Inner ear infection

[efmach]

Need your help.
Last week I suffered my first experience of viral labyrinthitis. It was completely out of the blue with no cold or ear infection beforehand. I had terrible dizziness, loss of balance and nausea (no hearing problems). My G.P. prescribed stemetil and said it would clear up eventually. I have improved a great deal and now only feel occasionally light headed but I have an overall feeling of malaise with complete loss of appetite. Just generally a feeling of uckness! I've been assessed by another senior doctor today, blood tests, ECG and neuro assessment are all normal.
Has anyone gone through a similar experience? I know viral illnesses can take a while to clear up but this has worried me.
Thanks in advance

This is a really yucky one. I've had it on and off for over 5 years. The early attacks were the worse they did clear up eventually. I've not found that any of the drugs have really helped the symptoms any better than a day in bed does though I have a store of clarizine.

I've been all right in my pregnancies but know I tend to get a bout if I'm run down. This prob doesn't sound like much comfort, sorry. Keeping active in the other times is good as this helps to reinforce the information on balance from other sources like your eyes and muscles.

Good luck and take care!

I had an inner ear infection about 6-8 years ago, I was really poorly and in bed for a week. I didnt have a cold or any warning, went to bed the night before feeling a little light headed as if I hadnt had enough to eat and woke the next only being able to lie on my left side. I was still going dizzy for a couple of weeks later and on and off for a few weeks after that too. I would be walking along turn abit fast and nearly fall over. I have had the odd dizzy spell and off day over the last years but tends to be less and less now. Sturgeron, the travel sickness tablets always work brilliant for me, take them for a day and back to normal.

Thanks for your replies. It's three weeks today since the onset of labyrinthitis and I seem to have constant lightheadedness. It's not exactly stopping me from doing anything but I still find it very disconcerting. I haven't found either stemetil or sturgeron helpful. I have read somewhere it can take up to six weeks to pass. Sometimes longer. I suppose I'll have to be patient!

Hope you will get some relief soon.

Glad you are on the mend. My doctor told me that he would expect me to still feel the effects for at least six months or longer, sorry

I was diagnosed in March 2002 with viral labyrinthitis. I thought I was going to die and was convinced that I had a brain tumour. The worst of it lasted a good 4 months, I was off work for 9 weeks. I started to feel better in Jan this year, now I just get the odd off days

im so glad ive found this thread as i never heard of labyrinthitis but i think i suffer from it after many years of very painful ear infections i now get that feeling of dizziness,loss of balance and even just walking down the road with the children terrifies me as i don`t feel in control when crossing roads etc is as if when i look left and right for cars my brain reacts in a very slow motion and by the time i finished checking i have to do it again,sounds weird i know,anyway i now know what it might be so i will mention it to my doctors i hope you all get well and thanks

I started having dizzy spells when sitting or lying down. This seem to come on after I had a visit to the dental hygenist, I don't know if this had anything to do with it or not. Saw GP about 6 weeks ago and she gave me betahistine 16. Then 4 weeks ago out of the blue I had an awful vertigo attack which lasted 5 hours approx. Saw GP again and referred to ENT specialist, who said it was either viral labyrinthitis or the start of Menieres disease. I have had a MRI scan which was normal. Still feeling absolutely dreadful, get a few hours symptom free, and then nausea, dizziness set in. Did not get any help from the ENT specialist. Practically told me to get on with life! Which is very difficult when your trying to hold down a job. Been off work for the last 4 works. Seeking any support from anyone out there.