I think anxiety from reading these boards the past 2 days have really set me off today. I feel like I can't even breath. I am so confused about this whole Labs versus VN (which I thought was wrong with me from the beginning) and then you throw MAV in. I have headache all the time. It changes in severity constantly. I have so many ear symptoms and symptoms of LABS. This MAV stuff is freaking me out because I'm so scared if it is that, it won't go away.

I do have an appointment scheduled with a neurotogist, but I'm afraid the doctors only say what they think not what they have hard evidence for. Therefore, I'm skeptic of a diagnosis, if I get one. Does that make sense?

I have refused any meds for depression at this point because I've had allergic reaction to drugs in the past and am afraid of what they could do to me. I know some of you are taking them, do they really help? I don't think I can handle this any more and I don't think talking to a therapist is really helping me (been going since the 1st week of April). I know how I feel and the constant crying is not normal. Talking to my husband use to make me feel better, but I think he has just about had it. He doesn't want to hear any thing negative but that is how I feel. There is nothing positive about living like this every single day so I don't talk about it with him. I feel the last few days he's given me a little bit of a cold shoulder.

Do any of you that got a diagnosis of Labs or VN have headache too?

Thanks,
Gloria

I get headaches of varying degrees... sometimes its borderline headaches and sometimes its just nagging and slight.

I have dx of Labs

This disorder is a HUGE test of anyones ability to cope. I don't blame you for feeling like you do. It's completley understandable. As far as a diagnosis goes, I would focus on what the doctors tell you. Reading this board and all the possible reasons for vestibular problems can make you crazy. You shouldn't try to diagnosis yourself. There is nothing wrong with educating yourself but if you try to diagnosis yourself you will go crazy. I think the simple fact is a lot of symptoms can be the same for many disorders. You may have headaches just from stressing over all of this. Try to figure out what is wrong with your doctors not with this board. I'd use the board for a way to get support not try and figure out a diagnosis because that is impossible and will make you nuts.


Your husband is only human and he probably feels really helpless because he can't make you feel better. Maybe tell him you don't expect him to fix the problem, you just need him to listen. I would also try ( and I know how hard it is) to spend maybe 30 minutes a day doing something that will get your mind off of this. You have to find a way to find something that will make you happy or at least distract you. Maybe think about all the things in your life that you feel grateful for (like your husband, children if you have any, ect...)

I would continue with the therapist, because you have someone objective and detached from your life to listen to you. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. I do understand the fustration and hopelessness you can feel. It makes sense. But you need to try and maybe make small goals for the day. Try to do something you didn't do yesterday. Maybe it's just walking for a minute more than you did before, or anything like that so you can feel like you have accomplished something that hasn't happened in the past. Find small goals, and as you accomplish them that might make you feel better.

Remember you are NOT DYING, and this is not a permanent condition. MOST people DO RECOVER. Unfortunatley it works at a snails pace. That is why taking it one day at a time is super important.


:wave:
Big Hugs,
Joy

Gloria:

What you are feeling is normal. Vestibular Disorders are dificult to give a specific diagnosis. However I do not think that matters. It is the treatment. Except for MAV which I do not know much about but I believe treatment is medication . Their are no test that takes a picture of the entire vestibular system. It takes a picture of part of the system but can test to see if the system is functioning correctly. They do not have the capability right now. However VRT works for most and helps a lot of people. You have to stick with it as this takes a long time. Anxiety defintely works hand in hand and makes you worst. I have had my condition for 19 months. I do not have a definte diagnosis. I was told I have a vestibular disorder and dysfunction. I have been doing VRT for 7 to 8 months and I take Zoloft for 7 months. I have made a lot of progress from a year ago. I am probably 75% to 85% on most days. Like 5 out of 7. I think both VRT and the Zoloft has helped. I had a lot of anxiety symptoms like trembling, insomnia that are no longer there. Therapy also takes a while. I have been in therapy for about 14 months. It took me a while to truly understand therapy. CBT works as well. I am pretty much done with therapy. If you get a good therapist they can teach you coping techniques such as Meditation, breathing excercises, yoga, journalizing and other things. I am no way near where I am but I have made progress and it takes a lot of time and patience. I feel everything you have and times still do and have bad days when I panic. You did say you have had some good days. You are finally going to see a specialist. I think you are on the right path and doing all the right things. Maybe ask your therapist to help you out with some coping techniques.


Best of Luck,

Howie

Thanks Joy. - I am going to take your advice and try and stay off this computer the rest of the day. I tried to be so positive yesterday and just broke down today. Thanks for the uplift.

Howie - Thanks for the information. My therapist has tried meditation with me, but I have a really hard time with it because my symptoms are in my head and to try and put yourself somewhere else is really hard. I've always been a realist too so I think that hinders me. I do journal but sometimes find it difficult to really put a number or reference on how severe the symptoms are. I did notice some of the symptoms have gone away or disappeared so I guess that is good. I do breathing exercises everyday. The therapist taught me these and I bought a CD on breathing by Dr. Andrew Weil. It does seem to help me but I get a little lightheaded or feeling strange after I do them. The therapist I am seeing suffered with chronic fatigue syndrome for 8 years so I would assume she kind of knows what I am going through. I am going to stick with her. Maybe I will see a difference with continued therapy. I only have 10 visits left for this year that my insurance will pay a % so we kind of have been spacing them out a little to get me through the year. I was hoping I wouldn't need therapy until the end of the year, but it doesn't seem like this is going to be gone any time soon. Do you have any side effects from the antidepressent?

Thanks tummy for your response. I don't want to end up with migraines for the rest of my life. Mine started from an ear infection so I am going to listen to Joy and stop searching so much and just try and use this board for support. It is easier said than done, but I am going to try.

Thanks Everyone,
Gloria

hi gloria
im agreeing with joy.You have done all you can at the moment by getting this appt with neuro-otologist.Let them do the work.Its impossible and not good for you to try and diagnose yourself.I really feel for you.It tests your patients to the limit.

From what my partner tells me its very frustrating for them to watch us going through all this and not be able to help.(though i,d rather be the watching).Its important that you keep your therapy up.You need other people apart from your family to support you.I only have my partner to support me as my family lost interest after about a month of me having this dizziness.Im quite glad that my neurologist has booked me in to see a psychiatrist for my depression.It will give me someone else to talk to apart from my partner.(poor sod wont knows whats hit him when i get going).
Try to not let all this worry you too much.We all know what your going through,take care

xbombshell31x
ps sending you a big hug xx

Hi Gloria - as stated by others, wait til the neurotologist appointment and try not to go on here daily. If I feel particularly bad, I often avoid it as it can make me worse. I found that in the early days of not knowing what was wrong with me, hearing about all the possibilities, didnt help me.

You can have tension headaches with lab/vn due to the tension build up from poor balance and the stress of it all.

Even if it is MAV - there are tablets you can take - and actually, the prognosis can be better than for labs/vn - at the end of the day there is not quick "cure" for both - there is VRT for labs/vn and diet/lifestyle changes and medication for MAV.

xxx

Hi Gloria,
Just thought I'd add my 2 cents... I was diagnosed with VN (but haven't you noticed in your reading and research that labs and VN almost seem to be interchangable in terms of how people are diagnosed? One thing I read said that labs is accompanied with hearing loss (temp. or perm. I don't remember), whereas VN isn't. Otherwise I believe the symptoms are very much the same.

I, too, have noticed a different sort of headace since developing this vestibular disorder - it's much worse on bad days, and unlike any other headache (tension, sinus or migraine) that I've ever had. I'm not sure just what causes it - maybe it's more intense stress and tension as CL mentioned, because the worse I feel vestibularly, the worse the headache is.... Sigh.... Oh, for the days when we never knew this condition and all of its sad symptoms existed!!!!
Do hope you can sit back and rest a bit.... we're all here with you!
Take care -
Robin

Hi gloria,

What Crazylab says is true. At the end of the day, when people have your symptoms - it generally boils down to one of two things - what most people on these boards have - with a few exceptions - namely MAV or VN (lab is just VN with hearing loss - that's how they differentiate, pretty much the same thing.)

Often diagnosis is not certain, but treatment is a case of trial and error. Generally, if they think it's VN, then they try some VRT. If that doesn't work, they often move on to drugs for migraine. In some people it's more obvious it's migraine from the start, so they start with drugs. To be honest, As CL says, migraine can actually sometimes be a load easier to cure than VN, which doesn't respond to drugs. Go to your neurotology appointment with an open mind, yes, they often don't have all the answers - there are very few definites with a vestibular disorder, but if they're good, they can try different things, and generally come up with something to help you. If you don't like them, and they aren't nice or hepful, then it's within your control to find a different neurotologist.

However, the most important thing to remember is that the body has an immense capacity to heal itself. This often takes time and patience. I have a diagnosis of both VN and a migraine problem on top. I am so much better even though I couldn't tolerate any of the drugs. I was desperately, desperately ill at the beginning of this. Truly. Could barely function. One thing that REALLY helped was learning to accept that I had it, to try and stay positive, to banish the anxiety I felt and go with the flow. There is an enormous link btwn the mind and the body. Stress, anxiety and depression will all impede recovery, it runs your body down and taxes your brain, giving it something else to do aside from compensate for your vestibular problems. You need to get this paniv under control and you will do that through acceptance. Believe you will get well, and it will help you get well. Fighting this in a blind state of panic isn't going to make it go away, fighting it with positive thought and calm could.

I would recommend you read 'Hope and Help for your Nerves' by Clare Weekes, this helped me immensely. The fact is most people get over this, nearly everyone recovers to an immense degree. Believe that. I would also discuss your fears about an allergic reaction to drugs with your doctor, and discuss potentially trying an SSRI. If you are crying all the time you're depressed, this illness can do that to people and it needs to be addressed.

You WILL get better,

best,

hbep

Hi Gloria,

I wish you luck on your appointment with the neurotogist. I feel like I'm not much support for you because I am not handling this very well emotionally either. I am taking Ativan for anxiety and it helps a little bit. I never had anxiety before this happened. Please let us know how your Dr. appointment goes. I will be thinking about you.

I wish you the best,
Jill

I just want to thank all of you for your support ( I know that you all have your own problems). It is just nice to vent to someone who understands. I know I've suffered for awhile and got much more to overcome. I appreciate all of you listening and offering your support and advice. I am going to try and take all of your advice and try not to pop in on the boards so much because I think it builds up my anixety about all of this.

hbep - I ordered Hope and Help for your Nerves and it is suppose to ship tomorrow (I wasn't feeling well enough to go to the bookstore). Hopefully it will be here in a few days. Thank you for the suggestion; hopefully, it will help me to understand this and cope better.

Hugs to all,
Gloria

Gloria --- When you first have this problem - it is VERY overwhelming -but you will IMPROVE --it might be slow -but you will! I was very depressed -crying like you (I have had this for 13 months) (VN or labs) and have recently had a set back --- but I just try to have a normal life (sometimes that is not easy) -- but just keep on keeping on --- do everything that you can do to have a "normal routine" every day --(you will be surprised how much BETTER you will feel)