Vertigo that just won't go?

[EvilEnabler]

I got an ear infection back in March, suffered for a couple of days, but it got so painful that I went to the doctor for antibiotics. It improved rapidly, and by the time I finished the course of ABs I felt fine again. Then two days later I got out of bed and just fell over.

After about a week of staggering around like a rum-soaked pirate I started feeling sick. I then spent the next 10 days relentlessly throwing up and feeling like I was on a non-stop roller-coaster (has put me off theme parks for life believe me) Ended up in hospital a couple of times on a drip to be re-hydrated because I could keep nothing down. They also gave me strong anti-emetics - oral, injection and suppository - but nothing stopped me being sick, and I am normally the least sicky person around. I have a stomach of iron, and until this year I could count on one hand how many times I'd been sick since about 1987.

Eventually, I started to feel less grim. I stopped being sick all the time, and started only being sick when I moved, and then only when I moved too quickly. I spent a few boring weeks lying in bed staring at the ceiling because my eyes wouldn't focus on books or tv or laptop or anything and it made me ill to try. I have slowly been regaining my strength and ability to walk without staggering like a drunk, and for the best part of the last six weeks or so I haven't felt too bad at all.

BUT it has now been four whole months since I first fell ill, and I'm still not fully recovered.

If I ride in a car (even just for a few minutes) I can feel nauseous and dizzy for a couple of days after. If I turn my head too quickly or try to walk fast I lose my balance. I also have a permanent weird floaty feeling in the top of my head, and a tight heavy feeling at the back of my neck where my neck and head meet - similar to how I used to feel if I'd pulled an all-nighter in my daft student days.

Has anyone else had this? Is this really just vertigo? Is there anything I can try to feel better?

I have had a doctor do the Epley maneuver on me - no joy.

I also took Levocetirizine, and that didn't help either.

Travel sickness medicines also have zero effect.

I am just at the end of my rope with this, and I think DH is pretty fed up too. He is very good and kind, and has never said anything, but I'm pretty sure he is thoroughly sick and tired of picking up my slack.

I need to get better

Ugh, how unpleasant. I would definitely go see a doctor.

I've never had anything so severe, I had benign positional vertigo and my doctor got me to do Brandt-Daroff Exercises to help alleviate the symptoms. The symptoms came on fast (I don't know what caused them) and disappeared quickly once I started doing the exercises. I very rarely feel the symptoms any more. Maybe those will help, or maybe there's something you GP can do.

SOunds a bit like labrinthitis - go and get checked out by the Dr.

I had labarynthitis last year. I was never as sick as you were but it did hang around for months. Even now, a year later, I will still feel vertiginous if I don't get anough sleep or if I get very stressed.

I think no one really understands labyrinthitis, but I read somewhere that it was thought that a virus screws up your middle ear and then your brain has to relearn how to assess motion. As such, it is important to keep moving to give your brain practice. This seems to make sense to me. I started learning ice skating this year ( possibly not the best choice for someone with vertigo) and whenever I do a new movement ( like going backwards) I feel dizzy at first until I get used to it.

Thank you all for your replies.

It sounds like I may need a second opinion (my usual doctor diagnosed BPV) and Labyrinthitis sounds like something to look into. Will also research Brandt-Daroff, thanks for the tip. A quick Google indicates it is a similar idea to the Epley - which completely cured a friend of mine instantly when he had BPV. I had the Epley done to me and it didn't help at all at the time, but maybe now a couple of months have passed it is worth trying that sort of head-positioning thing again.

Honestly though, if someone told me I'd feel better if I ran naked down the high street with a cat on my head I'd probably give it a go at this point

It is interesting that you say you feel worse with stress or lack of sleep tryingtoleave because I am definitely better on the days when I have had my 8 hours sleep, and tend to creep dizzily around if I have had less than that. I put that down to me just being a bit of a shit generally if I haven't had enough sleep, but maybe it is more than that.

Interesting that maybe I should try to move more and get my brain used to movement again. I must admit I have mostly been lumping around on the bed/sofa and generally only moving slowly and carefully for months, as it is easier not to deal with the spins and wobbles. But you're right, it does make sense that the balance has been screwed up and needs to be 'relearned', sort of like physiotherapy for the brain. Worth a go - ta.