Labyrinthitis...anyone suffer?

[john-e89]

Bonjourno,

Anyone get this nasty ailment? Had to call the doc out this morning as I thought I'd had a bleed or mild stroke, could hardly stand was so dizzy and felt like throwing up all the time. Doc thinks labyrinthitits, which makes sense, as I've had symptoms for a year or so and had an episode a few weeks ago then a really bad one this morning. So laid up in the trumping sack, getting up results in nasty dizziness and vomiting...it's really nasty. Should improve in a week and be fit (ish) again in a few weeks.

Anyhoo, as usual just wondering if anyone else gets this and how often it re-occurs, share your experiences, I reckon I've had it for a year or so but today was the first big hit that has lasted.

Forum hypochondriac signing out....

[Number5]

Yes, John.
I've had a couple of bouts of this over the last few years. Never officially diagnosed, but seems the closest thing I can find on the net to match the symptoms. Basically it feels like a slight concussion , remembering back to my footballing days. You;re sort of there but everything is a bit sureal and you're light headed
It also seems to happen more at this time of year. I just found that 24hrs sleep seems to cure it best

[john-e89]

Yes, John.
I've had a couple of bouts of this over the last few years. Never officially diagnosed, but seems the closest thing I can find on the net to match the symptoms. Basically it feels like a slight concussion , remembering back to my footballing days. You;re sort of there but everything is a bit sureal and you're light headed
It also seems to happen more at this time of year. I just found that 24hrs sleep seems to cure it best

That sounds right for the start of it Alan, just how I was the last couple of years, seems as though it manifests itself into acute stages if left unattended, this is really nasty, you can't even stand or sit up without being dizzy or throwing up. I don't like telling people what to to but it might well be worth you getting it checked out next attack mate to see if there's anything you can do to prevent it, I've left it and now it's really horrible, docs put me on some meds but they'll take a week or two to clear it until the next episode, as it's not permanently treatable.

[Gaffa22]

I have suffered from it,had about 3-4 bouts. but if you suffer the symptoms constantly I would think you have Menieres disease
It's pretty unpleasant either way.
My wife had it and constantly sick, as if she had sea sickness, the doctor had to give her an injection to stop the sickness.

Mine was far worse the first attack but has been less nasty since, as if my body has been able to cope better.
You cartainly both have my sympathies

[Number5]

My doctor never diagnosed it until I mentioned it, then said Yes, that's possibly it. I took sea-sickness/nausea tablets and it helps as it numbs down your motion/balance senses. I just feel slightly dizzy and my comprehensible world closes in so i can only cope with whats happening within a few meters of me.

I've been OK for a couple of years now, so I'm probably lucky it was only mild. I have read that there is a set of movements that you can do, curled up in a ball, rolling over in certain directions that almost 'recallibrates' your balance mechanisms in your ear, but I've never tried it. I'll see if I can find a link and post it up. (I'm no Doctor, but look up Brandt-Darroff exercises)

Its strange but mine used to come on the more I relaxed. if I had a few days off and did nothing and just chilled , (like you do on holiday) it would come on. It's almost like I 'stall' if I only tick over, so the busier I am the better I feel ! I do have slightly low blood pressure though.

[Russ59]

I started with similar symptoms 10+ years ago, head spinning, feeling sick, all I could do was lay down and sleep for a few hours then all would be good again, till the next time.
The last bad spell I had was as I got out the shower a few hours before we were due to be picked up by taxi to go on holiday, it was horrible, everything was spinning, I just curled up into a ball and went to sleep. We did make the holiday and luckily I didn't have another spell of it. When we got home I went to the docs and he put me on Betahistine dihydrochloride tablets on repeat prescription and touch wood have not had a bout since.
I don't want to stop taking them in fear of it reoccurring.
I now suffer Tinnitus but have learnt to live with it.
May not be the same but I know how you felt.

[Confused®]

friend of mine had this and his doctor told the dvla, as he is a professional driver they withdrew his licence due to sudden bouts of dizziness, he had a faff to get it back.

[raymond.harper]

My dizzy attacks started in 1998. They were mild at first then in 2000 had a fully blown dizzy attack. I was taken to hospital by ambulance. It last about 3 hours before it stopped. Went to ENT specialist. Menieres was provisional diagnosis so put on Serc. After that it settled down and I only had three bad attacks after that. I was worried about not being able to drive as I was working at the time. It is one of these things you forget then suddenly it can come back leaving you devastated. One attack happened while crossing the QE2 bridge. Luckily only a minor one. Loud noise seems to be a factor in mine , my job did not help, so I had to say goodbye to my drophead. However my wife thinks that stress is also a factor. Since I retired I have never had one. As the problem seems to be from a vestibular canal sending out a "bad signal" you can download the Nasa exercises for astronauts. Keep calm!!!!

[Fishy Dave]

Yes, I have it.
I had my dream roadtrip holiday to California end of last year but caught a cold on the first day in San Francisco, it passed after a few days. On the flight back I didn't feel right but put it down to tiredness. Once home I had two bad spells of dizziness, eventually being sick and feeling terribly unwell. I was off work for a week and it was diagnosed as Labyrinthitis, with the hope that it would pass in 6 weeks. A year on and I'm still not right. I'm fine when focussing on my driving looking straight ahead but then feel slightly odd when checking my mirrors, heater controls, sat nav etc. This has caused me to feel slightly unwell when racing as you spend such a lot of time looking in your mirrors. A specialist checked my 'crystals' by manipulating my head, but in my case has said it is damage to my receptors caused by the infection and my eyes and balance senses are in conflict, hence the slight nausea. In the last few weeks I have been prescribed Betahistine which is helping.
I chatted to David Brabham a year or so ago and he had exactly the same problem and it lasted for three years, he says it affected him during his stint in F1.

[Confused®]

I was under the impression that you doctor is legally obliged to tell the dvla if you have a condition that could affect your driving. maybe a new law not sure. I'm always cautious of what i say to the doctor.

[mcbeee]

I'd never heard of it until now, thought it may be a different name for vertigo, had to google it. Vertigo is just one of the symptoms, wow, it seems to be very nasty, hope you get better.