Been battling VN for 9 weeks or so and recently when I have a spell, my heart seems to race for 10 or 15 min. and then goes back to normal...not sure if it is anxiety or just part of the whole system trying to correct itself when I get dizzy.

Anyone else feel that way?

Thanks!

Hi sportsfan,

Don't worry about the racing heart. It's all part of it unfortunately. Labyrinthitis sensitises the nervous system in many people and produces an anxiety state. Anxiety symptoms can comprise all sorts of nasty things such as a racing heart. I had this all the time in the beginning. The important thing is to not concern yourself with it and to not become fearful of these strange new effects - it will only make them worse. Do your best to ignore it. Once sensitised it can take quite some time for it to desensitise again. And it will.

Hope things get better soon.

Cheers...Scott :cool:

Hi Sportsfan1,

Although my diagnosis is different than yours...I have positional vertigo...I have definately experienced extreme anxiety when the spells come on strong. My heart will race, I will get wicked hot and then break out in a cold sweat. I am prone to anxiety, so I'm sure that's what's causing this reaction.

I would definately ask your doctor about this just in case it isn't related; my guess is that if you're only experiencing problems during a 'spell', it probably is anxiety related. The neurologist I saw told me that for some people with inner ear problems, a mild anti-anxiety medication is added to take the edge off during an attack.

Good luck to you. Hope all's well with you today.

Robin

I agree with Scott. I believe it is anixiety. I get the heart racing and I feel my heart beat throughout my whole body. Mine started about 8 months into this ordeal and really feel it is the anxiety getting the better of me. When I relax it goes away. Try some breathing exercise and see if they help.

Gloria

Have the same, racing heart, sweats etc. I agree with Scott on this one......when I ignored it it went away....think its the bodies natural reaction to loss of it knowing where it is in space. BTW wore a holter monitor to see if the racing ws anything bad...cardio doc said showed no abnormal readings......hr did not increase much during this and never went above 82

Thanks all for your answers to my question...when this first hit I was on Ativan prescribed by my ENT for two weeks...he didn't want me to get addicted so he took me off of it quickly but it did the trick...now into my 9th week and am off and on depending on the day...the heart seems to race whenever I feel more offbalance than usual...naseau is starting to fade, but still have pressure in my ears and head...if anyone knows if this is the normal course of action for VN, please let me know...

Thanks again!