For those of you that were diagnosed with Labyrinthitis. How were they able to diagnose it. What did they based it on. By your symptoms/blood tests? Especially for the ones were the onset of L started gradually.

Why do you think we have good periods and then go back to bad periods?

I'm not at my best right now - again. After 16 months this is getting a little bit discouraging. I don't want to discourage anyone. I think by what I'm reading on the net and all the doctors I've seen, I seem to be one of a kind http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hello Mpaiement

I was diagnosed by my symptoms i.e. vertigo with absolutely no other symptoms. I had a CAT scan to rule out anything more serious. Mine also started gradually.

I have been told that because the brain is "learning" to compensate for the damage in the ear, that you will feel good sometimes and bad sometimes. Not a reason that explains much, but that's what I've been told.

Hello,

I'm new to this site, but have read through some of the mails and am also on a list for another site for people who are dizzy. Some people on that site were definitely dizzy for as long as you and recovered. There's a man who answers questions on the site who runs a balance centre in The States. He always says people who are having a difficult time getting a diagnosis should see a specialist in ear/dizzy disorders called a neuro otologist. (Apologies if you already know this and have already seen one.) I know there are people on that site with something called MAV, which is migraine assisted dizziness. It's basically like getting migraine in your ears, it can cause dizziness without ear symptoms and it's treatable with medication. Often regular ENT consultants aren't experienced in this kind of thing which is why it's a good idea to see someone who has done further training in this area. Hope this is helpful, it's just you sounded very discouraged and I'm sure there is someone out there who can help you, it's just a question of finding the right person.

Two years ago (2001), I had my first "inner ear disorder", as my doctor said. I woke up one morning and could not differentiate between the ceiling and the floor. It was like if I was constantly falling, eventhough I was already on the floor. Very, very frightning. After resting in bed for the remainder of that day, symptoms went away on their own, once I got the courage to step out of the bed, 4 or 5 hours later.

But...

Shortly after Christmas 2002, I started to feel dizzy again, both my head and the objects surrounding me were spinning (I've learned to tell the difference between the two). I thought I needed to rest because my doctor, the firs time it happened to me, said this could have been caused by an excess of fatigue. So I did. However, this time, this thing won't go. Today, I had a Scan, as ordered by the specialist.

In the meantime, I discovered that my neck hurts. Badly. On the same side as the ear causing my problems. My question is : did anyone ever had a pain in the neck causing a motion disorder like this ? The first doctor I saw, a generalist, diagnosed a labyrinthitis (he also saw liquid in my ear) and directed to me to a specialist. Now that the pain is there (it was there from the beginning, never realized it untill now), it seems to be, somehow, related to this condition and I don't feel like I do have a labyrinthitis. I suspect some nerve to be pinched and having a strange effect.

To tell you the truth, I'm really scared. Having to live with recurrent episodes of loosing balance like this is not the kind of thing I'd like to go through. Before now, I used to be a very active man (3x gym / week, doing all sorts of things, etc). Now, I can't even walk to the grocery because I'm affraid I will fall in the middle of the street ! Not to mention the fact that, nowadays, I can't read for more than 10 minutes, can't concentrate because things start to spin very often.

Sorry...it had to go out :-)

Thanks for any advice you might have,

Ray

Thank you for all the above comments. I was diagnosed with Labrynthitis because although mine started gradually, they checked the pressure in my ears and did hearing tests and those were normal so that rules out menieres/eustcian tube disfunction. I also have no tinnitus, just dizziness (borderline vertigo - more off balance) and sometimes full ears.

I think MPaiement, if they rule out the serious things, it can only be L'itis. The migraine dizziness thing is a possibility but that sort of thing usually causes dizzy spells not 24 hr dizziness.

I think that you've just had severe nerve damage caused by the L'itis and my ENT told me that if this happens, your body will shut off the bad signals coming from the bad ear and you will just rely on one ear which is perfectly possible.

My ENT also told me it was v normal to have a string of good days them bad ones. But not sure why...As I've said before, my frustration is that L'itis reccurs at the moment with me with every cold and that is v disheartening.

I havent had a bad neck with mine, no. Have you told a specialist about this Ray?

xxx

I found out, later on last night, that very very similar symptoms are caused indeed by a knot in one of the muscles of the neck, in some other sub-newsgroups in here. A guy had exactly my symptoms and I realized that my neck pain was actually causing a disruption of blood flow or nerve signal in my right ear.

Now, I may be dealing with two different issues but I tend to think that they are related. In either cases, I will check out both issues seperately (having different tests done like the audiogram for my ear and seeking a PT for my neck) in the hope that one of these path will lead me to a cure, if not only some relief.

Thanks !

Ray

HI RAY... I woke up in october room spinning ect... also couldnt distinguish between the floor and the ceiling.oh so frightening yes Went to my gp who had little imformation to provide... sent home with a "this too shall pass" from the doctor.... seven years ago had the same thing happen at which time i went to u of pa chief of staff diagnosed it as labrynthitis...had mri ect....so yes i understand what your going through..i too am very active work out five times a week..recreation director..so this is a major pain...now to the good part.......my neck...my upper shoulder hurts sooooooooooooo soooooooooo bad!!! started about two months ago..thought maybe its the way i sleep propped up on hundred pillows? im a mess now ..been going to massage therapist weekly... sigh..havnet been to the doctors..dont know which doctor or condition to address...been doing heat ice ect..i dunno...hurts bad!!! im off to work now and my friend is bringing in some massage deevice to use at my desk... so let me know how you make out with the neck thing... on top of it... im having female problems...so ray it could be worse http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif smile well get through this ...lysa

Hello Lysa,

Yesterday morning, I felt on ice (I live in Montreal and we had icing rain 3 days ago). So I am left with a severe ankle injury, and therefore, I can't go to the doctor. As soon as I do, however, I'll post here the result of what he finds / orders.

Hang in there Lysa, there is hope !

Ray

ray..sorry to hear about your ankle....last thing you needed during this dizzy mess...perhaps one of the reasons you got off balance on the ice.geze./... let me know how u make out http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif lysa

hbep, thanks for your words of encouragment. It's comforting to know that some people have recovered after being dizzy longer than me. I have an appointment at the end of April in a clinic that specializes in neuro/vestibular disorders. It's suppose to be the best in Canada. I hope to learn more there.

RE; LABRYNTHITIS
I'm wearing a patch for the second day and my second episide - two years apart. In reading the postings I noticed that violet vomiting was never mentioned in association with labrynthitis.

Other than meclizine or Zyrtec (which you can't take while wearing the patch) is there a way to prevent a recurrance? Also, I can not tell which ear is involved.
Thanks!

Started with L'itis 4 mths ago and get reccurrences every time I get a sore throat/cold. This will last for about 12mths they say! I dont think there's much you can do for reccurrences am afraid...I have heard that once you have it the first time, you are always a bit more prone to it. But they say the reccurrences arent as bad which gives us a little hope I guess.

Sorry to say,i cannot be of help to you,but i have had labrinthectomy on both ears,because of labrinthitis,my 1st op was 10 year ago,and last 1 was 3 year ago,and im sorry to say there is no change at all,now got severe tinnitus in both ears,my 1st attack of labrintitis was when i was going out to my car,opened door then everything just spun,i fell inot road and bang! got hit.And 2nd 1 was i could not lift my head of the pillow in bed,being sick everywhere,unbalance isnt nice at all,it is with me all the time,some days i can walk 50 yds in 20 minutes and that is a good day,Sorry for sounding morbid but thats life with me,good luck to you. Originally posted by MPaiement:
For those of you that were diagnosed with Labyrinthitis. How were they able to diagnose it. What did they based it on. By your symptoms/blood tests? Especially for the ones were the onset of L started gradually.

Why do you think we have good periods and then go back to bad periods?

I'm not at my best right now - again. After 16 months this is getting a little bit discouraging. I don't want to discourage anyone. I think by what I'm reading on the net and all the doctors I've seen, I seem to be one of a kind http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Stuart,

I'm so sorry for you. How discouraging.
How could they tell it was Labyrinthis and not Meniere's? Are you able to work?

[This message has been edited by MPaiement (edited 02-10-2003).]

Hi i guess im 1 of the lucky ones,im in partnership with my mate,and have showroom and workshop,but havent done much last 2 years,so might have to sell my half of business,but should be ok financialy.But as for telling the difference between the 2,the hospital knew,i didnt ask.All i can say to people who suffer dizziness,sickness,muzzy head,unbalanced,chin up there is people worse than yourself,and pressure the the dr for help.I do find serc16 2x5 times a day helps,and also helps my tinnitus,not great but it helps a little,any help of improvement is good.
good luck to you in your fight.
regards
stu Originally posted by MPaiement:
Stuart,

I'm so sorry for you. How discouraging.
How could they tell it was Labyrinthis and not Meniere's? Are you able to work?

[This message has been edited by MPaiement (edited 02-10-2003).]

how you make out at the special clinic?