Inner ear virus

Sounds like when I have labyrinthitis and sorry but it did take several weeks to go entirely. I found Stemetil helped with the nausea and dizziness but you do have to rest. I hope you feel better soon.

Yes that’s what it sounds like. So sorry, it’s dreadful. There have been other posts on this previously which might help you.
There is medication betahistine which i take and also an injection if the dizziness is really bad, speak to your gp. Good news is that though It will take a while to go, it will. Bad news is that it’s possible it might return so do be careful. Rest, be careful how you turn your head and keep an old ice cream tub nearby! You have my sympathy.

How reassuring...I caught what I took to be a virus just after Christmas....dizziness, which lasted several hours, nausea and diarrhoea. It cleared up but then keeps coming back. I'm sorry you're suffering but relieved that it is a virus and will eventually stop re-curring.

That's really unpleasant for you. My nephew (he's 50) has had it for about 2 months. His doctor told him not to drive, not to go to work, etc., but he doesn't get paid when he's off work, so he's been going. The hospital made him an appointment to be seen - in December!

You have all my sympathy! I had similar a few years back and ended up in hospital, feeling like death warmed up. Get well soon!

I hesitate to chime in without something more positive to say. As I've posted on a previous thread, 4 months ago I was hit with serious vertigo and vomiting. After hospital ruled out stroke, I was referred to ENT who diagnosed vestibular neuritis/labyrinthitis and said basically a virus had attacked the balance nerve in my inner ear. I attended vestibular rehab for 2 months and faithfully followed all their guidelines including daily exercises but unfortunately I'm still dealing with balance and vision issues and now loud tinnitus too. My head feels wonky, as though it's trying to recover from a bad beating with a club. Some days are a bit better than others and I can tell weather fronts and food/drink (e.g. alcohol, sweets, salty or spicy food, chocolate) aggravate it. Stress is a big factor too. Dh has been very supportive, getting me to appt's, doing all the driving and encouraging me not to give up. Honestly, that's the tough part as I thought this would pass by now. Reading online (so hard on my eyes and head) it appears there are several vestibular conditions with similar symptoms and I don't trust that my diagnosis was accurate. I feel sure my case is unusual and that yours will pass soon as others have reported. I wish you the best and if you find any helpful advice, please share.

I’ve just had something similar twice this year and have every sympathy for you. I was very dizzy but no vomiting. The first time I was taken to A&E as they thought I was having a stroke or something.

The second occasion, I was diagnosed with labrynthitis, prescribed Betahistine which did eventually seem to help a bit. I was obviously so fed up of being dizzy and unable to drive or feel like going anywhere or doing anything. I quite quickly got in with ENT for the procedure to readjust my head. They did the procedure but the consultant told me that I didn’t have labrynthitis but this virus in my inner ear, that Betahistine or Stemetil wouldn’t do any good, there was no point in taking it but I could do if I wanted. It eventually went off after about six weeks both times.

So, ask about going for the manoeuvre at ENT, take the tablets and be assured that it will pass off very soon now. I send my best wishes and hopes for you to recover soon.

How awful. Hope you feel better very soon.

Luckylegs if you mean an Epley manouevre it's easy to do it yourself, no need to wait for an ENT appointment.

Thank you all for the informative support I shall look up the ebley manoeuvre and get back.
again

Yuck. Inner ear problems are the worst.

I've never had one myself, but I had a patient once who did. It wasn't pleasant for her at all.

You ain’t kidding agnurse!!
The anti vomiting tablets seem to be helping.
So could be worse!

Lucky legs just wondered how you and everyone else was fairing? I'm in the same boat. Viral ear infection, nausea, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus. Just wondered whether with time any of you were feeling better?

I've had several bouts over the years. It lingers and doesn't really disappear completely. I have to sleep with three pillows as when I my head goes backwards the world starts revolving. My son also suffers and feels slightly nauseous must of the time. I think it runs in families. It does in ours.

The main thing is not to fall and injure yourself. If it starts suddenly try to sit on the floor until it calms down a bit.

Thank you for asking. I had the Epley manoeuvre but it was inconclusive. I don’t have a definitive diagnosis but all I know is that it’s gone and I hope it never comes back! I’ve just been on a cruise and I had some wonderful tablets which kept me completely from seasickness. If they are so good, I might take them if I get the labrynthitis again. It’s a dreadful thing and I am so sorry for anyone suffering from it.

I had it over the summer. It lasted 5 months in total. That ‘whoosh’ feeling is so unexpected and is a bit frightening.

It will pass.

I had it two years ago as well. Saw an ENT specialist who recommended an MRI head scan. Got discharged (that was a relief) so didn’t bother the GP this time around.

Hope you get well soon.

It's been 5 months for me now and it's still the same. Some days better than others but haven't had a "normal" moment since it first hit. It helps to read the encouraging words from some that it will eventually pass. I remain hopeful.

This is the most awful thing and I do feel for you all.

I have had a few bouts of it over the years.

I did the usual GP/ENT route and they all said it will go.

The thing is not all ENT Consultants seem to have enough experience in dizziness.

The important thing is to find a hospital with a specialist Balance Clinic. Not all have one.

Leicester Royal Infirmary does as well as Southampton but there could well be others around the country, especially London I would think.

It’s all they do so they are experts. I paid privately as the NHS wait was months. They sorted me out.

I was able to go to a specialist Balance Clinic, twice each week for 8 weeks and as Jennifer says, it definitely helped. They focused on retraining my balance and learning to work through the dizziness. They stressed the importance of continued specific daily exercises. Twice during balance therapy they performed the Epley maneuver and those times it did help with extreme vertigo episodes. But I continue to have the mental fog, tinnitus, blurred vision, general dizziness and that "whoosh" feeling Urmstongran describes.

Did you see a Consultant at your Balance Clinic sukie ?

They did a battery of tests on me. I had electrodes put on my head which were connected to a computer monitoring how I reacted to standing on a tilting platform whilst I watched a moving scene on a screen.

I was put in a kind of baby bouncer sling to stop me falling over!

It was actually very interesting and they were incredibly thorough compared to the ENT Consultant who really wasn’t much help.

They then performed the Epley Manoeuvre and I was given exercises to do at home which were a variation on the Cawthorne Cooksey ones.

I now know that if I get it again and it doesn’t clear up in a few weeks I can go back to them.

It really is the most horrible thing isn’t it?

Thank you JenniferEccles for your response and yes, it is the most horrible thing.

After being referred by the ENT, I did meet with a consultant at the balance clinic. During therapy, I was always in a harness attached to the ceiling to prevent me hitting the ground. I was monitored similar to what you describe, while viewing a computerized screen and standing on a tilting/moving floor. That test was done at the beginning, middle and end of treatment with significant improvement recorded. It was all quite fascinating actually.

The initial attack in June was debilitating so I'm grateful for the improvement I have but the residual symptoms are discouraging. It really helps to hear from others that have gone through it and recovered. Thanks again.

My friends husband (40 something) has just been rushed to hospital with a suspected stroke couldn’t see walk etc turned out to be inner ear infection
They can be brutal

2 years ago I was having spells of dizziness and being off-balance, walking like someone drunk, so I took myself to the GP who'd asked me to put one foot in front of the other-----which I couldn't do so she ordered me to go to A&E immediately.

I said " I can't just drop everything I've got the cats to see to etc etc " so I said I'd go the next day. That same evening I got a call from the hospital telling me to go through the emergency as soon as I arrived, which I did do.

After a series of examinations by the specialist stroke nurse, I was taken for a CT scan which confirmed a TIA ( mini-stroke ) and was later discharged with anti-sickness pills, which I hadn't needed and that was that.
The balance problem lasted for about 6 months and it's just now and again if I turn quickly that my balance is iffy.

I can sympathise with anyone in this situation it has to be the worst feeling. I had to battle on as I have to do everything myself with D working but it was difficult initially as my confidence took a battering.

However there was no real damage done so I count myself lucky as these mini-strokes precede a bigger one usually, though I do realise I'm not out of the woods after having had a " warning " but it's no use sitting waiting for it to happen is it ?

A few years ago my DH had an attack of Labrynthitis , it came on suddenly , he was so dizzy and omitting , we thought it was a stroke, we called out our Doctor a as my DH couldn't get out of bed , he was diagnosed as having Labrynthitis, he was prescribed , Stemetil and Betahistine, The dizziness went on for months he was so incapacitated, it got so bad we were referred to a consultant who specialised in inner ear problems, He did the Epley manouvres on my DH and showed me how to do them when an attack happened, His last attack happened over four years ago , I did the Epley for him and so far he hasn't had any further trouble, It is a most unpleasant feeling and I sympathise with the OP, it will pass , it just takes time,
One time we were due to fly with the family for a holiday abroad but the day before DH was so poorly we had to cancel our holiday , I would recommend trying the Epley, it moves the chrystals in the inner ear that become displaced by the condition and with time it settles down , that is how the consultant described it to us , I really hope Nams that you get some help with this nd you soon start to feel better , sending flowers and hugs