Recovering from Labrynthitis

Ears, nose and throat
1

Hello All,

I am hoping to hear from people who are recovering from labrynthitis.  I had my first episode of veritgo a month ago and am struggling to feel balanced again.  The difficult part of it for me is knowing when to push and exercise my brain and when to rest.  I have been going to work, but am finding that by about 2:00 p.m., I am spinning and very uncomfortable.  If I work the whole day, my evening is totally awful - very very dizzy.  Any suggestions?

Best,

Linda

2

Hi Linda

I know how you feel I'm a hairdresser and finding it very difficult to work with labrynthitis .

I just try and focus on something near by.

People say it does get better over time but we shall see.

Are you taking any medication ?

Rach x

3

Hi Linda

I am now over Labyrinthitis. I had it in 2008 for two years. It went away for 5 years and came back for 4 months in 2015.

I had to quit my job because of the dizziness. Looking up and down made me nauseated as well as side to side. I was always very tired. My neck was stiff and sore all the time. My eyes didnt want to focus properly either.

Vestibular rehab therapy helped me a lot as well as anti anxiety meds.

Hope you feel better soon!

4

Hi Rach,

thanks for replying. How long have you had it?  Do you find that you feel a lot worse when you're tired?  I try not to get anxious about it, but it's a lot of positive self talk. I'm thinking I should drop down to half days for a couple of weeks, but haven't decided yet. I push myself to go for a walk in the evening and to get into a grocery store as often as possible - figure it'll help my brain retrain. What about you.  Do you do anything special to try and help the recovery process?

best,

linda x

 

5

Hi Debbie,

sounds like you had a terrible bout. I am hoping I will have a much quicker recovery. It really sucks!

Take care,

linda 

6

PS - how long were you dizzy before you did vestibular therapy.

linda

7

Hi Linda

The first time i had it, i didnt find out about vrt until about 18 months into it. Six months after that, it was gone. The 2nd time, i started vrt at 3 weeks!

Debbie

8

Hi Debbie and Linda, 

I don't have the same thing you do, but I do have that off-balance feeling, for about 15 months now. No diagnosis, lots of "maybes". What VRTs did you do? I have been doing them for about 9 months - turning head from side-side while focusing on an object 10 feet away, then up and down (that's harder), walking heel to toe, trying to balance on one leg while touching the wall, and walking, turning my head as above. Nothing is helping... I did finally get the vertigo to go away (several Epley maneuvers, after a year!) but the off-balance remains. Please tell me what exercises helped you? Maybe I need something more challengin. Goinbg to a balance center, but so far no exercises, just

testing! Thank you. And good lluck with it, Linda.

9

Hi Debbie,

thanks for your reply. I'm doing VRT as of this week.  I am hoping it will help. Didn't have to work today so I slept off as much dizziness as possible then went out to pick up a few groceries - trying to keep active. Going for a short walk now. Thanks for your support!

linda

10

Hi Dee,

i had it years ago and the best thing I did was walk and walk and walk.  Didn't expect I would have another bout - this time it isn't as bad. Anyway, exercise and walking will hopefully retrain my brain once again!

Best,

linda

11

Hi Linda, sounds like you're doing the right things, walking and keeping positive. I've had it now for 16 months but most of the time now i just feel unbalanced and a little dizzy when I'm tired or stressed. I do a lot of exercise and I think that has definitely helped me.  Started VRT and found it not much help so I just went back to my normal gym routine, then added walking in water and then some aqua aerobic classes. The water is good because you are unbalanced in it but supported so you can feel safe and retrain your brain at the same time, if that makes sense. I found it hard to get back to swimming because I would spin out when I turned to breath but now I just deal with and it's ok.  Just take it at your own pace, when you're tired rest if you can and don't stress.  It will ease off if not go away completely.  Christine

12

Thanks for responding, Christine.   I really appreciate your support and suggestions. It isn't fun, to say the least, but I am doing my best to stay positive and active. Am thinking of dropping down to half days for a few weeks - I think I've overdoing it. After a full day and the drive home, I am a spinning mess!

hope you continue to get better

best

linda

13

Hi Linda

I'm in my 16th month now and hopefully getting better and better. I didn't start VRT until about 8 months in and was given so many exercises it set me back. I was doing over an hour of them everyday. Now I am under a physio and only doing a few minutes each set 3 times a day. I was in touch with a girl from a site that said re VRT less is more and my physio says do not overdo it as your brain won't retrain. You start slowly and move on as your symptoms after the exercise subside.

I went back to a part time mentally demanding job after being off with this for 7 weeks and suffered similar symptoms to you. My symptoms have eased and sometimes at work I now forget I even have a problem!!!

Don't do too much and take care x

14

Hi Linda

I have had the same thing since Nov. 2015.

I. Don t get the dizziness anymore but now i always feel like i am rocking on a boat and constant ringing in my right ear. I went back to my ent and he did it will go away soon, very annoying.

And if it doesnt he will schedule therapy.

15

Hi Angie,

Not fun, is it?  I had it 20 years ago and it took a few months to subside.  I had a really bad case and spent the first few days hanging over the toilet and the next 6 weks at home.  It was awful.

This time, it started out suddenly, but is not as bad as the first time.  I have been hoing into work, but I find that by the end of a full day, I am completely done in and spinning like crazy.  I think I' going to do a couple of weeks of half days.  I did see physio and have some exercises to do.  Honestly, the best thing that got me through it before was doing lots of walking.  It helps the brain to retrain.  Walking in the evenings was the least uncomfortable.  I also try to get into a mall or grocery store every day - it doesn't feel great, but again, it helps to retrain the brain.

It does go away, Angie.  It's just a bit of a process.  How old are you and do you work?

Take care,

Linda x

16

I am 62 years old and retired.

I watch my grandchildren full time which us a little challenging sometimes.

Hope you feel better.

17

I could've written your first few sentences. Yes, should swim again, but I do walk as much as I can! Thanks.

 

18

Hi Linda,

You are probably highly anxious with this condition and are on these forums looking for reassurances that you will recover.

YOU WILL GET BETTER but it takes time and patience of a saint.

Ive had this since August 2015 and it got really intense from the Middle  of September to the end of October. Even though the virul symptoms went away I was left with this constant dizziness and unbalance. 

I undertook VRT at the start of November and was given 5 sets of exercises to do. The first month made me a hell of a lot worse but I just had to persist with them and did them religiously. After 6 weeks I was given harder exercises and also noticed an improvement of my symptoms.

it was not until after 3 months of VRT that I noticed some real improvement and was able to cope with life and work much better. My physio says I should be 100% or so in another month but I remain skeptical.

Good luck 

19

Hi Sonic,

Thanks for your encouraging words. Did you go to work during the recovery process?  I've been going, but am thinking of dropping down to half time for a few weeks. After a full day, I'm a total mess. I work at a medical clinic and everyone is understanding, but by 2 or 3, I am dizzy as anything and my whole night is a disaster. How did you cope?

best,

Linda

20

Linda,

This nightmare started for me 3 weeks into a new job and city. I was on 6 month probation so really had no choice but to go in. I had 7 days off in total spanning 2 months. I just had get on with it and suffer whilst praying that this will pass. 

My my timekeeping was atrocious as I could just not rush in the morning and had to physically throw myself on the train with my heads covering my eyes as the train moving made me real bad.

Its to strange as I was the opposite to you. I was at the worst in the morning and not as bad late afternoon. 

They say you should try and keep doing your things whilst you have this and try and keep active.

A big mistake I made was taking 3 Stemitil tablets a day for around 6-8 weeks without knowing that they hindered the recovery process. Try and avoid medication if possible