Gwen151

I found this board about a month and a half ago. It has truly been a blessing. After seeing a handful of doctors and getting tested and scanned for what I thought was just about everything and finding nothing, I stumbled on to things that I never knew about, could not have imagined, and some that I have been experiencing myself. An overview of the past 9 mos:
One day I was just sitting down and my ears popped. They have been crackling and popping with swallowing and yawning ever since.I feel "off" sometimes a little disoriented the degree varies from day to day. For about 6 or 7 mos I had a constant headache. The first few mos I was feverish on and off (low grade).About 3 mos in, I got my first swollen gland behind my left ear. The fatigue was getting worse. I put up with these symptoms for a semster of college before I could not take it anymore. I had one dizzy spell when I was home for Thanksgiving in November, I was at a red light and all of the sudden the gas station in front of me started spinning. I freaked, of course. I came home for x-mas break and told my parents I wasn't going back. At that point I had been treated numerous times for a "sinus infection" yeah I didn't have one obviously, and had sinus x-rays. Everyone kept saying "there doesn't appear to be anything wrong", but there definitely was ( I know you all can relate). I was pale for a month straight, into February. Then I started getting my color back. For about 2 mos I did nothing but sleep at night and lay on the couch all day. I felt so lousy. Slowly, I started doing more things. The anxiety itself did a number on me for the past 9 mos. My symptoms were magnified and I experienced everything from heartburn, chest pain, paplatations, to sleepless nights and severe headaches. In the middle of an emotional breakdown I found this site. NO ONE had EVER mentioned labyrinthitis to me. The last doctor I saw told me that I might have had some eustachian tube dysfunction but no big deal...NO BIG DEAL??? He didn't know what was going on, concluded that I had an anxiety problem, and neglected to refer me to someone who could have helped me. I believe that I have a very mild case of viral labyrinthitis. I have improved very slowly but am now seeing the difference. I started eating garlic everyday ( I am on my 2nd week) and have felt the best these past days in 9 MONTHS! I bought Dr. Carol Weekes book "Hope and Help for Your Nerves" and am doing well in controlling my anxiety. If any of you are religious, try praying to St. Jude, he does the impossible. I have hope, and my prayers are with you all. Thanks for being there, and Good Luck!!! -Gwen