Need some advice. Had epley done today, Felt no dizziness during the procedure but the buzzing device sure felt good, Felt it opening my ear up.

Past week I have been super depressed :confused: starts in the afternoon. Morning more dizzy, but around 3 or 4 I just feel so disconnected and lost. I really thinking about going on an SSRI, I don't know what else to do. My family keeps telling me to hang in and fight it and I am trying but I feel super tired. I feel to tired to be anxious just depressed. I have never experienced such hopeless emotions.

Question: Do I keep waiting to compensate or try an SSRI, I have Xanax for anxiety have not really taken it done KAVA instead. But feel to low for these now. What's the word on experience with the SSRI's. I have read some of the archives and studies. Just wish I new how long compensation took. Do I keep fighting or give it a try. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jade :angel:

Hi Jade,

I was in the exact same boat as you about 13 months ago now. I kept saying to myself (and my fiance too) I will soldier on and fight it myself. I thought that with compensation, I would soon see the episodes of depression and anxiety go as labs was the cause of it. There's no question there. I experienced the same feelings as you. One minute normal and then depression would arrive out-of-the-blue either at about 4 pm or 11 am or I'd just wake up in the morning and feel shocking. I was getting pretty consistent anxiety early in the morning too. I figured the depression followed the anxiety as a counter-balance....you swing wildly one way and then the body flings you off in the other direction. Anyway, compensation did not happen. It did seem, at one stage, like things were on the up until I got a simple head cold, the result of which dam near destroyed me exactly this time last year. I felt like a shell walking around...horrible stuff....never felt it before in my life. In fact, as I look back on all of this now, I cannot see how I would have pulled myself out of the pit created by this inner ear monster by myself. And I wish I had started on an SSRI *earlier* than I did. It seems to me that the lower you let yourself go with this thing you sort of establish a precedent and it's then easier to relapse into that low again further down the track. I know if I'd started Celexa sooner I wouldn't have dropped so low and the compensation would have kicked in much earlier. So given what you're telling me, I think you should do something about it asap. There's others on the HB that have had immediate +ve results from an SSRI.

Like most things in life though, there is a possible downside to this as well (but it pales in comparison to the misery you feel now). First the SSRIs will create some side-effects. It's different for everyone and you may get no sides at all. But the common ones are a drop in your libido (I can vouch for that one), weight gain (I'm up 4 kg from normal) and possible achiness at times. But like I said, these are nothing compared to the hell of labs.

The important thing is, I have almost totally recovered since starting the SSRI....about 95% at the moment. I have NEVER regretted making this move. I have my life back and I'm working normally again. 12 months ago I had trouble getting onto a bus!! My vision was all over the shop and self-confidence was reduced to nil....all in the space of 4 months. Just unbelievable.

Currently, I'm trying to reduce the dose and be free of the drugs but it's HARD. I feel fine for two weeks on a reduction and then I start feeling weird again - woozy head, flat, agitated. Not sure how this story will wind up but I keep pushing forward.

Let me know what you decide. I'm *certain* you will see a massive improvement within a few weeks if you try the SSRI route. There's also lots of info on how SSRIs might aid neural regrowth etc. One things for sure though, compensation will be almost completely stalled until the anxiety/depression is knocked on the head first.

Talk soon....Scott :cool:

Thanks Scott,

Everything you say makes sense. I have the number of a psychiatrist who know the therapist I am working with up here in Northrn California. I think I will place a call on Monday. from what I have read the Lexapro seems to be indicatated for inner ear, but I figure better to get med from psychiatrist who really knows them then my ENT/Neurotologist.

Interesting about what you said your depression coming on a those times. 4pm. Mine happens then or later. I think it happens when Mind gets overwhelmed. You try so hard and then feel defeated. When I had anxiety and PA years ago is was not this tuff, I new I could get threw the anxiety and feel somewhat normal. It was a matter of learning to move threw the fear. I feel like with this I move threw but the MOUNTAIN is just so huge it exhuasts me and no matter how well I did today does not count for tomorrow. Anyway, I know you know all this!!

I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for the feedback!!!
Jade :angel:

Hi Jade,

I'm interested on your take of the anxiety you experienced years before this being different from the effects you feel now. I'm sure anxiety is anxiety no matter how you look at it but it sounds like you perceive the cause as different. What I mean is that the old anxiety was probably all caused by your incorrect thought patterns at the time which you were able to get a hold of and deal with once someone pointed out how you were probably creating the anxiety yourself. But with this illness it is driven by something more than thoughts alone. This is why I don't think any amount of CBT could have stopped the downward spiral I was on and may not be enough for many who suffer with labs/VN/BPPV. For example, right now I feel happy and positive in all aspects of my life. Studies are going well and I even sleep well again BUT it hasn't removed the occasional crappy sensation that can arrive from nowhere. A cold or herpes attack will almost certainly give me a depression hit for a half day as it is coming on. Or I'll wake in the night with anxiety....and then it stops, the cold arrives and then it's over, sometimes with some residual disequilibrium. Or I'll just feel crappy for a day or two for no reason at all, then wake up on the third day and feel really great and full of enthusiasm for life.

In short I wonder if this illness has left some permanent mark on my nervous system. I sure hope not but I'm definitely still sensitised. Just glad there is a drug around that saved my skin from this junk and allowed compensation to happen.

Lexapro is a good choice for this I think. I'm on Cipramil (Celexa in the US) and have only been on 2/3 of a tab. Celexa and Lex contain the same active ingredient although Lex is a cleaner version. They removed an inert molecule from Lex. Seems 2/3 of a tab is the "sweet spot" for me. One gram less and I can feel it within about 10 days. If I were you, I'd start on a half pill only and see what results you get from that. The less you can take the better as it will reduce side-effects. Don't take a whole pill even if the doc insists. If a half does not do enough than up it to 3/4. For me a half was OK but when I went to 3/4 there was this huge shift and I suddenly went WOW - I'm back again!!! I then moved back to 2/3.

Good luck...I'll be really interested to see how you improve and how quickly it occurs.

Cheers.....Scott

ps Jade, how do you experience the depression feelings you are getting? For me it feels like I have a "heavy heart" almost like a ball and chain is hanging from my heart/chest. And with it I feel lethargic, don't care, flat, what's the point sort of feeling. Nasty.

Hey Scott, You asked some really interesting questions... :)

Past anxiety: I was nervous all the time, could no longer get to work with out sweating and needing bathroom. There were days when I could not get up the elevator the anxiety was so bad. I would drink wine and feel very odd. I had been a vegetarian for 8 years, stressful job in advertising and emotional repression from some trauma in my teens. I had had stomach problems for years, IBS. It took me 2 years of changing career, eating red meat and a divorce and therapy to deal with repressed emotions and I felt gradually better. I read books on anxiety and would feel the palpiations and all classic PA stuff especially in hectic environments, had a huge PA in an airport that still gives me the shivers. I could feel my energy leaping out of my body. But this is when diet, lifestyle changes helped and I new I was stressed and unhappy!! I changed my whole life and it was like a beautiful rebirth. It was hard but NO WHERE as hard as this. I took no meds, just acupuncture and herbs which helped at times and other no.

Anway, along comes this ear thing. I had just finshed taking a big licensing exam to practice so I was stressed and everyone said you're just having Panic Attcks and you're stressed and went to therpay and she is going into the past ext.... I could barely see my therpist I was barely in the room, I think it just came from the drive over there. And I was starting to think ok more emotional stuff but then I thought what is my truth, the truth is I had created a life I was HAPPY with, something was different. I was dizzy before I was anxious. As soon as I had my first PA again I was going into stores to show I could but DID not matter still anxious in their the next day.

The anxiety is different with the inner ear because it is always there, you don't get the thrill of defeating it. I don't think all the CBT in the world could stop it right now. I have lived with this 3 months, month 1, I was calling in a prescription for Xanax. And the depression similar to yours: I feel out of my body and beyond hope, not myself and it just hits me. I feel like I am in a tunnel and can't feel myself, can't connect with anyone feel misunderstood and hopeless. Usually happens after to much stimulus. When I had Anxiety before I always felt myself but I felt FEAR, fear of feeling..fear of the world With this I've even had days where I am like ok bring it on, bring it on and it does not matter. ALso I had no dizziness or vision issues or balance issues with past anxiety.

In regards to you, sounds like you did the right thing. It's life we're going to have crappy days and thank god you are not so numb that you can't feel that. But also Sounds like you have become VERY sensitive. Foods, situations.. and I think this is from the trauma of going threw what you've been dealing with for a while. We become very sensitive to out bodies. It was interesting when I had PA before I could sense when someone else in the room was anxious. I would feel fine and then I was like near PA but nothing had happened, I talked to women in room who was dealing with PA. I think we become sensitive to other's energies that are similar to ours. In chinese medicine they call it the WEi Qi. The Wei circulates in your body and provides protection from pathogens, its like your armor and when the Wei is effected sensitivity can feel like to much. You see it when people are catching a lot of colds their Wei Qi is down. I found that being in my center doing a Tai Qi or QI Gong helps build that up. Make Sense? So I would say your wei Qi is hypervigilent! And it will relax when your 100% w/out the meds. The great thing about being sensitive is you really learn about yourself and others. But I don't think it has left a permanent mark on nervous system. I took me 2 years to get my nerves under control before, but I did and I felt stronger. I went from unable to drink, feeling drunk in just being in a bar, to being someone who went out and had a great time and could be completly in my own body. Your system will relax when it feels safe and that may mean no meds and no labs, but for now you have taken the steps to provide it with what it needs. :)

Thanks for the SSRI dosages. I am calling on Monday. I'll keep you informed!

Peace. Jade :angel:

I've been dizzy now for over 3 years. Even though I've tried to stay active I don't see any improvement. I have periods better than others but basically things are always the same. I'm wondering now if my GP (that I always trusted for 20 years - I moved away) was right. Should I try SSRI's just in case? I don't have a lot of anxiety and don't feel depressed, but I'm fed-up fighting this thing, feel angry and sometimes stressed.

Hi Jade,

Your post has been very enlightening for me - thank you for that. You are the first to spell out the difference between anxiety from thoughts/normal life stress etc that CBT can address vs this stuff. When the vestibular nerve is under attack it's a different kettle of fish. And because I have never experienced anxiety prior to labs I obviously can't compare it to anything else. Just very interesting how you see this as a totally different deal to the stuff you dealt with previously and that this is far worse!! I used to regard myself as really stable - nothing would rock my world much...but this was like a nuclear blast for me.

Yes, what you say about the sensitisation is probably much more accurate then some permanent scarring. I know another guy who had anxiety stuff going on and it took him 3 years to totally settle his nervous system. Gosh....why does it take so darn long for the nervous system to settle down I wonder given that it can all crumble overnight? I might get back into Tai Chi and do more work on my body in this way. Maybe when I get through this thesis I'm working on, that will make it easier to get over this.

Mica - an SSRI is well worth a try particularly if compensation isn't happening.

All the best.....Scott

:cool:

Mica. I agree with Scott, might be worth trying the SSRI. 3 years is a long time!! God you're brave. :) I figure what's 2-4weeks trying the SSRI? I've tried everything else. And I'll keep trying so I can feel part of the world again. A voice says I don't want to mess around with meds, they'll make me feel stange but then I already feel strange maybe they will put me straight?
Jade :angel:

Hi Jade....you'll probably have to give an SSRI longer to see results. The first two weeks always throws a few weird but light side-effects at you too which soon clear up. It's important not to get scared off at first (as long as the side-effects aren't horrendous of course which is what happened to me on Zoloft. Zoloft increased my anxiety and agitation if you can believe it). It takes about 6-8 weeks to see the full benefit....although in my case I saw a change after one day, ie - anxiety vanished on Cipramil.

Cheers....Scott

I'm seeing my GP tomorrow. Will talk to him about it. I'm scared because I did try them (Effexor and Celexa) at the beginning of this and after 4 days I had major panick attacks at the lowest dosage. Maybe I could cut them in 4 :D. I remember someone saying on this board that "Lexapro" is better for inner ear problems??? Is that right??? Don't know if we have that one in Canada.

Mica: Let me know how you get on, I placed a call first thing this morning, waiting to see when I get in. I am going to see a psychiatrist who apparently spens quite a bit of time with you. I'll let you know how it goes and please let me know how you do with the GP.

Stangest thing the depression and anxiety, it hits me with to much stimulation so must be coming form inner ear, Ugh.

Jade :angel: