Hi. I am hoping someone/anyone! Can relate to me. It all started when I had a 'funny turn' at work back in November 2013. I'll never forget that day as I haven't felt the same since. I thought I was having a panic attack as I just felt wrong. Strange not really here sort of panicky feeling so I went home and went to bed. I woke up to an even worse fuzzy vision panic feeling and had to lie on the floor while calling nhs emergency number as I didn't have a clue what was happening to me. I calmed down eventually and made my first visit to the doctors who said it was a panic attack and prescribed diazepam. At the time I didn't want to take medication as I felt so unusual. I knew something wasn't quite right. I continued feeling extremely anxious panicky and off balance for weeks on end along with continuous tearful visits to the doctors explaining that my vision was disturbed and my eyes were flickering along with pressure inside my ears. Eventually after about 8 weeks of hell I got an appointment with a balance clinic who did testing and confirmed right ear damage and confirmed vestibular neuritis. I am just posting to see if anyone has experienced the same symptoms as me as when I read posts about VN it seems that I can never find the same symptoms as mine which scares me to death ) : here goes: - I can't think straight, avoid people because I feel I can't hold a conversation because I'm sort of panicky and don't feel like the old me, I have moments of real panic that come out of the blue because I just don't feel right, very small things stress me out like even just someone at the door! I know it sounds silly but I'm just a panicked mess having to put on a front to everyone. The worse symptom at the minute which has gone on for a long while is a pressure in my chest/back that doesn't go. I've read somewhere it's muscle strain due to my balance but I just don't know what to believe anymore. My thoughts are just different since I've had this, I don't know where my old personality has gone. It's like I'm hyper aware that I'm not right. Anyone's advice would be much appreciated, I've had this since November 2013 and I am doing gaze stability exercises 5 times a day. I'm having good and bad times but generally feel a nervous wreck. It's so draining. Alcohol doesn't even relax me anymore, it just makes me more lightheaded and panicky. Sorry for such a long mo any post but no one can understand why I have been so weird for months. Please help. Leanne.
Hey Leanne! You sound a lot like me. Don't worry- we have the same symptoms.. Lol!
Hi meg. Really? I just feel like I'm nuts and don't know which way to turn sometimes. It's just hard to believe an inner ear problem can make you feel this way! I'm off on holiday next week and instead of getting excited like I'm used to being I'm panicking about how I'm feeling. How long have you had this for? Thanks for replying. It's so comforting having someone to talk to! Leanne x
Hey Leanne- one of my friends Shish is also going to post here tomorrow as he has had the exact same thing as you and I. I have been suffering with this since the end of Dec. so roughly 5 months now. My first few months were hell. It lasted from Dec/Jan thru April. It was constant panicking, etc. This time around (about a week ago it came back) it hasn't been as bad. You just have to remind yoursel you're not going to pass out or anything even though it feels like you will. And keep active. That's my best advice. If I hadn't of pulled myself off the couch and into the real world again I probably wouldn't have healed as fast as I did. Your brain needs to reprogram itself. It's sort of like you're an infant but your not 
Wow roundabout the same time as me then! I am having to keep active as being still makes it worse for me if that makes sense, I'm just really scared the old me will never come back. It's so surreal and scary. My eyes look like I'm on drugs! 🙀 thanks a lot meg, you have made me feel a lot better about things. I went into sainsburys today and my heart was just pounding hoping I didn't bump into anyone, yet other days I feel kinda ok with it. It's such a weird one isn't it! Docs only answer was anti deppresants but I don't really want to go down that road. Thanks again. I'm glad you are feeling much better now. I'm pretty sure we both had a terrible Xmas 2013! I'll never forget that Xmas for all the wrong reasons! X Leanne x
Hi Leanne. I'm in my 8th week of what my dr "thinks" is either Labyrinthitis or VN. I too am suffering with extreme anxiety a and cloudy thoughts. I begged to be sectioned last week as everyday life is just so hard for me at the moment. I'm constantly off balance/feeling drunk and get tired so fast. I have safe places that I know and safe people I'm ok with being around but I struggle doing normal, every day things!!
You aren't alone, it's so horrible feeling this way xxx
Hi there. I'm so sorry you are feeling this way. It does make you feel desperate to feel back to your old self doesn't it. Keep going back to your gp until you can get a referral to a balance clinic. I get really down about feeling like it, it's just not the normal me! I don't know where she has gone but I'm hoping she comes back once this balance disorder goes! I can't stand the panic feelings that come with it. And I feel the same drunk feeling as you. Panicky drunk I call it.
Hey Leanne! Yeah it is comforting to have people who understand.. isn't it? My family was so sick of hearing me complain. And what sucked the most was nobody understood how frightening it was. I truly convinced myself that I was dying or had a brain tumor. I had a hearing test done, neurological tests done, blood tests done, etc. and I am perfectly fine! So don't fret! I don't take medication for the anxiety that comes with it.. I just manage to tell myself to breathe. My worst days are when I am at work. The bright lights trigger something really awful for my balance. And I hate the clogged ear feeling as well. Ugh!
Oh, also.. I hate how tired it makes me. Some days I feel like I can fall asleep shortly after getting up 
I went through a time where I didn't even recognize myself in the mirror because I was so not "attached" anymore. My eyes were glassy and watery, too!
Hey Babz, the drunk feeling is so common! I think we all have it! Weird to feel drunk without being drunk, huh?
Thanks so much meg, yes you explain everything the same as me! I try not to mention it to family as well because I can tell they are bored of it. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Glad to hear you not taking medication either, I just don't want to. Even if my symptoms are bad I like to be in control of it all myself. Even when I feel hysterical with it. I will deffo keep in touch if you don't mind. I'm the same with the lights too. I went to my daughters school play at christmas and my eyes were just flickering all the time because of the lights.
It's horrid! I get so anxious about stuff! I've got to go out this morning as we have a wedding this week and in having my nails and brows done. I've been awake since 5 worrying! Xxx
Hey Leanne, welcome to our dizzy world! Hopefully you won't be here as long as some of us. You may have come across this post, if not have a look through it. It was my first post on this site last year and a lot of people have commented on it along with my story. (It probably has more info than you need but it won't hurt!)
patient.info/forums/discuss/labyrinthitis-vestibular-neuritis-please-help-40298
Let me know if you need more info!
Shish
Patient Moderator Note: I have repaired the link.
Hi shishir. Thanks so much. I'll take a look. Leanne ( :
Honest I'm just the same! I'm going away next week and getting my hair and nails done at the weekend, dreading it (whereas I normally wouldn't) but since I've had this in just scared of everything! We will be ok. Deep breaths hey! X
Yeah I'm going any minute. Sweating, heart pounding etc xxx
Really try to think of something else why you are there to take your mind off it. I always find having water handy helps. Try and take your mind off your own feelings and concentrate on other things around you like what people are wearing thier hair etc. I hope it goes ok x
Hi shishir. Unfortunately the link won't open for me. I'll have a look through patient.info to see if I can find it. This is so nice having people who understand! Instead of friends and family just saying 'have you still got that' at least it's not serious! Thanks again for everyone's kind responses. It really really makes me feel more at ease. Leanne x
Oh you poor love, all the same is happening to me, not the same person anymore, now on anti depressence and diazepam for panic and what seemed to be a very sick feeling was fright, also so have gained high blood pressure which I have never had before, in January I had a knee replacement opp, have all pre opp tests which was all fine. On the 6th march I passed out for no reason
Hi Leanne
I really feel for you with these horrible symptoms. I haven't had the same thing but I've had the same feelings about myself. I suffered from something called Hemifacial Spasm (flickering of one eye, eventually total spasm of one side of face, loss of confidence, loss of personality, emotional wreck etc). I also suffered from dizziness in the latter stages of this condition so I do have some idea of what you mean when you talk about general anxiety and being 'off balance'. I am pretty sure that you have something completely different here, but I just wanted to say that I know how horrible it is to feel like this. I eventually had surgery last year which thankfully gave me back my life and personality - it was a big and risky operation but the outcome could not have been better. So, my advice to you is never to give up hope and to always press for more tests if you feel that the medics are not getting your diagnosis right. I paid for a privately funded MRI scan and consultation in order to be sure that my diagnosis was right, and I found the country's expert in my condition. I do hope you will find some relief and that I haven't made things worse in writing this. Don't give up on yourself. With love, Roseann