Labrinthyitis

Thank you for your response Daisychain.
After no joy from the GP,my daughter visited a chiropractor who felt that the problem was labyrinthitis.She then demanded referrals for the scan and ENT.
It all seems to fit into place.

I had Labyrinthitus about 10 years ago. It was in both ears and I was unwell for 3 weeks and couldn't work. I had three bad attacks with the room spinning and then it settled down to general giddiness. I still get giddy with some head colds. A weird symptom of Labyrinthitus is that the ground seems to be moving under your feet and objects are moving when they aren't.

I dread having it again now that I'm a widow and would have to cope alone. I think I would have to go into hospital. Luckily a second severe attack is unlikely according to GP.

The severity of Labyrinthitus can vary from 48 hours to weeks and I think it may be stress related because mine came after my mum was admitted to a Nursing Home with acute dementia and I was exhausted.

Hi Granny2016 yes stress in my case anyway can trigger it off.
i have the same symtomes has your daughter.
I have discovered it is when i am among certain people, and have only just figured this out.

I suffer from this, I now take one pill each evening before bed to keep it under control, I am awaiting results of an MRI to see what is going on but feel nothing will come of it and will just have to suffer it so far the one pill at night keeping it under control. feel for anyone who suffers this debilitating problem.

I had several attacks around 10 years ago with severe dizziness, vomiting and diarrhoea. I had stemetil and buccastem. I was told that I probably had Ménière's disease. Also had tinnitus and hearing loss. My worst attack was at work one day where I was so sick I had to lie on an examination couch and have one of the doctors I worked with give me intravenous stemetil to stop the vomiting. I couldn't stand up and remember crawling across the floor to get to the loo. I was put on betahistine which seemed to work and am still taking them. I would be frightened to stop them now. I still feel dizzy occasionally. As a child I suffered badly from travel sickness and could never go on rides at amusement parks. It is horrible.

DD2 (early thirties)had labyrinthitis earlier this year. It lasted some time. The GP asked her if she had had ear infections as a child (she had several) and did not prescribe anything because it could prolong it. DD2 managed not to have time off work and could drive but had to move very slowly and not make sudden movements, she could not walk very far, she felt she was being pulled to one side, walking any distance meant holding on to the push-chair (which GrD did not really need) or on to someone else. It didn't take much to make the dizziness start. She felt very sick at times. She was referred to the hospital for numerous tests. She is better now but the hospital said she could return if necessary. Altogether it was pretty horrific for her. The hospital staff said that she had developed coping mechanisms (without her realising it) to try to prevent the dizziness occurring (holding her head/neck and walking in a certain way).

poppyCAT not cock, sorry!

poppycock don't you fall on your face if you do that? Or am I misunderstanding?

I had a severe bout of labyrinthitis some years ago brought on by viral infection. It was pretty frightening but thank goodness it passed and nothing since. I woke up in the middle of the night and the whole room "see-sawed" - I thought it was tickets for me Since then I occasionally have the room spinning sensation if I move my head too quickly. A kind of a "whoosh" feeling.

Gosh, it is interesting to see how many of us GNetters suffer from labyrinthitis. I had a sudden and terrifying attack about 5 years ago. Mercifully I was at home. I too thought I had had a stroke as the headache was worse than anything I had ever had and lying flat wasn't quite horizontal enough. Fortunately, although nauseous, I wasn't sick.
I took stemetil for a couple of weeks, and always have it to hand when the warning symptoms show - headache and uneasiness.
I shave always suffered from travel sickness, so try to travel at the front of coaches, facing the engine in trains, etc., and always take a pill before any lengthy journey.
It does go away, but my doctor told me it could last 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months; his voice tailed off. It seems to be permanent.
the tinnitus I have is probably not associated, but can be very noisy indeed.
Good luck.

I have it, and was put on B12 injections. At first I had three a week, but now it is one every three months. I still get the odd dizzy spell but it is much better now.

Something that may help is to sit on the edge of the bed,turn your head 45degrees to the left ,then let yourself fall sideways(left) Someone I knew said she was told this at "the dizzy clinic " she went to.

My husband suffered with Ménière's disease which started just after he was demobbed in 1946. Little was known about the disease in those days. He was put on Amytal and suffered periods of depression and what is now known as post traumatic stress disorder. By the time he died at the age of 67 he was completely deaf.

i've had ppv and labyrinthitis in the past and was prescribed stemetil for both.
the first time i had labyrnthits it was so bad that my gp just injected the stematil - wonder drug! within 10 minutes i was able to walk to the door without the feeling that i had to drag myself up a hill.
i've not had to have the epley maneouvre for the ppv as it only [only!!!!] lasted a week.
i don't have these very often but i've always got a supply of stematil to hand.
i've also suffered from migraines for many years - mostly caused by stress which has, thankfully, decreased now that i'm retired.

I had several episodes of labyrinthitis and then went on to have bppv. The vertigo is miserable, so you have my sympathy. The Epley Maneouvre was my saviour. In fact it felt like a miracle that gave me my life back! Some GPs do it, but if they don't they should be able to send you to a physio who can. My episodes recurred for a while, but after a few more Epleys, I've been vertigo-free for several years (fingers crossed)! I hope you feel better very soon xx

I have Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo too. My GP gave me a medication which seemed to be for several very different conditions, vertigo being one of them. Not sure if they worked or not, as I was taught how to use the Epley manoever by a chiropractor. I see her for other problems and mentioned my vertigo to her. My meds are finished and I see the GP again on Monday. I am doing the Epley manoever morning and night, and it seems a bit better. Maybe the meds, maybe the Epley manoever or a combination of both. I don't know, just glad it's not so bad as it was.

That should read"l have been prescribed Serc" when you get Betahistine script made up ask for Serc rather than generic drug,it works better! My local Boots stock it,its more expensive for pharmacy than generic but Boots being a large company can afford it. Good luck suffers,?

Just back from GP. Prescribed betahistine three times a day until it clears. Hope it's not too long - have been advised not to drive.

Clareken.I have googled vestibular migraine and some symptoms are very similar to my daughters.
I am looking at it further.She has had migraines for years.

Feel for you Daisychain,l suffer with Meneires,have done for over 5years. I am prescribed Service for it,l keep to a very low salt diet,low Caffeine and low Alcohol intake. All advice from ENT Consultant.l know that you will not get any warning when an attack appears,you just have to keep in mind it will pass until the next attack. Keep Stress and tiredness to a minimum too,good luck.

I have vestibular migraine which is very similar. Buccastim is just a different form of stematil, that you put on your gum, dissolves into bloodstream and means you are not putting anything in your stomach when you already feel sick. I also use travel sickness bands and have found they make a real difference. Hope this helps.

I am really interested in this thread as my daughter may have this condition.She has had falls,but also a few weeks ago forgot where she was,even though she was with a friend.Since then she feels as if she is living with a feeling of unreality.Does anyone with Labyrinthitis here recognise those symptoms?
She has just had an MRI scan and is due at ENT this month.
I am very concerned and would appreciate any responses.
Does it occur more at times of stress?

It's a strange thing about moving water, anno. I spend a lot of my leisure time standing up to my twiddly bits in rivers and streams of one sort or another, and I manage to keep my balance (mostly!), but I can't cross stepping stones over water. I am completely freaked out by it. The last time I didn't have any choice in the matter, DH, who had crossed first, had to come back and get me as I froze!

My first attack of Labyrinthitis left me with severe Tinnitus, subsequent attacks were staved off by taking Stugeron travel tablets.
It's an utterly miserable condition and mine would come on with no warning- one started as I walked across the kitchen and I ended up flat on my face with a broken nose ?
Luckily I haven't had one for years (touch wood) now but I do have Ménière's disease and and pretty deaf! Betahistine did nothing whatsoever for me.....

??? for all sufferers x

Moving water has always made me feel queasy - standing on a bridge over a fast-flowing river or walking by a mountain stream; seasickness was another bugbear but as long as I focus on on thing on the horizon that is no longer a problem. When I had PPV, my GP warned me not to look out of the train window. I only do it now with great caution.

Moving water has always made me feel queasy - standing on a bridge over a fast-flowing river or walking by a mountain stream; seasickness was another bugbear but as long as I focus on on thing on the horizon that is no longer a problem. When I had PPV, my GP warned me not to look out of the train window. I only do it now with great caution.