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Original poster

Labyrinthitis- feel so terrible

44 replies

Newhouse76 · 30/12/2019 19:09

Was diagnosed with labyrinthitis on Boxing Day. Have spent most of the time on the sofa with the room spinning around me.

Im due back at work tomorrow and the thought of taking the Tube is making me feel quite anxious 😬. Feel quite unsteady.

Hopefully someone else may have experienced the same and may have some hints and tips to share

OP posts:
JellyfishandShells · 30/12/2019 19:11

The first attack is the worst. Sit upright, sleep as propped up as possible. Did they give you any medication ?

Original poster
Newhouse76 · 30/12/2019 19:13

Hi thank you, yes I have medication for the sickness, although I think its had limited effect so far.

Thats good advice re sitting upright

OP posts:
JellyfishandShells · 30/12/2019 19:13

If not, travel sickness tablets can help.

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/12/2019 19:14

Labyrinthitis is absolutely horrible. I wouldn't go back to work until things have stopped spinning. If you haven't got anything from the doc Stugeron travel sickness tablets are quite helpful.

JellyfishandShells · 30/12/2019 19:14

It’s horrible - remember clutching onto the wall as the floor seemed to undulate.

SpeedofaSloth · 30/12/2019 19:16

I found outside, walking was helpful, once I could get up. The seasick feeling doesn't seem so bad then.
Tube might be a bit ambitious, is it your only option?

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/12/2019 19:16

I remember hanging on to my bed because it felt like I'd fall off while it was spinning round.

safariboot · 30/12/2019 19:17

I had it when I was at 6th form. I wasn't fit to go in until I'd sufficiently recovered. I wasn't even able to have my eyes open for any length of time or I'd soon be nauseous.

Only advice I can give is tell work you're off sick. I think you'd be at a serious risk of a fall if you try and travel. And if you do get in you're going to have impaired balance, impaired co-ordination, nausea - none of which are good for just about any job.

bluerad · 30/12/2019 19:17

You have my sympathy. I get regular attacks. What works for me is medication, and keeping my head very still. Definitely no work!

Ollypollydolly · 30/12/2019 19:18

Don’t go to work

JellyfishandShells · 30/12/2019 19:19

Things that help with other nausea ( eg travel sickness or morning sickness) - like sipping flat ginger ale or ginger infusions can help, I found .

Original poster
Newhouse76 · 30/12/2019 19:20

Thank you all for replying so quickly. On reflection I think I’m going to need to take the day off as sick tomorrow.
Bus would be the alternative to the train however I feel worse in motion so I dont think the bus would help me.

Ive actually got quite a busy day at work tomorrow and need to ‘approve’ some items not sure that im in the right frame of mind to be making decisions!

OP posts:
PhantomErik · 30/12/2019 19:20

I had labyrinthitis a few years ago & it was 10 days before I could get out of bed & 3 weeks before I could drive & even then I was so so tired.

I'd get up & take the dc to school then sleep or just lie on the sofa for a further 3 weeks.

Not trying to worry you as I know it's different for everyone & you may recover quickly but be prepared for it to wear you out!

The doctor just advised me to rest as much as possible & that it should go in it's own time.

JellyfishandShells · 30/12/2019 19:21

Don’t make any sudden movements, especially of your head. TheTube sounds like a very bad idea - especially if it involves escalators .

joystir59 · 30/12/2019 19:23

You have to wait for your brain to adjust and compensate for what is happening in your inner ears, this takes time. Labyrinthitis is very disorientating and makes you feel weirdly disconnected from everything and really tired and unwell. It took about three weeks for me to feel OK again. If/when you return to work you will need to be patient with yourself. You can't travel on the tube until the spinning stops, it would be dangerous.

silver1977 · 30/12/2019 19:23

You have my sympathies, it's horrible. Definately try travel sickness tablets (check they can be taken with what the doc has already given you) I'm surprised they didn't recommend them anyway. I find Kwells helpful or Sturgeon.

For travel sickness I usually take half the recommended dose as they make me sleepy but with attacks like this I'd take the normal dose and actually if I sleep then even better as I'm not aware of how I feel!
Flowers

joystir59 · 30/12/2019 19:24

I would ask the Dr to sick note you for a fortnight tbh

silver1977 · 30/12/2019 19:26

You say you'll take the day off tomorrow but I think you might be better saying what you've been diagnosed with and that actually you can't say when you'll be back for now. It is not something that goes away quickly and can take time to recover from as other PP's have said.

PriscillaTheHun · 30/12/2019 19:26

Definitely don't go to work. Rest as much as possible.

But also walk around as much as you can. Both indoors and outdoors. This will help your brain adjust.

And if possible don't take the travel sickness pills because your brain needs to "feel" the dizziness to compensate (ie ignore the dizzy messages and stop you feeling dizzy).

But if you are feeling really bad then by all means take them short term.

Oh and strangely labyrinthitis can also cause anxiety even if you're not prone to it. The anxiety then makes the dizziness worse. So if you do feel anxious, try and do deep breathing to calm yourself and tell yourself it'll soon pass and you'll soon be better.

Get well soon, OP.

joystir59 · 30/12/2019 19:26

I had to lay completely flat for the first few days apart from crawling to the bathroom

Original poster
Newhouse76 · 30/12/2019 19:33

Thank you everyone, sounds as if I need to take off more than tomorrow.

My last question - since this afternoon Im definitely no longer able to hear out of my affected ear. Up until then I was sort of experiencing an electric shock in my head 😨. Did anyone else experience the same re hearing in the affected ear?

OP posts:
singleedition · 30/12/2019 19:46

Bless you OP I had labyrinthitis this time last year and it was awful! I was on stemitil which they switched to the buccal version after a week because it was having no effect 🙈

I also lost hearing in the affected ear. I’d deffo take some time off work- I ended up taking 2 weeks off and in all honesty wasn’t ready to go back after that but felt too bad about missing work🙈

The Vertigo spells went on for months although nowhere near as bad and I still have trouble with my hearing now 😪 (sorry probably not what you wanted to read!)

Hope you feel better soon!

SwedishEdith · 30/12/2019 19:54

You can't go to work. Your dr will almost certainly give you a sick note. It's a really horrible experience.

boogiebogie · 30/12/2019 19:56

Oh it is horrid i had it after stress and miscarriage. I used homeopathy and it workes quickly along with movements for it... Will find link. It is horrid..

GetawayfromthatWelshtart · 30/12/2019 19:57

I get this about 4 times a year, normally when I get an ear infection, I feel your pain! One time it was so bad I spent 3 days clutching the side of the bed as the room didn't stop spinning.

The tablets are the only thing that help me otherwise I wouldn't even be able to get out of bed/ off the floor.

Do NOT leave the house. You have to rest. It affects how you walk (mine feels like my feet are going through the floor) and you will end up flat on your face. :(

the hearing in that ear is totally buggered but then it's prone to infections since I was little so it's basically a bit rubbish at being an ear these days :)