Labyrinthitis: An Inner Ear Condition
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Reminds me of the Labryinth
No Amazon results foundMy Experience with Labryinthitis: A Personal Look at the Condition
A few months ago I had these dizzy spells that came and went. They lasted for a long time when I had them, but came and went. One day, it was so bad I went to the ER, which I blogged about. The ER doctor told me it was vertigo and prescribed me an antihistamine, meclizine.
I followed up with my Dr. the next day and he said I had acute labrynthitis. To the layman, this is from a virus in my inner ear. Basically, since that is where balance is controlled my brain is confused. It doesn't know where I am or what I am doing, which makes me dizzy all the time. He said the ER doctor gave me the right medication. I took if for about a week and it went away.
The bad part about this is that this condition can last for years- there is no cure. I can only mask the symptoms. So, yesterday it came back. However, I shrugged the dizziness off as not eating. When I got home, it became worse and today, even worse. I had some comp time from work I was using this morning, but asked if I could take the afternoon off. I also realized that we have training on Weds., snd told my boss I would still come on for that. However, I just got out of the shower from a scary experience.
While I was showering-and no I was not singing-I lost my balance and almost fell. I caught myself, but my heart was racing and I was petrified at the thought of me getting knocked out and laying in the shower, naked with water failing on me and no one around to help since I am home alone. It was a scary thought.
I usually shrug things off, but I need to start taking care of myself. I called the Dr. and the earliest they can see me is at 1:00 tomorrow. I called my boss to let her know. She advised that I stay home-even if I did go to the Dr. driving this dizzy is not a very smart idea.
The medicine does not seem to be working this time, although maybe I do need to take a few doses before it kicks in. When I took it last night, about a half hour later, around 8:00, my eyes were so heavy and I was slurring my speech. The next thing I knew, I woke up this morning on the loveseat, half sitting up. It conked me right out. I remembered that my doc said to take just half if that happens.
It upsets me feeling this groggy from a medication-first of all, I have more energy than ever since I became a vegetarian and it is also a lovely day. It's terrible I feel that way. Second, from a general standpoint, it's terrible that all a lot of medications do is make you sicker or have bad side effects. Sure, I can't feel that I am dizzy-BECAUSE I AM ASLEEP.
I am not sure what more the doc can do for me. Maybe there is a different medication, or maybe there is something else they can think of that I may have. In a strange sort of way, I like the name of my illness- acute labrynthitis because the Labyrinth was always one of my favorite movies.
Labryinthitis: A Medical Look at this Ear Condition
According to e-medicine.com, Labryinthitis is somewhat of not so much a rare condition, but one the medical community does not fully understand.
Labryinthitis is defined like this:
Labyrinthitis is an inflammation or dysfunction of the vestibular labyrinth (a system of intercommunicating cavities and canals in the inner ear). The syndrome is defined by the acute onset of vertigo, commonly associated with head or body movement. Vertigo is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or malaise.
What causes Labryinthitis?
According to e-medicine, physiologically, a mismatch of vestibular, visual, and somatosensory systems is present. This mismatch is triggered by an external stimulus, such as a stop after turning, a change in altitude, or motion/height sickness. A lesion within vestibular pathways (ie, inner ear to cerebral cortex) causes this imbalance.
Who Gets Labryinthitis?
More women than men contract labryinthitis, and most people are in their 40s.
What happens when someone gets Labryinthitis?
Although the vast majority of cases of labyrinthitis are self-limited, a minority of patients can have a more chronic and prolonged course. Patients express difficulties involving vertigo and hearing.
--Vertigo from movements, not limited to turning over in bed, reaching above the head, turning the head and more.
--Nausea and vomitting
--Temporary loss or change in hearing
How long does Labryinthitis last?
--Doctors say that this condition is self-limiting and usually goes away in a few weeks, however reoccurances are very common.
--Reoccuring episodes can last up to five years after the first case hits.
How is Labryinthitis treated?
Usually, medication is given to help treat the symptoms of the ear condition. Most commonly, antihistamines are given. Several medications have antivertiginous properties (eg, meclizine, scopolamine, ephedrine, dimenhydrinate, diazepam) and others are useful as antiemetics (eg, promethazine, prochlorperazine).
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Comments
I just started having dizzy spells starting last Wednesday. It's something that lasts about 1 split second, it's more annoying than scary. I tried figuring out what it could be but on Friday I decided to go to the hospital and was told I had Labyrinthitis and was prescribed SERC, chemical name: betahistine. I've been taking since then but I guess it will take a couple of more dosage for it to go away. Anyway I hope it goes away, I know mine is mild vertigo, can't imagine what it must be like for people who actually see the room spinning all the time.
Ive just been diagnosed with the condition, im feeling very unwell the dizzyness is constant, i have been takin prochlorazine for 2 days now and hoping it will make me feel better soon as i really donot want to be off work for much longer, does anyone have any tips of how to cope with this condition.
Hi, too weeks ago i went to a christening, just as it began i started to go all dizzy and had to run out. The feeling was intense for about half an hour then wore off as the day went on. I went to the doctors and he said it could be a bit of Labyrinthitis but he couldnt rule out stress. He gave me some tablets (propranalol) which he said would clam me down. He said if they work then its stress. Anyway a few days later i was on the motorway and an attack come on, it felt like i was going to pass out, it was horrible, i went all tingly and my arms ached. I had to ring an ambulance to get me of the motorway. They took me to hospital and they ruled out any heart problems, the doctor refered me to the ear nose and throat specialist for tests. He suspected it to be Labyrinthitis.
My ears are constantly ringing and my head feels under pressure. I went up to the library as i felt ok, the minute i began to talk to someone i had another attack of extreme dizzyness and had to come home.
Does anyone know how i can gain some relief from this while i wait for the appointment at the clinic to come round. Its horrible.
I was diagnosed with labyrinthitis in late June 2009. It is an extremely difficult virus to have. It is now mid September and I have had many bouts of dizziness over the past 4 months. Things like the weather i.e., if it rains or is humid affect me. If I get a cold or get run down I get all the same symptoms again. I have had some great weeks with no signs of it at all. Then the ugly beast rears it's ugly head again. Sometimes for no reason except maybe I am stuffed up. I have found that I had major anxiety with this. I ended up having to take Zoloft and Xanex just to get thru the day. I have found that eliminating caffeine, eating healthy, drink tons of water and excercise everyday has helped a bit. Is there no end to this? I was told by my ENT that I would have "moments" for up to a year. GREAT! I hope that your experience with this is better than mine has been. Good luck and take care of yourself.
Its been three weeks since I've been dealing with diagnose of labyrinthitis. Went to ER b/c thought I had the flu. Told inner ear disturbance. Severe vertigo for 2 days only and dizziness since then. Prescribed meclezine took for 1 1/2 wkn then stopped b/c was making in me soooooooo tired - would knock me out. Does anyone know of any other meds tro take that can help with the dizziness? I feel like I am barely able to function normally. Always feel like I am walking on a see-saw.
Thnx :-)
My "episode" began while I was driving my girls to camp. Right smack dab in the middle of a major city roadway, it hit me. It felt like when you go over a steep hill or are on a roller coaster, kinda hard to explain, very surreal. I pulled over to the side of the road and opened the windows, drank a big bottle of water and did some "yoga" breathing. I ended up having to call my husband to come pick me up from dropping them off at their camp. When I went to minor emerg. they told me it was probably just a case of a sudden drop in my blood pressure and sent me on my way. Well since the beginning of August, I have a had bouts of dizziness, very sore/tired eyes, sometimes my head feels like it's "bobbling". I found a site on the internet from two UK women sharing their experiences with Labyrinthitis and BANG.. that's when it hit me. I'm NOT having a stroke! Their symptoms were identical to mine! They say misery loves company, well it's so reassuring to know that other people out there are going through the same thing, albeit VERY VERY frustrating!
I have been told by my GP that i have Labyrinthitis. I have felt unwell for a while with stress symptons like anxiety, irritability,and not sleeping etc. But three weeks ago I went to work and felt very tired and tearful. I teach fitness and i was with clients and suddenly had this horrible dizzy spell and the morning got worse with more turns to follow. I went home to bed but had a scary turn where the room was spinning and my vision went. I called the doctor who said it may be a combination of stress with Labyrinthitis, he prescribed Prochlorperazine to help with the dizziness. I have been again to the doctors who gave me Diazapan to relax me. I feel so under the weather and am still not sure 3 weeks later if I have both Labyrinthitis and stress combined! Anyone any suggetions for self help exercises?
I have suffered from labs and to some point 19 months on still do. This condition is not documented much and doctors often appear to not understand the enormous issues it can cause. Anxiety goes hand in hand with labs because its a natural reaction of the brain to panic with this condition.
The best form of attack is to use VRT. Rehabilitation exercises help your brain re learn to cope with the inner ear damage that has occurred. Please google VRT to start immediately to speed up the recovery process. Remember the inner ear cannot I repeat cannot repair!! So you have to help your body along to re train and eventually you will not notice the condition any more.
Stugeron the travel sickness meds will help also but only use them when you really need it, as they can delay compensation.
Having a set back is very common and can last a couple of weeks, stress, tiredness and extreme weather changes can bring it on so VRT helps again.
Remember to be patient and practice, practice, practice. The more drugs you take for this condition will guarantee its return as your brain cannot compensate whilst it has nothing to work with.
Be strong people and if you have any more questions please e mail me at soliddecorating@btinternet.com
Thanks.
I hsve been to the doctor several times for this condition in the past thirty years. This is the first time I've heard a name for it. Msybe the medical profession are finally being aware tha it is a disease. The horror passes after a few days. The worst problem is I am now suffering hearing loss.
With some treatment this mih\ghy have been avoided. I wonder if sinus infection snd allergies are involved?
I'm 26 male, with this disease, I want to try to understand it more. I'm always feeling like I'm falling and cant sleep and to afraid to eat because i don't want to vomit. I do have one question I know im a TMJ sufferer to, maybe the inflammation in my jaw joint is making this worse?. Doc gave me some antihistamine meds hope this subsides.
Does anyone have any blurry vision with this? I have had a ringing in my ears, blurry vision, and nausea for 4 days now. The doctor thinks it is labyrinthitis.
I started with dizzy spells 6 days ago. I thought it was because I hadn't eaten very much the day before, and maybe my blood sugar levels were low. But the dizziness persisted, to the point were my eyes feel tired and heavy and I just want to sleep. When I walk I feel like the floor is curved, and my eyes don't always focus properly or seem to lag behind when I look around. I visited the doctor yesterday after 5 days, and he said he thinks I have Labyrinthitis. I was prescribed Stemzine which is for nausea and dizziness, although I can't really say it's working. I have a feeling it may not be the case for me. and it's a different problem. I have been told in the past I have issues with my inner ear tube not functioning properly, but I am rarely getting pain with it these days, so I feel like this condition has been wrongly diagnosed to me.. I don't know.. My BP is normal, and previous blood tests for anaemia and diabetes have always been negative. Does anyone know anything about ear crystals? My mum's friend told her she suffered from this.
david says:
9 months ago
yes, it describe exacly what I suffered. in addition to hypertension, and gout medicine, I take 1 buffered aspirin 500mg in the morning, (to be dropped), 25mg of antihistamine (sigle ingrdient bendaryl) at noon, and 10pm before going to bed (avoid drowsiness induced acidents). I have bendaryl (actually generic diphenhyrazine HCL, walmart) for 1 week. will continue for another 2 weeks and try to reduce it if feel better.
I am 60 male, non drinking, non smoking, have hypertension and about completing gout tretment.