I've had constant (i.e., 24 hours, 7 days/week) motion sickness, dizziness, and nausea for about six weeks now. I've just found this website and I'm discouraged to think that I may feel this way for a much longer time.

I was diagnosed with labrynthitis about three weeks ago. I've had motion sickness like this on and off my entire adult life, but it's never stayed for more than a day. This is simply horrendous. It started with that horrible headache (tingly kind of numbness and pressure in the back of my head) and motion sickness. While the headache has subsided, the motion sickness and nausea are still there -- all the time. It's the worst when I look down.

I'm also hot and clammy most of the time and feel very detached from reality (like the women from Scotland who also posted a message today) -- almost like I'm in a dream.

I have a very time-consuming, high stress job; and it's been very difficult to work. I've taken a few days off, and left work early a couple of days. I'm just finding it so hard to function. When I drive (which I realize is not advised), it's a hundred times worse.

The ENT says that it's a virus and I have to let it run its course. He prescribed 2 mg of Valium twice daily. He told me to stop taking any antihistimines or decongestants. (I have taken Zertec D daily, and often take benadryl for the nausea that I've experienced before.) He said that the compensation process will be extended if I take these types of drugs.

I don't like to take the Valium during the day because it knocks me out. I'm going crazy. I stopped my sinus meds and tried accupuncture. That helped for a few days, but then I got a head cold which set me back again. I'm trying sea-bands now, and a homeopathic remedy for motion sickness. Nothing seems to really help the motion sickness and that detached feeling.

Over the last two or three days, I've started to feel pressure (with occasional pain) in my right ear. It's getting worse over time, and I'm worried about hearing loss (which seems to be a problem for some people on the board). I have another ENT appointment this Friday and will ask about it.

I just want to know that I'm not go to suffer like this for a year or more. Is there anything else that I can do to ease the symptoms or speed up the compensation process? HELP!!!!

[This message has been edited by hfulfrost (edited 05-14-2003).]

Hi Sorry to hear you are suffering.
If you have labyrinthitis you can speed up the compensation process by doing vestibular exercise. They will more than likely make you feel worse at first, but they do work. Check out the VEDA homepage or search for Vestibular Therapy. The first time I had lab I suffered for almost six months, but it did go away. I now have another case, I think. It doesn't seem to be as severe, but the compensation is not occuring as quickly as I would have hoped.
Take Care
M

[This message has been edited by Miza03 (edited 05-14-2003).]

hulfrost,
Your symptoms sound almost like mine. Almost constant nausea, 24hrs/day for weeks at a time, with intermittant periods of head fog/ detachment/ dizziness/ off-balance feeling. Mine has been going on for 7 months now (hate to scare you). How bad is your nausea (do you throw-up,etc.) Mine is fairly mild most of the time, but the fact that it goes on and on and on is a real bummer. At first promethazine seemed to clear it right up, but after 2 months it totally stopped working. I find that riding in a car and having an empty stomach make me worse. If I eat a whole bunch of food, my nausea almosts clears up for a few hours. I also was given valium but it doesn't seem to help much (except to put me to sleep). Hopefully you will start to feel better soon. I was put on a 2week course of prednisone which seem to help quite a bit for a while, but unfortunately not completely.

I know you are discouraged but one thing you have going good for you is your doctor seems to be on the right track. My doc never would refer me to an ENT. I pretty much knew after my own research that I was dealing with l'itis. Mine started last Dec.11 and I just want you to know that as of about 6 weeks ago, I'm 90% better. So it may not go on for a year. I know a lot of people on this board have suffered for a long time but try to stay positive. And I'm sure you have already been told to stay active. This was no problem for me. I am a stay at home mom with two boys. There was no relaxing. I'm convinced that helped speed up the process. It was not easy and it didn't feel good.

Noey

brownjt1,

Thanks for your reply. You know what, you are absolutely right -- driving in a car, and having an empty stomach make it much worse! And, when I eat, I feel a little bit better for a short while. (It's just so wonderful to have validation of all of these crazy symptoms!)

My nausea and motion sickness is constant. I have not yet vomited, although I've come close a couple of times (saliva build-up in my mouth). It's horrible, but not to the point of vomiting.

I'm going to be seeing the ENT on Friday and mention the drugs you've tried. I just can imagine living with this for 4-5 more months (or possibly longer).

Noey!

Thanks for your e-mail and the encouragement. I have been told to stay active and I'm trying. I am the managing partner of the Los Angeles office of a mid-sized law firm. I have been going to work most days, although I'm definitely not working at the same pace as I was before labrynthitis. I'm trying to stay active, but I definitely prefer lounging around the house. It's so hard sometimes...it's making me cry right now just thinking about it.

Take care! And I'm glad to hear that you are 90% better. That's encouraging!

hfulfrost, It sounds look you and I have the same thing. I have been to several docs, most of whom didn't have a clue as to what exactly my problem is (including an ENT). However, I saw a neuro-otologist who did state that my problems including the constant nausea are probably an ear-problem (he didn't exactly say what the problem was without further testing) I am seeing another ear specialist next week (dr Epley) so hopefully I will get a better idea. I can relate to the lounging at home part. For about 3 months I would come home from work and either lie in bed or sit in my lounging chair until bedtime. On the weekends I would alternate from bed to the lounging chair, only getting up to go to the bathroom or to eat (luckily I have a wife to cook, otherwise I would probably starve) Other things that bother me are lots of movement in my visual field, for example crowds at the mall and the windshield wipers on high speed, and sometimes reading. Good luck and let me know how you get along. I would definitely try prednisone if you don't improve soon. BTW my ENT never suggested prednisone, I went to an Internal Medicine Dr who did.

Hi- Please Reply Labrinthitus Sufferer

Basiaclly I had a couple of dizzy turns and a sore ear, really I thought nothing of it. I them flew to America and on day 3 of my holiday got a voilent attack of vertigo (room spinning, sensation of movement, nausea, imbalalnce when standing/walking, intense dizziness). Never having felt this before I thought I was about to die! so off to bed I went and waited 5 days until I flew back home to see my doctor. She was knid etc etc and said it is JUST labrinthitus and will clear up. I still had pretty severe symptoms 5 months later so I went to an ENT specialist and following a clear MRI scan he re-confirmed the original prognosis of labr's. Ok - great i thought I am not dying and this will in time get better. Well to be honest that was now 2 years ago (Mar 01) and I can honestly say that whilst I do not have the acute vertigo symptoms my balance has never recovered to perfect. I seem to have gotten better for few months and then had a re-currence of labr's. Again the ENT doc kept saying 'don't worry it will burn itself out'.I am now 7 months pregnent and have a again got balance issues - they keep re-assuring me that it will get better. But I am desperate to hear form any-one who is still suffering from the after effects of labr's. Or as the doc's call it 'an over-sensative inner-ear'. My current symptoms are 24/7 senstaion of imbalance (basically I feel like I am walking on a bouncy castle) sometimes this feeling is very minor and other times it feels worse and like the ground is moving too. I also have a slight sensataion of movement even when I am still. Combined with this imbalance sensation I feel a bit light-headed (a bit like you have not eaten enough). I can also get a brief senstaion of disorentation if I move quickly or some-times just looking up or down. My symptoms are worse upon standing and walking and are usually better if I stay very still and lie down. Generally I feel best in the morning and worse by evening. I notice that stress can make it worse as can tiredness.One of the oddest things is that I look like nothing is wrong I can still walk/balance etc and to all intents and purposes look like there is no real problem. But believe me it is there and it really gets me down at times. I think one of the biggest hurdles is believing that no real harm is going to come of it hence the term'benign condition' but none the less I just want to get back to normal. So any-one out there got a similiar experience.PLEASE PLEASE LET ME KNOW!! I am 29 years old with two little kids and a 3rd on the way.

Dear I,
Your symptoms sound very much like mine. Slight nausea and off-balance feeling most of the time (although it will clear up every now and then for a week). I also feel the most-off balance when standing up, walking around turns, bending over, etc. Also movement such as crowds in a mall or airport give me a foggy head feeling. Please take good care of yourself now that you have another little one on the way. I think it will eventually clear up. I have been this way for about 7 months.

Hey,
I just wanted to add that I KNOW THE FEELING of having everyone tell you that you look fine when you know that you are not. My friends really have no clue what this year has been like for me and to them I look the same. Just because you aren't complaining about it 24/7 doesn't mean that it still isn't there. I can't really talk to them about it much...Good luck fellow labyrinthitis sufferers...just think about the big party you will have when this is all over -*Gwen*

brownjt1,

I want to thank you again for responding to my posting. It is so important to know that you're not the only one out there with this horrible affliction.

I Robertson,

I'm so sorry that you are going through this 7 months pregnant. I definitely agree with Gwen151, no one really understands what we are going through, but those who've been through it (or are going through it). Just know that you are not alone. We are here if you need a sympathetic ear. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Gwen151,

My friends and co-workers don't really understand either. Most of them joke around about it. It's not a joke. It's been really tough. I know how you feel when your cries for help fall on deaf ears.

I nearly cried when reading your mail as is just how I feel. I have the same symptoms as you - have had them for 7 mths. I really fear that my balance will also never recover and will still be with me in a few years. Have you tried vestibular rehabilitation? I find the whole L'itis thing hard to deal with, it gets me down mentally and physically. 2 years - can they not do anything? I would find a new ENT, keep searching til you find someone who is willing to do the best for you. xxx

Im new to the board

And hate to say but kind of glad in not the only one. I live in Florida and travled to California for vacation and got hit with an attack similiar to everybody else (room spin, nausea, balance)I was in bed for most of my two week vacation. Was also told it was Lab vertigo. Dr stated it will go away by itself. Well it has been three weeks and I'm not that much dizzy except when i move fast but still cant hold no food down. I was prescribe anti nausea and vomiting meds but can only eat soup. I've lost over 10 pounds in two weeks. And still feel nausea when it comes to food. But am find when I walk or even drive for the most part. Sorry for those who feel worst. My thoughts are with you. But wonder if any of you ever had this problem with eating and any ideas are helpful to cope..Good luck to all by the way and thanks in advance

[This message has been edited by javr1976 (edited 08-29-2003).]

Hi

Just wanted to add that I too have more-or-less the same symptoms as the above. I also think my condition is due to a viral attack.

I have had a slight cold also, as well as really swollen gland for a while. Everything is minor compared to the light-headed feeling and the anxiety it causes.

Eating can help at times. Ibuprofen can sometimes make me feel totally better - but then it comes back in the morning.

I also have a 'airy' feeling at the back of my head, and am constantly feeling 'not quite right' in the balance dept.

Another symptom which you haven't mentioned (or did you?) is that I have had a crackling sound in both of my ears for all the time that I've been light-headed.

Hope y'all feeling better soon.