Labyrinthitis. Deeply unpleasant, can anyone help?

[MrBloomEatsVeggies]

Title says it all really. Had it for 4 days now, 4 days of sitting on the sofa and feeling like I'm on a rollercoaster.

I can't be like this, I've got 2 little DS's and a home to run. It's Easter, with all the various activities it entails. No real help is at hand, unfortunately, DH really can't take time off work, so I'm trying to carry on whilst clinging to the wall!!

Any tips to lessen the impact of this unrelenting dizzyness, as I'm going crazy?

Really, really fed up with it.

[moosemama]

Sorry, haven't had time to read the whole thread, so don't know if anyone's mentioned this possibility.

My dh had a really bad attack of labrythitis a couple of years ago. He was put on stugeron - which didn't help much.

What did help was a course of cranial osteopathy, dh was so impressed that he now wants to become an osteopath himself. He had literally been stuck in bed in the dark for weeks and was at risk of losing his job, with the GP saying there was nothing else they could do to help. Seeing the osteopath was a desperate attempt to do something, anything that might help. I think he had between 4 and 6 sessions overall, but the difference just after the first one was amazing and he was back at work within a couple of weeks of his first appointment.

[giraffesCantDanceWiOotBuckie]

sleep sleep is best thing that helps. good luck

[NurseSunshine]

You could speak to your GP about cyclizine. It's an anti emetic that works on the innner ear so can help with dizziness and vertigo as well as nausea.

[wannaBe]

you have my sympathies. I had vertigo (bpv) last year and it was horrendous. I remember walking out of the house and feeling completely disoriented. I am also blind and therefore I am completely reliant on my ears and it even helps with orientation so I felt completely lost and dependent - it was horrible.

One thing you might try is

\link{http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-1489698801\this}

I don't know whether it would help for labyrinthitis but it must be worth a shot

[MrBloomEatsVeggies]

I'd appreciate that Needanewname, and info gratefully received. I have been to the GP (when it started) and he gave me anti nausea tablets and said it would go.

Thanks giraffe and Liza, I'll have a go with your suggestions too.

[Needanewname]

I really think you need to go back to your GP about this. I had an attack when the DC were in the bath and I collapsed and threw up everywhere, I was just about to ask DD1 (then 5) to get out and call for an ambulance (DD2 2 alsoo in the bath) luckily DH came home and sorted us all out.

For a week I couldn't look at anything without feeling dizzy, no TV, reading or computers.

My mum heard a thing on radio 4 about it, I will ask if she can remember more details and post on here later as there is something you can do apparently.

I am always a bit scared when I get a cold that it might come back, especially if driving.

[LizaTarbucksAuntie]

I get it a couple of times a year and you have all my sympathy, it's dire. I find taking dyralite rehyration salts really help for whatever reason. (Mind you they are a cure all for my migraines as well)

You must make sure you get enough rest, hope you feel better soon.

[giraffesCantDanceWiOotBuckie]

I found betahistine helped me best. poor you much much sympathy

[MrBloomEatsVeggies]

• I will persist

[MrBloomEatsVeggies]

Hi all. A quick update . Well I tried Stugeron, it made me feel a little weird, I'm not sure if it really worked TBH, but it will persist.

My dizziness has definitely lessened. I have periods where it's gone and I think great, then it comes back. It's a crafty bugger!! As it stands I have a few dizzy spells a day, but they're short lived, so it's definitely preferable to how it was when I first posted about it.

My next plan of action is to try and get a referral from the GP to see someone about exercises I can do.

Many thanks again to all who posted, It helps so much just knowing your not alone.

[OnesDigitusPrimusMagicalis]

Jemma - I never took Stugeron EXCEPT when I had labyrinthitis and it didn't work for me. The dizziness I experienced with labyrinthitis was 100x worse than anything from the neck problem and happened every time I moved my head back or changed position from horizontal to vertical (or vice versa). So I don't agree with your assessment.

However, it doesn't do any harm to take it, whether it works or not - and it did help with the sickness.

[Highlander]

DH had it and it took about a year to completely clear

[Jemma1111]

Thumbbunny, I think Stugeron didn't work for you as you had a neck problem but stugeron is a tablet for labyrinthine disorders, including dizziness so I think the op would feel better if she did take it.

Let us know if you have tried it op!

[thumbbunny]

Do take care of yourself though - and rest as much as you are able - I know of at least two friends who had post-viral syndrome after viral labyrinthitis.

[thumbbunny]

I've had labyrinthitis twice and taken Stugeron but it didn't stop the dizziness at all, because the virus is messing with your inner ear; you just have to wait it out. Usually 4-7 days, my first one lasted about 6 and was just appalling; the second one was only 4 days and not quite so bad.

I continued to have BPV for some time, on and off - it was bloody awful. Ended up with a referral to ENT who basically told me there was nothing that could be done, I had a damaged inner ear on the right and do these dizzy-making exercises for 10 minutes, 3 times a day until my brain stopped responding to the dizzy signals.

Ha.

Went to an osteopath and he fixed it in 2 sessions. I had a minor displacement of a cervical vertebra, due to various neck problems - putting that straight = no more vertigo (unless my neck goes out again, which it does if I do stupid things, like lie awkwardly or fall and jar it). Osteopath fixes it again in one session now but I rarely need it.

[hollygolightlyandcat]

Vertigo and dizziness is horrible. I've had major problems over the last 3 years with this - for me the only thing which helps is lying down. My DD was 3 when it started and I used to put on a DVD and lie on the sofa when I felt ill. Also as soon as DH came home from work I would go to bed to rest.

You should reduce your salt intake as a low salt diet helps. Tablets may work (unfortunately the only ones which worked on me made me so knocked out I couldnt function at all so I decided dizziness was better!)

If you are having repeated episodes, you may want to try to get refered for physio. Since I've been going, I've found that I can cope with the dizziness better and I recover from vertigo episodes quicker.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

[cornishpasty]

Stugeron works for me too when I get vertigo attacks. First had it last August while on holiday and can really sympathise. It's a bloody awful feeling. I've had another couple of lesser episodes and still get that room spinning feeling every night when I first lay down.

[haggis01]

Yes LuciaB is right you can help matters by cutting down on mucus type foods - dairy, bananas etc.that clog the sinuses and can make you more dizzy. The ginger helps with sickness and nausea. Also cutting down on salt (no olives,anchovies etc) can help and making sure you are always well - to over hydrated can also help with the dizziness.

Hope it ends soon

[LuciaB]

I sympathise. Please communicate to dh, family and friends just how unwell you feel - you need help and rest and not to just "soldier on" regardless as if this wasn't happening. The only time in my life I ever experienced panic attacks was while I had labyrinthitis and I am glad I did not have a small child in my care. But as others say, don't worry, it can cure itself quite quickly. I was prescribed prochloreperazine for the giddiness, and found eating or drinking anything with ginger helped, (e.g. adding thin slices of fresh root to the pot when making tea), and also anything that "cleans out" the sinuses, e.g. lots of garlic and onions and chillis. All the best.

[feedthegoat]

Lets hope yours is one of the cases that disapears without trace in a couple of weeks instead . I know how you feel with trying to carry on as normal for dc though, it is hard work!

[MrBloomEatsVeggies]

Blimey feedthegoat, what an awful experience. I identify totally with feeling panicky, it makes you feel so odd that you become anxious. I have also had the weird buzzing/electric shock sensations. I'm so pleased it's getting better for you.

Cakey...it must have been awful with a baby. My 2 year old wants picking up all the time, and bending down to lift him is particularly bad.

Delillah...think I'm going to give the getting drunk a miss , will try the sunglasses though.

dublinmom...lying down is out of the question until the evening, unfortunately. I didn't even know I had crystals in my ear until they went mad!

Jemma and haggis....thanks for the Stugeron tip (keep reading it as sturgeon!)...am definitely going to give them a go tomorrow, fingers crossed.

Thanks so much to everyone who has replied. It's good to know that I'm not alone with having this, no-one else I know has ever had it.

[haggis01]

Another vote for Stugeron - I use them for menieres when I feel a bit spacey and dizzy but need to keep going

[Jemma1111]

I had Labyrinthitus last year and it drove me mad, I felt like I was drunk!

My Bro is a paramedic and he told me to buy 'Stugeron' I think it was from the chemist, they are sea sickness tablets, I bought them and I'm not kidding they were great!. The dizzyness feeling went immediately!

[dublinmom]

I had it a few years ago and it's awful, just awful.

I took antihistmines, but they didn't help much.

The doctor did tell me to not stay lying down too much becuase it can make it last longer (something about the crystals in your ears settling). Although it feels TERRIBLE, recovery is faster if you try to stay sitting/standing up as much as usual.

[delillah247]

I was dx with it 2 years ago, (actually turned out to be something else), but I found the best thing to cope with dizzyness was wearing my sunglasses, I also find they help if I get motion sick, etc. I also had anti sickness tablets. Oh and if you get really drunk, it completely disappears :)