labyrinthitis

labyrinthitis? Isn't that where you watch the film 'The Labyrinth' starring David Bowie over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over until it starts interfering with your life?

Hi

I was diagnosed on Wednesday with labyrinthitis. I’ve been prescribed some medication that I’ve been told is to resolve the problem within my ears, but it’s going to take 6 weeks to finish the course of medication. In the mean time I have been given some medication to help control the symptoms.

Anyway, I’m already three days in to this medication and I’m not seeing much of a difference. It’s really interfering with my life. I haven’t been able to go to uni or work. In fact I haven’t spent all that much time out of the house.
I was just wondering if anyone else has had experiences with this horrible condition and how long it might be before I start seeing some definite improvement.

Thanks

I got it a few months ago. I suffered for a week thinking I had some dodgy long lasting hangover! Tilting/ turning my head, bending over or reaching/ lifting caused really spinning feelings and I toppled over the odd time.

After that week I'd managed to avoid causing the symptoms so much, but as it showed no signs of easing up I went to the Docs.

I got medication which was for a couple for weeks - not quite 6 - and after a couple of days on it I felt a big change. I just felt a bit 'not there' most of the time, and after another 2 weeks or so it felt like it had completely gone.

Try to control it as much you can. It makes a huge difference - I managed to drive to work everyday once I'd learnt what NOT to do, and most of the time just felt a bit nauseous. I stopped lifting and reaching at work and this helped too. It took a good 4 weeks for me to not feel really off-balance, and I think even now I still get the odd 'catching-up' sensation.

You'll be fine though. It's horrible, but it's controllable and it goes eventually. Hope you're feeling well soon

Thank you so much for that. I did some 'googling' after I got back from seeing my doctor on Wednesday and I honestly don't think that was the best idea. Seems there are quite a few people who live with it for years. I really hope I'm not one of them.

I do hope it gets better. So yours took a few weeks for you to feel any difference, do you mind me asking what medication you were advised to take? Do you have any idea what causes it in the first place. My doctor seems to think it could have been as a result of a bad virus I had nearly 6 years ago, I've had recurring episodes of this dizziness since, just never gotten a diagnosis until now

Thanks again for replying

I think Labyrinthitis is a general term for similar symptoms which can be caused by different things. I think. I was a little worried as mine came on after I'd been beaten up where I took quite a blow to the side of my head. Obviously, it could have been caused by something else completely for all I know. I have heard that it can be caused by certain viruses, I guess it doesn't take much for your balance to be affected.

Does yours feel similar to a hangover out of interest?

I can't remember the name of the medication off hand... haven't got it on me (been keeping it with me since I startedd to get the odd dizzy spell). It really is horrible at the time, but like I said, do what you can to control it: move slowly, turn yourself with your head (but mind your back ), if you need to pick things up stay upright, try hard as you can to find someone else to do lifting and reaching or at least try to lighten the load of what you lift. It does make a HUGE difference once you start avoiding the symptoms.

I really hope you start to see some improvement soon

...

Hi, it's Prochlorperazine And I didn't have to take anything with it.
Feel better

Yeah that's what I'm taking to treat the symptoms but then I'm also taking something called Betahistine Hydrochloride which my doctor told me would treat the actual labyrinthitis.
How long did your tablets take to work?

Funny how people get treated different. I felt better after just a day, but noticed a huge change after just a few days; I could gently bend forwards and tilt my head. Symptoms were only eased though, it took a while to recover as I said, and it was only then that I could lift things and stretch up without going off balance.

My mum suddenly got it in Sept last year and it lead to neuro-vestibulitis (I think that's the word). She's still suffering now although she's not as bad as she was (she couldn't leave the house either she felt so bad). Some of the medication gave her terrible side effects, she took one set of pills for a day and then gave up because they made her feel so nauseous. The best treatment she's had so far was being taught some excercise to re-train her brain to deal with balance, she's just started them.

Thanks for your reply. It's actually quite frightening to keep hearing about these people who are still suffering years after the inital onset. I really hope I don't end up like that.

I've managed to survive nearly 24 hours now with no Prochlorperazine and I've felt okay. Still off balance, spacey and rather tired but not to the point where I have felt I need to take the medicine. I really do hope this means a sign of improvement.