I'm on week 2 of constant dizziness. I'm not even convinced that it is coming from my ear. I'm starting to worry it is a brain tumor.
Do any of you find the dizziness is worse when you first wake up and then gets a bit better as the day wares on? I do. But the dizziness and balance problems are constant. I can't hardly stand this anymore.
I have NO pain in my ear or any hearing problems. This is what scares me. If my ears hurt I'd feel better knowing it was probably in my ear. The doctor did see that my one ear was "a bit red inside", but that is not my inner ear so that doesn't really prove anything.
I'm so worried. I guess I'll have to get a MRI or CAT scan. This is starting to scare me so much.

....."Do any of you find the dizziness is worse when you first wake up and then gets a bit better as the day wares on?"......

Yes---I do/did---and so have a lot of others that post here----sort of like---the brain gets use to the bum signals it is getting from the "inner ear"(vestibular system)---so as you go through the day the brain starts to "compensate" for the bum signals---you can read about that here:

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~boismier/Compensa.htm

....."But the dizziness and balance problems are constant. I can't hardly stand this anymore."......

To understand what is going on and why...this is a good site to read:


http://www.pneuro.com/publications/dizzy/index.html

And to read about the various aspects of this medical area---go here:


http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/index.html

Good Luck!!

Hi - I don't think that there is any-one here (except those who are either very laid back or lack an imagination) who have not worried that these dizzies and balance problems are a brain tumour - that totally includes me!! But panic not - as my doctor got bored telling me brain tumours do not present in this manner and are nearly always accompanied by some nuerological symptom or other - you would not be able to miss these signs and nor would you're doctor. My doctor also said that is dizzyness was caused by a tumour it would be one of the very last symptoms and certainly not that on its own - so be rest assured. If I were you I would not hesitate to return to the doctor and get your mind put at rest. Anxiety and fear over this ghastly problem is the absolute norm - we have all been there and done that!! Good Luck.

Thank you so much for your replies.
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
I have read many sites that tell me dizziness is NOT part of a brain tumor....but today I found one that said it was the only symptom the woman had, and it ended up being a baseball sized tumor. GOD, that ruined my whole day!
If more of you can try to convince me that the isn't a brain tumor it will help me.
I just don't understand this. And I don't understand why it is so constant. It never lets up. I am now in a constant state of panic because of this dizziness.
I'm in the area where the the blackout happened. It really pushed me over the edge. It is bad enough that I have trouble with my balance, but to have me stumble around in the dark on top of it? URGH!
Thank you for listening

Hi Tascha, just want to reinforce what I Robertson said, I think pretty much all of us have at some point worried about brain tumours - I know it was my first thought when the world went spinning by and according to my Dr it's the first conclusion most people jump to.

You say you can't relate it to an ear problem because you have no pain or hearing loss. Again can I try to reassure you that this is entirely normal for many people with inner ear disorders. I had no pain, I had not had any cold/sore throat in the period before my dizzies started, and other than a slight "underwater" feeling, had no hearing loss!.

We tend to think of ear infections as being very painful, but this in fact is mostly middle ear infections as they can cause pressure changes within this area. Absence of pain therefore does not rule out inner ear probs. The inner ear also has two main components to it, one relating to hearing and one to balance. It is quite common for the balance centre to be affected and the area involved with hearing not to be.

You say you have had severe vertigo for about two weeks. Are you on any medication for this?. Most of us experience a couple of weeks of acute symptoms which is sounds like you have, before they settle a little bit. During this acute phase there are drugs available which depress the signals sent to your brain from the damaged area and ease the symptoms a little. You don't want to take them for too long as they can ultimately delay recovery, but if you are still struggling to walk around and feeling horribly nauseous then they might be a good option. Speak to your Dr about it.

Sorry you got caught in the power cut, must have made you feel dreadful. Is it all back now?

Overall, stop thinking of horrid things that could be wrong as anxiety can make you feel even worse. Inner ear problems make you feel quite ghastly and can be very debilitating for a while, but they are not a serious threat to your health.

Hope you feel a little reassured, xx

Hi Tascha

I just read your posting and can identify with your fear about brain tumour and other more sinister conditions. I have had this dizzy thing for three weeks now. My Dr. is still calling it Labyrinthitis but he is a GP and admits he can not be 100% sure.
My first attack three weeks ago was a classic vertigo which happened in a shopping mall without any warning I felt the room spin and luckily was able to grab a wall and then sit down before I fell. I thought I was about to have a heart attack and there was a strange feeling which started in my chest and rapidly gushed through my windpipe and up to my head which then throbbed for a few seconds. Since that episode I have felt faint and weak whenever I walk around and easily lose my balance. Occasionally my vision becomes blurry. I have had at least 5 similar episodes in the three weeks. My Dr. gave me Meniero and some Anti-Inflamatories but they don't seem to help a great deal except in reducing the dizziness. I can only walk for about 100 metres before the dizzy/faintness increases and I have to stop and rest.
Before this thing i was exercising and reasonably fit although a little overweight around the tummy.

Over the past few days, my Dr. has given me valium and this has made a great difference. I no longer get the panic attacks I was feeling and anxiety about the onset of a dizzy spell. I have also slept well for the first time in three weeks. I have been drinking Gatorade constantly and found this helps me to get around and relieve the feeling of rising dizziness and sweats which always sems to start in my throat/windpipe.

I also had a blood test (clear) and a chest X-Ray which showed some heart enlargement (I am 48 - male) I am waiting for the result of ECG which I get tomorrow. The Dr says I may need a CAT scan to rule out a brain tumour so yes, I am scared about that but at this stage I want to know for certain what it is that's causing the dizziness and weakness. I want my life back.

Few people seem to understand what this thing feels like and that's why this forum is so good. I'm sure my Dr. has never felt what I am feeling, he only has read about the symptoms. Still he is a good Dr. and has tried to relieve my anxiety. It is just scary when he says it could be so many different things causing the problems.

It is also putting a strain on my relationships. Without getting into intimate details, I think my wife is having trouble understanding why I can't exert myself in bed or even pick up the kids or take out the garbage without fear of dizziness and collapse.

Yesterday I learned that my Uncle suffered from Meniere's Disease for several years and was operated on and lost the hearing in his left ear. i mentioned this to my Dr. who was very good and says don't be too concerned until you know what your condition is. It's been nearly a month and I still don't know for sure.

All I can say is I'm no longer panicking but just getting impatient for some real assurance that I will improve.


DizzyDave

I to am most dizzy in the mornings I start feeling better at about 8pm that is why I stay up tell 1 every morning so I can enjoy more hours of near normalness.
Something that always made me feel more dizzy is panic or fear. Worrying about a tumor could cause you to become more dizzy.
What amazes me is that doctors today cau remove brain tumors and the patients can live full normal lives, but after numorus trips to ENT's they can't help us to stop feeling dizzy or foggy.
If you want piece of mind get a CT or MRI, they are very expensive but worth it to make you feel better mentally.

Hi Dizzydave. Just wanted to say first of all credit where credit's due - we tend to slate the Medical profession on this board as most of us have been fobbed of for months before gatting taken seriously and getting tests done. It really does sound like your GP is doing everything he can at the moment. Unfortunately dizziness is one of those vague symptoms that can be caused by many things and diagnosis is generally the result of a process of elimination.
If he's willing to send you for a CAT scan then get in asap - at least it should put your mind at rest about the brain tumour thing (which is fortunately a very very rare cause of this).

Sounds like you've got the cardiac side of things covered, hopefully your ECG results will be normal but I'd still want to know why my heart was enlarged. This is often due to it having to work extra hard for some reason and consequently you get excessive muscle build up. Echocardiography is another type of scan they can do which may be worth asking about if they can't give you the answers you need from what they have done so far.

Finally, you might mention to your Dr about getting an ENG/caloric testing. These are the definitive tests which show whether your dizzies are inner ear related or not. They are often performed by a specialist neurologist called a neuro-otologist.

As I said earlier. it sounds like your GP is taking you seriously and is determind to get to the bottom of things, that is half the battle won. Keep getting the tests done and getting things ruled out one at a time. We're always here for a bit of support and understand just how you feel. Good luck xx (p.s - what about getting your partner to have a look at some of the postings on here, it might give her a bit more of an idea about just how this problem makes us feel psychologically as well as physically!)

Hi Dizzy Blonde1

Thanks for your reply & support. It really has helped to read others experiences and words of support & reassurance. I have had a relatively good day today. I got my ECG back and it appeared normal although still no explanation on why I have an enlarged heart. my Dr. says it may be nothing to be concerned about. Have taken valium for three days but today only taken the dizzy tablets (Meniero) and the dizzyness is still there but much milder. Still I had a false alarm about two weeks ago when I felt good for two days and then had the worst dizzy spell so far.

It is this fear of recurring dizzy spells which makes me very anxious and to the point of panic and that's why the valium helped. I have an emergency supply now but will try not to take them.

What I want to ask concerns headaches and other strange aches.
I have had almost a constant head ache across the top of my head for weeks since the dizzies started. It is like a tension headache but seems to make me very sensitive to any kind of noises. I have also had these weird throbbing pains behind my right knee which just come and go but can last for an hour or two.

I mentioned these things to my Dr. and he says that the Labyrinthitis can affect the cardio-vascular system as well as nervous system so I shouldn't worry about unusual pains too much. I suppose it just helps to know what other people identify as part of this thing in an effort to understand what is happening and look for warning signs.

Nearly four weeks of Labyrinthitis now and I hope it will come to an end as I am due back at work in two weeks. As a teacher, I need my hearing, balance and nerves intact ready to go back to the classroom. I also have to climb five floors of stairs about 4 or 5 times a day so I need to get this thing out of my system before I can face work again.

Dave

Hi Dizzy dave, just wanted to respond to your post as you're a teacher and so am I and also you're in Asia, where I am at the mo! Have had this dizziness for 10mths (thats not to scare you, lots dont have it this long), basically, L'itis is a weird thing and yes, you do get headaches, feel tired etc. Dont be scared. Get the ENG done (I am having this done soon)and stay positive. I also totally understand about this affecting relationships. The hardest thing about this disorder is the fact that NOONE understands apart from people on here. Keep smiling xxx

Hi dave, just wanted to reiterate what esmybobs said. The wierd aches and pains are quite normal! When I asked my specialist about the headaches she basically likened the kind of mental exertion (albeit subconscious) involved in trying to function vaguely normally whilst feeling so dizzy, with that involved in sitting exams. If you were sitting exams from when you woke to when you went to bed 7 days per week then of course you would be exhausted, and stressed and have headaches.

Not very helpful I know, but might make you be a bit easier on yourself. Oh, and as for work, I'd really play it by ear (pardon the pun!). I attempted to go back long before I was ready and had a horrid time. If you need time off then take it (or at least make sure that there is someone there who knows you well and understands what you have been going through!!)

Anyway, keep on plodding along, we're all there with you xx

sorry, computer was playing up and managed to post above message 3 times!!

[This message has been edited by dizzyblonde1 (edited 08-20-2003).]

and again!!!

[This message has been edited by dizzyblonde1 (edited 08-20-2003).]

Thanks emsybobs & dizzblonde1

I've had two almost totally dizzy free days and have stopped taking any medication as I have been feeling so good. I'm optimistic that this Labyrinthitis has almost finished with me after nearly a month. I think three days of valium and a lot of rest has helped. The anxiety factor seems to have eased right off but I'm still realistic having read enough about this thing to realise it may come back again.

I'm back in the clasroom next week but my Dr. has said if I get attacks again to just take time off. I'm hoping I've finished with it but have had two previous false alarms a couple of weeks back.

Take care

Dave

Oh I really really hope it's finished with you. With any luck you just had a horrid but uncomplicated bout of Laby that has gone and will never return. I've got my fingers crossed for you xx

Originally posted by Tascha:
I'm on week 2 of constant dizziness. I'm not even convinced that it is coming from my ear. I'm starting to worry it is a brain tumor.
Do any of you find the dizziness is worse when you first wake up and then gets a bit better as the day wares on? I do. But the dizziness and balance problems are constant. I can't hardly stand this anymore.
I have NO pain in my ear or any hearing problems. This is what scares me. If my ears hurt I'd feel better knowing it was probably in my ear. The doctor did see that my one ear was "a bit red inside", but that is not my inner ear so that doesn't really prove anything.
I'm so worried. I guess I'll have to get a MRI or CAT scan. This is starting to scare me so much.hi i have had dizziness for 2 years now,with unbalanceness, sometimes i have tingling in my head. Any way went to ent doc he told me there is nothing wrong went for a cat scan,blood work, nothing. My gp told me he believed it to be occtipical neurolga, which has got to do with one of the craniel nerves, Ive had a cortizone shot in the head, helped for about 6 weeks came back took a perscription anti inflammatory, have not had any signs for a little over month. But i know it will come back, but stress makes it worse.

Hi relieved - I am the same as you except I deff. had lab's to start with - major vertigo etc etc. N ow this darn thing has diuminished into persistent lightheadedness (kinda like you are short on food but you're not really) also certain movements make me feel real dizzy and sometimes almost disorientated like I may faint (but never have) and probably the owrst for me which is the constant (or seems that way) feeling of imbalance - which is always best in the morning and even kinda is very minor and then by night its very severe and I just want to stay still. I can occasionally feel that I am moving even when I am still. Does this ring any bells with you? Could y ou perhaps describe the imbalance that you have and is 24/7. I too like you have periods were the symptoms are very mild and completely do not intrerfere with every day life then bam it'll come back full on and bug the living daylights out of me for several more months. Thjis particular episoade has been persistent since Jan this year. The whole thing started for me in Mar 01.....boy am I sick of it. My ENT is wondering if the problem like yours is central - how did you get your diagnosis? how long did it take to reach there diagnosis - are any of your symptoms like mine? What exactly is your condition and how is it treated why is it imtermitenet. Very curious, Glad that you are having agood patch.......now exactly what you mean when you say I know it'll come back. Thanks!!!!!!!