Labyrinthitis Treatment...HELP!!

studyin

Hi kcgage,

Welcome to this board. Your doctor is pretty much correct. Labyrinthitis is something you have to let run its course I'm afraid. It's generally thought to be caused by a virus and we all know there aren't many drugs around that fight viruses. The good news is it will end and as horrendous as it feels now, it does go away. However, there are things you can do. First, if you are getting some bad anxiety with this (like I did) valium worked well for me to calm me down and help me to sleep when things were feeling really rough. Some use Xanax. Use it sparingly. It's important to realise that this is NOT a life sentence or something sinister like that. Labyrinthitis has this way of making you feel totally paranoid about everything....this was my experience anyway. Don't fall for it and don't take such negative thinking on board, it will only make you feel worse for no good reason....just watch it and let it go. I would avoid really salty foods and ultra sweet foods too for now, particularly on an empty stomach as this can exacerbate the dizzies or even bring on an attack.

Try to stay calm as best you can - this is really important I feel.

Hang in there and feel free to ask questions. There's loads of great people here that will gladly help.

Cheers...Scott

crazylabyrinth

Afriad I dont really agree with your specialist as there IS treatment for labyrinthitis - Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy. Im v surprised your ENT has not mentioned this to you. There will be some exercises you could try off thr net but really, I would ask your ENT to refer you for VRT. VRt and time - is the "treatment" for labyrinthitis as well as dealing with the mental aspects that come with this horrible illness - inc depression/anxiety. Ask your Doc or ENT if they provide Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

Good luck - I know only too well how horrible labyrinthitis is. xxx

kcgage

Thanks guys for your replies. I'm going crazy! I'm already taking Zoloft for anxiety related to fibromyalgia. I've had dizzy spells for almost a year now. How long will this last? I'm on short-term disability for the fibromyalgia, but want to be able to return to work soon. When I was still working, I was unable to take the bus because I got so dizzy, by the time I got off, I could barely stand!! Geez, this really effects your lives eh?

crazylabyrinth

Labyrinthitis does not normally consist of dizzy "spells". Has your ENT performed inner ear testing? xx

Rick49

I'm curious also as to what tests he ran to come up with his diagnoses. There has also been some successes with the anti virals like Valtrex and I'm also curious as to how he determined it wasn't bacterial in nature, if indeed it is an infection.
Rick

crazylabyrinth

I guess because most labyrinthitis is viral Rick and there was no infection on looking at the ears - he knew it wasnt bacterial? I must say inner ear testing is needed to determine labyrinthitis though. xx

studyin

Perhaps the dizzy spells are decompensation. When you say spells are you talking about days to weeks or hours? Does something in particular kick it off? Still say you must let this thing run its course initially. Yes, VRT will usually clean up a lot of the leftover mess but there is still a period of time when you just have to roll with the punches from this thing.

Have you improved at all at the one year mark kcgage?

CL - how are you doing at the mo? Has the fallout from testing diminished yet? Hope so.

Later all.......Scott

crazylabyrinth

Hi Scott

The fallout started to improve on Monday - about 10days after the tests - thanks for asking - boy the 10days were awful - must say - but nice to have more tolerable symptoms now. Have resumed the LL VRT and keeping fingers crossed for an excellent patch as experienced for a week prior to London.

Hope you are doing ok today - Hugs xxx

studyin

Well that's good news! And you're right on schedule I think. I remember not seeing any improvement in dizzies until about 12-14 days following the caloric test. If I'd been spun in a chair, that would have been a nightmare. Glad it's coming good again.

What VRT were you told to do by London?

Scott xx

crazylabyrinth

Well havent officially seen them for VRT yet - awaiting letter - but following willsmommy's sheet she was given - they are done individually (1 exercise for 2 weeks) instead of lots together - am currently doing "trunk" exercises...

tlk sn xxx

kcgage

Hi there,

My family doctor sent me to an ENT, who did some hearing tests, looked in my ears and did some balance testing. He said there is fluid in the inner ear behind the eardrum, that's it's called Labyrinthitis and it's viral -- and there isn't any treatment. He said it should pass, but this is getting pretty darn annoying! Has anyone ever tried ear candling? Would that help?

Oh, and when I mean dizzy spells, I seem to be off balance most of the time but every hour or so I get a period where it gets more intense -- ie. can't stand up, very dizzy, very lightheaded, sometimes feel like I'm going to faint.

Katkin

Is anyone else sick of the so-called specialists eg. ENT not seeming to know what they are doing or not suggesting things which might help?
It seems that people on here know more than they do.
If WE can research these things and if (as they told me) they see many people with balance problems a day then WHY dont they do their flipping research to HELP us desperate people?

Why dont THEY suggest VRT or CBT (I have only heard of these through this board). Why don't THEY know the horrors this thing can cause besides the balance issues (disorientation, anxiety etc). Why don't THEY refer us to neuro otologists (which I also only know of due to this board) if this isn't really their field? Why don't THEY try everything they can to help? It's their job!!

It all seems a bit ridiculous to me. We aren't medical students or Drs and they ARE and they say that they see many people with these nasty debilitating balance illnesses so why don't they find out how to HELP them? Why do people on here know more and help more than people whos job it is? PAH!

Ok sorry rant over hehe! It's just SO frustrating to think of all the poor scared and confused people that desperately need support and help and aren't getting it properly except in a few cases.

Hope we all get better soon and make loads of money so we can fund research into this thing to help others that need support! LOL

xxx

ASLme

AMEN! You should run for congress sister...I'm with ya!

dogologist

I actually felt *better* after my tests in London, and went to the British Museum on the way home. I think it was pure relief at having it over with!!

Ann