Vestibular Neuritis
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Vestibular Neuronitis
Had a bad case of head spinning, 
dissorientation and 
nausea whilst laying face down, eyes closed having physio on my back. My GP also my AME gave me the close eyes, knees and ankles together test and I was wobbling all over the place. Diagnosed VN and gave me a course of Betaserc. Worked well.
Haven't had a relapse in more than a year, though can't balance on one leg, either left or right without falling to the right. Maybe you should try
Betaserc 16mg [ betahistine dihydrochloride] for a few weeks.
Hope things improve.
dissorientation and nausea whilst laying face down, eyes closed having physio on my back. My GP also my AME gave me the close eyes, knees and ankles together test and I was wobbling all over the place. Diagnosed VN and gave me a course of Betaserc. Worked well. Haven't had a relapse in more than a year, though can't balance on one leg, either left or right without falling to the right. Maybe you should try Betaserc 16mg [ betahistine dihydrochloride] for a few weeks.
Hope things improve.
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Was diagnosed on Monday with it. The steroids have not helped so I have an appointment tomarrow am with the ENT doctor. I have been out of work all week. I can;t even walk around the house without almost blacking out. Definately not a good thing.
Thread Starter
Dblue,
I wouldn't bother with the ENT, I would try to get an appointment with a Neurotologist asap.
From personal experience with this problem over 7 months now, I regret not going to the highest level of care possible immediately.
My next stop is the Mayo clinic
I wouldn't bother with the ENT, I would try to get an appointment with a Neurotologist asap.
From personal experience with this problem over 7 months now, I regret not going to the highest level of care possible immediately.
My next stop is the Mayo clinic
Join Date: Dec 2003
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2 weeks relaxing in the tropics got rid of my 'pressure' feeling. It wouldn't surprise me if some of those in Stilton's boat have middle ear tendon issues due to stress. Google for 'Tensor Tympani Syndrome'. Bear in mind that it's not as easy to confirm with tympanometry as most links imply. Stress / PTS-type problems also can cause the Stapedius to tighten. These conditions can also affect balance and create a feeling of pressure.
A 2-week course of Diazepam could be worth trying - if it helps, you could have a tendon issue. ONLY try this when you don't have machinery to operate!!! A 2mg dose for a fortnight shouldn't get you addicted; bear in mind this is purely for diagnostic reasons - DON'T start a tranq habit, BAD MOVE!
A 2-week course of Diazepam could be worth trying - if it helps, you could have a tendon issue. ONLY try this when you don't have machinery to operate!!! A 2mg dose for a fortnight shouldn't get you addicted; bear in mind this is purely for diagnostic reasons - DON'T start a tranq habit, BAD MOVE!
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Most people with damaged vestibular systems will have problems with vision as well as balance, because the inner ear is responsible for the automatic control of eye movements during head turns. This is why doctors normally check for Nystagmus as indication of vestibular problems. Blurred vision and stationary objects "jumping" are typical.
I think this makes it different from middle ear issues.
I think this makes it different from middle ear issues.
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Vestibular problems
I have just read this thread with great interest. It's a great relief to have read that people have gone through something similar to myself, and that i'm not going mad .
Approx 5 weeks ago I went with my husband for lunch at his parents. I remember having what tasted like a really strong coffee (which I have since found out was 15 years old
), but as I drink strong coffee I wasn't too concerned. On the drive home I commented to my husband that the coffee was really strong as I was feeling a bit 'buzzy' (when you have too much caffeine). When I got home I felt really spaced out, and felt as though the vision (in my left eye) was poor. I remember picking up a magazine to read but I couldn’t read ... I could see that there were words on the page but I couldn't simply read the information. I was able to read one word at a time, think about the word and then read the next word, and repeat the process. It was really alarming as I can normally skim read information and pick out information really quickly.
The next morning I thought that I would be fine having had a sleep, but I wasn’t so I went to see my GP. She checked for retinal damage but couldn’t see any, and suggested that I went to get an eye test done. I got my eyes tested, which were fine. On the way out of the shop I felt really odd, it was as though I was in a dream, I knew that there were people around me, but it was as though they weren’t really there. I was lucky that my husband was with me because I feel that if he hadn’t have been I may have walked into things as I was unsteady.
I was still having difficulties the next day so I went to see my neighbour (a GP) who thought that I may have labyrinthitis (feeling hot + cold, and a little dizzy, and I also had the sensation that the floor was dropping away from underneath me a couple of times ... really odd) I went to back to see my own GP the next day who referred me to see a neurologist. The neurologist checked me for signs of stroke, and said that he felt that I might have a vestibular condition. He didn't think that I ahd labyrinthitis as he said that this doesn't affect your vision (although I have read that it can). To cut a long story short I had to have an MRI. When I went to get the results of the MRI I was upset because the scan came back showing signs of inflammation which really freaked me out. He said that the next thing to do would be to do a visual evoke potential test (not sure why he wanted me to have this done), and then possibly a spinal tap.
I’ve most recently had the Visual Evoke Potential test done, which i'm waiting for the results of.
Although i'm generally feeling better (can now read) and think that i'm getting over it there are still small signs that i'm still not 100% (I feel as though my brain is slow at the minute) and if I get stressed the symptoms are worse. If I do have a viral infection I just can’t believe that it’s taking so long to go.
.Approx 5 weeks ago I went with my husband for lunch at his parents. I remember having what tasted like a really strong coffee (which I have since found out was 15 years old
), but as I drink strong coffee I wasn't too concerned. On the drive home I commented to my husband that the coffee was really strong as I was feeling a bit 'buzzy' (when you have too much caffeine). When I got home I felt really spaced out, and felt as though the vision (in my left eye) was poor. I remember picking up a magazine to read but I couldn’t read ... I could see that there were words on the page but I couldn't simply read the information. I was able to read one word at a time, think about the word and then read the next word, and repeat the process. It was really alarming as I can normally skim read information and pick out information really quickly. The next morning I thought that I would be fine having had a sleep, but I wasn’t so I went to see my GP. She checked for retinal damage but couldn’t see any, and suggested that I went to get an eye test done. I got my eyes tested, which were fine. On the way out of the shop I felt really odd, it was as though I was in a dream, I knew that there were people around me, but it was as though they weren’t really there. I was lucky that my husband was with me because I feel that if he hadn’t have been I may have walked into things as I was unsteady.
I was still having difficulties the next day so I went to see my neighbour (a GP) who thought that I may have labyrinthitis (feeling hot + cold, and a little dizzy, and I also had the sensation that the floor was dropping away from underneath me a couple of times ... really odd) I went to back to see my own GP the next day who referred me to see a neurologist. The neurologist checked me for signs of stroke, and said that he felt that I might have a vestibular condition. He didn't think that I ahd labyrinthitis as he said that this doesn't affect your vision (although I have read that it can). To cut a long story short I had to have an MRI. When I went to get the results of the MRI I was upset because the scan came back showing signs of inflammation which really freaked me out. He said that the next thing to do would be to do a visual evoke potential test (not sure why he wanted me to have this done), and then possibly a spinal tap.
I’ve most recently had the Visual Evoke Potential test done, which i'm waiting for the results of.
Although i'm generally feeling better (can now read) and think that i'm getting over it there are still small signs that i'm still not 100% (I feel as though my brain is slow at the minute) and if I get stressed the symptoms are worse. If I do have a viral infection I just can’t believe that it’s taking so long to go.
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Hi Pilot Chick
Once the virus is gone it leaves damage that the vestibular nerve cannot repair. Your brain learns that it is getting different messages from each of your ears and will compensate. Problem seems to be that people all compensate on different time scales! If your problem is vestibular keep as active as possible to help recovery.
Once the virus is gone it leaves damage that the vestibular nerve cannot repair. Your brain learns that it is getting different messages from each of your ears and will compensate. Problem seems to be that people all compensate on different time scales! If your problem is vestibular keep as active as possible to help recovery.
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a common misconception . . . . . .
If I do have a viral infection I just can’t believe that it’s taking so long to go
It's nowhere near as well appreciated that there are many other conditions, in which though they are still "viral infections" the time-scale to be expected runs into weeks or even months.
Good luck ! Hang in there
Thread Starter
I have been enjoying the delights of vestibular neuritis for 8 months now Pilot Chick and completely empathise with your condition, it will get better, unfortunately it will not be on your timetable.
You should feel good about the fact they have found a definitive cause in your case, all of my tests came back negative so VN is really just a guess.
As I said, you WILL get better although that is hard to believe sometimes, I am slowly, slowly improving, stay as healthy as you can and as positive as you can.
You should feel good about the fact they have found a definitive cause in your case, all of my tests came back negative so VN is really just a guess.
As I said, you WILL get better although that is hard to believe sometimes, I am slowly, slowly improving, stay as healthy as you can and as positive as you can.
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Grommet being the same as having tubes put in Hobo ?
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A grommet performs the same task as the Eustachian Tube, i.e. allows pressure to equalise between the outer ear and middle ear.
Not trying to be facetious, but the fact that grommets are even mentioned in a discussion relating to a completely different part of the ear is indicative of how tricky such issues are to diagnose effectively. I have been told by ENT pro's that they believe many people are fitted with grommets totally unnecessarily... In my own case, numerous GPs said I needed them, yet I have no problems flying and now know my issues are something totally different.
Vestibular Neuritis also has similar symptoms to a Vestibular Migraine - try a Google on that. Confused? Join the club...
Regardless of exact diagnosis, anyone with the symptoms discussed here will be guaranteed to benefit from 3 protocols:
Total cessation of alcohol (alcohol affects the comparative balance of fluid in the inner ear - hence balance issues when you get drunk )
No caffeine
Regular, vigorous aerobic exercise.
Do all 3 of the above and I doubt you'll be cured, but I'll eat my hat if you don't see an obvious improvement.
Not trying to be facetious, but the fact that grommets are even mentioned in a discussion relating to a completely different part of the ear is indicative of how tricky such issues are to diagnose effectively. I have been told by ENT pro's that they believe many people are fitted with grommets totally unnecessarily... In my own case, numerous GPs said I needed them, yet I have no problems flying and now know my issues are something totally different.
Vestibular Neuritis also has similar symptoms to a Vestibular Migraine - try a Google on that. Confused? Join the club...
Regardless of exact diagnosis, anyone with the symptoms discussed here will be guaranteed to benefit from 3 protocols:
Total cessation of alcohol (alcohol affects the comparative balance of fluid in the inner ear - hence balance issues when you get drunk )
No caffeine
Regular, vigorous aerobic exercise.
Do all 3 of the above and I doubt you'll be cured, but I'll eat my hat if you don't see an obvious improvement.
Thread Starter
Well, strangely enough a few drinks seems to help my condition.
Perhaps it's just that the symptoms are less apparent when I am more relaxed, also, as mentioned earlier dehydration seems to help.
I do believe that exercise helps, bizzarely, when I run I do not feel off balance, only when I walk.
Not sure I believe in Vestibular rehab any more, there may be surgical cures but I think the biggest cure is time.
Perhaps it's just that the symptoms are less apparent when I am more relaxed, also, as mentioned earlier dehydration seems to help.
I do believe that exercise helps, bizzarely, when I run I do not feel off balance, only when I walk.
Not sure I believe in Vestibular rehab any more, there may be surgical cures but I think the biggest cure is time.
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Alcohol is a diuretic, so I’m not too sure about its ability to improve your state of hydration.
If you genuinely think that alcohol seems to improve things, it could suggest you may not even have an inner ear condition. Your dizziness could be caused by breathing patterns - a typical sign of stress. If you haven’t already, you should ask your ENT specialist for a Nijmegen questionnaire – and make sure you answer it honestly.
If you genuinely think that alcohol seems to improve things, it could suggest you may not even have an inner ear condition. Your dizziness could be caused by breathing patterns - a typical sign of stress. If you haven’t already, you should ask your ENT specialist for a Nijmegen questionnaire – and make sure you answer it honestly.
Thread Starter
Thanks for all of your inputs Ladies and Gents, WG774 you make some interesting points. As mentioned, all of my test's have come up negative so stress could certainly be a factor.
However the only way I know to completely stop stress has the unfortunate side effect of a complete cessation of breathing !
Along those lines however, my neurotologist has recommended I try 'Klonopin'
in an attempt to 'relax the mind' somewhat and perhaps alleviate my symptoms.
Interested in your thoughts on that ?
However the only way I know to completely stop stress has the unfortunate side effect of a complete cessation of breathing !
Along those lines however, my neurotologist has recommended I try 'Klonopin'
in an attempt to 'relax the mind' somewhat and perhaps alleviate my symptoms.
Interested in your thoughts on that ?