Hey! 8 weeks ago I woke up in the middle of the night with vertigo. I have been in and out of hospital having all sorts of tests including a CT scan which all came back clear. They put it down to a viral inner ear illness and as I never had hearing loss my guess is VN. I'm driving again and back at work etc but I still feel slightly off all the time. When I close my eyes I sometimes feel as if I'm spinning. I was having awful headaches but haven't had them since I started my anti depressant tablets to treat the anxiety VN left me. I feel quite tired all the time and my chest feels tight (maybe anxiety)? Iv been on anti depressants for nearly a week. I haven't had vertigo in about 6 weeks but I find busy shopping malls make me feel off and also places with weird lighting. Am I coming out the other side now? I'm not sure if I feel off because of the anxiety or VN? Just want to feel 100% again :-(
To clarify what you have written. Did you receive a formal diagnosis from a physician, and from which speciality?
What medications did you take when you received the diagnosis?
If you did have VN, what you are experiencing is a form of visual vertigo, and is a result of poor compensation from your brain as a result of the VN. But we need to clarify what you had in the first place. Apart from a CT, what other tests have you done, and what were the results?
Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN
Clinical Neurophysiologist
Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology
I just saw a general medicine specialist. I'm from NEW Zealand and it seems to be a long process to see someone in the right "field". I have another follow up appt in 6 weeks and if I'm not better they can refer me again to the right specialists/therapy.
I was given stemitil and anti nausea drugs but I only took them for the first week.
I have had many blood test, I can't even remember them all. They checked my heart, they did a test to see if I had chrones disease or another bowel issue, they checked my iron, infection in the body etc etc I had a lot of testing done and VN was dx as a process of elimination. I have had most of the symptoms of VN aswell. Nausea, vertigo, headaches, etc
All things being equal, I would recommend that you see a neurotologist, or an ENT specialist with a special interest in neurotology. He or she should check your eye movements, either in the dark with a flashlight, or with frenzel goggles. (p.s. headaches is not a usual symptom of VN. Therefore, if headaches is a prominent symptom, especially if it is on one side of the head, you may actually have vestibular migraine).
Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN
Clinical Neurophysiologist
Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology
I think the headaches were from the anxiety. But I also suffer from headaches as does my mother and her mother. I just read about visual vertigo and my triggers were listed, crowds, supermarkets, the beach with waves, the movie theatre, it all makes me feel off
From my experience you have begun the recovery process. Residual symptoms from VN can last for up to a year. The issues with the stores will begin to settle down as the brain compensates for the nerve damage. I had headaches as well and they seemed to be caused from stress and tension from the body trying to balance itself. Normal course for VN is 8 to 12 weeks. You seem to be on schedule. The sensatiith the lighting is the brain trying to take in too h along wie vestibular deficeit.
The sensation with the lighting is the brain trying to take in too much along with the vestibular deficeit.
Last sentence got jumbled!!
Is there anything that can be done with poor compensation from the brain. This post sounds like me. I'm 8 months into VN and it's not getting much better.
Hey I read that gaze stabilising exercises can help and also just going to a mall, or the beach and watching the waves come in. It's tough but it's meant to help
That makes sense. I seem to have an issue with motion aswell, hence why I feel worse with crowds, or at the movies and even driving. I still do it though in the hope that the more I do it the more my brain will adjust. A friends nephew went thru this too and his lasted 3 months so 12 weeks makes sense. I think my anxiety makes it worse but hopefully the medication I'm on deals to that :-) I'm glad to hear Iv begun the recovery. This thing is awful!
Thanks Melody. I started the exercises about 3 weeks ago. Not very long to figure out if it will work. But I'm determined. I know what you mean. Challenging the system is necessary and tough at the same time.
Did you ever experience a "pulling" feeling in your head or eyes? I don't know how else to describe it.
I experienced most anything that you can come up with. The nystagmus of the eyes is usually the issue. It makes everything seem off and imposible for the brain to understand. The visual field issues are caused by the brain not knowing what to focus on. Hence the issue in crowds, open spaces, large stores, moving objects, etc.
Did u ever get the right chest? Possibly anxiety? I always swear it's my heart but I think it's anxiety related
In all such cases, vestibular rehabilitation is recommended.
Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN
Clinical Neurophysiologist
Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology
What is the time line you generally see for improvement? This is so hard and frustrating. I jut want my life back. I only seem to have balance issues with my eyes closed. My symptoms are a spacey feeling as the day wears on and some blurred vision especially close up. If I stand with my hands on my chest I slightly sway. I have felt a "pulling" with my eyes to the right and in my head. I have some tittinus about once a week mostly in my left ear but occasionally in my right. Only lasts about 6 seconds. I get very tired by the end of the day. I feel generally off all day long. Are there any rehab exercises you feel have more success?
What exercises do you think worked best for you
A few months. Your neurotologist or ENT specialist should direct you to the right center for the correct exercises.
Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN
Clinical Neurophysiologist
Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology
My issue is also with my eyes closed! I feel like I'm swaying when I'm not. Walking is really good and try walking 10-20 paces with ur eyes closed in a straight line 5x a day. I also balance on one foot with my eyes closed 30 seconds per foot 3x a day
Yes I experienced anxiety throughout my recovery. Anxiety makes you feel several things and imagine/fear the worst in everything.