rach

Sorry to hear you are having such an awful time, particularly as you are so young.

Tinnitus and vertigo can be alarming when you first experience it. Labrynthitis can affect the inner ear causing the symptoms you describe and your diagnosis is probably right. Although tinnitus can be permanent for some people (I've had it several years) it sounds like in your case it's likely to be temporary. 

I understand it must be difficult for you but don't let it get you down.   Believe that you will get better and even if it takes a little while you will eventually get through it. 

All the best.

10

Hi Ben, 

 

I'm glad you are on the road to recovery and starting to resume your normal life!  

I went to three different GP's and they all told me labs. All of them did a series of tests like walking heel to toe with eyes opened and closed, reflex tests and asked me to do several cordination tests, like touching my finger to my nose and following an item with my eyes. None of them were worried that it was anything more serious, but I guess having tests done can ease any feelings of uncertainty... I will look into that if I find that I am not improving. 

And you are right, I have never proceeded to posting to forums except for now because this is so foreign to me and I hate that it's intruding on my 'normal' life. I am thankful that my symptoms are not so extreme as one of my doctors said that one time he saw a patient whose eyes were rapidly moving everywhere and the paitent was so dizzy she couldn't even get out of her wheelchair. That makes me hopeful that maybe because my symptoms aren't that extreme that I will recover within the 8 weeks time frame, or even better, sooner. Also, that I have had a few days where I have felt almost dizzy free which makes me feel a little better too. I think that last night and today have been particularly rough because yesterday i was travelling all day (and stressed as flying makes me anxious) and additionally my menstrual cycle is starting - as I mentioned before.    

I'm not even in my third week yet as far as the 24/7 dizziness goes so I am hopeful that the next few weeks I will see improvement.  

 

Thanks for your reply and support!

 

11

Hi veemae, 

 

Thanks for your reply!  

It's so good to hear that I will eventually get better...I'm assuming that you also had labrynthitis/vestibular neuritits or something similar? Are you still suffering from any dizziness? If not, how long did it take you to recover from the unbalanced feelings? The ringing can be annoying at times but it's not constant and i'm not as bothered by it as I am the feelings of unblalance.  

I'm sorry that your tinnitus has not subsided. 

12

Have you thought about a specialist? And has anyone told you about the Epley Maneuver?  I've been doing it every day for 6 weeks today, and I am so, so much better. When I do have a strenuous day and I may be fine, the next day I'm washed out and feeling bad. But I HAVE noticed, and been told, to figure out what makes it worse. In my case it's looking up, rocking up quickly out of bed, and getting out of a chair quickly and turning at the same time. What helps prevent dizziness for me is to look straight ahead at one point, and even if turning to one side, try to keep that focus. 

I'm told--and I'm trying to do it more--to drink lots of water. Also, cut down on salt. I also find that going out into the fresh air makes me feel better.

But my case is not 24/7. That's the reason you might see a specialist. Wish I could help more. I'd definitely try the Epley maneuver which you can see demonstrated on YouTube.

13

I have thought about seeing a specialist... I just have to find one in my area and make an appointment.  

I dont know how simlar they are but I have tried the Brandt daroff excercises and VRT excercises, although I haven't been doing them religiously or even everyday for that matter... mostly just when I feel like it. 

14

Hi Rach

Sorry you are dizzy.  I was terrified when mine started and ended up losing my best friend as she didnt understand at all and there was nothing to see.  The first thing to do is to get a scan to rule out anything serious.  After that your GP should send you to ENT doctors which are usually hopeless.  After that I went to neuro surgeon but he ruled out neck problems then ended up with two neurologists.  After blood tests, hearing tests, balance tests, trying to pull your head off tests, they decided I had silent migraine.  Its all the neurological symptoms that come before you get a migraine which is dizziness, ears feel full, eyes weird and jumpy, pain in head, tingling, neuralgia type pain in jaw and neck but primarily the dizziness.  It took a year to get to that stage.  I had had endless medications but all either made me worse or gave me depression,  You have to see all these different specialists to rule stuff out as you go.  I had two panic attacks before my diagnosis as I was scared I had MS or something.  Its been two and half years now but I think silent migraine is something that you perhaps have for life.  Im not sure.  Ive got used to it.  I found not giving in to it the best, even though the dizziness is to hard to function with, and to keep on with daily life.  I also find I cannot tolerate bright lights or noise.  At the beginning I couldnt listen to my CDs or go shopping.  Now I can, i also couldnt nod, it was the head shaking that made me worse and my eyes were jumpy.  Thats gone now.  Ive gone from not being able to enter a shop to shopping for a full day.  I am still dizzy but not so scared of it.  Im sure it will get better, the body can heal itself, its just how long it takes.  Please see more consultants to rule stuff out.  All the best.

15

Hi Rach

In reply to your question, I've had tinnitus for many years.  I have a high pitched ringing sound and a deep vibrating sound that never stops. When I'm busy doing things I can ignore it but it interferes with my sleep. I also have migraine and vertigo and when I have an attack of this it makes the tinnitus worse.  I think that mine is the result of ear damage and have accepted that the tinnitus is permanent. I am able to have a good quality of life most of the time and am grateful for that.

Although mine is permanent it is more than likely that you will recover. I am much older than you and and probably don't have as good an immune system so hopefully you should soon recover.

Take care.

16

Hello Veemae, Ben here.

I currently have VN, and Tinnitus.  I was falsely diagnosed with Meniere's disease at first by an ENT (who was more interested in selling me hearing aids than getting my condition correct), BUT he did prescribe a medication that was supposed to help, and when I read the bottle it said it was for Tinnitus.  So, if you care to try to find it, where ever you are, in the states it is called Lipo- Flavonoid® Plus.  I believe it is over the counter too.  So, if you haven't tried it you might want to give it a look.  

 You may want to Google it to find out more about it.  I know that it has a lot of ascorbic acid for it's source of  Vitamin C, so you may want to keep track of how much other ascorbic acid you are taking in, as it can cause stomach irritation.  It has other vits and "stuff"  in it too that may be benneficial, like: Eriodictyol glycoside, (an extract from lemon citrus bioflavonoid) Vitamins B6, and B12,Niacin,Riboflavin,Thiamine Choline Inositol and Pantothenic acid. I don't want to "sell" it, so if you care to, look it up.  I tried it for my symptoms very early on and I did not notice any difference in my condition so I did not renew when I went through two bottles.  But it might work for Tinnitus, I couldn't tell at the time because I was just so overwhelmed with the whole experience.  I just live with my Tinnitus.

Ben  

17

just to add,

I was diagnosed with labyrinthitis in 1999. i had it from June to August (the wobbly vertigo floaty feeling) then it disappeared.

But in October it came back

I went to the hearing and balance centre in Leicester (referred by gp) and they did loads of tests - I was there all day. I then had a diagnosis of Meniere's Disease - which doesn't go away and varies from person to person. 

The symptoms are very similar to labyrinthitis (maybe the original diagnoses was incorrect)

I've got MD in both ears - I had surgery to left ear to get rid of the vertigo and thought Yay I'm free no more vomiting, even though I have no hearing now in left ear, but 6 months later I'd got it in my right ear.

My dad had MD (we found out since) My partner has it (we met through the Meniere's Society) and his dad had it - and we're all different in how severe it is in each of us.

Please pursue it with a specialist -as another person on here has said, there are so many similar conditions which can cause similar symptoms

18

I'm pretty sure my case is Vestibular Neuritis, though not as constant as yours. I've had it for 6 weeks. Doing the Epley Maneuver every day religiously, I am almost completely cured. I don't know if it was the maneuver or the natural course of the ailment. I've waited nearly a month for a specialist appointment to rule out worse things. Not sure if I should go now; if they give me all those spinning tests, I'm afraid I'll get worse. I had the results from tests I took 5 years ago sent to me; the famous "specialist" never even called me back. Reading them, I see exactly the symptoms I have now. I'm assuming I didn't have anything worse. I'll check with my GP to see if she thinks I should follow through with this ENT specialist. But really, I am 95% better. 

19

Hello Wen,  Ben here.

Wow, you have been "through-the-mill", as they say.   I applaud you. My situation seems far simpler by comparison.  I am humbled by your perseverance and initiative to add to this forum.  Thank you for contributing, I am sure that you have a lot of excellent information to share. 

I was diagnosed with MD at first.  I cut out Caffeine, Sugar, Salt, took Lippoflavinoid and went to Physical Therapy for 6 weeks, until I exhausted their entire repertoire' of activities.  When I didn't seem to make progress toward recovery, I asked for a 2nd opinion and this time was diagnosed with Vestibular Neuritis. Going on 17 months now.

 

This whole area, the inner ear,  is a rather "spooky" area.   Where I live there isn't much known about inner ear problems.  After reading your experience, I consider you to be quite an authority on Meniere's Disease, so if you wouldn't mind, please, I would like to ask you to explain what Meniere's Disease is in plain words.  Please try to contrast it to Labs and VN if you would. I understand exactly what you mean when you say Labyrinthitis and MD have very similar symptoms. From a non-professional viewpoint, they are indistinguishable from each other and I would really like you to do some "flushing out" of the differences if you would, not just for my own curiosity, but for anyone else who may have symptoms that they are not completely satisfied are correct for their diagnosis.

Living in the U.S.A. I have reservations about our health care professionals.  They seem to keep a distance between themselves and their patients.  It doesn't always feel like they really want to get to know you.  That distance sometimes makes me feel suspicious of their work ethic.  Sometimes it seems like they're just out to "make-a-buck". Like even if they are wrong they won't admit it.  If they get caught it might lead to malpractice, and their insurance rate will go up and cut into their profit.   So at the expense of the patient they just let you go and if you feel bad enough maybe you will seek another opinion.  That has been my experience with what ever it is I have right now.  That is why I keep coming back to this forum, I am still not sure.

 

Thank you again for posting your comments, I hope you will continue to contribute and I wish you well. 

Ben

 

20

Thank you for the information Ben, I will look it up.

I think I'm in a similar situation to you where nothing has helped, so I've just resigned myself to that fact that I will have to live with it. I was advised to take Vitamin B by my GP (I'm in the UK) for vertigo. I have a lot of issues, including allergies (Asprin and other salicilate products, some additives and preservatives).  I also have sensitivities that affect my migrainie and have to be careful what I eat and what I take.  

I too was investigated for Menieres but it was ruled out.  I understand how confusing it can be with these conditions.  At least we know there are others experiencing the same.

Take care.